You know the old saying: “Birds of a feather flock together”? It certainly applies to the great Crane Migration is one of the major animal migrations in the world. How lucky for those of us who live in the U.S. that it comes straight up through the middle of the country, giving so many of us the opportunity to experience this natural wonder.

Save this article and podcast about the Great Crane Migration in Nebraska to Pinterest to help plan your trip. Photos by Crane Trust. Graphic by Real Food Traveler.

Hungry for more? Read a first-hand account of what it’s like to witness the Crane Migration.

We spoke with Nebraska’s Director of Conservation Research at the Crane Trust, Andrew Caven. He has a front row seat to the migration every year, and studies the birds year ’round. There’s a lot more to the event than just seeing a bunch of birds. Andrew tells us about the work of the Crane Trust, why Nebraska has been a favorite stopover for the birds (you won’t believe how long this has been going on), and some of the birds’ unique behaviors, including how they romance each other.

Listen to our podcast (below) during which Caven helps us understand why they take the path they do, when the best time is to see them, and why the heck they throw sticks around!

Learn things about the Crane Migration such as:

What are they feeding on?

What types of cranes come through Nebraska?

How long do cranes pair up for?

How do pairs divide up the childcare chores?

What’s with all that noise?

And a lot more…