Sandhill Crane Migration
One of nature's most impressive avian migrations takes place in the plains of Nebraska. Each March and the first week or so of April, thousands and thousands of sandhill cranes stop in the cornfields for a bit of rest and to gorge themselves on leftover corn kernels. The best place to see this spectacle is in the area east and west of Kearney.
As you drive along Interstate 80, keep a close eye out for tall, gangly birds standing in farmers' fields, or circling above looking for places to land. They won't be hard to spot, the number of birds is astounding.
It's worth taking a detour in Kearney and getting the local map showing the most ideal viewing locations. The town and local area has done a good job of providing lookout platforms and highway pull-offs for visitors. For a more in-depth experience, head to the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, approximately 20 minutes from Kearney.
While this airborne migration is typical of many types of birds, what makes this unbelievable is the size. More than 80 percent of all sandhill cranes make the migration following the same path. For 80 miles in Nebraska, birds fly along what is known as the flyover, which stretches all the way from Grand Island to Kearney.
- Best Time To Visit: The Middle of March
- Website: N/A
- Admission: Free
- Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
- Location: Nebraska
