Each spring, tens of thousands of visitors find themselves at the doorstep of the largest migration in North America and each one leaves with a unique perspective.
One writer’s perspective appreciated the historic migration explaining, “Sandhill cranes once shared the prairies, wet meadows, and perhaps tundra with much larger denizens of North America. These elegant birds, only about 6-8 lbs., flew over the giants of the Ice Age: not just mammoths, but also 12-foot-tall ground sloths that weighed 3,500 lbs (1,579 kg), beavers the size of today’s black bears, and much more.” She appreciated that “while dramatic climactic change and extinctions transformed North America, sandhill cranes were a constant presence.”
Many documentary filmmakers come to tell the story of the migration. The Locksley Project came in 2018 to document an organization that is teaching our society to live a meaningful life – and wanted to tell the story of how the Crane Trust and Rowe Sanctuary are instrumental in seeing that the migration continues. He walked away with a perspective about transition and discovering your purpose. “In the cranes case, weather patterns control the length of time in every stage of the cranes cycle. Cranes come and go. They affect their surroundings but don’t destroy the balance that sustains their existence. Cranes embrace all three traits of a “newcomer”. They conform to the environment, conquer over other creatures for their survival, and move on.”
Poets may find a new perspective with each sunrise and sunset on the Platte River. Becky Hughes McMillen spoke about her experience in Gathering Voices, starting with a quote from Albert Einstein that says, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” What’s your point of view?
Photographers come from all over the world to witness, record and hopefully leave with that one perfect shot. Cheryl Opperman is a nationally acclaimed nature photographer with a B.A. from Brooks Institute of Photography and over 20 years of professional experience. Cheryl took her passion for photography (see her image above) and nature and now teaches the Crane Trust Photo Workshops each spring. Each student she guides walks away with a new understanding – technical and creative – when it comes to photography as well as a new perspective for what they just captured at the end of their lens.
With the great Sandhill Crane migration there is an annual reminder to the natural cycle of life. Whatever walk of life you are in, we hope you come witness the next migration with an open heart and an open mind to see what inspiration might come your way.
