A New Kind of Nerdy

I had a roommate in college who got up early to go bird watching sometimes. I admired her passion because let's be real, to get up super-duper early on a weekend to go out in the cold morning to wait quietly to see fast-moving little buggers through binoculars takes a lot of love. Personally I preferred to be snuggled up in my nice warm bed or savoring some serious pjs and coffee time.

I've got plenty of nerdy tendencies, though, but I never thought I'd relate to bird watchers.

Last March I was enlightened about sandhill cranes and their migration route that brings them right through this part of Nebraska. Even better than being enlightened about it, though, was getting to witness it firsthand on almost a daily basis on my way to and from work. I also found myself watching a nature preserve's "Crane Cam" at sunset to see them return to the river for the night more often than I'll admit to here. 

The time is here where they are going to start showing up again, though, and I've found myself searching the skies to find them on my commute. I haven't seen any yet, but I couldn't help but look around a bit online and read that someone started seeing them in this area over the past few days. I'm SO excited about this, guys!!! It was incredible to see it all last year. 

I've already begged my husband to take a trip to buy some binoculars with me AND to go to the nature preserve to watch them fly in one night night. I'm hoping to get some good pictures. I'm also hoping to go to work a little early a few days to stop and take some pictures in the mornings since I drive right over the Platte. 

Consider this a big NERD ALERT!! because I'll definitely be watching the Crane Cam again this year and watching the skies. 

But seriously, watch this video and then try not to marvel at this. I dare you. That magnitude of birds in one place is just amazing.