A "Q and A" About Crane Migration and Guided Tours

Nebraska's sandhill crane migration in March gets a lot of attention from birdwatchers and the general public alike. It truly is one of the world's grandest wildlife spectacles: once experienced, the sight and sounds of thousands of cranes together is never forgotten.

Not surprisingly, we at the nature center receive a lot of questions about the cranes and the migration. Here, we'll try to address some of more common. At the top of the list is this one:

Preparing for a Guided Crane Viewing Tour

A guided crane tour gives you the chance of viewing the gathering of over 400,000 sandhill cranes along Nebraska's Platte River. This is an experience like no other on the planet. The experience is far more enjoyable -- for both you and your fellow crane-watchers -- if you prepare properly for your tour. The following brief article offers some general guidelines. Please note it applies to viewing tours (blind and footbridge), not to the private photographic blinds.

Clothing: March and early April in Nebraska is often cold, especially while sitting still in an unheated blind or standing on the footbridge for two hours. Bundle up accordingly: gloves, hats, thick socks, thermal undergarments are just a few items you should wear. Rule of thumb: Pretend the air temperature is at least 20 degrees colder than the thermometer reading, and dress for that temperature. A cold wind blowing -- a frequent occurrence here -- will give the air an additional bite. Rain gear is a plus in wet weather. We can't emphasize strongly enough: Please dress warmly and appropriately.

Binoculars and spotting scopes: Strongly recommended if you have them. Tripods for spotting scopes are permitted if space allows. Your guide may have a spotting scope for viewing, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Photo and video equipment: You may certainly take video and still images, but with some caveats. In particular, flash photography is not allowed under any circumstances; the cranes have been scared off their roosts on more than one occasion by a thoughtless flash. Even preview screens can cast enough light on a person's face to make a crane think twice about sticking around. Again, tripods are permitted if room allows, but please respect your fellow viewers and their space.

Reaching viewing locations: Viewing blinds and the footbridge require a walk of up to 1/2 mile to reach. In the case of blinds, this walk is over rough terrain. (The footbridge is wheelchair-accessible.) In addition, viewing blind tour participants caravan in their own vehicles to the blinds (though carpooling is possible).

Weather (and other) cancellations: March snowstorms make occasional visits to the Cornhusker State. Tours are cancelled only if any portion of Interstate 80 between North Platte (on the west) and Lincoln (east) is closed. We will do our best to inform participants when tours are cancelled. Otherwise, all tours are held as scheduled. Cancellations from participants require a minimum of 24 hours notice.

Not permitted on crane-viewing tours: Flashlights, children under 12, pets, cellphones and other electronic communication devices. In case of emergency, your guide will have a cellphone available.

Other considerations: Tours start promptly; please be on time, as we cannot wait for latecomers.

We're looking forward to leading you on a great viewing experience! If you have any questions about preparing for a crane-viewing tour, please contact us at info@nebraskanature.org or call 308-382-1820.

Things To Be Thankful For... and a Request

Friends:

I’m thankful for all the people that help make this place work: volunteers, staff, partners, and people who care.

I’m thankful for my family, who put up with my somewhat busy schedule and the patience they show me while doing what needs to be done around here. I’m thankful for my Dad, who took me outside when I was young, and for my Mother, who did most of the real work on our many camping trips.

I’m thankful for Karen, Dan and Shirley, who make things happen around here and who in turn are thankful that I don’t often answer the phone and create more chaos in the process (most of the time.) Pursuant to this, I’m glad that the phone does ring and that the front doorbell chimes frequently here at the Center.

I’m thankful for the people who read this newsletter and blog, or who come to a class, take a tour, or attend a meeting at the Center. I think I’m thankful for Facebook, but I’m not sure if it really matters or not.

I’m thankful for Connie and Blake, who aren’t afraid to walk into my office and tell me I’m all messed up and should do things this way or that. I’m thankful for Dale, who is here when he says he will be. I’m thankful for Cal and the Board of Directors, who have stood by this place and made it happen at a deeper level that most folks might realize.

I’m thankful that when I walk outside, I can hear the sound of sandhill cranes, even though it’s fall.

I’m most thankful that there are a lot of people who work hard to keep a little water in the river, and that Nature continues to dazzle, every time and without fail. Amazing stuff.

The grassroots nature of this organization is evident in all we do and in the underlying passions that keep it going. If you would like to contribute to the annual fund or education fund, you may do so by contacting Karen in the office (308-382-1820) to make a contribution by credit card. If you prefer, you may send a check to 9325 S. Alda Road, Wood River, NE 68883

If you would like to designate your gift to honor a person or a business, we can do that as well.

It is all very exciting, and we’re glad to have you involved in all the excitement!

On behalf of the entire staff at the Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center, I wish you all the best in this holiday season.

Brad Mellema
Executive Director

Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center.

Q: When is the best time to see sandhill cranes in Nebraska?

Prospective crane-viewers ask this question frequently. Here's the simple answer for those planning a trip to Nebraska: mid to late March gives you virtually a 100% chance of seeing plenty of sandhill cranes. Casual crane viewers need not read further.

If you continued on to this paragraph, perhaps you're a birder, or someone who simply wants to know a little more . . .

Photographer Rick Rasmussen featured in Gallery.

Nebraska wildlife photographer Rick Rasmussen will feature 38 of his wildlife and nature images images in the Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center's Hornaday Art Gallery through December 31, 2011. An open house will be held Saturday, November 19th - time TBA. Rick has traveled all over the world capturing images of nature. His images include sandhill cranes, ducks wolves, prairie chickens and a lot more. Rick is a long-time supporter of the Nature Center and we are delighted to have a more extensive body of his work in the gallery.


Rick's favorite place to photograph is in his lifetime residence of Central Nebraska where he has shared the diverse wildlife opportunities with many photographers from around the United States. Traveling to other locations to experience other fascinating wildlife and landscapes has been a dream come true. Some of these destinations include: Alaska, Yellowstone and Antarctica.

Some of Rick's photo credits include; Highly Honored Winner in Natures Best Magazine 2008 - Windland Rice International Awards Competition, Grand Prize Winner in Wyoming Wildlife Magazine 2008 photo competition, Best Of Show in Grand Island Art In The Park and Best Of Show 4 times at Stuhr Museum Wings Over The Platte Competition. He has also been published in several books and has many images in advertising campaigns.

Rick just returned from and Alaska photo excursion, and said it was awesome but was quick to point out that he's a prairie guy at heart. He is a member of Prairie Winds Art Gallery in Grand Island.

A Few Photos from the Trail

I have not had a chance to post photos from the trail for a while. The Great Plains and prairie is a place that is best experienced on foot. The fall is one of my favorite times to get out there and do a little exploring. Not a lot of birds this afternoon. A few white crowned sparrows and a belted kingfisher were near the first bridge. I noticed a few fresh cut trees downed by beavers near the first bridge as well. I was going to go down and photograph them but smelled the unmistakable perfume of a skunk in the area so I'll leave that photo go for now.


The mixed grass prairie of Central Nebraska.


Belted kingfisher patiently waits for a fish to rise.


Platte River from the first footbridge.

Jorn Olsen - Across a Wide Horizon

Hastings Nebraska photographer Jorn Olsen stopped by the Nature Center today to sign a few copies of his book for the gift shop. His book, "Across a Wide Horizon: Discovering the Uncommon Beauty of Nebraska’s Plains" is really a treat to look at. The book review posted below is by George Tuck, who is a professor emeritus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he taught photojournalism in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

The book is very high quality, and printed in the U.S.A. which is saying something in this era of everything being outsourced to other countries. I hope you stop by and pick up a copy for yourself or to give as a gift.


Book Review
Across a Wide Horizon: Discovering the Uncommon Beauty of Nebraska’s Plains
Photography by Jorn C. Olsen
With Foreword by Christopher Amundson

WOW! Outstanding images, beautiful printing, clever titles, dramatic scenery, spectacular wildlife, electrifying weather, peaceful landscapes and, well, you get the idea.

Hit the jump to read on...