Wintering Cranes Flight 2

Jolly greetings! Today we surveyed the Central Platte between Chapman and Overton, NE, for Sandhill Cranes for the last time… for 2025. We estimated around 31,000 Sandhill Cranes, all of which were just east of the Alda Rd. bridge over the south channel. We weren’t...

Wintering Cranes Week 1

Hi all!! On the morning of Tuesday December 2nd I had the opportunity to participate in our first winter crane survey! On this chilly morning Bethany Ostrom, lead biologist and professional crane counter, recorded 28,500 (+/- 2,600) sandhill cranes huddled up together...

Fun with Firbs

The fall is easily one of my favorite times of the year. The temperatures reach that perfect level of not too hot and not too cool. I can look out my window and see a mosaic of straw yellows, pale oranges, and dark woody browns. Another aspect about the fall that I...

Fall Migration Week 3

Hey all!On Wednesday morning (11/12) we had 21,200 (+/- 1,600) Sandhill Cranes in the Central Platte River Valley! About 75% of the cranes were between Highway 281 and Alda Rd. viewing deck. It feels like early spring both on the ground and in the plane. We don’t know...

Flutter Goals

Monarch Butterfly (Left) and Male Regal Fritillary (Right) Since 2015 the Crane Trust has been monitoring two butterfly species of concern within the state of Nebraska: the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and the Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia). With both of...

Fall Migration Week 2

Hey all! We got some cranes yesterday morning! We estimate around 1,500 Sandhill Cranes betweenChapman and Overton NE. The Sandhill Cranes were roosting in the river between Highway 281 and Alda Rd lookout. If the cranes stuck around last night they were illuminated...