Our Conservation Work
Science & Research
Crane Trust undertakes rigorous scientific research projects to inform land and water management, conservation policies, and land preservation efforts.
Whooping Crane
Sandhill Crane
Other Species
Research Publications
Publications include research projects led by Crane Trust staff, with acknowledged Crane Trust support, or conducted on Crane Trust properties.
Caven, A.J., and M.L. Forsberg. 2025. Whooping Crane nesting behavior, parental care, and ecology at Wood Buffalo National Park. Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop 16:52-68.
Caven, J.C., and J.D. Wiese. 2025. Sandhill Crane lead poisoning linked to a wetland restoration. Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop 16:226–230.
Read More
Fontsere, C., Speak, S. A., Caven, A. J., Rodríguez, J. A., Wang, X., Pacheco, C., ….Hartup, B.K…. & Morales, H. E. 2025. Persistent genomic erosion in whooping cranes despite demographic recovery. Molecular Ecology, e70088.
Land Management
American Bison
Platte River
Prairie
Education
Crane Trust is part of a worldwide movement to prove that outdoor experiences are fundamental to our humanity, and we must reconnect with the natural world. Crane Trust education activities bring people together through shared outdoor experiences that connect us to place, nature, and each other. Participants learn through experiential field trips, special events, family programs, service-learning opportunities, presentations, virtual programs, and outreach events. Please explore our calendar or contact us to learn more!
Blog
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...
Fall Migration Week 1
Hey all, We had our first fallgration flight (fall migration Sandhill Crane aerial survey) on Thursday the 30 th . We did not see any Sandhill Cranes in the 80-mile stretch of river and surrounding landscape. This isn’t unusual at all as normal behavior in the fall is...
Fall Migration Week 0
Hey all! Ope! Hope I didn’t spook ya (or should I say Whoop ya!) with this out-of-the-Boo blogpost—but I wanted to keep y’all in the Whoop (I mean loop) that we’re kicking off fall crane flights this week! The last few fall migrations have been interesting here along...
Why Are Tractors in the Platte River?
Have you ever spotted tractors in the middle of the Platte River? Strange sight, right? Tractors belong in cornfields, not wading chest deep in water. From the road, it looks like they are taking an unlikely swim, but if you watch closely, you will see them grinding...
Hidden and not so Hidden Gems of the Prairie
As with any terrestrial ecosystem, the most important component is the vegetation. Plants reveal what wildlife you might encounter, how wet the area is, and various soil characteristics. A single plant can support hundreds of insect species, provide food for small...
Updates from the Fellows
Hey, Emma here! I am super grateful to be back at the Crane Trust for my second year as the Lila O. Wilson Biological Monitoring Fellow! So far surveys have been going great and we (Science Team) are just wrapping some of our early summer surveys this month....