SPRING bIRDING

​Greater Prairie 
​Chickens

Spring Birding Trifecta

American White
​Pelicans

Sandhill cranes

Reserve your spot in the Viewing Blind!

View the pelicans right on the water from boat tours!

Rowe Sanctuary offers morning and evening guided blind tours.  Make your reservation today!

Spring in Nebraska is a magical time for birders. There are three unique opportunities to be experienced featuring the Sandhill Cranes, American White Pelicans and the Greater Prairie Chickens within a short drive from each other.

Every March, over 500,000 Sandhill Cranes converge on the Platte River valley in south central Nebraska to fuel up before continuing north to their nesting grounds.  Considered to be one of the great wildlife spectacles in North America, this gathering of cranes is the largest in the world.

​​Area residents know spring is just around the corner when the American White Pelicans begin returning from their winter feeding grounds along the U.S. Gulf Coast to take up temporary residence at Harlan County Reservoir.  Arrival dates can be as early as late February up through early April. 

Whimsical, charming, fascinating-and for most of the year, elusive-southwest Nebraska's Greater Prairie Chickens strut their stuff in a spectacular show each spring.  Join a group of early morning birders in late March to mid-April to observe the annual mating dance that will enchant, amaze and thrill you.

Prime viewing areas

TRIFECTA

nEBRASKA