There is really no way to show the essence of the spring crane experience along the central stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska, but the live camera views after sunset can give you a hint of the magnitude of this exceptional avian spectacle (photos by Paul Konrad).

Among the most spectacular birding events of spring, the annual concentration of hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River and adjacent feeding areas in central Nebraska each March ranks among the must see events for birders, and for anyone and everyone! The huge flocks of cranes that stopover along this central point in the United States provide a lasting impression as they stop to rest, feed, and prepare for the next migration flight to points north and northwest, stretching from Canada to Alaska and even Siberia.

A visit to central Nebraska during March is a rewarding experience for anyone, as you absorb the essence of wild nature itself through the sounds of crowds of Sandhill Cranes accented by a variety of geese, ducks, songbirds, and more. If you can’t make it to Nebraska this spring, you can get a taste of what the crane experience is like by viewing the live camera feed from the shore of the Platte River. While we monitored the live camera streaming live online last week, the bird population exploded almost overnight and now the air is filled with the sights and sounds of spring migration.

Huge flocks of Sandhill Cranes, Canada Geese, Snow Geese, and ducks including Mallards and Northern Pintails now fill the Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center’s landscape, and you can partake the sights and sounds at Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary's Crane Camera | Explore.org It’s best to check in to the live cam from sunset to dusk, or from first light until the cranes leave the Platte River shallows to get an idea of how impressive the migration stopover action really is – then imagine it in person while appreciating that the spectacle continues for more than 100 miles across the Platte Valley of central Nebraska!

The Crane Trust offers a variety of crane viewing options in addition to the Platte River Live Cam. You can schedule a Crane Viewing Tour for sunrise or sunset observation periods, or for an overnight experience you can stay 1 or 2 nights in comfortable accommodations in the midst of the crane action. Other programs and activities for all ages are offered at the Crane Trust throughout the spring migration season, including photography workshops, a speaker series, the art gallery open house, and more. For additional information, see Visit | Crane Trust