What to see in Nebraska? | Amazing Sandhill Crane Migration | 2024

If you're planning a vacation to (OR THROUGH) Nebraska, you may be asking: What is there to do in Nebraska? Well... not much if you're looking for things like Yellowstone and Mountains... there are plenty of cornfield and some cool geological feature in Western Nebraska, but the MOST AMAZING thing to see in Nebraska is the Great Sandhill Crane Migration!
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A quick guide for how to see the Great Sandhill Crane Migration, where over 500,000 cranes (some estimates at 1 million) migrate and rest along 80 miles of the Platte River in Nebraska between Grand Island and Kearney. Here, you can travel to see an amazing spectacle of nature at dawn and dusk (and also hear the Sandhill Crane call as well as sounds when flying). So grab your camera, winter coat, gloves, and binoculars, and set your compass to the middle of Nebraska for an amazing experience. You won't be disappointed!
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Everything you need to know about the Sandhill Crane Migration 2024 in Nebraska... and why you should see it!
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a sandhill crane! Welcome to Grand Island and Kearney, also know as the Central Flyway, in Nebraska, where “kettles” of cranes fly over the Platte River valley. Literally looking like wisps of smoke from a distance, more than 500,000 cranes (some say closer to 1 million), or 80% of all the cranes in the world, arrive on an 80 miles stretch of the Platte river. This remarkable migration happens every year between mid February and goes through April, with the peak being the third week of
march. They are said to "follow the edge of winter" as they migrate from as far south as Mexico and as far north as Siberia.
An individual crane spends about 29 days along the Platte River. During that time, it will deposit up to a pound of fat, which provides the energy necessary to complete the migration and initiate nesting. About 90 percent of their diet consists of corn, which means during the daylight hours, don't expect to see thousands gathered at the river, instead, plan to be there
at the break of dawn or dusk to see them gather, and when I say gather, it's
densities of more than 12,000 cranes per half mile of river possible.
Now these birds are 4 feet tall and can fly, on a good day, up to 500 miles,
although 200 to 300 miles is more typical. In the late afternoon, they seek a wetland of some type to roost for the night and depart the next morning.
When visiting to see this amazing sight (and sounds).. be sure to visit the
Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center. There are some trails and viewing areas here and they can help point you to good locations. But be warned, if you're going in the morning, get there early because the viewing areas will be very full. There's also the Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney, which has an indoor viewing area.
And in the evening, the lights fades fast, so make sure you see what you want to see first, like the river. Remember to check the surrounding corn fields as many will be feeding in the fields. It will mostly likely be quite cold, so brings heavy jackets and gloves. As you can see there's definitely still snow when we came in late March! My favorite thing was the sounds they make in the quiet of remote Nebraska. I also very much liked the sky in the distance was filled with birds, the more you look, the more you saw flying toward the river, so be sure to take 5 solid minutes and look south from the river.
A final quick note, is that it's not only sandhill cranes, but another favorite is whooping cranes and many, many other species migrate through as well.
So Nebraska's cornfields might be a bore to see most of the year, but it definitely worth a trip to see the great migration. I highly recommend it.
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Goals of this channel:
~ Safe travels, good laughs, memorable moments, friendship ~
Follow me here:
/ happy.girl.who.travels
Goals of this channel:
~ Safe travels, good laughs, memorable moments, friendship ~

[@whoaracehorse670]

If the Sandhills Cranes like Nebraska, then I’d say it must be a Kettle of a place!🤣🌽🌽

[@HeyChannelDani]

What kind of bird works on a construction site?
A Crane

[@joebanks3698]

How do Nebraska farmers protect their crops from Sandhill cranes?
The put out Scarecranes.

[@DavidIrthum]

I have family that are ranchers in Nebraska 😊.

[@HeyChannelDani]

That’s awesome, I bet they’ve seen a few cranes then! Lol

[@colecrystal3035]

Can we do KC next? ❤

[@HeyChannelDani]

Yes, I do actually have a video on KC! It's called the 11 Best Things to do in Kansas City! Let me know what you think, colecrystal3035!