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Embark on this incredible Sandhill Crane migration trip. Each year, half a million Sandhill Cranes descend upon Nebraska’s Platte River. By March, nearly 80% of the world’s population crowds a 150-mile stretch of the river, creating a migration spectacle that is simply mind-boggling to witness. This is the largest gathering of cranes anywhere in the world! Here, the cranes rest and feed before they continue north to breeding grounds in Canada, Alaska, and even into Siberia.
Among the cranes are over 10-million ducks and geese, stunning in breeding plumage. We time this popular tour a touch on the early side so that our group has the chance to experience skies full of Snow Geese, too!
We have based this Nebraska nature tour out of Lincoln to keep the driving time down and the airport quiet—yes! It’s a lovely city and galleries and restaurants abound. You may even want to come in early to enjoy the atmosphere and several excellent museums at your leisure.
- "This was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. I have traveled to all seven continents and all 50 states. The birds and the shared experiences during this Naturalist Journeys trip brought joy to my heart in a new and special way. I am grateful to Kent and Randy Skaggs and to my lovely travel companions for their knowledge, sweet spirits, and delightful ways." — 2023 Traveler
- "Unexpectedly amazing! I couldn't believe the amount of birds, specifically cranes, we saw. I learned a lot about them and about that area. Everything, from hotels to food to companionship, was great." — Lillian LaFrance, 2023 Traveler
- "I'm probably not a birder but I loved this experience, my fellow travelers were delightful, and the cranes were astonishing! I can't stop telling people about this trip!" — Anne McIntosh, 2023 Traveler
- "Amazing, adventurous, a bit challenging, and so full of joy to see the cranes. Superb guides, great group, exquisite country. Not to be missed in your life." — Marcia Pauly, 2023 Traveler
- "From a birder's perspective, it was a wonderful journey in terms of trip leaders, accommodations, food, and the interest the leaders showed in terms of taking us to all the places where we had maximum opportunity to view a variety of species." — Robert Davis
Tour Highlights
- Immerse yourself at the National Audubon’s Spring Creek Prairie Reserve and enjoy the pleasant trail system and plentiful feeder birds
- Experience hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Crane as they roost, feed, and sing along the Platte River
- Witness a “crane rise” at dawn as clouds of cranes awake with a cacophony of sound
- Marvel at the thousands of Snow Geese and other waterfowl at Rainwater Basin
- Opt to visit the Nebraska Museum of art, small, but a true treasure
- Enjoy the crane spectacle from privately reserved blinds at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary
Trip Itinerary
Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.
Sun., Mar. 16 Arrival in Lincoln, Nebraska
Arrive in Lincoln, the state capital of Nebraska. Our expert guides are at the airport to welcome you. After getting settled into your room you can take a short walk to enjoy the historic Haymarket District or relax at the hotel prior to dinner. We plan a welcome dinner at a favorite restaurant in the Haymarket area.
Accommodations at Embassy Suites, Lincoln (D)
Mon., Mar. 17 Spring Creek Prairie | Crane Trust
This morning we enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then pack up for our two-hour drive to Kearney. Your guides share their knowledge of the birds and the prairie along the way. Our first stop west of Lincoln is at Audubon’s Spring Creek Prairie, where we walk the trails and watch bird activity at the feeders.
Next we enjoy a restaurant lunch en route and then head to the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center where we hear about the conservation work they are doing along the Platte River. The group also gets an in-depth introduction to the Sandhill Cranes we see in the coming days.
After we are finished at the Crane Trust, it’s on to Kearney to settle into our lodging, unpack, and unwind. Tonight we enjoy dinner as we get to know our guides and travel companions.
Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Kearney (B,L,D)
Tues., Mar. 18 Sunrise on the Platte River | Crane Behavior
We start our day at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary where we experience our first sunrise with the cranes. The walk to the viewing blind is approximately a quarter of a mile one way. After a couple of hours in the blind, we return to the visitor center to see what birds are at the feeders.
After our visit to Rowe, we return to Kearney for brunch and then have a couple of hours of down time back at the hotel.
In the afternoon we head out to find cranes in the fields to look for the behaviors the group learned about the day before. Tonight we enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening at a delightful local restaurant.
Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Kearney (Br,D)
Wed., Mar. 19 Sunrise on the Prairie | The Archway Option | Evening with Cranes
This morning we drive north of Kearney to experience sunrise with Greater Prairie-Chickens displaying on their lek. The walk to the viewing blind is approximately 200 yards one way. After an hour or so in a blind, we return to Kearney for brunch.
After brunch, we again have a couple of hours to rest. In the afternoon, we have the option to visit The Archway Monument, followed by an early dinner. After dinner we travel to the Crane Trust for an evening with the cranes.
Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Kearney (Br,D)
Thurs., Mar. 20 Harlan County Reservoir | Free Evening or Optional Evening with Cranes
This morning enjoy breakfast at the hotel, with a more leisurely rising time before we head south to Harlan County Reservoir to search for waterfowl and other early migrants. We grab lunch while we're out and about and on our return to Kearney, we stop at a Prairie Dog town located in the Rainwater Basin where we also hope to see Burrowing Owl.
Tonight dinner is at a restaurant that is just a short walk from the hotel. Afterwards you can choose to relax or die-hard crane fans can venture back out at sunset to watch the cranes come back to roost in the river.
Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Kearney (B,L,D)
Fri., Mar. 21 Sunrise with the Cranes | Celebratory Dinner | Ft. Kearny Bridge
We start our day with a return to Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary to enjoy one more morning with the cranes. There is time after the tour to peruse the gift shop in the visitor center as well as check out what’s at the feeders before we head back to Kearney for brunch.
After brunch, we again have a couple of hours to rest. In the afternoon we seek out cranes in the fields to observe their behavior.
We celebrate our great week with an early dinner and then return to the Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail Bridge over the Platte River for one last evening with the cranes.
Accommodations at the Hampton Inn, Kearney (Br,D)
Sat., Mar. 22 Departures
This morning, we return to Lincoln for flights out after noon, arriving the airport by 10:30 AM. (B)
Cost of the Journey
Cost of the journey is $2,990 DBL / $3,690 SGL, from Lincoln, Nebraska. Cost includes: all accommodations; all meals as stated in the itinerary; group airport transfers; ground transportation; professional guide services; park, preserve, and other activity fees; and miscellaneous program expenses. Tour price does not include: round trip airfare to and from Lincoln, Nebraska, or items of a personal nature such as laundry, porterage, telephone charges, or alcoholic beverages. Gratuities for your guides and other staff are not included; these are at your discretion, but highly appreciated and recommended.
Travel Details
Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.
Arrival & Departure Airport: Lincoln Airport (LNK)
Arrival Details: Plan to arrive March 16, no later than 5:00 PM
Departure Details: Plan March 22 flights leaving after 12:00 PM. Alternative Arrival or Departure Plan: Another option is to fly into the Omaha Eppley Airfield (OMA) and take a shuttle to the Lincoln Airport (LNK). The drive is approximately 1 hour.
Shuttle Recommendations from Omaha to Lincoln: Omalink (402) 475-5465 Leisure Limousine and Sedan (402) 476-8132
Travel Tip: If you would like arrive early, especially to avoid any winter weather delays, there are plenty of things to do in Lincoln! The University of Nebraska State Museum is the state’s premier natural history museum with a variety of exhibits including paleontology, biodiversity, and geology. The museum is within walking distance of Haymarket Square, where our hotel for the first night of the tour is located. Are you fascinated by fast cars or the history of the automobile? Then the Museum of American Speed is a must visit. It’s located a little over a mile from Haymarket Square and can be visited by taxi or Uber/Lyft.
Hotel Recommendations:
Top Choice: Embassy Suites by Hilton Lincoln, (402) 474-1111. This is our first night tour hotel, so booking here makes the best use of your time (and it’s located in a great area!) The hotel offers an airport shuttle. If this is your choice, please book this online and give us the confirmation number. We will submit that when we send our final room list, the goal being you don’t have to change rooms! If you want to stay near the airport we recommend you book: Holiday Inn Express and Suites Lincoln Airport (402) 464-0588 Hampton Inn Lincoln Airport (402) 474-6465.
Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.
Nebraska
Platte River
- March 2012
- March 2014
- March 2019
- March 2020
- March 2022
- March 2023
- March 2024
- March 2024
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Kent Skaggs
Kent was born and raised in Nebraska and this is where he developed his passion for birds and nature in general. He worked 20 years at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary where he helped countless visitors experience the annual spring staging of Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. While at Rowe, he conducted bird surveys on the sanctuary and coordinated and led birding field trips for the annual Audubon Nebraska Crane Festival. He also spent three seasons leading tours to see displaying Greater Prairie-Chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse for Calamus Outfitters in the Nebraska Sandhills. Kent and his partner Kathy currently reside in southwest Virginia.
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David Jaffe
David Jaffe is an engaging naturalist inspiring people through his curiosity to develop meaningful connections with our home planet. He has been an avid birder since volunteering with the National Audubon Society in 1991. Over his 30+ year career in the outdoor industry, he has gained experience as a guide throughout the United States and on all seven continents. He is a certified National Geographic Photography instructor and works as a naturalist and lecturer on expedition ships. He helped establish a marine protected area off the coast of Madagascar and assisted with bird research projects in the United States, Canada and South America. He has led backcountry trips in Denali National Park and gained great insights while working as a Park Ranger in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. He is a passionate birder with a keen interest in geology, botany, and the intricacies of natural history. He loves this work and infuses every tour with his enthusiasm, knowledge and care.
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Photo credits: Banners: Sandhill Cranes by Greg Smith; Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese by Peg Abbott; Sandhill Cranes at Sunrise by Greg Smith; Western Meadowlark by Hugh Simmons Photography; Burrowing Owl by Greg Smith; Sandhill Crane Sign at Rowe Sanctuary by Peg Abbott; Sandhill Cranes on the Platte River by Greg Smith; Snow Geese by Peg Abbott; Bald Eagles, Sandy Sorkin; Northern Cardinal, Sandy Sorkin; Cranes at Sunset, Greg Smith; Sandhill Cranes at Sunset by Ed Pembleton; Blind Orientation, Ed Pembleton; Cranes at Sunset by Susie Russenberger; Misty Morning Cranes by Ed Pembleton; Group in Blinds, Ed Pembleton; Tall Grass Prairie, Ed Pembleton; Group on Boardwalk, Ed Pembleton; White-tailed Deer, Ed Pembleton.