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Photos: Sandhill cranes take flight along the Platte River
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney. Hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes have been converging on the Platte Basin for their annual migration to their northern breeding grounds. Every spring, as sandhill cranes are migrating to their breeding grounds, cranes without partners will start pairing up. During this time, the cranes perform dancing displays. Although the dancing is most common in the breeding season, the cranes can dance all year long. Sometimes the dance involves wing-flapping, bowing and jumping.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill Cranes take flight over trees along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday near Kearney. Thousands of cranes converge on the Platte Basin for their annual migration to their northern breeding grounds.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
A sandhill crane takes flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
Sandhill cranes take flight from the sandbars along the Platte River early in the morning on Saturday, March 21, 2026, near Kearney.
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