During the days, the cranes forage for food, putting on 20 percent more body weight, which will be needed for nesting. In the evenings, they roost in groups, often in the tens of thousands, on shallow sandbars in the Platte River to protect themselves from land-based predators. The nightly return to the river, and the departure the following morning, combined with the incredible concentration of cranes make for a viewing spectacle unlike any other.
Located in the midst of this great migration and protecting 10,000 acres of natural habitat is the Crane Trust, a nonprofit conservation organization that has been around for nearly 40 years. For the past several years, guests have visited the Crane Trust to take part in a VIP Sandhill Crane viewing experience unlike any other. In 2021, due to the pandemic, the Trust’s visitor center is closed, but it is offering Virtual Crane Tours.
Originally Published
