When we hear his call we hear no mere bird. We hear the trumpet in the orchestra of evolution. He is the symbol of our untamable past, of that incredible sweep of millennia which underlies and conditions the daily affairs of birds and men Also Leopold
Today I stand on the banks of the Platte with camera in hand as my witness. The river rushes above me, below me and through me. My photographs are a way to help me remember who I am, where I come from, and who I am becoming. And I hope I can return again and … Read more
Sandhill Cranes who roost on the Platte River at night will sometimes leave the water well before dawn. They can see quite well in low light so it could be because they are simply ready to go to nearby fields to begin feeding for the day. Or they may have been spooked by a predator … Read more
It was a good, relatively normal spring this year on the Platte river. There were a few wet spells, but nothing to make the river too high for the cranes to roost. According to the Crane Trust, the arrival of the cranes started off a bit slower, or slightly later than normal, most likely due … Read more
I go to Nebraska pretty much every year now…at least once in the spring…sometimes twice in March or early April. The trip is mainly to see the crane migration but it might also involve Prairie Chickens or Sharptail Grouse…all are birds I enjoy taking pictures of. On this last visit, I came across a new … Read more
Before dawn is the best time to find the maximum number of cranes on the Platte river. At various points along an 80 mile stretch starting around Grand Island and going westward, there are places where you’d think you could never fit another bird in…these are popular hangouts with numerous shallow water sandbars. It’s a … Read more