The Crane Craze

I have been in Nebraska for a handful of years now but have been missing out on some really amazing things. I've learned, for instance, that there are markers for parts of the Oregon Trail that you can still see in various places. There are even some spots where wagon wheels made such deep ruts that they are still preserved in the hills and such.We also have Chimney Rock, a Willa Cather museum (she wrote My Antonia, a great book), some forts that were part of the Oregon Trail, and the great sand hills. We can get so comfortable in one spot that we begin to believe it's boring. That's really just because we stop seeking the adventures the areas we live in have to offer.

Turns out we are also in a prime location for the migration of sand hill cranes. They love the wide, shallow areas of Platte River and the nearby fields with leftover soy and corn to snack on during they day as they prepare to migrate to Northern Canada and Alaska. That's where they love to make their nesting grounds.

I looked online to get more info, and I chuckled at all of the events and tours and such. I always thought bird watching was boring.

I started looking up more and more, though, and found out 80% of the word's sand hill crane population comes through here.

EIGHTY. PERCENT. 

Mind=blown. 

My morning commute provides great chances to see these birds take flight in the morning as the sun rises, and sometimes on the way home they are resting and eating in the fields.

Friday on the way home I happened to have my camera with me because we went on a field trip to sing, and good thing I did! I was 15 minutes away from school and thankful I took the back roads instead of the interstate so I could see a field full of them!! I felt silly pulling over at first to take pictures, but it was worth it to stop and admire them.

 Just chillin' in the field, snackin' on corn. 

 More cranes coming to join the party.

It was nuts to see such a crowd of them just hanging out nearby!!! 

If you want to join my crazy bird watching craze, tune in to the live cam at the Rowe Sanctuary. The best time is around 7:30, and you should watch for at least half an hour to really get an idea of how BIG and BEAUTIFUL this spectacle is.

God has most certainly put so many amazing things around us; we just need to remember to take the time to admire them sometimes.