Andy Smith Photography

 Forsters Tern

Sandhill Cranes on the Platte River

 

From February to early April over 500,000 Sandhill Cranes, Grus canadensis, or about 80% of the North American population, gather along the Platte River in Nebraska where they feed on the crop remains in the nearby cornfields. Rowe Audubon Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, is at the center of the area where the cranes stop on their way to places as far away as Eastern Siberia. The Sanctuary provides an interpretive center, blinds for watching the cranes, and tours of the area. Sandhill Cranes are one of the oldest bird species alive today with fossil remains of essentially the same bird dating back nine million years. These images are taken at the Rowe Sanctuary and nearby where I had the pleasure of spending several days, including one night in the photography blind listening to the calls of thousands as I went to sleep.


Sandhill Pair in Flight Sandhill Cranes in Flight inthe Morning Sandhills in FLight at Dawn Sandhills in Flight on a rainy moring

Sanhill in the Paltte River Sandhillls in the field sandhills in a corn field sandhill at rest

  Sandhillls in flight Blur Sandhill Cranes Dancing inthe River at Sunset Sandhill Cranes Dancing in the River At Sunset 2 Sandhill Pair BLur

Sandhill Cranes in the Sunset sandhills at sunset Sunset on th ePlatte River Sandhill Crane Sunset Landing

coming in for a Landing DUsk on th ePlatte River Evening on the Platte River Sandhillls on the Platte at Sunset 

  Group of Sandhill Cranes in the evening on the Platte River Group of Sandhill Cranes in the Evening on the Platte River Sandhilll Cranes Landing at Sunset on the Platte

White Pelicans on the Platte River Sandhillls at Dusk