Regensburger Photography

Tag: sandhill cranes

  • Sandhill Crane Migration, Nebraska

    Sandhill Crane Migration, Nebraska

    It has been twenty years since I had been out to Nebraska to witness the sandhill crime migration so I thought I ‘d take a day and head northeast. Every spring, the sandhills descend on central Nebraska en masse so they can roost in the Platte River valley. There are upwards of 500,000 cranes in the area so it is a spectacle not to be missed.

    This year the weather cooperated. Unlike past years when the weather in late March can be unpredictable, this year it was sunny and around 70. Perfect. The sunrise and sunsets were spectacular as well, providing the perfect backdrop for groups of cranes flying in to roost in the river for the night or take off for the fields in the morning.

    The biggest collection of cranes can be found between Kearney (Exit 272) and Grand Island (Exit 320). During the day, the birds can be seen in the local farm fields fattening up on left over corn kernels from the previous year’s harvest. They will also take flight and move from field to field. Just before sunrise or just after sunset is when the real show begins, however. The birds fly in waves back to the river or take off from the river. The sun rises or sets in a big orange ball over the river. It looks like something out of an African safari.

    This year I went to the Plautz viewing deck near Gibbon to watch sunset while I stopped at the river bridge just east of Kearney (exit 279) for sunrise. Other options include guided tours from the Rowe Sanctuary (located between Kearney and Gibbon) or Fort Kearney State Park. The latter has a bicycle bridge over the river that provides good access. This one gets crowded so I prefer the other locations.

  • Bosque del Apache

    Bosque del Apache NWF

    I spent a quick trip in New Mexico over winter break.  Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to visit in the winter since so many birds spend the cold months there.  I also explored some nearby refuges including the Bernardo refuge and Valle de Oro near Albuquerque.  All of these were good places for wildlife photography.  Bosque features sand hill cranes and thousands of waterfowl, including snow geese and several species of ducks.  I witnessed a beautiful mass take off of snow geese the morning I arrived.  I also saw several thousand pintail ducks.  I even spotted a javelina but it darted into the bushes as soon as I stopped.  I only had a 300 mm 2.8 lens with me on the trip so I focused mainly on photographing clumps of birds rather than individual birds.  Next time I’ll bring a 600mm lens with me.  

    Bernardo Wildlife Area

    The Bernardo wildlife area contains feeding grounds for sandhill cranes.  It is located just north of Bosque.  Take the exit for Highway 60 and head east.  Take the first left and then head north on the frontage road.  Shortly, the road brings you to the access to the Bernardo.  There were several hundred cranes clumped together in the fields.  There are a couple of elevate viewing decks to explore while you are there.

    Valle de Oro NWF

    Lastly, I stopped at a brand new wildlife refuge, Valle de Oro.  It is located about 5 miles south of the airport in Albuquerque.  The refuge is small.  It has a couple of roads through feeding fields and you can also walk a short trail along the Rio Grande.  I did;t see much while I was there  until four coyotes ran across the road.  They quickly disappeared but I managed to snap a couple of pictures before they ran off.   

Plugin from the creators ofBrindes Personalizados :: More at PlulzWordpress Plugins