Rowe Sanctuary

05/30/2026

Calling all Nebraska craniacs!🚨🐥

If you’ve been following Mike and Andy’s journey and keep asking yourself “Why would anyone want to bike 2,500 miles to save whooping cranes?”, then it’s your lucky day! Mike and Andy will reach the Platte River next week, and invite you to join them at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary and the Crane Trust for a Q&A, bike-along, and barbecue.

10AM: Q&A with Mike and Andy at the Rowe Sanctuary visitor center, facilitated by Grace Carey. Join us to learn more about whooping cranes, their migration, and the experiences Mike and Andy have had on the Whooper Highway! If you are unable to attend in person, this event will be livestreamed on our Instagram page.

11:30AM: 20-mile bike-along with Mike and Andy from Rowe Sanctuary to Crane Trust. Bike with Mike and Andy on a short, two-hour ride. The route will mostly be on gravel roads. Transportation back to Rowe after the ride will not be provided.

6PM: Join us for a barbecue dinner provided by the Crane Trust. We are serving BBQ sandwiches, sides, and dessert. Drinks available for purchase from First Street Brewing Company. Learn about whooping cranes and mingle with Mike and Andy before they continue to pedal north!

Head to the link in our bio to learn more and register. Registration is preferred, but not required. We can’t wait to see you!

05/28/2026

05/28/2026

Accessible birding belongs in community science.

Join us on June 10, 2026 at 3pm ET / 2pm CT / 1pm MT / 12pm PT for a webinar about Accessible Winter/ Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs).

We’ll hear from Ben Haywood and Hannah Partridge from National Audubon Society, along with Birdability Captains Eric Clow and Cassandra Dean, who have each helped coordinate accessible or partly accessible Christmas Bird Counts in their communities.

Together, we’ll explore practical ways to make CBC participation more welcoming and accessible for disabled birders and other birders with access needs. From feeder watching and stationary counting to accessible gathering spaces and thoughtful planning, there are so many ways to help more people belong in this long standing community science tradition.

We hope you’ll join us. Register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbFNtY-iqz2C9JQ4TeOrmS-qlAaRYg_JdclU5oYNq1j3-JCA/viewform



The graphic is a blue promotional flyer for a Birdability webinar. with text reading: “Webinar Alert.”
“Creating Accessible Winter/Christmas Bird Counts”
“FREE REGISTRATION”
The flyer includes four circular photos arranged vertically along the left side and center: Top photo: A diverse group of birders outdoors on a trail. One participant is using a power wheelchair. Several people are wearing jackets and outdoor clothing, and one person is holding a white cane. Middle left photo: A smiling blonde woman sitting outdoors on grass wearing a black shirt with white floral embroidery.Middle center photo: Two bundled up birders outdoors in winter clothing. One person in the foreground is holding up a phone or device while birding. Bottom left photo: A man wearing a purple collared shirt outdoors with trees blurred in the background. The background is filled with decorative white star or sparkle graphics scattered across the blue design.

05/24/2026

“The skies over Rowe Sanctuary have grown noticeably quieter in recent weeks, as the calls of sandhill cranes drift north with the spring migration.” 🕊️

Our director, Marcos Stoltzfus, reflects on the 2026 Sandhill Crane Migration season and the incredible moments shared along the Platte River this spring. From unforgettable crane sightings to welcoming visitors from around the world, this season reminded us just how connected conservation, education, volunteers, and habitat stewardship truly are.

“What stands out most to me is how deeply interconnected our work truly is. Much like the braided river itself, our efforts are woven together. Conservation work strengthens education, education is supported by volunteers, and the birds depend on thoughtful habitat management. None of these elements stand alone; together they form a larger, resilient whole.”

Thank you to everyone who visited, volunteered, supported, and celebrated the migration season with us this year.

Read the full reflection here: https://www.audubon.org/great-plains/news/directors-desk-2026-crane-season-wrap?ms=digital-eng-social-facebook-x-20260500-nas_eng&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=20260500-nas_eng&fbclid=IwY2xjawR5exNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFiSUtzZGlLWWN0c0RZYkxXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHs9HHs-1-JaZ41qaEcGs99w-SnU30brB5KDMUz5iCO9hJi-QPjjkX6EeSSTG_aem_jvwjqYL07xcZIupSTGxhiA
Photos courtesey of Meggan Sommerville and Anderson

05/24/2026

Can you imagine pedaling 2,500 miles through the heart of the Great Plains—following the ancient migration route of one of the rarest birds in the world? 🚲🪶

Photographer Michael Forsberg and ecologist Dr. Andy Caven are doing just that, fueled by grit, determination, and a deep commitment to conservation. They’ve just begun this incredible journey to raise awareness for whooping crane conservation.

“Our goal is to uplift the stories, communities, habitats, and wildlife that define this narrow, yet critical, corridor so that whooping cranes and other species can endure for generations to come.” Mike and Andy will pedal into Nebraska and reach the Platte River in early June.
Follow along on this epic journey and learn more about the people, places, and wildlife connected by the Whooper Highway!

Partner spotlight: Platte Basin Timelapse

05/21/2026

Ever wonder what summer camp is like from a camper’s point of view?

Meet Scarlett, a first-time Platte River Safari Camp camper from 2025! From catching insects, exploring wetlands, birding adventures and making new friends, Scarlett shares what made her week at Rowe Sanctuary so memorable.

“I liked the wetland. We caught bugs and frogs in nets and then looked at them under a microscope. That was cool!”

We loved hearing about Scarlett’s camp experience, and we can’t wait to welcome campers back for another summer of discovery along the Platte River!

Read Scarlett’s story and learn more about our summer camps today!https://www.audubon.org/great-plains/news/first-time-campers-birds-eye-view-of-platte-river-safari

Last day to register is May 26!

Connecting to the outdoors at Rowe Sanctuary.

05/20/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our guided bird walk at Rowe Sanctuary this past Saturday to participate in the Nebraska Birding Bowl together! It was a wonderful morning filled with great bird sightings and helped make the event such a success.

Participants spotted an amazing variety of species along the trails, including orioles, warblers, vireos, flycatchers, shorebirds, and even a single Sandhill Crane!

You can check out one of our eBird checklists here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S340278091?utm_source=chatgpt.com

We hope to see you again on the trails soon!

05/19/2026

Join us tomorrow for this FREE, interactive event where your little learners will explore the vibrant world of birds, as we explore bird habitats and use the art of creativity to make a bird craft!

05/18/2026

Don’t forget about our plant walk, Wednesday, May 20 @ 7:00 PM! Come explore the trails with us and discover the beauty of Nebraska’s prairie in bloom! 🌿🌸

Here’s a sneak peek at just a few of the species currently blooming here at Rowe Sanctuary!
Register here
https://act.audubon.org/a/prairie-plant-walk?aud_path=%2Fevents&aud_cta=unknown&_gl=1*14elleb*_gcl_au*MTQxNzg3MTgzMi4xNzczMzQxMDQ0*_ga*MTgxNjExMDI3Mi4xNzczMzQxMDQ0*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*czE3NzkxMTM0NzEkbzQyJGcxJHQxNzc5MTEzNDc2JGo1NSRsMCRoMA..here!
Photos by Anne Troyer