Sandhill crane migration: Does anyone have experience photographing the great sandhill crane migration in Nebraska? I would like to go but need recommendations on where exactly to go...

Mi630

Does anyone have experience photographing the great sandhill crane migration in Nebraska? I would like to go but need recommendations on where exactly to go and when to go. I also would like to know how close you can get. I have a 7D Mark 2 with 100-400 lens plus a 1.4 ext. hopefully that will get me the reach I need. Also, I suppose, is best time of day to go. Any help and suggestions will be helpful. Thanks

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Mi630 wrote:

Does anyone have experience photographing the great sandhill crane migration in Nebraska? I would like to go but need recommendations on where exactly to go and when to go. I also would like to know how close you can get. I have a 7D Mark 2 with 100-400 lens plus a 1.4 ext. hopefully that will get me the reach I need. Also, I suppose, is best time of day to go. Any help and suggestions will be helpful. Thanks

You could probably find answers to those questions and find a lot more good information at the
Bird In Flight / Bird On Water forum section https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

Mi630 wrote:

Does anyone have experience photographing the great sandhill crane migration in Nebraska? I would like to go but need recommendations on where exactly to go and when to go. I also would like to know how close you can get. I have a 7D Mark 2 with 100-400 lens plus a 1.4 ext. hopefully that will get me the reach I need. Also, I suppose, is best time of day to go. Any help and suggestions will be helpful. Thanks

Ooh, ooh, I know this one,Mr Kotter

Search - sandhill cranes Nebraska
Read all night long

Mi630

Man, I always forget about the specialized sections.

Bill_de Loc: US

https://visitkearney.org/sandhill-cranes/

ferg

I would recommend between Kearney and Grand Island. You can get code to them (30 yds) in fields but to get good pictures along the river you need good telephoto lens say 600mm.

Dr Photo

Both the Crane Trust and the Rowe Sanctuary offer viewing blinds, both evening and morning (morning is best). For the hearty, both also offer overnight blinds. The overnight blinds offer a unique opportunity to observe this magnificent spectacle of hundreds of thousands of cranes landing in the evening and leaving the following morning. Details at http://rowe.audubon.org and also at https://cranetrust.org

I've done all three situations - evening, morning and overnight - and highly recommend the experience to both nature lovers and photographers. It's an experience you don't want to miss. Long glass is obviously preferred, and a good sleeping bag, warm clothing and tripods essential for the overnight experiences. I'm already booked for a blind in March 2019.

Dalek Loc: Detroit, Miami, Goffstown

Never been to Nebraska but this is what I would do. The cranes are leaving for a reason. I suspect it is the weather. I would follow the cranes to their final destination, probably someplace warmer like Florida, then take lots of pictures of happy mating cranes.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Mi630 wrote:

Does anyone have experience photographing the great sandhill crane migration in Nebraska? I would like to go but need recommendations on where exactly to go and when to go. I also would like to know how close you can get. I have a 7D Mark 2 with 100-400 lens plus a 1.4 ext. hopefully that will get me the reach I need. Also, I suppose, is best time of day to go. Any help and suggestions will be helpful. Thanks

One place you do not want to go is directly under the flock of cranes.

jfh2841 Loc: United States

Please use this site for your base information. If want personal information on my trips and success, failures, foibles, please contact me.
john
https://cranetrust.org/

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

jerryc41 wrote:

One place you do not want to go is directly under the flock of cranes.

huskerfan07

The crane migration through Nebraska starts roughly about Valentine's Day and runs into early April. By the end of February counts might only be around 10,000 or so, but by the middle of March there will be between 500,000-600,000 between roughly Grand Island and North Platte. Crane Trust, exit 305 on Interstate 80 and Rowe Sanctuary are the best two places for information about blind reservations and where to go to view the cranes. During the daytime, cranes are feeding in the fields all along the Platte River. In the spring, the cranes are headed north into northern Canada and some go as far as Siberia. They stop in Nebraska along the Platte River to rest and add a few pounds to their body weight, which gives them the energy needed for the long flight to the north. They can stay for 2 - 3 weeks on the way north. In the fall, there is not a mass migration as they travel south since by the time they reach Nebraska, they might just stay overnight and rest up, and then make the final leg of their journey south to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

FreddB wrote:

Ooh, ooh, I know this one,Mr Kotter

Search - sandhill cranes Nebraska
Read all night long

OK.

How about if the OP does not want to "read all night long"

Could you suggest a place the OP might find knowledgeable photographers with experience who might be able to offer useful guidance?

PH CIB

Stay in Grand Island and drive to Kearney stay just South of the Interstate and the Platte River driving on gravel roads as close to the River as possible, you will see Thousands of Cranes in the fields....or stay in Kearney and drive to Grand Island on the South side of the Interstate and staying as close to the South Side of the Platte River as possible there are viewing platforms by the bridges that you can go to to see the Cranes taking off from the River in the Morning and the Cranes coming back to the River in the Evening...Rowe Sanctuary Minden Exit south and Crane Meadows Alda Exit South are Great for information on blinds and sightings of Whooping Cranes if any,,,stop at Ft. Kearney,,,see Hundreds of Eagles at Johnson Lake at Lexington,,,there are also many refuges with thousands of Ducks and Geese,,,and all kinds of Museums and other things to enjoy,,,Recommend the longest Telephoto you have even if you get close,,,Have Fun !!!

Zooman 1

Go on line, find the Audubon sanctuary on the Platte, site and go from there. Be there early morning and at sunset. They have blinds and guides, but slots in the best blinds fill up fast. It is near Kearney, the Sandhill Capital of the World. Your lens and 1.4 should work fine, use a tripod!