Nebraska: Platte River and Sandhill Cranes: Mar 21—25, 2009

Spectacular and unmatched experience which features not only tens of thousands of cranes, but also the potential for hundreds of thousands of geese and other waterfowl advancing north with the retreat of winter.

Nowhere is the arrival of spring more dramatic than on the northern Great Plains in March. The sight and sound of the first groups of waterfowl, raptors, and field and marsh birds returning to northern latitudes as winter loosens its grip has an appeal all its own. And along Nebraska's Platte River during March there is an ornithological event of global significance: the annual gathering of some half-million Sandhill Cranes—about 80% of the world's population—on their traditional staging grounds. The spectacle of the dusk and dawn flights of tens of thousands of cranes to and from their roost sites on the river is a visual and aural experience that is literally beyond description.

Almost as awe-inspiring as this massing of seemingly countless numbers of Sandhill Cranes is the arrival of hundreds of thousands of waterfowl on the nearby wetlands of the Rainwater Basin. Given normal weather and water levels, we have also seen vast and impressive flocks of geese and ducks, sometimes including seemingly endless hordes of Snow Geese with a sprinkling of Ross's and Cackling geese among them.

Bald Eagles, numerous Red-tailed Hawks (including striking dark-morph individuals), and other raptors will also be present. We will also schedule a morning to see Greater Prairie-Chickens in full display on their breeding grounds. In addition, Wild Turkeys, American Woodcocks, Barred Owls, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Harris's Sparrows, and Rusty Blackbirds can be found in the more wooded habitats along the Platte River or in Omaha.

Only one motel change; mostly roadside birding with relatively little walking; primary birding focus at dawn and dusk, sometimes resulting in atypical meal schedule; relatively short species list; possibility of winter-like weather.