In the first weekend of March, I got a text from a friend who lives on the outskirts of Sutherland, and he said Sandhill cranes were flying over his house. About 2 p.m. that same afternoon, I heard cranes over Lake Maloney.

I couldn’t see them, but I’m certain I heard them. Their call is so unique that if you have ever heard it, you recognize it when you hear it again.

Sandhill cranes have returned to the Platte valleys, and I consider that to be an official sign of spring. I don’t care what they say in Punxsutawney.

Weather is the greatest determining factor for when the cranes arrive. We had decent weather recently through the mid-continent and that probably got the birds moving. A big winter storm will push them south again, but barring that, more cranes appear each day as their numbers build to a peak around mid-March. If they are delayed by a storm, they will come as soon as the snow melts to the point that they can feed easily.

Weather also dictates how long the cranes will stay. If harsh weather lies between them and their nesting grounds in the Northwest Territories, Alaska and Siberia, the birds simply stay here, sometimes as late as May.

Unless you are new to Nebraska, you have probably heard that Sandhill cranes come here each spring, but only in certain regions of the Platte River from roughly Grand Island to Hershey/ Sutherland. Some 400,000 of these cranes will spend time in the area of North Platte and Lincoln County, the Visitors Bureau said.

I have found out that many Nebraskans, mostly from the eastern part of the state, have never seen Sandhill cranes on their migration through Nebraska. What a shame.

There are few other places on earth where the bulk of an entire species can be found in such a limited/restricted geographical area. This is truly a world-class event.

Tours

Dusty Trails offers Sandhill Crane tours daily from March 11-April 1. There are morning and evening guided blind tours that offer breathtaking views of the Sandhill Cranes ascending from and descending to the wide, shallow riverbeds of the North Platte River.

Daytime bus tours go out to the cornfields to watch the birds perform unique dances and mating rituals. This tour is set during their most active courting time, allowing plenty of time for photography. The tours are also priced at $45 per person.

Self-guided options are available for viewing Sandhill Cranes, including two viewing blinds that are open to the public, as well as a recommended driving route to see the cranes in the fields during the day. For more information on this, including blind details and a map, brochures are at the Visit North Platte office at 101 Halligan Drive, or you can go to VisitNorthPlatte.com.

– from Visit North Platte (and Lincoln County)

Top photo * Visit North Platte

——

Fossil records indicate that Sandhill cranes have been part of Nebraska’s history for perhaps 9-10 million years. They come and hang around Nebraska for nourishment.

They feast on invertebrates found in wet meadows and along the river valleys. Protein from earthworms, snails and insects is critical for their nesting cycle. In more modern times, they also feed on grains left over from last year’s harvest.

Cranes will consume hundreds of tons of corn from the valley floor while they are here. On average, they can increase their total body weight by 20-25% or more during their brief stopover.

There are 15 species of cranes in the world. Two of these cranes are native to North America, the Sandhill crane and the Whooping crane. Sandhill cranes are far more numerous. Some 650,000 will pass through Nebraska in the next few weeks. You probably have until mid-April to see these birds, so don’t wait too long to plan a trip.

A bonus in this migration is that an occasional Whooping crane can be seen with the Sandhills flocks. I got to see one near Sutherland a couple of years ago. I also had a chance to see a Whooper near Alda about 10 years ago.

I’ll keep you posted on the cranes and how our forecast winter storm impacts the migration, and as their numbers increase. Stay tuned!

Trout stocking

Rainbow and cutbow trout (rainbow/cutthroat hybrid) are scheduled to be released in Lake Ogallala this week. An estimated 3,300 fish up to 12 inches are going into the smaller lake below McConaughy.

(This report was first published in the Bulletin’s March 5 print edition)

© 2025 The North Platte Bulletin. All rights reserved!