Crane Meadows
Nature Center
9325 S. Alda Rd.
Wood River, NE 68883
(308) 382-1820

Photo by Bob Moss

Background Information About Sandhill Cranes

• Sandhill cranes stand between three and four feet tall, weigh five to eight pounds, and have a wing span of six feet.
• During their "staging" period on the Platte River, the crane increase their body weight by as much as 25%. This prepares them for the long flight ahead, reproduction, and possible food shortages upon their arrival at the nesting sites due to frozen ground.
• Both sexes of adult cranes look alike. The reddish-brown color that some exhibit is the result of preening with beaks covered with iron-rich mud that stain their feathers.
• Cranes mate for life and often pair when they are three to six years old. Cranes do not compete for the same mate and sometimes have a lengthy courtship. Cranes eyes do not meet during courtship.
• A young sandhill crane is called a colt. It grows at a rate of approximately an inch a day, reaching full size in nine weeks. They are orange-brown in color for most of their first year, lack a red crown, and make a whistling call.
• Sandhill cranes can live to the age of 25 years in the wild and longer in captivity. One crane at the Washington Zoo lived to be 55 years old!
• Cranes utilize an elongated windpipe to produce "Crane Music." Their harmonious "bugling" and "trumpeting" sounds are actually distinctive calls to communicate with each other.
• Cranes have much better hearing and sight capabilities than humans.

Ecological Notes

• There are 15 species of crane currently found around the world, and an additional 36 extinct species recorded by fossil remains.
• North America has only two native species of crane, the sandhill and the federally endangered whooping crane.
• Sandhill cranes have been hunted in the U.S. since 1960, and are hunted in nine central flyway states: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Nebraska does not allow hunting of sandhill cranes. An estimated 20,000 cranes are harvested each year by hunters in these states.
• The population of sandhill cranes in the early 1960's was estimated at 200,000 to 340,000. Currently the population is estimated at 600,000.
• At peak, half a million cranes are packed into a 60 mile stretch along the Platte River known as the "Big Bend" region.
• The Platte River Basin is the only ecosystem along the crane migration route that meets all of their requirements for roosting, resting, and restoring themselves.
• 80% of the total sandhill crane population uses the Platte and North Platte Rivers during both fall and spring migration.
• The future of the sandhill crane depends on the preservation of their habitat along the Platte River Valley.

Crane Lore

• Cranes are the oldest living bird species and have the longest successful tenure on earth, about sixty million years. They are truly "emissaries from a distant age."
• Sandhill cranes probably get their name from the sandhills of Florida where they were first described by John James Audubon.
• Sandhill crane nick-names include "preacher bird" and "shypoke."
• Cranes are considered the most accomplished dancers in the animal kingdom.

Daily Bunker Tour Reservations

Crane Observation Season: March 5 - April 10, 2005 coinciding with the dates of highest Sandhill Crane concentrations on the Platte.
Hours: From one hour before till one hour after sunrise and sunset. This is when the cranes are leaving or returning to their roosts.

Capacity: Blind tours are limited to the first 75 people who sign-up for each tour. Children must be at least 10 years old. Bridge tours are limited to the first 45 people who sign-up for each tour. Children must be at least 8 years old.

Reservations: Due to lack of security and reliability, we are no longer accepting reservations through our website. We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience. However, you can still make a reservation by calling us with a credit card number (Visa, Mastercard, or Discover) or by mailing us a check with your requested dates. You can also e-mail us at info@cranemeadows.org with your phone number and reservation dates and we will call you back to confirm your request and get your credit card number."

Fees: A fee of $20.00/person plus tax is charged for each blind tour. A fee of $7.50/person plus tax is charged for the bridge watch. Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance for a full refund.

GROUP TOURS
Crane Meadows Nature Center has a special crane viewing site for group tours. Contact Crane Meadows' Office Manager, at 308-382-1820 or email info@cranemeadows.org for more information.

CRANE BLIND TOURS
Crane viewing "Blind Tours" will be offered March 5th through April 9th at a fee of $20 per person (plus tax), and are limited to the first 75 people who register for each tour. A trained naturalist will present an introductory program about cranes and will lead the group to an enclosed river bank blind for viewing cranes leaving or returning to their roost on the Platte River. Call to reserve your spot on this popular crane viewing tour.

CRANE BRIDGE TOURS
An exclusive, guided crane viewing opportunity using the private Nature Center pedestrian bridge will be offered at sunset from March 5th through April 9th. This tour features the sights and sounds of the cranes as they return to a secondary roost along the river. The tour will be led by a trained crane guide. The number of participants is limited to provide minimal disturbance to the cranes while maintaining a premier viewing experience. A fee of $7.50/person (plus tax) will be charged, reservations are encouraged.

STEP-ON TOUR
The Nature Center will provide a trained naturalist to guide your bus or van group to the best crane viewing areas while providing you group with information on this area's natural history. Cost is $5/person (plus tax) with a minimum $75/tour. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance.

CRANE PROGRAMS
A variety of programs about cranes will be presented for the public at the Nature Center during crane season. Check with the Center for topics and times, or click on "Calendar of Events." A special program can be arranged for your group at the Nature Center or a naturalist from Crane Meadows can come to your site. Several different programs are available. Call for more information and prices.

CRANE DISPLAYS & NATURE TRAILS
Wildlife displays, including a variety of exhibits on cranes, can be viewed at Crane Meadows Interpretive Center. Informative videos about cranes and Platte River wildlife are shown continually during crane season. Staff are on hand to answer crane questions and direct people to local crane viewing hot spots. A handicapped accessible trail leads visitors to a 455' pedestrian bridge with an island trail, an observation tower and over 7 miles of prairie hiking trails. Admission to the displays and exhibits will be FREE from March 5th through April 9th.

NATURE GIFT SHOP
Our Gift shop has a wide range of new items, plus a nice assortment of crane and wildlife merchandise is also available including T-shirts, books, jewelry, video tapes and gift items. Free to the public for browsing and making purchases.