Cranes return to central Nebraska

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by Lauren Conley

Story Created: Feb 28, 2013 at 12:41 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 28, 2013 at 1:26 PM CDT

The cranes are back. For just a few weeks every spring the Platte River Valley becomes home to hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes.

Cranes come through the area to rest and feed while on their annual migration.

Before they continue northward to their nesting grounds in Canada, Alaska and even Siberia.

Corn fields and the Platte River provide the perfect place for cranes to stop.

"This is really a unique river. They've been doing it for tens of thousands of years. The river's really unique in its structure. It's shallow and it provides the open islands and sandbars that they can roost for safety," said Crane Trust Marketing Director Jeff Oates.

The Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center offers tours along the Platte River starting this weekend.

The center is located off exit 305 on I-80.

They range in price from $15 to $25 a person.

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