Sophie Bennett
Sandhill cranes are a conservation success story in North America. Once in decline due to habitat loss and hunting, these birds are now found in several areas across the continent, with a range that varies depending on the time of year. The best places to see them are at migratory stopover points on the Great Plains, such as the Platte River in Nebraska, where over a quarter of a million birds gather in early spring. Nebraska's Dusty Trails offers guided birding tours in March and April, where you can see the cranes perform mating rituals, feed, and dance with their chicks. For those who can't make it to Nebraska, there are other options: the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival in California, for example, or the chance to spot cranes in your local area by checking out recent sightings on the Sandhill Crane Finder website.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Scattered areas of North America, including California, Oregon, Alaska, Siberia, Nebraska, New England, the Rocky Mountains, Plains, and Tundra |
| Time | Spring and Summer; March to April; November |
| Migration | Cranes migrate long distances, some crossing the Bering Straits every spring and fall to and from nesting grounds in Siberia |
| Habitat | Prairies, fields, marshes, tundra, marshes or bogs in open grassland or surrounded by forest |
| Diet | Omnivorous, including insects, roots of aquatic plants, rodents, snails, frogs, lizards, snakes, nestling birds, berries, seeds, and cultivated grains |
| Reproduction | Mated pairs are monogamous and build their nests in marshy areas. Females lay 1-3 eggs, and both parents incubate for 29-32 days. Chicks leave the nest within a day of hatching and follow their parents. Young can fly at 65-75 days and remain with parents for 9-10 months. |
| Behaviour | Sandhill Cranes perform mating dances, leaping into the air and stomping their feet. They also cackle, bow, arch, and toss sticks. |
| Tours | Guided tours are available in Nebraska, California, and Oregon. |
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What You'll Learn
Nebraska's Platte River: March and April
Every year in March and April, over a million sandhill cranes migrate through Nebraska's Platte River Valley. This is more than 80% of the world's sandhill cranes, and the spectacle is considered one of the greatest wildlife events on the continent. The cranes stop here to fuel up before continuing north to their nesting grounds.
The best viewing of the cranes occurs along the central Platte River. There are several ways to experience this natural wonder, from free self-guided driving tours to fee-based guided tours or viewing blinds, as well as live cams. The best times to view the cranes on the river are early mornings and evenings. In the morning, you can witness the cranes taking off either slowly in smaller groups or all at once in a cloud that blots out the sky. In the evening, the cranes return to the river to spend the night on the river's shallow sandbars, dancing and socialising before falling asleep.
Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary is a great place to view the crane migration along the Platte River. It offers daily guided tours at sunrise and sunset to see the cranes on their river roosts from discovery stations strategically placed along the river. The sanctuary's crane discovery stations feature wall-to-wall windows that provide an immersive viewing experience.
If you plan to visit Nebraska's Platte River to see the sandhill cranes in March or April, it is important to dress warmly as temperatures can be quite low, especially before sunrise and after sunset. Keep in mind that while the patterns of the cranes are fairly reliable, their presence at any particular location cannot be guaranteed.
Although sandhill cranes usually migrate without their chicks, you may occasionally spot a family among the flocks. Young cranes remain with their parents for 9-10 months and accompany them during migration.
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Nebraska's Dusty Trails tours: March and April 2025
Nebraska is a special spot for Sandhill Crane viewing, as the cranes converge on a narrow stretch of the Platte River. This river is wide and shallow, providing the perfect conditions for overnight roosting. The river habitat and waste corn from the harvest in this agricultural area also lure the cranes.
Each March and April, over a million Sandhill Cranes make the long journey from the southern US and northern Mexico to their breeding grounds in Canada, Siberia, and Alaska. They spend roughly a month in Nebraska, gaining about a pound of fat to fuel the rest of their journey north.
The Sandhill Cranes' gathering on the Platte River in Nebraska is among the greatest wildlife spectacles on the continent, with a quarter of a million birds present at one time. While on the tour, you will be treated to information about the cranes' migration and behaviours you may observe in the fields.
The Dusty Trails website offers Sandhill Crane Daytime Bus Tours, Evening Blind Tours, Morning Blind Tours, and Prairie Chicken Tours. The Morning Blind Tours involve walking into the blind in complete darkness and remaining there until all the birds have left the river. The Evening Blind Tours involve walking into the blind before sunset and staying until it is fully dark.
The tour will transport you to the lek, where you will arrive before sunrise and stay for about three hours. Here, you will be able to observe the cranes' mating rituals, including cackling, jumping, stomping their feet, and inflating their bright orange neck sacks to produce a booming sound.
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California's Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival: November 2025
California's Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival is an annual event organised by the Lodi Sandhill Crane Association. The festival promotes the conservation of Sandhill Cranes, which migrate to California each year. The 26th edition of the festival will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2024, with tours available on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of the month.
The festival invites participants to explore the wildlife refuges and farmlands in the California Delta region. Sandhill Cranes can be spotted during the day feeding in fields, and there are good viewing spots along several roads, including Woodbridge Road (west of Interstate 5) and Staten Island Road (near Walnut Grove). In the evenings, the cranes gather in flooded fields at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, Staten Island, and the Cosumnes River Preserve.
The Lodi Sandhill Crane Association works to promote crane conservation and create awareness about the species. The association also acknowledges the support of its financial sponsors and volunteers, who help make the festival a success. The festival includes various tours, exhibitors, and presentations, providing opportunities for attendees to learn about and observe these magnificent birds.
Sandhill Cranes are large birds, standing at 4.5 to 5 feet tall and weighing between 6 and 12 pounds. They are omnivorous, with a diet that includes insects, roots of aquatic plants, rodents, snails, frogs, and berries. The cranes build their nests in marshy areas, and both males and females play a role in incubating the eggs and raising the chicks. The young cranes remain with their parents for 9-10 months, accompanying them during migration.
The festival provides a unique opportunity to witness and learn about the Sandhill Cranes' behaviour and ecology. It also highlights the importance of conservation efforts and the impact of climate change on these birds' ranges. By attending the festival, participants can contribute to the conservation of Sandhill Cranes and gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
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Nebraska's Rowe Sanctuary: January to April
Every year from mid/late February to mid-April, over a million Sandhill Cranes migrate on the Platte River Valley in Nebraska. Rowe Sanctuary, located just 20 minutes from Kearney, lies in the heart of this critical spring staging area. During this period, also known as the crane season, the sanctuary offers daily guided tours at sunrise and sunset to view the spectacular concentrations of Sandhill Cranes. The best times to view them on the river are early mornings and evenings.
The morning liftoff is a sight to behold, with two possible scenarios: smaller groups of cranes leaving as the sun rises, or tens of thousands of cranes taking off all at once, blotting out the sky. In the evening, the cranes return to the river to spend the night on the shallow sandbars. As the sun sets, groups of cranes pour into the river, dancing and socialising before falling asleep.
The five-mile stretch of river covered by the sanctuary's camera is one of the most densely populated Sandhill Crane roosts globally, with 100,000-200,000 cranes at the migration peak. The crane discovery stations provide wall-to-wall windows for an immersive viewing experience along prime roosting locations on the Platte River. The sanctuary also offers a Guided Crane Photography Experience, providing photographers with the opportunity to capture world-class shots of cranes in a small group setting.
Rowe Sanctuary has two roadside viewing lots, and visitors may also see cranes flying overhead or roosting in cornfields during the day. While the trails are open daily from 10 am to 4 pm during the crane season, access outside these times is prohibited from March to April to protect the birds from disturbance. The sanctuary provides suggested itineraries and up-to-date information on lodging, dining, and other activities in the area. Visitors are encouraged to dress in layers as temperatures can drop below freezing, and to bring cameras, binoculars, and other photography aids.
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Nebraska's Crane Trust, Wood River: All year
The Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center in Wood River, Nebraska, is a great place to view Sandhill Cranes and their chicks. The early spring gathering of Sandhill Cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska is among the greatest wildlife spectacles on the American continent, with over a quarter of a million birds present at one time. The Crane Trust offers a variety of options in March to enhance your crane-viewing experience, with riverfront blinds located along the largest Sandhill Crane roost in the world.
Sandhill Cranes are a conservation success story in North America. Seventy-five years ago, they were in decline across the continent due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Thanks to the efforts of concerned citizens, wetland protection, and international legislation, their fortunes have been reversed.
Sandhill Cranes are variable in colour, ranging from pale olive to buff, marked with brown or grey. Both parents incubate the eggs (the female typically does so at night and part of the day), and the chicks leave the nest within a day of hatching, following their parents to the marsh. The young cranes are fed by both parents at first, but they gradually learn to feed themselves. They remain with their parents for 9-10 months, accompanying them during migration.
The Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center works year-round to protect and preserve nearly 10,000 acres of critical habitat. This includes a variety of habitats, including freshwater wetlands, saltwater wetlands, grasslands, and meadows.
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Frequently asked questions
You can see Sandhill Cranes and chicks in several places in North America, including Nebraska, California, Oregon, Alaska, and Siberia. In Nebraska, Sandhill Cranes can be seen along the Platte River, while in California and Oregon, they can be found in the Lodi Sandhill Crane Festival and the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve, respectively.
The best time to see Sandhill Cranes and chicks varies depending on the location. In Nebraska, the cranes can be seen during their spring migration, usually in March and April. In California and Oregon, the cranes can be seen during the spring and summer as they raise their offspring.
Yes, there are several tours available to see Sandhill Cranes and chicks. In Nebraska, the Dusty Trails website offers Sandhill Crane Daytime Bus Tours, Morning Blind Tours, and Evening Blind Tours. In California, the Lodi Sandhill Crane Association offers tours during the fall and winter seasons.
On a Sandhill Crane and chick tour, you can expect to see the cranes' mating rituals, such as dancing, cackling, jumping, and stomping their feet. You may also see the chicks following their parents and learning to forage for food. The tours typically provide information about the cranes' migration and behaviours.
