“Witnessing the gathering of half a million cranes under a blazon Nebraska sunset
stirs the senses and sparks our imagination like few experiences can.”
~Andrew Scanley, Naturalist
At midday when the sun is shining, we keep our eyes pealed for soaring “kettles” of cranes over the river valley. Remarkably, these birds appear as wisps of smoke from a distance and are referred to as “Those Of The Gray Wind.”
As the Sandhill Cranes migrate, the birds routinely test the thermals to keep their flight muscles toned for the journey that lies ahead. Interestingly, Cranes are diurnal or daytime migrants and use thermals to their advantage. Incredibly, they will ride the thermals higher and higher up to an altitude of a couple of thousand feet, then they will glide northward in wavering lines losing altitude as they go until they reach the next thermal, spiraling upwards to repeat the process. This method of migration is extremely energy efficient, more so than the power-flapping flight of other species such as geese.
On a good day, cranes can travel up to 500 miles although 200 to 300 miles is more typical. In the late afternoon, they seek a wetland of some type to roost for the night and depart the next morning weather permitting, until they finally reach their destination.
A Sandhill Crane stops to rest in the Nebraska Flyway, Central NE
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