Every year around this time Sandhill Cranes descend upon Nebraska. The Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary is an organization, led by Brad Mellema, that works to educate the public about the cranes as well as conserve the land that the cranes visit every year as part of their migration path.
Video I created for MTV here: http://think.mtv.com/...
The Rowe Sanctuary has been around since 1974 and now has over 1,400 acres of land it conserves for the cranes. The cranes are a beautiful sight to witness. They are the oldest bird on our planet with fossils placing cranes in Nebraska up to 9 million years ago.
The cranes are very social and are "family" birds mating for life and staying with their offspring. Nebraska provides the birds a safe haven and a place to put on some weight before their long journey north to as far away as Siberia.
Unless we continue to conserve land, like the Rowe Sanctuary does along the North Platte River, the cranes and other animals will be at risk. Our government does have two conservation programs that the Rowe Sanctuary participates in --the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)—if you want to learn more or volunteer to help conserve the land for the cranes and other animals, visit the Rowe Sanctuary’s website, http://www.rowesanctuary.org.
PS: I am also Scott Kleeb's wife, who is running for US Senate here in Nebraska. Conservation is a critical issue to both of us and we are planning to join Brad and the supporters at the Rowe Sanctuary at an event on April 6th, if you are in town you should come by also.