Articles for tag: avian ecology, bird migration, conservation efforts, Midwest ecosystems, migratory birds, nature tourism, Nebraska wildlife, Platte River, sandhill cranes, wildlife spectacle

Sunrise and Sunset Spectacles

Nebraska’s Crane Sky River Peaks

Andrew Alpin

Every March, the skies above Nebraska transform into something magical. Picture this: approximately 500,000 sandhill cranes descending upon the Platte River valley like gray clouds taking flight. The sight is so breathtaking that many visitors describe it as life-changing. This ancient migration has been happening for thousands of years, yet it still captures hearts and ...

a bird standing on a beach next to the ocean

Delaware Red Knots Need One Beach

Suhail Ahmed

On a narrow reach of Delaware Bay, thousands of weary red knots drop from the sky each spring and bet their lives on a single stretch of sand. The scene feels improbable: a global migration hinging on one modest , an ancient crustacean, and a clock set by tides and moonlight. Scientists describe it as ...

six flying birds under white clouds at daytime

How Birds Navigate the World Without Maps: Nature’s Living Compasses Explained

Jan Otte

Billions of birds travel distances incomprehensible to humans annually. Some, like the Arctic tern, log sufficient miles in their lifetime to fly to the moon and back without ever consulting a map or GPS. Rather, they depend on an astonishing range of biological tools: celestial cues, magnetic fields, quantum mechanics, even their sense of smell. ...