Phone (308) 382-1820

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL CRANE TOURS

There's no reason to miss the 2021 crane migration. We've come up with a novel approach for viewing this one of a kind natural phenomenon from the comfort and safety of your own home. The Crane Trust is offering Virtual Crane Tours for the first time -- complete with expert guides and all the majesty of the sandhill crane migration! Click HERE to learn more.

OUR VISITOR CENTER IS CLOSED

To ensure the health and safety of our guests and volunteers, the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center is temporarily closed. In the meantime, please enjoy our hiking trails. Our trails however, are now open! Click HERE to view the trail map.

Watch here and on our Facebook page for information about the nature and visitor center's reopening.

BUT OUR WORK GOES ON

We exist to protect and maintain the physical, hydrological and biological integrity of the Big Bend area of the Platte River so it continues to function as a life support system for whooping cranes, sandhill cranes and other migratory bird species. With your help we can make a difference. Learn more and get involved.

  • Ideal for business or personal events of up to 120 people, the CTNVC features a catering kitchen, an executive boardroom and auditorium located conveniently just off I-80. It’s the perfect place to meet!
    Take a look.

  • Fundraisers and events help us raise awareness and generate crucial resources to serve our mission. Join us at our next event and see how you can have some fun and get involved.
    Find out more.

  • Whether guiding public crane tours, helping out with special events, or providing trail maintenance, you'd be surprised at what a huge difference a little bit of your time can make.
    Read more.

March 1, 2021
byAndrew Caven, Director of Conservation Research

Today we counted a raw estimate of 99,200 and a photo-corrected estimate of 135,800+/-18,300 Sandhill Cranes in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) between Chapman and Overton, Nebraska. We also counted an estimated ~49,200 dark geese. Both Sandhill Cranes and dark geese increased markedly over last week (previous counts of 4,600 and 5,700 respectively).

February 22, 2021
byAndrew Caven, Director of Conservation Research

Today (2-22-21) we counted 4,600+/-200 Sandhill Cranes in one roost near TNC's Dahms Tract, south of Wood River, NE. This location is pretty far west for a large Sandhill Crane roost to occur this early in the spring migration considering our data from the last half decade. We counted a very similar number of Sandhill Cranes (4,300+/-1,250) during the previous week’s survey on 2-15-21.

February 2, 2021
byD.M. Baasch and A.J. Caven