Thousands of Sandhill Cranes migrating through Nebraska
and last updated 2021-03-09 14:00:00-05
KEARNEY, Neb. (KMTV) â It s that time of year where thousands of Sandhill Cranes make a pit stop in Nebraska before continuing their migration north.
People from around the world come to Central Nebraska to witnesses the event. Our own Kent Luetzen recently had a chance to see the Sandhill migration firsthand.
The cranes are building up food storage before the second half of their trip.
Experts tell us roughly 80% of the world s Sandhill Crane population travels from the south, through Nebraska and up into Canada over the next two months.
Courtney Bierman reports on the 2021 sandhill crane tourism season and accompanying pandemic restrictions.
With spring approaching, the sandhill cranes are making their way to breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. Six-hundred-thousand of them will make their famous pit stop in Nebraska along the Platte River. Their gathering is a sight to behold.
Dusty Barner owns outdoor adventure outfitter Dusty Trails in North Platte. He founded the business about 15 years ago to provide activities like horseback riding and river tubing.
“The nighttime, in the blind, it s almost a religious experience, Barner says. You re sitting in there, and it s dark, and it s quiet. And just the sound and the vast numbers. I mean, it just it feels like you are sitting in the hand of God right there.”