The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary has opened registration to experience the 2019 Sandhill Crane migration. Each spring approximately 600,000 Sandhill Cranes congregate on Nebraska’s Platte River. Rowe Sanctuary offers multiple viewing opportunities for nature enthusiasts, bird lovers, and photographers to witness this historic migration from viewing blinds strategically placed along the Platte River. The Audubon Center is open to the public all year, and will have extended visitor hours from 8 am to 5:30 pm daily from February 15 through April 15. Rowe will host speakers on Saturdays, March 1-April 7, at 10:00 am.
CRANE VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES
(Reservations can be made on-line at reservations.rowesanctuary.org or by calling 308-468-5282 between 8am and 5pm CST. See Rowe’s website for details on each viewing opportunity.)
Guided Crane Viewing Experience - March 1-April 7 - $35 plus taxes and fees/person
Start times: (Note change in start times due to Daylight Saving Time)
5:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. - March 1- March 9
6:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. - March 10 - April 7
Overnight Photography Experience - March 15-April 6 - $250 plus taxes and fees/blind
Start time: 4:45 pm
Photography Experience - March 15-April 7 - $75 plus taxes and fees/person
Start times: 6:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Indoor Crane Viewing Experience (evenings only) - March 1-April 7 - $20 plus taxes and fees/person
Start time: 6:00 pm
Family Night Indoor Crane Viewing - March 6, 13, 20, 27 and April 3 - $10/person, children 4 and under free
Start time: 6:00 pm
ADDITIONAL CRANE SEASON PROGRAMMING
On-site Programs & Events
Crane Behavior Basics - March 1-April 7
March 1-March 9 - 3:30 pm daily
March 10-April 7 - 4:30 pm daily.
$10/person, tickets available on-line.
Habitat Tours - Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 1 - April 7
1:30 - 3:00 pm
$10/person, tickets available on-line.
Crane Carnival - Saturday, March 16
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Free
Off-site Programming & Events
Audubon’s Nebraska Crane Festival - March 21-24
Holiday Inn, Kearney
http://ne.audubon.org/birds/crane-festival
Wild Experience Room - Saturday, March 23 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Kearney Public Library
Free and especially designed for families
