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.
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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
An Otter and the Whoopers
This past September the Nebraska Wildlife Rehab (NWR) reached out to the Crane Trust Science team to see if we would be interested in assisting with the soft release of a juvenile female North American river otter that was found in Grand Island, NE. She was found as...
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...