Virtual Programs
Experience Nebraska’s crane season-
from anywhere in the world.
Crane Trust’s Virtual Programs bring the Platte River prairie to you through our unique 24/7 livestream camera and staff-led programs offered throughout the year. These online experiences provide a behind-the-scenes look at crane migration, prairie wildlife, and conservation in action.
Available exclusively to Crane Trust members.
Access Virtual Crane Tours, our livestream, and exclusive content in your Membership Portal.
Programs feature our livestream cameras, along with stunning 4K and HD field footage produced by Virtual Programs Producer Kylee Warren and Marketing Coordinator Matt Urbanski.
Join us as we explore a full year of conservation at Crane Trust from wherever you happen to be in the world.
March 2026 Virtual Crane Tour Schedule
Guided Virtual Tours are hosted Wednesday – Sunday each week.
Mondays and Tuesdays – self-guided tours.
For questions, reach out to Kylee Warren, Virtual Programs Producer virtual@cranetrust.org.
Year-Round Virtual Programs
In addition to our 24/7 livestream, we offer six unique virtual programs highlighting the wildlife, science, and seasonal rhythms of the Platte River prairie.
January
The Migration Approaches
Look ahead to the coming spring migration as we explore winter life on the prairie. This program introduces the year’s virtual offerings and shares visual updates on cranes, habitat conditions, and what to watch for as migration nears.
March
Virtual Crane Tours
Our flagship program runs mornings and evenings, Wednesday through Sunday, throughout March. Witness the spring crane migration from anywhere in the world as trained Crane Trust staff and occasionally, special guests guide you through live virtual tours using cameras positioned along the Platte River.
Available to all Crane Trust members. All ages.
April – May
Guided Prairie Chicken Lek Tours
Join live interpretation from Crane Trust’s Mormon Island property as Greater Prairie-Chickens boom, spar, and strut during their courtship displays. Using lek cameras and HD and 4K footage, Crane Trust biologists share insights into prairie chicken behavior and conservation during select mornings and evenings in late April and early May.
July
American Bison Virtual Tour
Discover the year-round life of the American bison at Crane Trust. These keystone prairie engineers play a vital role in grassland restoration. Our Bison Management Team shares HD and 4K footage, fascinating facts about the herd, and how low-impact management supports a healthy prairie ecosystem.
September – October
Long-Term Monitoring Field Report
Follow Crane Trust Science Fellows into the field as they conduct annual surveys of birds, pollinators, fish, small mammals, and vegetation. This program highlights what decades of long-term monitoring reveal about the health of the Platte River prairie—and why that data matters for cranes and countless other species.
November – December
Migration Field Report
As cranes return to the Platte River during fall migration, join us for stories and footage from the field. Learn about Whooping Crane surveys, view documentary-style HD and 4K video, and hear firsthand accounts from our science team as they track cranes passing through—and those that linger.
Virtual Programs and our 24/7 livestream are available to Friends of the Trust. For $75 per year, bring the Platte River prairie into your living room while supporting Crane Trust’s mission to protect and steward habitat for migrating cranes and the many species that depend on it.
Stay Connected
Follow Crane Trust on social media for program announcements, behind-the-scenes field updates, short videos, and seasonal highlights from the Platte River prairie.
Partnership
As an independent non-profit, Crane Trust relies on the support of generous donors and supporters to preserve and maintain this vital habitat. Businesses and organizations can also sponsor Virtual Programs.
Sponsor a guided crane tour in March for $500. Sponsor’s name is recognized on screen for the day, and a link is provided for businesses to watch and share with clients or employees.
Other virtual sponsorships are available throughout the year.
Contact us to learn more and reserve your spot! virtual@cranetrust.org
