Sandhill Cranes - Visit Kearney Nebraska

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Skip to content A group of sandhill cranes standing in shallow water along a wide river, with dense fog covering the background and shoreline.

Two tall birds with long necks and outstretched wings standing in shallow water with a blurred shoreline in the background.

Sandhill Cranes

Experience One of the Earth’s Greatest Migrations

Every year from mid/late February to mid April, one million Sandhill Cranes migrate on the Platte River Valley in order to ‘fuel up’ before resuming their northward migration.

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Sandhill cranes standing in field while others fly above.

Guided Tours

Experience the miraculous migration with a guided tour at Rowe Sanctuary. Reservations for 2026 Crane Season will open on Thursday, January 8. We highly recommend a guided tour where you will watch from a Discovery Station strategically placed along the Platte River to provide excellent views of Sandhill Cranes on their river roost. Tours are held at sunrise and sunset. Each tour lasts approximately two hours and is led by trained guides.

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Public Viewing Sites

The Kearney area has multiple options for public viewing, designated areas are provided for different times of the day. Pull-offs offer opportunities for day-time viewing while cranes are as in the fields, while the Plautz Viewing Platform and Fort Kearny Bridge, spanning the Platte River, offer perfect sunrise and sunset viewing.

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Rowe Sanctuary

Located just 20 minutes from Kearney, the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary lies right in the heart of a critical spring staging area for migrating Sandhill Cranes.

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Viewing Etiquette

Not only is your crane experience our top priority, but we also want everyone else to enjoy theirs as well. Make sure to read through more about Crane Viewing Etiquette guidelines for your safety, the safety of others, and the safety of the birds. Feel free to call us at 308-237-3178 for any additional questions. We would love to help you!

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Trails at Rowe Sanctuary

There are 15 miles of gravel, trails along the river at Rowe Sanctuary. During Crane Season trails are open daily from 10:00 am – until 4:00 pm, but this may be subject to change depending on the location of cranes on the river. From March-April, access to the trails is strictly prohibited outside of these times to protect the birds from disturbance while on the river. Trails will be clearly marked, some may also be closed due to construction. Visitors will not be able to see cranes on the river from Rowe’s trails.

Self Guided Tours

Use our Crane Watch Guide Map to help you navigate to various crane viewing locations to create your own crane viewing adventure. Pick from one of our suggested itineraries or create your own.

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Q&A

When is the best time to come? What should I pack? Where should I go to view the cranes? We want you to have a memorable and educational experience, so we’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you get started!

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The Platte River Valley

The Platte River Valley is the most important stopover on this migration. The river provides the perfect spot to rest, and the nearby farmlands and wet meadows offer an abundance of food. Without the energy gained along the Platte, cranes might arrive at their breeding grounds in a weakened condition — where food may be limited until the spring growing season begins.

The Platte River region has a variety of habitats that support cranes. The most important is the Platte River itself. The river is very shallow and sandbars dot the channels. It is here the cranes rest at night, gaining protection from predators like coyotes.

Fast Facts

The spring migration population of sandhill cranes in the Central Nebraska Flyway is estimated at 650,000.

Height — 3 to 4 feet Wingspan — 6 feet Weight — 8 to 12 pounds Color — Gray Migration — 170 to 450 miles/day Flight Speed — 38 mph Mating — Begins at age 3 to 4 Eggs — 2 per year

Crane Watch Brochure

Request your FREE Crane Watch Brochure today and start planning your visit!

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Experience the sights and sounds of the Sandhill Cranes

We can tell you how spectacular the Sandhill Cranes are all day long, but to remain unbiased, hear from people who have experienced the migration for themselves.

wildlife photographer Jennifer Warner being interviewed outside of Rowe sanctuary.

Other Birding Guides

Each spring, something magical happens in the heart of the Great Plains. More than 80 percent of the world’s population of sandhill cranes converge on Nebraska’s Platte River valley. Along with the cranes, come millions of migrating ducks and geese in the neighboring rainwater basins. Learn more about other birdwatching opppunititees in the area.

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Crane Cam

Live camera from Rowe Sanctuary is part of the nature cams on Explore.com – the best times to view them on the river is early mornings and evenings.. The morning liftoff either happens slowly, with smaller groups of cranes leaving as the sun continues to rise, or more frequently with tens of thousands of sandhill cranes leaving all at once in a cloud that blots out the sky. Cranes return to the river in the evening to spend the night on the river’s shallow sandbars. Groups of cranes pour into the river silhouetted by the setting sun as they dance and socialize before falling asleep.

View Live Crane Cam flight of cranes flying over Platte River at sunset.