Susan
04-02-2008, 08:51 AM
March 21-25 visit to Audubon Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River for Sandhill Cranes. Then north, near Burwell, to Calamus Reservoir and nearby ranch for Sharp-Tailed Grouse and Greater Prairie Chickens on their leks doing their spring mating dances.
One of the greatest Wildlife Spectacles ever! 500,000 Lesser Sandhill Cranes flying up at dawn, and returning at dusk, onto the sandbars of the Platte River after feeding in the stubble of nearby cornfields in the daytime hours. I knew it would be quite a sight, but the sounds, sunrise light on their feathers, the continuous stream of birds for at least two hours, was more than I could have imagined. Rowe Sanctuary has scheduled viewing from blinds right on the river edge, and great volunteers.
Getting two life birds could not have been easier, with the help of the Switzer family at their 12,000 acre ranch in Central Nebraska. Both the grouse and the prairie chickens have their leks right on the ranch, and a short ride in the pickup to a blind just before dawn gave me a close up look at these amazing and amusing birds in their ritual behavior. The weather was in the 20's and the advice to "wear ALL the warmest clothes you have" was accurate. The working cattle ranch operates also as Calamus Outfitters and has great accommodations and meals (the after-viewing "Cowboy breakfast" was fabulous).
On the ranch is a winding creek with many small pools where we saw the teals, buffleheads, mergansers and many other ducks. GBHeron, N.Harrier, and RTHawks flew nearby. Geese, common loon and Pelicans on the Reservoir and wild turkey, a great-horned owl, and of course, the horses and deer on the ranch all made our visit exciting and memorable. :)
One of the greatest Wildlife Spectacles ever! 500,000 Lesser Sandhill Cranes flying up at dawn, and returning at dusk, onto the sandbars of the Platte River after feeding in the stubble of nearby cornfields in the daytime hours. I knew it would be quite a sight, but the sounds, sunrise light on their feathers, the continuous stream of birds for at least two hours, was more than I could have imagined. Rowe Sanctuary has scheduled viewing from blinds right on the river edge, and great volunteers.
Getting two life birds could not have been easier, with the help of the Switzer family at their 12,000 acre ranch in Central Nebraska. Both the grouse and the prairie chickens have their leks right on the ranch, and a short ride in the pickup to a blind just before dawn gave me a close up look at these amazing and amusing birds in their ritual behavior. The weather was in the 20's and the advice to "wear ALL the warmest clothes you have" was accurate. The working cattle ranch operates also as Calamus Outfitters and has great accommodations and meals (the after-viewing "Cowboy breakfast" was fabulous).
On the ranch is a winding creek with many small pools where we saw the teals, buffleheads, mergansers and many other ducks. GBHeron, N.Harrier, and RTHawks flew nearby. Geese, common loon and Pelicans on the Reservoir and wild turkey, a great-horned owl, and of course, the horses and deer on the ranch all made our visit exciting and memorable. :)