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Sandhill Crane Viewing on Platte River - near Grand Island & Kearney
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Annual Sandhill Crane Migration - Feeding layover on Nebraska cornfields near
the Platt River + roosting on the Platte River at night
Near Grand Island and west along the Platte River to Kearney, NE
- in south central Nebraska
The Sandhill Crane Migration is a very popular annual attraction in Central Nebraska
-- for the hundreds of thousands of Migrating Cranes
-- and also their many viewers who come from all over the world to watch the event.
Nebraska Sandhill Cranes Migration - with a stopover on the Platt River near Grand Island, NE
An estimated 500,000 Sandhill Cranes pass thru the Nebraska Platte River valley heading northward every year during the Annual Spring and Fall Sandhill Crane Migrations. They migrate through an 80 mile wide "Flyway" stretch along the Platt River from near Grand Island to west of Kearney, NE. It is estimated that about 80% of the world's population of Sandhill Cranes do an annual migration layover in this area of the Platte River. The Platte Valley area has great habitat for many types of birds - even bald eagles.
Usual Spring & Fall Sandhill Crane Migration dates:
The Spring migration usually begins on the Platte River in late February, peaks in mid March, and has a mass exodus in mid April. During the Spring migration, cranes stay in the area for several weeks to "fuel up" for the long trip north. Much more on that + Photos, Info Links, Interactive maps to viewing areas, & Video below.
The Fall migration usually runs between late September through mid December, with the peak between late October through early November. These stays are typically just an overnight on the Platte River since the cranes are heading south to warmer weather. 
Nebraska Sandhill Cranes Migration - flying in for roosting at Sunset on the Platt River - near, Grand Island, NE
The Big Spring Migration on the Platte River
Forbes FYI - a supplement to Forbes Magazine has labeled the Platte River "Wings Over The Platte Spring Migration" as the #1 place in the world for Bird Watchers. In addition to the Cranes, between 14 and 16 million ducks and geese also pass through the area + many other species of migratory birds.
The Cranes winter in the southern states and Mexico and then flocks of them start coming northward on the Central Flyway and start arriving along the Platte River in the area between Grand Island and Kearney about mid-February.
They spend about 3 - 4 weeks in the cornfields along the Platte building up fat reserves to help them sustain the flight and nesting period in their destination up north in Canada, Alaska, and for a few, Siberia. The Cranes usually add up to two pounds to their approximately 12 pound body weight during their "refuling" stay in the Platte River Valley in Nebraska.
Sandhill Cranes feeding in the cornfields near the Platte River
in Nebraska
This is wasted corn left from the harvest - and actually benefits the farmers since it would otherwise be "volunteer" come growing season. - It is estimated the Sandhill Cranes eat up to 1,600 tons of waste corn during their 3 to 4 week stay in Nebraska on the Platte River.
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.
Here you can see a Sandhill Crane Range, Migration & Nesting Map posted on the International Crane Foundation Site which has Info on many species of Cranes, including detailed Info on the Sandhill Cranes.
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, projected Migration Dates, Crane Viewing location Tips, Viewing Blind Info, Crane Migration Links, and a Crane Migration "Fly-in" on the Platte Video below.
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 attended in March of 2007 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. (See below for the current "open" status of the Crane Meadows Center and their Crane Blind Viewing Tours.)
Crane Meadows Viewing Blind location on hill on north side overlooking Platt River east of Alda Bridge Viewing Platform
The prior Crane Meadows Visitors Center (Now Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center) location is just south of the Alda I-80 Exit on Hwy 26 (Exit #305) which is SW of Grand Island, NE.
The prior Crane Meadows Center is open for 2010 with a new name and now giving Sandhill Crane Migration Viewing Tours!
It is in the same location and now operating under the name Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center and offering both $30 Crane Viewing Blind and $8 "Bridge" Crane Viewing Tours overlooking the Platte River. Check out Tour + Contact Info and even book your Sandhill Crane Migration Viewing Tour on their new "Plan your Visit" web page. They now also have a Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center Blog which lists upcoming Events and Speakers at the Center.
Interested in being a Volunteer at the recently renamed Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center? -- check out their "Volunteer!" page.
-- Also see Info on 2010 Crane Viewing Tours in the same area at the:
- Rowe Sanctuary & Audubon Center Blind Viewing Info & Links 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 "Wings over the Platte" at Stuhr Museum in Grand Island
Info on the annual Wings Over the Platte art show at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, NE, which will be hosting the Annual Wings Over the Platte art show and a Crane Speaker Series.
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.
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.
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 - Blinds have room for 26-32 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 + tax). Reservation are needed for this special Blind, plus the regular morning or evening Viewing Blind tours which run $25 per person + tax. The Director 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 this 2010 Rowe Sanctuary Crane Viewing and Reservation Info page 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.
See this link for more Info on reserving the special Overnight Photography Photo Blind where two Photographers can be very close to the Migrating Cranes as they settle in to roost on the Platte River for the night and leave in the morning. Good location to take some great Sandhill Crane videos! (See our Crane video at sunset below - taken from a different blind further east overlooking the Platte.)
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 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. (Link to the Latest Online Newsletter is near top left on the Rowe Sanctuary Home page.) 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. You 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 20+ 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.
The Sandhill Crane Migration Video Clip - with Sound!
-- Thousands flying in to roost on the Platte River at Sunset
Taken from a Crane Meadows Bird Viewing Blind overlooking the Platte River near the Alda Road Viewing Platform Site on Hwy 26. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes flying in at about Sunset from feeding in the nearby cornfields to roost overnight on the Platte river.
The interesting sounds the Cranes make gets fairly loud.
This is a series of edits from several Video Clips taken over about an hour and a half period at Sunset as the Sandhill Cranes were coming in to land and roost on the River. The wind was gusting up to 30 MPH that evening. (2 1/2 Min Video)
Click play button [>] twice to start video. Be sure speakers are on.
(If your browser setup will not play the video above, use this link. + also can check out some of our other Nebraska Travels video clips in the "From user" area to lower right.)
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Sandhill Crane Video Facts:
The annual Spring Sand hill Crane Migration through Nebraska will see about 500,000 Cranes stop over sometime between late February and mid April on the Platte River in Nebraska. They will stay for about 3 - 4 weeks to feed in the cornfields during the day and roost in the shallow waters of the Platte River at night before heading on north to Canada, Alaska, and even Siberia.
This video is of several thousand Sand hill Crane birds flying in at about sunset from feeding in the nearby cornfields to roost on the Platte River for the night.
The unusual and hard to describe "warbling - bugling" noise you can hear in the video gets VERY loud as more and more of the cranes fly in to take up their spots in the shallow protective waters of the Platte River near Grand Island, NE.
An average Sandhill Crane has a wingspan of 5-6 feet, stands about 4.5 feet tall, and weighs about 12 pounds. They usually mate for life when they are between 3 and 6 years old after a lengthy courtship that includes some very elaborate and unusual "dances."
Video was taken from a high blind overlooking the river when wind was blowing 25-30 MPH - which you can sometimes hear.
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See this link for the seasonal National Geographic "Crane Cam" located near the Rowe Sanctuary and Audubon Center south of Gibbon and east of Kearney, NE. Live streaming Video of the Sandhill Crane Migration at a popular Crane overnight bird "roosting spot" on the Platte River provided by the Rowe Sanctuary and National Geographic Magazine. The Live Video has sound. (You may have to install a RealPlayer "plug-in" to watch depending on your Browser set-up -- Also, the Crane Cam is only active when the cranes are in the area, so you may have to watch past highlights or another Wildlife Cam.) Note that the best Viewing times are usually around Sunrise at 6 AM - 7:30 AM CST and around Sunset at 6 PM - 7:30 PM CST.
This link is to an Interesting and cute Video "Kids and Cranes: What Cranes Do" which includes a Video of baby cranes being born and their early days, plus links to videos of several aspects of their behavior including their unusual "Dancing" mating behavior.
Colorful Sunset over the small lake next to Alda Road Sandhills Crane Viewing
Platform overlooking the Platte River - SW of Grand Island, NE
(See full size version + links to High Resolution Sunsets at our Sunset Photos Gallery)
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The Western Nebraska Road Trip - the Nebraska Sandhills and Panhandle Road Trip Via the Scenic non-Interstate Route - Includes Nebraska National Forest and Scottsbluff area Attractions + Others. MANY great Pictures!!!
