Join us as we commemorate five decades of conservation and community through a season of special events, experiences, and shared appreciation for the cranes, wildlife, and our native grasslands. From guided crane viewing tours to educational programs and celebratory gatherings, this milestone season we invite you to be part of Rowe Sanctuary’s legacy.

Speaker Series

Rowe is excited to welcome guest speakers this Crane Season 2025!  Learn more about cranes, birds, and conservation topics that affect Sandhill Cranes, Rowe, and Nebraska ecosystems. Speaker lectures are free but have limited capacity. Pre-registration required. Registration opens January 22, 2025.

Friday, March 7, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Grey Crowned Cranes as a Powerful Flagship Species for improving Livelihoods of last-mile Communities in East Africa Dr. Adalbert Aine-omucunguzi, East Africa Regional Director International Crane Foundation Registration opens January 22, 2025
Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.  "Only" Threatened? Update on the Whooping Crane Reintroduction Anne Lacy, Director of Eastern Flyway Programs - North America International Crane Foundation Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, March 14, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Water Wars for Wild Wetlands  Jackie Augustine, Executive Director - Audubon of Kansas Registration opens January 22, 2025
Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Home on the Range: Breeding Biology of Prairie-chickens Jackie Augustine, Executive Director - Audubon of Kansas Registration opens January 22, 2025
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.  An Afternoon with the Artist Andrew Peters, Artist of The Migration Reunion of Ancient Kin Registration opens January 22, 2025
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Moving Beyond the Thin Blue Line - Thinking Like a Watershed: An Ecosystem Approach to Preserving the Platte River  Brian Ellis, Director of Membership and Outreach, Illinois Audubon Society
Matt  Hayes, Ph. D in Avian Biology
Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, March 21, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Why We Love Sandhill Cranes
Paul Tebbel, Former Center Director of the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center
Registration opens January 22, 2025
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.
Kettling to the Sky: An afternoon of Cranes in Poetry
Prairie Art Brothers
Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025  Rowe Sanctuary 50th Anniversary Celebration Special Programming Registration opens January 22, 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025  Rowe Sanctuary 50th Anniversary Celebration Special Programming Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, April 4, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. The Natural History of North American Cranes Amanda Hegg, Senior Conservation Associate - Audubon Great Plains Registration opens January 22, 2025
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Corn and Cranes: 150 Years of Change in the Platte River Valley Dr. Larkin Powell, Director of the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, April 11, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. Tracing the Path of the Platte River Melissa Mosier, Platter River Program Manager Registration opens January 22, 2025

Family Art Workshops

Join us for family-friendly time at Rowe!  Each workshop includes an art project component followed by indoor crane viewing from our Visitor's Center.  This is a great way for families with children under 10 years of age to be introduced to the crane migration!  Cost varies by program, pre-registration is required. Registration opens January 22, 2025.

Saturday, March 8th, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. Origami Cranes                                                                     Lois Smith Registration opens January 22, 2025
Saturday, March  22nd, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. Crane Feather Art Susan Hart Registration opens January 22, 2025

Saturday, April 5th, 2025 | 7:30 p.m. 

Details to come Maria Beucke Registration opens January 22, 2025

Indoor Crane Viewing

Watch the migration from the comfort of the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center.  An educator will give a short talk on crane behaviors, followed by viewing from the Center. Cost $20/adult and $10/child (18 years and younger), pre-registration is required. 

Saturday, March 15th, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.  Registration opens January 22, 2025.
Monday, March 17th, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.  Registration opens January 22, 2025.
Monday, March 24th, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.  Registration opens January 22, 2025.
Monday, March 31st, 2025 | 7:00 p.m.  Registration opens January 22, 2025.

Adult Art Workshops

Embrace your artistic side with Rowe Sanctuary and the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA)!  Join us for a study in the junction between art and nature in a variety of media with wonderful guest instructors. Cost varies by program, pre-registration is required. Registration opens January 22, 2025.

Monday, March 10th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. 

Color Pencil and Graphite Crane Study Lois Smith Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, March 14, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. Dances of the Cranes Susan Hart Registration opens January 22, 2025
Monday, March 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.  Nature's Canvas: Plein Air David Wiebe Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, March 21, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. Dances of the Cranes Susan Hart Registration opens January 22, 2025
Monday, March 24, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. Nature's Canva: Plein Air David Wiebe Registration opens January 22, 2025
Monday, March 28, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. Dances of the Cranes Susan Hart Registration opens January 22, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. Watercolor Crane Study Lois Smith Registration opens January 22, 2025

Friday, April 4th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.

River and Sky: Plein Air Painting Cindy Schneider Registration opens January 22, 2025
Monday, April 7th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.  Painting with Wool:  Needle Felting a Landscape Christine Brown Registration opens January 22, 2025
Friday, April 11th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.  River and Sky: Plein Air Painting Cindy Schneider Registration opens January 22, 2025

Crane Behavior Basics

How do cranes use their distinctive calls to communicate? What is behind a crane's body language when they curtsey, jump, wing-stretch, or bustle display? Find out during this daily offering, and learn more about these charismatic bird behaviors! Offered daily March 4-April 12.  Cost is $10/person, pre-registration is required

 

Family Story Time

Bring out your littlest crane enthusiasts and learn about cranes!  Grab the entire family and join us for an interactive and engaging storytime for children under 10.  Start with a story or two, and then move onto hands-on activities that explore these marvelous birds.  Drop-in program, no registration required.

 
Saturday, March 8, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop-in program, no registration required
Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop-in program, no registration required
Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop-in program, no registration required
Saturday, March 29, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop-in program, no registration required
Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop-in program, no registration required
Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Drop-in program, no registration required
 

Virtual Viewing

Watch the spring migration from anywhere in the world using our online crane cam, with a live feed 24 hours a day.  
 

Sandhill Crane

Latin:  Antigone canadensis

Illustration for Sandhill Crane

Whooping Crane

Latin:  Grus americana

Illustration for Whooping Crane

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