Sandhill Crane Migration
Stop over on the Platte river in Nebraska


Pictures - Crane Info - Maps - Video

Sandhill Cranes feeding in a Nebraska Cornfield irrigated with a center pivot shown in background.

A "refuling" stop during the Cranes annual Migration back North.
Southwest of Grand Island, Nebraska near the Alda Road Viewing Platform Site and bridge on Hwy 26 -- about 50 miles south of the eastern tip of the Nebraska Sandhills area.

Here you can see a listing of many Sandhill Crane Books with User Reviews & Ratings.

Tip - For daytime viewing of the Sandhill Cranes feeding in the harvested cornfields, go about one mile south of the Alda Viewing Platform to the east-west "W. Platte River Dr." road which jogs along near the Platt River. Park your car in a good spot where there are many cranes and either stay in or right next to your car and be still. The cranes will "drift" closer to you after a while as they get used to your being there. We have had good luck in the gravel portion of the W Platte River Dr. that goes west off of Hwy 26 since it seems like there is less traffic there than on the blacktop portion of the road that goes east.


Interactive Area Map + Migaration Info

This link goes to a Google interactive map which shows the Alda Road Viewing Platform Area marked + the roads in the area SW of Grand Island, Nebraska. The map also shows the roads to the west near the Gibbon Bridge Crane Viewing Platform off of I-80 1.5 miles south on Hwy 10c near Kearney. (more on the Gibbon Bridge Viewing area + Link below.)  Tip - Open above map in full window to see entire area in one printable view - use "Landscape" print orientation.

See more Information about the Sandhill Crane Migration at this Platt River Valley and Crane Facts page + a flyways map from the Grand Island Visitors Bureau.

See Candid User Reviews, Ratings, and Price Comparisons of 17 Grand Island Hotels and Motels at Compare prices and Ratings + read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor for Grand Island, NE. Click green "B&B" tab on above page for Info and User Review of a Grand Island Bread & Breakfast.


Viewing and taking Photos or Videos from a enclosed Blind - or the Alda Bridge Crane Viewing Platform

A more detailed copy of the above Crane Facts Information was handed out at the "Crane Viewing Rules & Etiquette" + Viewing Tour Info meeting I recently attended at the Crane Meadows Nature Center before going on one of their Sunset Sandhills Crane Viewing tours to a well located viewing blind overlooking the Platt River just east of the Alda Bridge Crane Viewing Site southwest of Grand Island.

   


Crane Meadows Viewing Blind location on hill on north side overlooking Platt River east of Alda Bridge Viewing Platform


The Crane Meadows Visitors Center location is just south of the Alda I-80 Exit on Hwy 26 (Exit #305) which is SW of Grand Island, NE. Reservations are needed for the enclosed Viewing Blind Tours which run $25 per person + tax.

Call 308-382-1820 for Viewing Tour information, availability, & Reservations. Suggest you call early, as Viewing Tours often fill up fast in good weather.

The short meeting was conducted by the then current Volunteer Director at the busy Visitors Center with many activities and programs going on. This link goes to the Crane Meadows Nature Center Web Site with Info on the Sandhill Crane Migration and their various Bridge and Blind Viewing Tours. (Note: The Crane Meadows Center is closed in 2008 for reorganization - It will hopefully open again in 2009 - you can still view interesting Crane Facts and pictures on the web site)

-- See Info on 2008 Crane Viewing Tours in the same area from the Grand Island Visitors Bureau + Rowe Sanctuary & Audubon Center Blind Viewing Info below.

Many of the pictures of Sandhill Cranes flying in over the Platt River on this page, plus the video clips used in the Sandhill Crane Migration Video below were taken from a Blind overlooking the Platte River on an evening Sandhill Crane Migration Viewing Blind Tour done in mid March of 2007.


Sandhill Crane Viewing Blind Tours from the Grand Island Visitors Bureau

The Grand Island Visitors Bureau is offering some Crane Viewing Blind tours on weekends for the 2008 Spring Migration while the Crane Meadows Center is closed. They are using some Blinds owned by the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust. The cost is $30 and includes a pass to the Stuhr Museum. See this Crane Blind Tour Info PDF page for dates, times, and other information and then call the Grand Island Visitors Bureau at 308-382-4440 or or toll free at 1-800-658-3178 to reserve your Blind Tour.

They also have some blinds available for private Viewing tours on Monday-Thursday. Cost of a guide is included: $30.00/person + a $30.00 Blind fee.

The Stuhr Museum is also hosting speakers each weekend during the Spring Sandhill Crane Migration. Topic are based on the Spring Migration and the Platte River Valley. They are located at 3133 West Highway 34 in Grand Island, NE. See this link for a complete Stuhr Museum Crane Speakers List with dates & times + contact Info. Their phone is: 308-385-5316.

       

Alda Bridge Crane Viewing Platform overlooking Platte River on Hwy 26

If you want to stand on a handicap-accessible viewing platform overlooking the river to view and take pictures of the evening fly-in spectacle here is more on the public Alda Bridge Crane Viewing Platform about two miles south of I-80 exit #305 on Hwy 26 next to the bridge over the Platte River. There is a large parking area and a small lake adjacent to the large wooden viewing platform which usually offers great views of the thousands of "noisy" cranes flying in to roost at sunset -- or off to the cornfields to feed in the early morning at sunrise.

Tip - For daytime viewing of the Sandhill Cranes feeding in the harvested cornfields, we also found many Sandhill Cranes feeding along the "Shoemaker Island Road" which runs between two channels of the Platte River just south of I-80 at the west end. The gravel road runs between Hwy 11 about a half mile south of Exit 300 off of I-80 between 2 forks of the River, east over to the Alda Road (Hwy 26). Shoemaker Island Rd ends up on the east end right next to the Alda Bridge Crane Viewing Platform parking lot. We saw many flocks of Cranes assembling in the corn fields there late in the afternoon, which then later flew over and roosted on the Platte River at about Sundown.


The Rowe Sanctuary and Audubon Center and Viewing Blinds southwest of Gibbon - or the Gibbon Bridge Crane Viewing Platform

See more Crane Facts + Sandhill Crane Migration and Viewing Information, and some great pictures at the Rowe Sanctuary & lain Nicolson Audubon Center east of Kearney, Nebraska. The Facility and grounds are located southwest of Gibbon exit #285 off of I-80 on Elm Island Road just south of the Platte River and west from Hwy 10c. There is a sign marking the gravel road off of Hwy 10c west to the Rowe Sanctuary & Audubon Center.

   


Rowe Sanctuary & Audubon Center Viewing Blind on south edge of Platte River - Room for up to 36 Viewers - each with their own "window" to watch the Cranes.


The Rowe Sanctuary also operates several riverside viewing blinds + a special "sleep-over" 2-person Photography Blind for very serious nature photographers ($150/night). Reservation are needed for this special Blind, plus the regular morning or evening Viewing Blind tours which run $20 per person. The Director, Brad, was kind enough to take me on a quick walk out to see this Blind and take this picture since I got to the Rowe Sanctuary Centery near closing time. See Web Site above or call 308-468-5282 for more Sandhill Crane and other birds Viewing Blind information and availability -- tours usually fill up fast when the Cranes are "In," so call early.

The Rowe Sanctuary and Audubon Center southwest of Gibbon, NE is also often in need of Volunteers for Various duties in the Gift Shop plus some other areas. Call Tony Docherty at the Rowe Sanctuary - 308-468-5282 to see what help is currently needed and to offer to assist as a Volunteer at the Center. You can't find a place to "work" with a much nicer view with all of the large windows the Center has overlooking the Platte River!

You can also check out the online version of the "Crane River Chronicles" Rowe Sanctuary Audubon Center Newsletter, published periodically. It is very well done with interesting habitat Info and Crane Facts, plus it includes a Rowe Sanctuary Center Calendar of Events and more on Volunteering with Contact Info. Can even sign up for e-mail notifications of when a new newsletter is posted online.

    

 Gibbon Bridge Crane Viewing Platform overlooking Platte River on
Hwy 10c (Lowell Rd) east of Kearney, NE

This link goes to Info on the nearby handicap accessible Gibbon Bridge Crane Viewing Platform. This bridge is 1.5 miles south of I-80 exit 285 south of Gibbon on Hwy 10c (Lowell Rd) -- about 13 miles east of Kearney, NE.

Here is a fairly detailed map of the Rowe Sanctuary and Gibbon Bridge Crane Viewing area. (The Rowe Sanctuary Audubon Center is on the south side of the Platt River on Elm Island Road Vs north of the River which it may look like in this map.)

See Candid User Reviews, Ratings, and Price Comparisons of 15 Kearney Hotels and Motels at Compare prices and Ratings + read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor for Kearney, NE.


Crane watching Tips & "Etiquette"

Tip - The Guides and Staff will tell you this + it is in the printed materials, but we noticed some still did not take the warnings seriously. Take a jacket if you go on an evening Tour up to one of the Viewing Blinds or if you are watching from a Viewing deck. The temperature may quickly drop up to 20 degrees after the sun has gone down - especially if there is a breeze.

Also important - wear dark colored clothing so you won't be spotted as easily by the Cranes -- and remember to turn off your camera flash as it starts to get dark! They even recommended putting a piece of black tape over your flash in case you would forget and scare off the Cranes.
   -- Which would make you VERY unpopular with your fellow Crane Viewers!!!

Do not talk or only in very soft whispers is another important etiquette rule -- unless you want to become a unwanted part of a video with sound taken by someone standing next to you taking Video clips with a "video-enabled" digital camera or a regular video camera.

You might also want to check out this interesting "Watching Sandhill Cranes" NEBRASKAland article which also includes many Crane viewing tips + some pictures.

Check out this Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Volunteer Opportunities page if you are interested in investigating the various Volunteer possibilities at the many Nebraska State Parks, Campgrounds, and Fishing areas.

This Nebraska Game and Parks "Spring Migration Guide" page has some frequently asked Crane Questions & Answers with interesting Sandhill Cranes Info + Links.