The Great Sandhill Crane Migration

Join us as we chase the Great Sandhill Crane Migration in Kearney Nebraska. An estimated 500,000 sandhill cranes gather on the banks of the Platte River, creating one of the true wildlife spectacles of North America. In addition to the Sandhill Crane, you’ll see 40 to 50 different species of birds:

Common Mergansers and the Northern Shoveler

Redheads, Canvasbacks, and Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, and American Pelican

Snow Geese, Canada Geese, and Red-winged Blackbird

Horned larks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Western Meadowlark

Cedar Waxwing, Greater Prairie Chicken (Grouse), and the Sharp-tailed Grouse

Hawks:  Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned, and Rough-legged

Bald Eagles, Wild Turkey, and the Great Horned Owl

We will also have a great chance to see coyote, Red fox, Mule deer, and Whitetail deer.  The five day- four night tour includes lodging, refreshments, airport pickup and drop-off in Omaha, the use of binoculars/spotting scopes, and crane viewing blinds.

Day 1: An Evening on the Prairie
After you arrive at the Omaha airport, we will take you to our lodge out on the prairie.  You’ll enjoy a beautiful prairie sunset and a possible star lit night walk after dinner and sundowners.

Accommodations: Calamus Outfitters Lodge
Meal: Dinner

Day 2: Prairie Chickens and Switzer Ranch
Day two starts early for Prairie chicken viewing with our Calamus Outfitter guide. We will view prairie chicken leks (breeding areas) as males compete for breeding rights. Expect lots of action early before we head back to the lodge for brunch; we’ll then depart for bird and wildlife viewing in the afternoon around the Switzer Ranch.

Accommodations: Calamus Outfitters Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Calamus Lake
Expect to start your day with a beautiful sunrise as we wait to catch a glimpse of the Sharp-tailed Grouse in our early morning blinds. After brunch, we will depart for Calamus Lake where in March 2014, Brushbuck guests saw over 100 Bald Eagles and 20 different species of other birds.

Accommodations: Holiday Inn or similar in Kearney, Nebraska
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sandhill Crane Viewing/Audubon Society Viewing Blinds

See one of Earth’s most spectacular wildlife events as thousands of sandhill cranes take flight in the beautiful Platte River sunrise. We will watch this scene unfold from the Audubon Society viewing blinds on Rowe Sanctuary. After morning crane viewing and brunch,  guests will have an opportunity to attend their choice of guest speakers covering many different wildlife subjects.  We will head back out to catch cranes coming in to roost for the evening.

Accommodations: Holiday Inn or similar in Kearney, Nebraska
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Return to Omaha
BrushBuck guests will depart early so we can stop for wildlife viewing on our way to Omaha to catch flights home.

Meal: Breakfast