tennis2618

If you are or can go to Madison, Wi, visit the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo! Baraboo is 10-15 miles north of Madison just off of I94. Stay in Madison one day to see the University and, most importantly, get ice cream at Kilwins--definitely one of the best ice cream stores in the country. Only need about three-four hours at the crane place but it is the only place where you can see and photograph all 15 species of crane in the world. My wife and I visited in the summer of 2017 when we were driving from Chicago to Minneapolis and really learned a lot. Saw the birds, then sat in on a couple of presentations.

Founded by two graduates of Cornell Ornitlogoy School many years ago and recently remodeled. We then spent a month in Japan the following January-February and most of the time I was on one of two islands shooting three species of cranes never in the US naturally--except n Baraboo.

its_yoshie

go to rowe sanctuary. check out their website. i go every year. i book a blind. but you can find the cranes in the fields all day. the sanctuary can help you alot. check out the prairie chickens by north platte too. hope this helps you.

Zooman 1

On the bridge at sundown. It is the bridge right before you turn towards the center.

neco Loc: Western Colorado Mountains

Dlewis: I’ve photographed the cranes west of Kearney a number of times. The only thing I would add to the good recommendations above is that there are several bridges across the Platte between GI and Kearney and these bridges can also be a good place for am and pm photos. neco

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

We get some Sandhills on the West Coast, too. Fun birds to photograph!

Ed Commons

nealbralley Loc: Kansas

I have gone to both Kearney and Grand Island to see the Sandhill Cranes. The Audubon Society has a sanctuary just east of Kearney. There are some board walks where you can observe when the birds fly out at dawn and return at dusk. As I recall I take the Gibbon Exit from I-80, and I drive South on Highway 10C to thenSouth Channel of the Platte River; there is a parking area and board walk there. You can find the birds in the corn fields during the day. You will have to look to the sky to find where they are eating during the day, then just drive on the roads to get near them. It becomes pretty obvious where they are and aren’t!

Audubon Society has blinds and places you can view from their property. River banks are virtually all private property. You can still view things pretty well from the boardwalk locations. I would suspect that if you don’t have reservations with the Audubon Society already, you may have trouble getting into any of their tour programs now for this season.

Bring binoculars and your telephoto lens(es). It can be cold in Nebraska in March, so dress appropriately.

I enjoy observing the Sandhill Cranes. As I understand it, the Cranes fill the river from the east first, then they spread to the west as they fill-in on the river.

You can find more current information from the State tourism offices. They are happy to assist you.