Our Conservation Work
Science & Research
Crane Trust undertakes rigorous scientific research projects to inform land and water management, conservation policies, and land preservation efforts.
Whooping Crane
Sandhill Crane
Other Species
Research Publications
Publications include research projects led by Crane Trust staff, with acknowledged Crane Trust support, or conducted on Crane Trust properties.
Land Management
American Bison
Platte River
Prairie
Education
Crane Trust is part of a worldwide movement to prove that outdoor experiences are fundamental to our humanity, and we must reconnect with the natural world. Crane Trust education activities bring people together through shared outdoor experiences that connect us to place, nature, and each other. Participants learn through experiential field trips, special events, family programs, service-learning opportunities, presentations, virtual programs, and outreach events. Please explore our calendar or contact us to learn more!
Blog
Crane Count Week 6 – 3/21/2024
The morning of the 21st of March we estimated 471,000 +/- 118,000 Sandhill Cranes and 9 Whooping Cranes in the Central Platte River Valley. This is a slight increase from last week. Despite normal trends for this time of year, increases were actually seen in...
Crane Count Week 5 – 3/15/2024
We reached halfway! Week 5 of crane season! On March 15th we estimated there are at least 429,000 +/- 81,000 Sandhill Cranes within the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) between Chapman and Overton, NE. This is about a 25% increase from the numbers we saw last week....
Crane Count Week 4 – 3/5/2024
This week we estimate there are 344,000 ± 55,000 Sandhill Cranes between Chapman and Overton NE along the Platte River. The Whooping Cranes have also returned for the season as we saw 4 Whoopers on the survey. For the first time this year our weekly count is not...
Crane Count Week 3 – 2/29/2024
Happy March! As everyone at the Crane Trust is bustling to welcome guests from all over the world, we had quite the influx of sandhill cranes into the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV). On February 29th we estimated 272,000 + 43,000 sandhill cranes between Chapman...
Crane Count Week 2 – 2/24/2024
Another record week! On February 24, 2024, we estimated 122,700 + 9,100 Sandhill Cranes between Chapman and Overton, NE. A large majority of these cranes were roosting between highway 34 and Wood River, with only a few thousand spread out throughout the remaining...
Crane Count Week 1 – 2/14/2024
On February 14th, 2024, we estimated 38,000 ± 6,800 Sandhill Cranes between Chapman and Overton, NE. This is the highest count on record during the first week of our aerial surveys! *Most of these cranes were located between Grand Island and Wood River, NE which is...