Sandhill Crane
Latin: Antigone canadensis
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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.
There's a lot to do at Rowe Sanctuary during Crane Season! Use this at-a-glance guide, and then learn more about each program offering in the sections below.
| Sundays | Mondays | Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays | Fridays | Saturdays | |
| Offered Weekly |
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| Offered on select dates (see below for details) |
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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.
| Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Why We Love Sandhill Cranes | Paul Tebbel, Former Center Director of the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center | Register here. |
| Friday, March 28, 2025 | 50 Years of Conservation at Rowe Sanctuary Panel Discussion | Rowe Sanctuary 50th Anniversary Celebration | Register here. |
| Saturday, March 29, 2025 | Rowe's 50th Anniversary Celebration: Reception & Program |
Register here. |
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| Sunday, March 30, 2025 | Rowe Sanctuary and Audubon's Flight Plan: Audubon's Hemispheric Approach to Bird Conservation (Virtual Presentation) | Rowe Sanctuary 50th Anniversary Celebration | Register here. |
| Friday, April 4, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | The Natural History of North American Cranes | Amanda Hegg, Senior Conservation Associate - Audubon Great Plains | Register here. |
| 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 | Register here. |
| Friday, April 11, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Tracing the Path of the Platte River | Melissa Mosier, Platte River Program Manager | Register here. |
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 $30 per family, pre-registration is required. All art supplies will be provided.
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Saturday, April 5th, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. |
"Rowe-Cycling" creating art with recycled and found objects: A Family Art workshop | Maria Beucke | Register here. |
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.
| Monday, March 24th, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. | Register here. |
| Monday, March 24th, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. | Free Birdability Indoor Viewing. Register by emailing Birdability Captain, Cassandra Dean cassandradean23@gmail.com or by registering at the center or by calling (308)940-1771. |
| Monday, March 31st, 2025 | 6:30 p.m. | Register here. |
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 is $30 per participant (15 years old and up), pre-registration is required. All art supplies will be provided.
| Friday, March 28, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | Dances of the Cranes | Susan Hart | Register here. |
| Monday, March 31, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | Watercolor Crane Study | Lois Smith | Register here. |
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Friday, April 4th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. |
River and Sky: Plein Air Painting | Cindy Schneider | Register here. |
| Monday, April 7th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | Painting with Wool: Needle Felting a Landscape | Christine Brown | Register here. |
| Friday, April 11th, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. | River and Sky: Plein Air Painting | Cindy Schneider | Register here. |
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.
Cranes have impacted many cultures and have been symbols representing many things, such as peace and hope. Learn about these stories and folklore every week with us and learn why so many cultures value and respect these magnificent birds! Offered weekly on Sundays from March 9-April 6. Programs are free but have limited capacity. Pre-registration required .
| Sunday, March 30th, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Register here. |
| Sunday, April 6th, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Register here. |
North America is home to both the most abundant and most rare crane species in the world- the Sandhill Crane and Whooping Crane. Join us for an engaging presentation about the evolutionary history and life cycle of these extraordinary birds and learn about past and present conservation efforts to protect them. Offered weekly on Mondays from March 10-April 7. Programs are free but have limited capacity. Pre-registration required .
| Monday, March 31st, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Register here. |
| Monday, April 7th, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. | Register here. |
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. No Cost. 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 |
Volunteers are critical to the operations at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary. Take a look at our volunteer opportunities and consider joining this incredible team.
Your generous support helps to ensure that Sandhill Cranes and other wildlife that depend on the Platte River will have this wonderful resource for years to come.
Our gift shop has a wide variety of items and your purchase supports our conservation efforts along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska.
