About a year ago, my mother moved away from Scottsbluff, to pursue some job opportunities.... It's been a little rough, but anyway, it turns out she
moved to a part of the world a national geographic photographer called "exotic!"
Kearney Nebraska! Lol!
The reason its so exotic, is because, there is an 80 mile strip of land, between Kearney and Grand Island Nebraska, on the north platte river, that is
a stopping ground for some 500,000 sandhill cranes. They stop here on their way to canada and beyond, to stock pile more body fat for the long
journey. Corn and snails.... Mmmm.....
Anyway, we packed into a blind yesterday and watched the birds come in for the evening... It was kinda surreal! Thousands of cranes packed into the
river bed in a matter of hours, and they are noisy! Their call is similar to a rolled 'r' in spanish... So a few thousand of them at a time calling
out, it's nuts!
Its strange, the older I get, and I'm not really all that old lol, i enjoy the time I get to spend outside more and more... Even if it is just
watching birds dance lol! (cranes dance btw)
BeamerBob - 27-3-2011 at 07:09 AM
80 miles? I'm wondering if there is a flat clear spot in there to buggy! The birds are cool all by themselves though.
I drove right through there last fall. That's where the state trooper followed me for 3 miles with his spotlight on my buggy! Spent the night in
Lincoln after driving from Salt Lake.Drewculous - 27-3-2011 at 09:49 AM
not my video... but you get the idea
not really any buggy spots... lots of random trees... i did see a few good flood plains, since the river is so high, that would be a blast to surf or
winch on :wee:tridude - 27-3-2011 at 10:46 AM
those are some very cool pics..............rocfighter - 27-3-2011 at 12:29 PM
That is very cool. As a confermed out doors man, (not hunter) but prefer to be in the mountains hiking for 10-20 days at a shot. I can totaly
apriciate your excitement of this. This moring a pair of Trumpeter Swans flew over the yard while we were out side. Thay are amazingly HOOJ I think
the biggest birds I have ever seen flying in this area.Cheddarhead - 27-3-2011 at 12:45 PM
We get alot of Sandhills around here as well.
Taste just like chicken! :DJohn Holgate - 28-3-2011 at 04:13 PM
We have a close relative called the Brolga here but they're not very common in the south of Aus. I occasionally see a nesting pair on a neighbor's
dam. I once witnessed a fox get too close to their nest and the Brolga's held their wings out and charged the fox which beat a hasty retreat. They
are the largest and most impressive bird around here except maybe for the Wedgetail eagles. anything that flies is good....snowspider - 29-3-2011 at 04:51 AM
While kayaking on the Seneca river near Onondaga lake I was attacked by a trumpeter swan. It paddled out toward me from its home in a little marina
then took flight and bee lined for my face. They are big and mean and can blot out the sun, I dont think I hurt him but he did take a paddle to the
chest.Kamikuza - 29-3-2011 at 07:09 AM
Meh ... they look like they'd be all stingy to me ... I mean, Plovver just sounds like "plump" and juicy - how can you go wrong? :D
