Every spring, tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes fill the skies over Nebraska’s Platte River Valley in one of the most spectacular wildlife migrations on Earth. At the heart of this awe-inspiring season is a dedicated community of volunteers who help make the magic happen. Among them are Tom and Diane Anderson, a husband-and-wife duo who have become familiar and friendly faces at Rowe Sanctuary. Now in their third year of volunteering—and fourth year visiting—they’ve racked up nearly 150 hours of service just this season.
Q&A with Rowe Sanctuary Volunteers Tom and Diane
Q: How did you first get involved with Rowe Sanctuary?
A: This is our fourth year coming here and our third year volunteering. We originally came as visitors and stayed in one of the overnight blinds to do some photography. That experience changed everything for us. Waking up with the birds and seeing the 3rd largest migration right in front of you—there’s nothing like it.
Q: What do you love most about crane season at Rowe?
A: Definitely the birds, but also the other volunteers and the staff. It feels like one big family during the season.
Q: How would you describe the volunteer experience during crane season?
A: You have to stay light on your feet! Things change quickly and you need to be flexible to help wherever you’re needed. And sometimes you get a blizzard, just to keep it interesting!
Q: How much time did you spend volunteering this year?
A: Diane volunteered about 80 hours this season and Tom logged 68 hours. So between the two of us, that’s 148 hours!
Q: Do you return outside of crane season?
A: Yes, we come back in the summer and help with all kinds of projects. It’s great to see the fruits of our labor. Rowe isn’t just about crane season—it’s a year-round place.
Q: What kind of summer projects have you worked on?
Diane: Everything from helping in the greenhouse and collecting seeds to organizing brochures and cleaning up the site. We’ve done some mowing and built shelves. Last summer, we even helped with monarch tagging and prepped materials for Family Fun Fest—like cutting out masks.
