Hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes assemble along the central Platte River Valley in Nebraska, creating one of the most impressive “rites of spring” provided in nature (photo by Paul Konrad).

The legendary mid-migration concentrations of Sandhill Cranes along the central Platte River Valley in Nebraska are anticipated by thousands of people who make a focused journey to witness, hear, and photograph the remarkable concentrations of hundreds of thousands of Sandhills. With flocks stretching across a wide swath of the central Platte River Valley, many birders center birding activities at and near the Rowe Sanctuary, formally known as the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center & Rowe Sanctuary, located west of Grand Island and east of Kearney, Nebraska.

Throughout the month of March, the Rowe Sanctuary offers a wealth of birding opportunities through their twice daily Guided Crane Experience (March 4 to April 9), the daily Guided Crane Photography Experience (March 17 to April 9), and an Overnight Photography Experience (March 17 to April 9), along with Crane Behavior Basics, a daily 3:00pm presentation from March 4 to April 9. All programs require advance reservations; for more information, refer to Crane Season | Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

The guided experiences bring participants to the new strategically positioned Discovery Stations that provide close indoor views of Sandhill Cranes as they arrive, leave, and roost at locations along the Platte River. For people looking for a spring hiking opportunity in the valley, the Rowe Sanctuary trails provide mid-day access from about 10:00am to 4:00pm – after the cranes leave the roost sites and before they begin to return to the roosting areas.

Even if you don’t make it to the Platte River this spring, you can marvel at the live online Crane Cam that permits you to see and hear the expansive population of Sandhill Cranes that assembles at the largest crane roost in the world, with between 100,000 and 200,000 Sandhill Cranes assembling as sunset approaches, overnight, and during early morning hours. The first flocks of Sandhill Cranes have arrived, along with many species of ducks, and you can hear Snow Geese calling in the area too. During coming weeks you will be amazed by the sights and sounds of the flocks you will see via the live online Crane Cam at Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary's Crane Camera | Explore.org

During the day, flocks of cranes spread out to surrounding agricultural fields where they feed, preen, rest, and sometimes dance, until they return flock after flock to roost sites on the sandbars, shallows, and shores of the Platte River. It all adds up to one of the most impressive “rites of spring” provided in nature!