As the Great Plains start to thaw, released from the clutches of their long winter, birdlife to the south starts to stir. Very early indeed are the migrant birds that begin their race northward towards their breeding grounds. As the snow and ice retreats, you can be assured that birds aren't far behind and, as the gate finally opens to the Central Flyway, one can witness stunning scenes of migration.

This short tour, one of our newest offerings, focuses primarily on enjoying one of the greatest bird spectacles in North America, the Sandhill Crane migration through Nebraska. The Platte River Valley is the temporary home for roughly a million Sandhill Cranes as they rest, stage, and prepare for the rest of their journey northward. The numbers can be staggering; roughly 80 percent of the world's Sandhill Cranes pass through between February and April! Of course, cranes aren't the only thing migrating up the Central Flyway at this time of year. We also hope to see an impressive variety of waterfowl, from an excellent assortment of geese such as Ross's, Snow, Greater White-fronted, Cackling, and Canada, to an eye-opening variety of ducks including many dabblers and divers.

There are other specialties in Nebraska that we hope to find as well. Whether it's raptors like the regal Ferruginous Hawk or Prairie Falcon hunting above a prairie-dog town, to the resident Greater Prairie-Chickens dancing on their leks, or even wintering sparrows including the sought-after and handsome Harris's Sparrow, there's always something interesting to try to find.

Join us on this new and unique trip to witness this Central Flyway spectacle!

Select the KEY INFO tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any departure.