Each spring over a half-million Sandhill Cranes congregate on Nebraska's Platte River in one of the world's greatest migration spectacles. Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary invites nature enthusiasts, bird lovers, and photography buffs to witness migration via a live CraneCam.

For over 30 years, people from all over have come to witness the Sandhill Crane migration. The arrival of the 4-foot-tall cranes on the Platte River signifies the beginning of spring. In addition to the visual spectacle, the call of the crane can be heard for up to a mile away. From March 7 through April 8, a camera placed on an island on the Platte River will provide outstanding views of Sandhill Cranes roosting by the thousands in the shallow water of the Platte. Nebraska Educational Service Unit #10, a Kearney-based broadcasting service, will provide the web-based services and expertise to bring this wild experience into homes around the world.

The best time to watch the cranes on the CraneCam is early morning, starting from first light to well after sunrise, and from late afternoon until dark. During the day, crane feed in local farm fields and wet meadows; they return to the river to spend the night on submerged sandbars in the river, where they are secure from predators.

Crane Facts

Visit Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary for more information.