There’s a good chance you’ve gazed down on Nebraska’s notorious flat farmlands during a cross-country flight. But this month, travelers to the ‘Cornhusker State’ should look up. — Travel + Leisure It’s one of nature’s most incredible spectacles. Each spring, more than 80 percent of the world’s population – up to 600,000! – of Sandhill Cranes converges on Nebraska’s Platte River valley, a critical habitat in North America’s Central Flyway. These birds are migrating from northern Mexico, Texas and New Mexico to breeding grounds in Canada, Alaska and Siberia – and Nebraska is where they rest and refuel.
The Majestic Sandhill Crane
- Sandhill Cranes are serious dancers. In an elaborate courting ritual, they’ll stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow, and leap into the air.
- These birds can grow to almost four feet tall and have a wingspan of up to six feet.
- Their bugling calls can be heard from miles away—you’ll hear them before you see them as they approach.
- Sandhill Cranes have been around a LONG time. The earliest fossil, found in Florida, is estimated to be 2.5 million years old.
Best Birdwatching Spots
Birdwatching Etiquette
- DO NOT stop on roadways, driveways or any other farm road or gated entry.
- DO NOT attempt to approach birds on their roosts.
- DO NOT harass cranes or other birds by honking your car horn or flashing your lights – it’s illegal and disturbs other birdwatchers.
What to Pack
- Celestron Nature DX Binoculars: An affordable option, delivering excellent clarity, brightness, and color rendition.
- Camera, preferably with a zoom lens.
- Weather conditions can change rapidly on the Great Plains during late winter and early spring, so pack attire that is suitable for low windchills.
- Birding Nebraska's Central Platte Valley and Rainwater Basin by Paul Johnsgard: An essential guide to crane viewing and beyond.
- Water-resistant boots that will get you through some of the muddier areas.
The Endangered Whooping Crane
- The whooping crane is one of the world’s largest cranes, and the tallest North American flying bird, with a wingspan of 7.5 feet and a height of five feet.
- Whooping cranes came dangerously close to extinction in the mid-20th century – a 1941 count found only 16 living birds.
- Today, there are upwards of 220 whooping cranes in the Central Flyway.
- These birds can fly up to 47 mph and travel up to 500 miles each day.
Chicken Dance Party!
- Nebraska is fortunate to have two species of “prairie grouse:” the Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) and the Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus).
- Each spring, males of these two grassland species gather in Nebraska to perform spectacular courtship displays – the ultimate chicken dance.
- Fueled by raging hormones, the mating dance sees each male attempting to outdo all other “suitors” in an effort catch the eye of any females. It’s a good old-fashioned dance-off.
- Activity peaks in April, although displaying birds can be observed earlier in March or later in May. The best spots to see prairie grouse are Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge and Burchard Lake State Special Use Area.