Migration of Sandhill Cranes and the Platte River

The sandhill crane (Grus Canadensis) is a relic of ancient America, existing as far back as 2.5 million years ago (meaning they existed the same time the mastodons roamed the Great Plains and before man even evolved!). These majestic birds are typically found in the Upper Midwest of the United States in prairies, fields, and marshes, but also into the tundras of Siberia (Audubon). These environments provide necessary foods for their omnivorous lifestyle, which allows them to change their diet based on the food that is available to them (National Wildlife Federation). This omnivory plays a key role in their most famous key flyway in their migration north as they require both a nearby source of grain, and wet meadows for hunting invertebrates.

These birds are distinctive for several reasons. Their mating includes complex dance displays. As noted by Audubon, "Courtship includes elaborate 'dance,' with birds spreading wings, leaping in air while calling." If these dances are successful, they will result in the pair mating for life or for many years (National Wildlife Federation). Additionally, both genders have an interesting and unique call (National Wildlife Federation).

When migrating, sandhill cranes will fly together in numbers of tens of thousands and head southeast towards Mexico, Florida, and California during the winter (Audubon). The consistency of their unaltered migration patterns are especially important to the survival of sandhill cranes, the map below displaying observed migration patterns of the cranes. It is necessary to understand how changes in habitat affect the survival of these birds during their migration, especially given that, despite the fact that populations have been noted as stable or increasing, they are still vulnerable to loss of habitat (Audubon). As a result of this loss, subspecies in Cuba and Mississippi are currently endangered.

From Kearney to Grand Island, Nebraska, the Platte River is important for Sandhill Crane migration for several reasons. Most importantly it “serves as a key stopover site where birds rest and store energy to continue their northward migration and subsequently breed” (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission). Their numbers can reach upwards to more than half a million birds, stopping along a roughly 80 mile stretch of river, though the most used sections can reach a concentration of 10,000 birds per half mile (Crane Trust). Over half a million sandhill cranes make the journey to the Platte River from February to April, an affair so big that an ornithology event is held annually and the migration is live streamed to the rest of the world (Audubon).

The River is uniquely suited as a stopover site for these birds due to a combination of three major resources that the sandhill cranes need. The shallow meadow waters offer easy access to the invertebrate these birds prey on, while the shallow river also offers an ideal environment for roosting. Meanwhile the hundreds of grain fields nearby offer another source of food and carbs for the cranes to stock up on for their long journey north. To have enough energy to finish the journey, a single crane must gain 20% of its 10-13 pound body weight (Crane Trust).

As discussed previously, the Platte River is an essential spot for sandhill cranes because it provides food, other important resources, and an opportunity to rest and recuperate before continuing migration. The loss of the Platte River not only effects sandhill cranes but also the highly endangered whooping crane that also uses the river as a migration stop over zone (Crane Trust). For these reasons, it is important to know how recent anthropogenic changes to the Platte River have affected their survival and migration.

Human intervention has affected the Platte River in many ways, affecting water quantity and food resources for sandhill cranes. These negative affects have been caused mainly by damming of the river for benefits such as electricity and power. For example, as noted by The Washington Post, "The Kingsley Dam on the North Platte -- which stores 1.7 million acre-feet in a 21-mile lake, provides irrigation for 220,000 acres of farmland and generates 98 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year " (The Washington Post, 1994). Furthermore, this has lead to a 70% reduction of the river's water flow (The Washington Post, 1994). Despite the fact that this information was reported in 1994, these issues persist.

As recent as 2022, an article published by Nebraska TV confirmed that damming of the Platte River has continued to cause the river to dry up. As the article notes, "As dry land is currently replacing the flowing waters of the Platte River" (NTV 2022). This has led to greater concern among several actors, including farmers, wildlife conservationists, biologists, and politicians.

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