The Birds Area Coming…Are You?

Platte River Valley - Spring Wildlife Viewing Paradise

From February through April each spring nearly 500,000 Sandhill Cranes crowd together along a short stretch of the Platte River in south central Nebraska.  This migration event is one of the most spectacular wildlife happenings that can be witnessed anywhere.  Thousands of bird enthusiasts travel thousands of miles each year to be part of this incomparable experience. 

Several years ago National Geographic magazine named this annual crane migration through central Nebraska as one of North America’s two greatest natural wildlife phenomena – the other one being the Caribou migration in Alaska. The world's foremost authority on birds, Roger Tory Peterson, wrote "It is the largest concentration of any species of cranes, anywhere in the world.”  He listed the Central Platte Valley as one of his twelve favorite birding hotspots in North America.

So, why do these incredible concentrations of Sandhill Cranes show-up each spring in Central Nebraska?  Simply put, the wet meadows & shallow sandbars of the Platte River make this a “staging” area attractive to all cranes migrating in the Central Flyway.  It is a place where they can refuel, rest, and mate or rekindle their pair bonds so that when they arrive at their arctic nesting grounds they can immediately get down to the business of starting their family.  This Platte River staging area is really their only extended stopover during the entire spring migration and the only location offering safe sandbars for roosting, abundant food, and meadows for loafing and courting.

While most of our attention is focused on migrating cranes, they are by no means the only show in town.  Waterfowl and shorebirds pour into the Platte Valley by the millions.  Bluebirds begin calling on prairies.  Woodcock initiate their evening “skydance”.  Wild turkeys can be heard gobbling along the river.  Prairie chickens initiate their spectacular courtship “booming” display.  Bald Eagles can be observed in tall Cottonwoods along the River searching for food.  All told, 185 species of birds migrate through this area each year and an additional 115 species will stay here to nest.  The Platte River Valley truly is a wildlife viewing paradise in the spring that should be experienced first-hand by everyone with an interest in birds and nature.  For more information contact the Grand Island/Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 308-382-4400 (in-state) or 1-800-658-3178.

Crane Facts

How Many Sandhill Cranes migrate through Central Nebraska?  Nearly 500,000 Sandhill Cranes depend on the Platte River as a spring staging area each year.  This represents 80% of the world's population of Sandhill Cranes.

When will the Sandhill Cranes be in Nebraska?  The Sandhill Cranes start arriving around February 14th, reach peak numbers around March 17th and are mostly gone by about April 15th.

How big do the Sandhill Cranes get?   The average height of an adult is 3 1/2" feet tall, they weigh around 7-8 lbs. And have a wingspan of 5-6 feet.

Why do the Cranes stop over in Nebraska?  They stop along the Platte River in order to build up fat reserves, which are necessary to sustain them through the strenuous nesting season further north.  They will add at least 20% to their body weight!

What do the Cranes eat?  95% of their diet consists of waste corn found on the ground in the surrounding fields.  It's estimated that cranes eat up to 1600 tons of waste corn while in Nebraska.  The other 5% of their diet, consists of worms, insect larvae, snails and other invertebrates, are found in wet meadows adjacent to the river.

How do the Cranes use the Platte River?  Sandhill Cranes spend the night "roosting" on shallow sandbars in the open channels of the river. They may roost in concentrations of 20,000 per mile.  Roosting on the river protects them from their predators.

Why do the Cranes dance?  Some people believe the dancing is a way for the Cranes to release nervous energy.  It is also thought to be a courtship ritual contributing to the synchronization of breeding cycles between pairs.  Some have suggested that they may be dancing simply because they are contented.

Where can the Cranes be found during the day?  On any given day, 90% of the Cranes will be found within 10 miles of the Platte River.  They may travel an average of 6 miles per day.

How many kinds of sandhill cranes are there?  We have 3 subspecies of sandhill cranes in Nebraska.  The Greater Sandhill, which is  the largest subspecies of sandhill crane. The males weigh about 12 lbs.  The Canadian Sandhill is often called the "intermediate". The males weigh about 9 lbs.  The Lesser Sandhill crane, weighs around 7-8 lbs. These cranes fly the farthest to nest.  Some cross the Bering Strait to nest in eastern Siberia.

       Cranes on the Platte by Bob Moss                        Platte River Sunset by Rick Rasmussen