Watching Sandhill Cranes

In one of a dozen cars along the side of the gravel road, Roberta Stalder smiled as she watched a lone whooping crane and a group of sandhill cranes feed in a nearby field.

"They're fabulous - white or gray, they're

Standing on an observation deck south of Gibbon at nightfall, observers watch cranes returning to a Platte River roost.

fabulous," she said. "This is where my ashes are going to be strewn. I want the cranes to walk over me."

While Stalder might be a bit more enthusiastic than most crane watchers, there's no doubt the spring crane migration through Nebraska is an amazing spectacle that thousands enjoy. Roberta and her husband, Roy, have traveled to Nebraska each spring for the past ten years from their home in Laramie, Wyoming, to see the crane migration. They never tire of it.

"I've seen cranes come up over the horizon just like a storm cloud," Roy Stalder said. "It's really quite an event, and now you get people from all over the world coming to see it, which is wonderful."

From late-February to early-April, approximately 500,000 sandhill cranes stage along the central Platte River, building up their fat reserves and absorbing nutrients vital to their survival

Silhouetted against the setting sun, a small group of sandhill cranes fly toward the river.

through the nesting season. Thousands of waterfowl, shorebirds, and other species also migrate through the area every spring, but it's the world's largest gathering of any crane species that attracts thousands of wildlife enthusiasts, many who make an annual trip to see the tall, lean birds.

"For some people, it's just not spring until they come out and see the cranes," said Gene Hunt, superintendent of Fort Kearny State Historical Park, which serves as an information center for about 5,000 crane watchers each spring season. "It's very remarkable. It's a fantastic chance to see all of the birds that come through."

Crane viewing along the Platte can be as casual or as serious as a person wants to make it. Some make a special trip to see the cranes, traveling thousands of miles and spending time and money to

Larry Pelter of Lincoln watches cranes from a Rowe Sanctuary blind in March 2002.

experience the migration. Others, such as the Stalders and their friends, George and Suzy Paulsen of Grand Island, casually watch the cranes by driving through areas that the birds frequent and by using viewing decks and bridges in the Grand Island and Kearney area.

The Stalders and Paulsens agree that any time of day works for watching cranes. "Early morning and late evening is a show of its own, but all day is good," said Roberta Stalder.

Three main areas where cranes congregate in the spring are the Kearney-to-Grand Island and Overton-to-Elm Creek sections of the Platte River, and the North Platte-to-Sutherland section of

Observation decks are good spots to watch cranes enter and leave their roosts.

the North Platte River. For those who want to see cranes through their car windows, driving the roads that closely parallel the river in these areas provides viewing opportunities when the birds feed in fields near the river. By using a car as a blind, visitors can often stop nearby to watch the birds feed, interact and perform courtship rituals.

In the Grand Island and Kearney area, where the largest number of cranes congregate, drivers may safely park and watch birds at three roadside turnouts - two on Platte River Drive west of Doniphan, and a third west of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary office located southwest of Interstate 80 exit 285 near Gibbon on Elm Island Road.

For those who want to observe cranes on or near the river, there are two public viewing decks in the same area. The Alda Crane Viewing Site is two miles south of Crane Meadows Nature Center, a

Roadside turnouts provide a safe place to park and watch cranes.

private non-profit nature center located south of the Alda interchange at I-80 exit 305, and the Richard Plautz Crane Viewing Site is located 1½ miles south of the I-80 Gibbon interchange at exit 285. Built next to the river, both observation decks are wheelchair-accessible and offer nearby parking. During the peak of the migration, which usually occurs the third week in March, these viewing decks are often crowded, especially during weekends, so plan to arrive at least an hour before sunset.

Another popular location for watching cranes on the river is the hike-bike bridge that crosses the Platte River at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area southeast of Kearney. Although a state park permit is required for vehicles in the area, there is no other fee to use the bridge, which is located 1/3 mile from the parking area. The nearby Fort Kearny State Historical Park offers visitors a look at the area's past with several reconstructed fort building, and the visitor center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 8 through April 13. The center also shows a short film about cranes several times every hour and has information about other birds migrating through the Platte Valley.

"We try to keep up with what the entire migration is doing, and what other events and attractions are going on in the area," said Hunt.

For those who want a close view of the cranes on the river, both Rowe Sanctuary and Crane Meadows offer sunrise and sunset blind and bunker tours.

Rowe, a 1,250-acre wildlife sanctuary operated by the National Audubon Society, has four observation blinds, three photo blinds and a viewing hall in its new visitor center (see story on page 17) that will be used when needed. The cost is $15 per person Sunday evenings through Friday mornings and $18 per person at other times. Because outside blinds are not heated and participants must remain quiet, the Rowe staff discourages children under 10 years old from taking part in

Crane watchers should park only where they won't disrupt traffic or farming operations.

these trips. The blinds will be open this year from March 7 through April 6, and visitors must dress appropriately for the elements. Reservations are required and are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Although some binoculars are available for rent, visitors are encouraged to bring their own binoculars, spotting scopes, and still and video cameras. For more information about the Rowe facilities, call (308) 468-5282.

Crane Meadows blinds will be open March 1 through April 10. There is a charge of $18 per person Friday through Sunday and $15 per person on other days. No children under 10 years old are allowed in the blind and bunker tours, but youngsters may take part in a $5 tour offered nightly to Crane Meadow's 455-foot pedestrian bridge that crosses a nearby channel of the Platte River. Like the blind and bunker tours, the bridge tours offer participants an opportunity to watch and listen as thousands of cranes return to a nearby river roosting area. Tour information is also available at the Crane Meadows office, and special arrangements may be made for bus and large group tours. A photo blind will be available this year for the first time. For more information or to make Crane Meadow tour reservations, call (308) 382-1820.

For visitors coming from the west, or who want less-crowded viewing opportunities, the North Platte area is a great place to observe cranes. Biologists estimate 160,000 cranes use the river valley between North Platte and Sutherland. The area has fewer birdwatchers than the Grand

Two sandhill cranes take a late-afternoon break from feeding to engage in a courtship display.

Island-to-Kearney stretch, according to Steve Kemper, superintendent of the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park in North Platte. The park has a blind for crane watchers in its state recreation area that also features interpretative markers that tell about crane migration and habits.

The blind, which may be used for photography or simply watching, is a renovated horse trailer fitted with plexiglass windows and seats. It holds 15 people at one time and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no charge for its use. "It's a nice, portable viewing blind," Kemper said, "and it gives people a good opportunity to see cranes." The blind is situated in a native grass wet meadow that the cranes use for roosting because most of the nearby North Platte River's sandbars are overgrown. Another option in the area, Kemper said, is to drive along North River Drive, "There are just cranes all over out there," he said.

Crane-Watching Etiquette
In most cases, the less human pressure near cranes, the better the viewing. By avoiding heavily traveled roads, visitors often find birds close to a road, where they are easily observed. Weekdays are often the best time because blind reservations are easier to get and there are fewer cars than on weekends to spook the birds. Early in the season the cranes find plenty to eat near the river, but later they might fly to more distant fields to feed. In late-afternoon they move close to the river again, feeding in nearby fields until it is time to go to a roost.

Early morning and late evening usually provide the best viewing and photography opportunities. Binoculars and spotting scopes are a must if you want to get a close look at the birds, but a powerful telephoto lens is not necessary for good pictures - the sheer multitude of birds filling

A rare sight for crane watchers is an endangered whooping crane (white bird in middle) feeding among sandhill cranes.

the fields, river and sky is what makes this event such a spectacle. A photographer with a mid-range telephoto lens will find many good shooting opportunities. Video cameras are also great tools to capture the event.

"We encourage people to bring video cameras," said Paul Tebbel, Rowe Sanctuary director. "With video you not only get to see the birds, but you can hear the incredible sound they make."

Because sandhill cranes are hunted in most states, they are extremely wary of people. Don't approach the birds on foot. A good way to get close is to use a car as a blind because birds are used to vehicles, but respect private property and don't trespass. Don't try to make cranes fly by honking your horn or waving your arms. Harassing wildlife is illegal and stresses the birds.

When watching cranes, minimize disturbance to the local residents, too. The crane migration is a world-class birding event and many residents enjoy seeing the birds, but inconsiderate visitors

Crane viewing opportunities are available for youngsters, too.

can become a nuisance. Follow commonsense rules: Use turnouts or pull off the road as far as possible, don't stop if a shoulder is not available, turn on hazard lights, and check traffic before pulling back onto road. Other no-no's include blocking driveways or access roads. If your slow speed blocks traffic, pull over to let other cars pass.

In short, respect local property rights and the wildlife you are viewing, and recognize the crane's spring migration stop along the Platte for what it is - one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles.