Sandhill cranes are large migratory birds that breed in the northern United States and Canada during the summer and migrate south to wintering grounds in the southern United States and Mexico. In the spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes stop along the Platte River in central Nebraska to rest and feed during their migration, making it one of the world’s largest concentrations of sandhill cranes.
Migration Through Nebraska
There are six subspecies of sandhill crane, and two migrate through Nebraska each spring and fall. The lesser sandhill crane breeds in the arctic regions of Canada and Alaska and winters primarily in New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico. The greater sandhill crane nests across parts of northern Canada and the northern United States, including Alaska, and winters in the southern U.S. states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Florida.
During spring migration in March and April, sandhill cranes stop in Nebraska to rest and build up energy reserves by feeding in the wet meadows and croplands along the Platte River. Their primary stopover point is an 80 mile stretch of the Platte running from near Kearney to Grand Island, where up to 700,000 cranes have been recorded.
In the fall starting in October, a majority of the sandhill crane population again passes through central Nebraska on their way to wintering grounds. Peak fall migration occurs in October and early November and may concentrate up to 540,000 cranes along the Platte River.
Roosting Habitat
Sandhill cranes roost overnight while staging in Nebraska in the shallow water of the wide braided channels of the Platte River. They prefer open areas away from trees or dense vegetation where they can easily see potential predators. The bare sandbars and islands in the river provide ideal secure spots for them to roost.
Sandhill cranes arrive at sunset to roosting areas along the Platte, often congregating in huge flocks. They stand in shallow water up to a few inches deep to roost. In the morning, they leave the river around sunrise to disperse and feed in nearby fields.
Feeding Habitat
During the day while stopped over in Nebraska, sandhill cranes leave the Platte River to fly out to agricultural fields and meadows up to 20 miles away to feed. They are omnivores and in Nebraska dine mainly on waste corn in harvested fields as well as insects, small mammals, snails, earthworms, and plant roots in wet meadows.
preferred feeding grounds are in grasslands, pastures, hayfields, and cornfields where they can access high-energy foods to fuel their continued migration. They dig through soil and plant litter searching for food with their bills. Farmers will sometimes flood harvested corn fields to make waste corn more accessible to feeding cranes.
Range and Habitat
The key migration stopover grounds used by sandhill cranes along the 80 mile stretch of the Platte River in central Nebraska provide ideal habitat for their needs. The Platte here is wide and shallow with many sandbars and islands for secure nighttime roosting sites.
Surrounding the river is a mix of grasslands, agricultural fields, and wet meadows that offer prime feeding habitat. The combination of the shallow braided river and abundant food sources nearby make this region critically important stopover habitat for migrating sandhill cranes.
Some key areas along the Platte River used by roosting and feeding sandhill cranes include:
- Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon
- Mormon Island Crane Meadows near Grand Island
- Shoemaker Island near Kearney
- Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
These protected state-owned lands provide habitat for cranes along the river during migration. Private lands adjacent to the Platte also serve as feeding grounds for cranes.
Conservation and Threats
Sandhill cranes continue to rely on the Platte River and its surrounding habitat during migration, although some threats exist to the area:
- Water withdrawals reducing river flows needed to maintain roosting sites
- Invasive plant species degrading habitat
- Expansion of riparian woodlands converting open roosting grounds to forest
- Loss of feeding habitat due to development and changes in farming practices
However, conservation efforts are helping protect sandhill crane habitat in Nebraska. Some initiatives include:
- Water usage regulations to maintain river flows during migration
- Control of invasive species along the Platte
- Restoration of wet meadows for feeding habitat
- Prescribed burns to maintain open roosting grounds
- Private and state-owned protected lands
Continued conservation efforts focused on preserving habitat along the Platte River will be key to ensuring Nebraska remains a vital staging ground for migrating sandhill cranes into the future.
Sandhill Crane Migration in Nebraska
Here is a summary of the timeline of sandhill crane migration through Nebraska each year:
Spring Migration
- Early March – First sandhill cranes start arriving in Nebraska. Mainly lesser sandhill cranes first, followed by greater sandhill cranes later in month.
- Mid to Late March – Peak of spring crane migration with hundreds of thousands of cranes concentrated along central Platte River valley.
- Early April – Migration starts slowing with fewer cranes stopping in Nebraska as most have passed through on their way to northern breeding grounds.
- Mid April – Spring migration ends. Last remaining groups of sandhill cranes have departed Nebraska for the north.
Fall Migration
- Mid September – Earliest sandhill cranes start showing up in Nebraska on southbound fall migration.
- Early October – Fall crane migration begins to build up momentum with more large flocks arriving daily.
- Mid to Late October – Peak of fall migration, with massive numbers of cranes crowding the Platte River valley.
- Early November – Fall migration starts to wind down but is still strong.
- Mid November – Last big push of cranes passes through Nebraska with numbers decreasing each day.
- Late November – Fall migration trails off with only scattered groups still migrating through the area.
- Early December – Last straggling sandhill cranes depart Nebraska for wintering grounds.
This typical timeline varies from year to year depending on weather conditions and other factors. But in general, the Platte River valley in central Nebraska provides critical stopover habitat for hundreds of thousands of migrating sandhill cranes each spring and fall as they stage for their long journeys between northern nesting and southern wintering grounds.
Viewing Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska
The mass migration of sandhill cranes through central Nebraska brings bird watchers and nature enthusiasts from across the country and around the world. Here are some of the best places to view sandhill cranes:
Rowe Sanctuary
This protected area managed by the National Audubon Society near Gibbon provides excellent spring crane viewing opportunities. Miles of trails wind through wet meadows and the Platte River channel, bringing visitors close to huge flocks of cranes. Blind-style viewing platforms offer sunrise and sunset viewing when cranes fly out from and return to the river to roost.
Iain Nicolson Audubon Center
Overlooking the Platte River west of Kearney, this center offers blind and indoor viewing of cranes, interactive exhibits, and naturalist-led activities.
Fort Kearny State Recreation Area
Hiking trails lead to river overlooks and platforms ideal for fall crane viewing near the town of Kearney.
Platte River Road
Driving on back roads paralleling the Platte River between Kearney and Grand Island takes you past crane roosting areas and feeding fields. Best during early mornings and evenings when cranes are most active.
Crane Meadows Nature Center
Blinds situated amid cranes feeding in cornfields create incredible up-close encounters at Alda between Grand Island and Kearney.
Guided sunrise or sunset viewing tours are offered at many of these locations in March and April during spring migration and October for the fall migration peak. Seeing hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes congregating along the Platte River while watching the sunrise or sunset is an unforgettable sight and a highlight for many birders.
Conclusion
Each spring and fall, sandhill cranes rely on the Platte River valley and adjacent habitats in central Nebraska as vital stopover grounds during their epic migrations between northern nesting and southern wintering areas. This region provides ideal roosting and feeding grounds that hundreds of thousands of cranes require to rest and refuel during their lengthy journeys.
While some threats exist to habitat along the Platte, ongoing conservation efforts focused on protecting river flows, expanding feeding lands, and managing appropriate crane habitat will ensure Nebraska remains a key staging area for migrating sandhill cranes into the future. The annual convergence of cranes on the Platte River is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the planet, attracting bird enthusiasts from around the world eager to witness this impressive migration in action.