The first signs of spring have begun, and more than 500,000 sandhill cranes are taking to the skies. These large birds with bright red feathered caps, bright white throats and droopy feathers will fly in late February from their wintering grounds in Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico to their breeding grounds in the northern continental United States, Canada and Alaska.
Along the way, about 80% of the population will rest in Nebraska’s Platte River Valley. Between February and April they rest and feed before flying off to complete their journey, giving them the opportunity to see a true wonder of nature as the animals eat, rest and flirt.
Here’s what makes sandhill crane migrations so extraordinary and where to see them.
Where are the sandhill cranes going?
Sandhill Crane (Canada Crane or Antigone, Canada) is the most abundant crane species in the world. Cranes are among the oldest living birds, with fossil records showing they have been migrating across Nebraska for at least 2.5 million years. Some records suggest they may have traveled nine million years, long before the Platte Valley was formed.
These cranes spend the winter near lakes or rivers in the southern United States and northern Mexico. They spend their time searching for food with their mouths in fields and wetlands. In addition to grains and seeds, they eat berries, tubers, insects, snails, lizards, frogs, any small mammal they can catch, and even other baby birds.
A sandhill crane dances on the Platte River in south-central Nebraska as others watch its performance. Rick Rasmussen
Two sandhill cranes dance in the shallow waters of Nebraska’s Platte River. These birds dance to their court mates, strengthening lifelong partnerships and communicating within the flock. Rick Rasmussen
When spring arrives, cranes head north. The larger Sandhill Crane will eventually be found throughout the Great Lakes, the Mountain West, and southern Canada. But little sandhill cranes can travel great distances, all the way to the Arctic Circle in northern Canada and Alaska.
(This is what the last great migration looked like.)
Why flock to the Platte Valley?
On their way north, both the Lesser and Greater Sandhill Cranes stop in the Platte River Valley, 143 miles from Omaha, Nebraska. The shallow, braided river corridor is known for its fertile agricultural land and is an important ecological migration corridor for millions of bird species. The Platte River has shallow water and sandbars ideal for the sleeping needs of the cranes, who roost in the shallows at night.
During the day, the birds fan out to feast on a lavish buffet, especially leftover corn in the fields. Before humans began farming, cranes were thought to feed on local tubers. But now, they’ll eat about 1,600 tons of corn at rest stops, adding about a pound of fat to each crane as vital fuel for the rest of the journey. They will also grab any earthworms or other invertebrates that get in their way.
Where is the best place to see them?
Big birds are hard to miss. But at night, sandhill cranes inhabit the shallow waters of the Platte River, forming flocks of more than 12,000 birds at a time. In the morning, they go out to feed, often within a few miles of the river. The peak time to view this mass migration is from mid-to-late March to the first week of April.
(Bird migration is one of nature’s great wonders. This is what they do.)
Many locations in the Platte Valley offer guided tours, overlooks, and other ways to view large flocks of sheep. The City of Kearney, Neb., provides a Crane Viewing Guide that lists recreation areas and overlooks, including the Ian Nicholson Audubon Center at Lowe Preserve, the Central Platte Natural Resources Area’s Plautz River Lookout, Windmill State Recreation Area, Fort Kearney State Recreation Area, and more. The Nature Conservancy also owns 4,600 acres of land along the Platte River that is open to the public for viewing cranes.
They may also flirt while they feed, although they do not settle down to build a nest and raise their young until the migration is complete. Sandhill cranes perform choreographed dances, spreading their wings, bowing, leaping, and tossing sticks in the air. Cranes mate throughout their lives, but for those who are still single, the Platte Valley is a great place to meet and mingle.
