An extended weekend road-trip.
Spring, 13 years ago, a mated pair of Sandhill Cranes appeared in the pond behind our home. They raised a couple of chicks and spent that and every season with us since then. I’ve painted them a dozen times over the years. Toward the end of 2025 a customer knowing my fascination with these birds, recommended a book she had just read, The Echo Maker: A Novel Hardcover, by Richard Powers (Author). I was immediately hooked, knowing I must go there, making plans to do so.
Nebraska's Platte River Valley.
The Sandhill Crane migration is one of North America's most spectacular wildlife events, occurring twice annually as hundreds of thousands of birds travel between their northern breeding grounds and southern wintering sites.
We went over to North Platte and watched massive flocks of Sandhill Cranes feed in the fields. One group had to be about 10000 clustered together with another 5000ish trail spread apart for another 2 miles. When we got back to Kearney we headed to Fort Kearney recreation area to watch the cranes return to the safety of the river, flocks and groups by land and air coming in from all directions. Learned that these cranes were named because of the sand hills of this area in Nebraska were they and their ancient relatives have been migrating here for 2.5-9 million years. Yeah it’s awesome to behold them.
Spent the 2 days driving the Platte River, from North Platte to Grand Island, centrally located in Kearney Nebraska, catching the Sandhill Crane spring migration. I had intended to paint, but yesterday was crazy windy and today was a chase from viewing spot to viewing spot to catch them. That said they were everywhere, mostly areas not accessible and private property too. Some really great views and memory captures from the car, guess I’ll find out what we got on film when we get home .
*150 miles across the endless farm fields of Nebraska, along the Platte river, 80% of the world population, 125 million Sandhill Cranes migrate through every spring. An impressive, ancient & prehistoric ritual plays out as they fill the waterways, fields & skies; gathering in groups, dancing, landing & taking flight in massive flocks, truly a sight to behold.
Nebraska! About 1.23 million Sandhill Cranes migrate through Platte River Nebraska in spring. Which includes the occasional deer, cow, robins, bison too. The skies, fields & rivers were full. I limited the photos considerably and missed some really awesome photo ops, but I have 3 paintings painted in my head, ascending, descending and dancing cranes.
as always your thoughts & questions are welcome,
Thank you, Richard
‘Descending’ 30”x10” oil
'Ascending' 40"x20" oil
‘The Dance’ 20”x24” oil
