Over 500,000 Sandhill Cranes have made there way to central Nebraska as a part of the largest crane migration events in the world.
KLIN News spoke with Bill Taddicken. Taddicken is the Director for the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary. The Iain Nicolson Audubon Center, located by the Platte River, is an education/visitor center where thousands of tourists travel from around the world every year to witness this massive gathering of cranes.
They offer trail tours around this season along the Platte River close to Sandhill Crane roosts. By virtue The yearly event is responsible for a large economic influx to the states economy. Taddicken says “ It brings in anywhere between 20 to 30 million dollars into the local economy every spring.” Typically Rowe’s Sanctuary has 30,000 people come through their doors over these 6 weeks that cranes present. Half of those people are coming from out of the state of Nebraska. With international travelers coming from 60+ country’s.
“This is the only place in the world where this many cranes get together, and its right here in Central Nebraska” said Taddicken. According to him, the first cranes arrive around Valentines Day. Numbers peak in the beginning of March, and by the middle/end of April, the half million Sandhill Cranes are on their way up north. Taddicken described it simply, “Its just one of the wonders of the world.”
Nebraskans, non-Nebraskans, any one around the world is encouraged to visit Rowe Sanctuary while the cranes are still gathered. For more information on how to schedule a tour, or information on the center and their extensive conservation efforts to maintain this wonderous attraction, You can visit their website: https://rowe.audubon.org/
(Photo Courtesy: Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary)