2014 Crane Programs and Activities

Post date: Mar 17, 2014 8:31:56 PM

2014 Crane Programs and Activities

Audubon Viewing Blind Tours

» Daily, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

» Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

» 44450 Elm Island Road, Gibbon

» Reservations required. There is a fee. Guided field trips begin and end with a walk of one-quarter to one-half mile. The sanctuary includes 1,900 acres of meadows and farmland along 2½ miles of river channel southeast of Kearney.

» Reservations: 308-468-5282

» More information: http://rowe.audubon.org

Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center

» Interstate 80 exit 305

» Platte River viewing blind tours offered in the morning and evening. Each tour lasts a maximum of three hours. Participants must be able to walk about 10 minutes over uneven terrain to reach the blind. Children must be at least 12 and accompanied by an adult. Registration required. There is a fee.

» Reservations: call 308-382-1820

Red Crown Habitat Tours

» Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

» Today, March 23 and 30 and April 6, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

» Three-hour personalized, hands-on tour of Rowe for small groups. Learn about the Platte River ecosystem and Rowe's management role. Includes some hiking through rough terrain. Cost: $25 per person. Space limited.

» Reservations: 308-468-5282

Crane Behavior Workshop

» March 28 and April 4, 3:30 p.m.

» Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

» Learn to recognize the difference between crane dancing, aggression and behaviors. Cost: $10

» More information: 308-468-5282

Audubon's Speaker Series

» Today and March 23, 29 and 30, 2 p.m.

» Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

» Topics: Photography, following the crane migration from New Mexico to Alaska, and Platte River habitat restoration

» More information: 308-468-5282

Audubon's Nebraska Crane Festival (formally Rivers & Wildlife Celebration)

» Friday to March 23

» Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Kearney

» This 44th annual celebration hosts field trips, speakers, educational programs and adventures for the family.

» More information: nebraskacranefestival.org or call 402-797-2301

Wild Experience

» Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

» Holiday Inn & Convention Center, Kearney

» Free to public. Part of the Nebraska Crane Festival. Hands-on activities include making bird feeders, paper crane folding, bird band bracelets and animal masks.

Crane Watch Festival

» Friday to March 30

» Kearney, Minden, Gibbon

» Ten days of education, family activities, entertainment and communitywide events

» More information: cranewatchfestival.com or call 800-652-9435

Liftoff Luncheon

» “Prairie Tales'' by guest speaker Brian “Fox” Ellis

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday

» Younes Conference Center, 416 West Talmadge Road, Kearney

» Explore the human and natural history of the tallgrass prairie through ecological folklore.

» Cost: $25. For tickets, contact Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, 308-237-3101

“Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration” Photo Exhibit

» Ends March 23

» Hastings (Neb.) Museum

» Twenty-five large-format color photographs explore the phenomenon of bird migration to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Crane Watchers' Breakfast

» Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

» American Legion, 1029 Court St., Gibbon

» Public welcome. Suggested donation for the local scholarship fundraiser: $7 per person.

Rotary Spaghetti Spectacular

» March 24, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

» Ramada Inn, 301 S. Second Ave., Kearney

» Tickets: $5 advance, $7 at door. No charge cards

Crane Carnival

» April 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

» Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

» Learn about the cranes through hands-on, family activities.

» More information: 308-468-5282

Cranes: Taking Flight

» Museum of Nebraska Art, 2401 Central Ave., Kearney

» 19- to 21st-century art that shows how various artists depict and are inspired by sandhill cranes

» More information: 308-865-8559

Wings Over the Platte Exhibition and Sale

» Venue Gallery, 209 N. Locust St., Grand Island

» Ends April 6

Spirit of the Cranes ART Show and Sale

» Prairie Winds Art Center, 112 W. Third St., Grand Island

Ends March 31 (closed Sundays)

» Featuring nature and wildlife photographer Rick Rasmussen and oil and pastel artist Kathleen Lohr. Cost: Free

» More information: 308-381-4001

Minden Lions Club Pancake Feed

» Kearney County Fairgrounds, 2200 N. Highway 10, Minden

» April 6, 8 a.m. to noon

Sources: Rowe Sanctuary; NebraskaFlyway.com

Viewing

» Sunset and sunrise self-guided viewing tours are best one hour before sunrise and sunset.

» Popular places include Fort Kearny State Historical Park's hike and bike trail bridge and Central Platte Natural Resources District's roadside viewing sites on county roads south of the Platte River between Grand Island and Kearney.

» Fort Kearny State Historical Park offers an 18-minute sandhill crane information video from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1020 V Road (Highway 50)

Etiquette and tips

» Do not stop on paved roads, driveways or any other private road or gated entry.

» Do not stop abruptly if you see a flock of birds from the road. The person traveling behind you may not be a crane watcher.

» When viewing birds from a gravel road, pull as far off the road as possible and turn on emergency flashers. Be mindful of farm machinery and local traffic.

» Do not attempt to approach the birds. Use your vehicle as a blind and stay in your car or next to it when setting up tripods for spotting scopes or cameras.

» Do not attempt to approach birds on their roosts. One alarm call from a bird can send the entire flock into a panicked flight, using up precious energy reserves and exposing the birds to hazards such as power lines — not to mention ruining the viewing experience of others.

» It is illegal, and a disturbance to other bird-watchers, to harass cranes and other birds in any manner.

» Most land in the Platte River valley is private property. Do not trespass.

» Binoculars and spotting scopes are a benefit for better viewing of all species of birds.

Crane cam

A U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service crane cam at Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary offers views of sandhill cranes on their Platte River roosts. The best times to view are near sunrise and sunset, when birds depart from and return to the river. To view the crane cam, go to www.ustream.tv/channel/rowe-sanctuary-s-crane-cam

Watch the video and read more in the Kearney HUB on-line: Sandhill Cranes