It reaches a crescendo in early spring. An overwhelming cacophony of sight and sound. Millions of birds on the wing—including 80 percent of the world’s population of sandhill cranes—in throngs that can darken the sky.

There is no question: The arrival of the cranes on Nebraska’s Platte River—and the millions of other migratory birds that visit each spring—is one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on the continent. Discover how you can experience this awe-inspiring scene when the birds return to central Nebraska.