3rd Wildlife Viewing & Nature Tourism Academy

Every year, sandhill cranes make a long migration from the sand hills of Texas to central Alaska and even over to Siberia. Throughout their journey these large birds give us spectacular viewing opportunities in many different forms. From spotting small groups on wintering grounds in Texas to the deafening chorus of thousands feeding in Nebraska, special viewing platforms and blinds allow us to watch these birds at rest. When the birds reach Yukon, the only opportunity to see them is as they fly overhead. As wildlife professionals we have the privilege and responsibility to provide respectful viewing experiences to the public to promote the conservation of our natural wonders. This presentation will explore site specific approaches to spot, panoramic and flyover viewing experiences. Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary is a 2,800 acre preserve on the Platte River in central Nebraska. During the spring migration, 800,000+ sandhill cranes stop on their way north to breeding grounds. For 47 years, Audubon has been offering sunrise and sunset viewing experiences to observe the cranes as they roost for the night. Our design team was challenged with creating a flexible viewing blind for 30 people that could be used year-round for river or prairie interpretive programs. Many specific accommodations were made for this unique facility where visitors pay to spend three hours each spring to witness the spring crane migration, a treasure of North American wildlife. After the cranes leave Nebraska they are racing to northern breeding grounds in Canada and beyond. By the time they reach Yukon, they are following the Tintina Trench, a geological fault that passes through the old mining town of Faro. In the 90s when the mine closed, Faro collapsed, the population crashing from 2,000 to 400 people nearly overnight. But those that stayed continued to carve out a living from the wilderness by promoting their unique natural attractions, such as the spectacle of hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes flying by. With a weekend-long festival planned months in advance, Faro faces the challenge of attracting visitors to an isolated town on the hope they might have timed it with the migration. The viewing experience in Faro is entirely different from Nebraska, but still celebrated by those who make the journey. By following the path of the sandhill crane we can make an interesting comparison of the different audience expectations and services needed celebrate the same thing.