Things You'll Need:
- A spotting scope or binoculars
- Bird watching guide
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Notebook
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Step 1
Start a Nebraska bird watching journey in the Central Platte River area. Join thousands of bird watchers for the spring migration of Sandhill Cranes and waterfowl. From late February to mid-March, birders can see several species of cranes, ducks, geese and bald eagles. Into the month of April, the cranes and other migratory birds fill the area. The Whooping Cranes migrate northward in April, and although they are rare, this area of Nebraska gives bird watchers one of the best opportunities to spot one.
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Step 2
Visit the 40,900-acre Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge and discover some of the highest bird diversity anywhere in Nebraska. The numerous lakes in the refuge have the best bird watching spots. Birders will easily see Western Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Canvasbacks, Redheads and Black-crowned Night Herons
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Step 3
View a geographically distinctive part of Nebraska in the Southern Panhandle area. Area bird species include Pygmy Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, and Dark-eyed Junco. The Wildcat Hills area is known for its population of raptors, which rely on plentiful populations of prairie dogs. The short-grass prairie in the area provides habitat for dozens of grassland bird species.
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Step 4
Travel to the Upper Missouri River area of northeastern Nebraska for some of the finest woodland bird viewing in the state. The Niobrara State Park area has an impressive concentration of birds with a list of 260 identified species. There are over a dozen first-rate birding hot spots in the region.
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Step 5
Print maps, checklists and guides before leaving for a Nebraska bird watching trip (see Resources below). Nebraska is a remarkable state for bird watching.
