jerold222 Loc: Southern Minnesota

We are headed to Kearny Nebraska on Saturday for 3 days of crane watching and of course photography. Sunday night on the Crane trust bridge, Monday morning in a crane trust blind, and Tuesday night in a Rowe Nature center blind.

We have been watching the live crane cams and It seems that it is usually pretty dark for any decent photography. I have a Canon t3i with a sigma 70-200 2.8 and a Tamron 150-600. I am not sure how much I can haul out to the blinds, maybe the tripod and one camera bag.

I assume we will get some shots in the fields during the day, but any advice from people that have been out there?

Shutter Bugger

In real Estate the key is location location location.
In photography it's lighting lighting lighting.

Consider the angle of light on the subject and the angle of the camera to the subject.

Be there for the hours around first and last light... if the birds are there at that time too.

Having said that I have not been there and dont know the constraints.

Happy hunting though.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

While in Kearney check out the Art Museum. It has a room that is dedicated to Audubon prints. If you like birds you will love it. Also stop at the rest stop that is just west of Kearney and look at the sculpture that is floating on a pond there. If you go east of Kearney to Gibbon then South to the Platte there is an Island that is about 1/2 mile wide and 3 or 4 miles long that always has a lot of birds in the fields. Just go South at the Gibbon exit. My 25' sailboat is named the "Sandhill Crane" we take it South in the Winter and North in the Summer and stop in Nebraska in between. - Dave

jerold222 Loc: Southern Minnesota

Thank you, we will check them out.

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

I grew up visiting grand parents, aunts and uncles in that area. My brother currently lives about 50miles from there and I was out to visit him last fall.
I never knew that this viewing area and nature preserve existed.
I'm going to call my brother and give him a talking to.

As to advice.....unless the birds are only in this area at night for some reason....I'd go with the Tamron. I've gotten a number of great Sand Hill Crane photos using mine.
Obviously if they are only around when it's dark, you'll find that 2.8 more useful.
Unless you have a really sturdy tripod with a very very large and solid ball head (gimbal head is what you really need), you may find the tripod a waste of time. Especially with the Tammy.
I've found that a heavy duty monopod with a tilt head work very well with the Tammy.
If you do use the Tammy on a tripod be sure to turn off the VC.

Sounds like I need to put this place on my bucket list.

threedeers Loc: Northern Illinois

Thomas Mangelsen has a series of Sand Hill Crane photos that might give you some ideas. He was originally from Nebraska.

http://mangelsen.com/birds/crane.html

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Take them both if possible. I have friends who have done what you are planning, and have sometimes missed shots because the cranes get too close, literally right next to their blinds. I would guess the 70-200 will have the shorter focusing ability.

jerold222 Loc: Southern Minnesota

I think that is what I might have to do. We are packing today, leaving tomorrow morning. I need to sort out my lenses and figure out how to get everything out to the blind in one trip with out upsetting my wife too much (LOL).

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

Here is one I got with the Tammy when the bird was about 15ft away. Minimum focus distance is about 9ft so if the birds do get any closer than that you will definitely need the 70-200.

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Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Hmm - my brother in law has them in his backyard in LAkeland, FLA - more a problem of getting TOO much crane time . . Same with Circle B Bar Preserve - even with a very young polt, they were right beside the path, letting people get within 20 feet or so.

In the back yard

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Pretty young crane, yes?

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Tracyv Loc: Del Mar, Ca

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

hulgar Loc: Iowa

I just came back from a trip to the Grand Island area. I was in a blind there in the morning and evening. Sunrise and sunset are the key times. The proverbial "golden hour". They will want you in the blind well before the birds come in at sunset and well before sunrise to avoid spooking them. Few birds are on the river in the day. I took a full frame camera with a 24-70 and a 70-200 available. I used a 100-400 on a crop sensor 95% of the time. Here is a link to the Crane Cam. You can get some ideas by watching it early and late in the day. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rowe-sanctuary-s-crane-cam