Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney County

I think it was closed. Nothing and nobody there when we got there.

Pure awesome nature in all its splendor!

The center is a hidden gem, located on the south bank of the Platte River, and just four miles from the nearest I-80 exit at Gibbon, NE. This is a very nice facility with kind and helpful staff.

So beautiful! Trails are open dawn till dusk. I just wish there were bathrooms available on the weekends.

My aunt and I decided finally to take the time to stop and really see the cranes and to visit the Audubon Society near Kearney.It was a beautiful few days, and we learned so much about cranes and the Platte river.Special memories w my Aunt Frances for sure: getting up before the crack of dawn, walking to the bridge in frigid temps, being right next to other crane watchers all completely silent and still, seeing the cranes wake from their slumber and lift in mass to head out for a day of feeding.To know that this has been happening every spring for 1000’s of years, and to have hope that with organizations like the Audubon Society it will continue—is awe inspiring.

Visited the Audubon center for the annual Sandhill Crane migration. Awesome experience. Will return next yeat!

Viewing cranes in a blind at the Rowe Sanctuary is a transformative, spiritual experience. Whether you are watching them depart in the morning, or return in the evening, to see them flying, landing, and interacting with each other, experiencing the cranes is deeply moving. Without Audubon, these cranes would likely not be here at all. We should all be supporting their work.

Last Friday I had the opportunity to experience a blind at the Rowe Sanctuary photographing the Sand Hill Crane sunrise "lift-off". The blind is designed nicely for photographers with tripods and long lenses and protects you from the direct elements. Wind is a different element as it was very blustery but totally tolerable in the blind. The staff/guides were terrific as I currently require some assistance due to health with walking. A golf cart was offered to help me to and from the blind and saved the day! I would recommend the photography blind experience to anyone interested...you will not be disappointed!

Excellent resource. So much knowledge shared by passionate volunteers.

Great service and volunteers were very knowledgeable. Provided us an amazing sunrise Sandhill tour and highly recommended to others. You will not disappointed.

Very nice people and informative too!

I though I was going to die of frostbite, but this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.The Audubon does great work everywhere, but this facility was special. These wise folks have developed a wholistic approach to ensuring the survival of Sandhill Cranes in an area where as many as half a million of these great birds stop along their migratory pathway from their warmer winter grounds in Texas and New Mexico to their nesting areas in the Arctic Circle. Quite the trip!The birds have learned to stop for a few days in the Nebraska corn and wheat fields they pass along the way where they scarf up the remains of the annual human harvests (corn and wheat that have fallen to the ground), amassing the calories they need to continue to their nesting grounds way up north. The birds also patrol wet marshes for the bugs they eat for additional protein. The Audubon folks have ownership of several such corn fields/wet marshes to ensure that the birds have the food they need. After gorging during the day, all half-million of them descend into the shallows of the Platte River near Kearny, Nebraska.These are not quiet and shy animals. Imaging hearing the cheers of a stadium full of people at a Super Bowl game -- maybe a octave higher -- for almost two straight hours without a break. Thats what their bird calls sounded like while they were settling into the shallows of the Platte River, where predators such as racoons, coyotes, dogs, cats, etc., cant get them.And we were lucky enough to have as a background one of the most beautiful sunsets Ive ever seen.For a small fee, the Audubon folks provide a briefing on the birds, walk participants to a blind (maybe 1/2 mile easy trailthat hides the presence of humans. This is essentially an open-air room may keep participants dry, but not warm. However, the Audubon folks have an adjacent warming room so those of us who are not cold-tolerant can survive the experience!MORE THAN WORTH THE REASONABLE PRICE!!!I give the experience 6 out of 5 stars!

We really enjoyed our sunrise crane tour with Will as our guide. This has been on our bucket list for years and we were so glad to finally experience it. The information was top notch and the discovery stations were right on the river. We came a little early in the season so only about 70,000 cranes in the area. I appreciated that the staff still had everyone wearing masks, plus it kept you warmer in the discovery station. We will shoot for a sunset tour next time! Gorgeous facility and the gift shop was super cute as well. We can’t wait to come back

Nice nature center, Good place to view birds and various wildlife.

THE place to view Sandhill Cranes!

The center is closed right now, but trails are open until 2 pm.

Absolutely fabulous - the morning viewing blind was a bucket list experience. Cant wait for sunset and the evening experience viewing the great crane migration.

Its nice

Sign said they were open, but the visitors center was locked up. BUT, the trails were open and birding was very good.

This is a great place for the cranes. The kids had fun too.

Wildlife and beautiful nature in the heart of farmland. Great experience in the photo blind.

Excellent bird watching opportunity.

Stopped in while traveling. It was a very nice center. Lots of info and a cute gift shop. The views were great and we highly enjoyed our visit.

Lovely spot. Not to be missed if you are into birding.

We went to a little concert without realizing we were headed to a bird sanctuary, needless to say we were doubly excited when we found out! 600,000 cranes come through every year and this beautiful place is chock full of information.

Blues on the Banks at Audubon center was an awesome event and an extraordinary venue.

was quiet this time of the year. Looking forward to revisit

Migration visit should be on everyones list of things to see

Its a fun and interesting place to learn about nebraska birds and wildlife, and costs nothing to get in.

Everyone needs to have this amazing experience

Fix the road before someone gets killed.

Awe-inspiring watching the Sandhill cranes flying over the Platte river. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Loved the gift shop and selection of crane themed items. Put this on your bucket list!

Incredible view of thousands of cranes this morning. What a gift!!.

This is the place for birders to meet up! The staff is super friendly. There are many events, especially for the Sandhill Crane migration. Feel free to bring the kids too. On one side of the center, the gift shop has some great keepsakes. On the other side is tons of information on Sandhill Cranes. The North side of the center facing the Platte River is mostly windows with telescopes and binoculars set up for birding. They even have a little dry erase board for guest to log sightings. Definitely make this a stop if you like the Sandhill Cranes.

Staff and volunteers very helpful and knowledgeable. Nice well kept facilities.

Marvelous! Everything is beyond our expectation while we visited Iain Nicolson Audubon Center in March, 2018. The views are breath taking, and the service is heartwarming! We will be back.

Looked neat. It was closed when we got there. The scenery is worth 5 stars :)

Great place to view nature

Nice location for bird watching.

Coolest place!! Went to see the migration of the cranes...holy cow!! 500,000 cranes!! Absolutely awesome. Wonderful presentations and the friendliest volunteers!! Facility was excellent!!

Loved it! Saw thousands of migrating Sandhill Cranes...and as a bonus saw two Whooping Cranes. Plan to make this an annual event for myself.

Great visit and great mission to see the cranes.

Wonderful place to view birds, especially Sandhill Cranes during the spring migration. Great staff including volunteers who make it all happen!

During the Sandhill Crane migration, this is a religious experience for bird lovers. They have excellent blinds, but they fill up so book early... January is best to assure a good booking. Great volunteers along with full time staff.

Had an amazing experience. Not only did we see and hear sandhill cranes flying in from the fields into the rivery but we had a great view of a pair of whooping cranes, saw 5 deer cross the river and 3 Eagles turning into 12 roosting in a tree right across the river from us. Our guides (dedicated volunteerswere very knowledgeable about the cranes,and pointed out things for us to see.

The indoor viewing was perfect for us specially the cold night , staffs and volunteers were knowledgeable and very helpful, thank you guys !

I visited during the peak of the spring migration in 2015. This event should be on every nature lovers bucket list. The morning was amazing! We walked in the cover of darkness and landscaping to blinds built by Audubon all the while hearing the cooing of the cranes. When light first hit, the cranes take off in enormous waves, whooping and flying in circles as they break into their family flocks to feed in the Nebraska corn fields.I plan on returning this fall to compare the different migrations.

Great facility, super friendly staff. All around a great experience. I was here for the Sandhill Crane migration. The staff was very knowlegable, and they had coffee, tea, and hot cocoa set out for all visitors. I would definitely recommend taking the photography tour to get an up close look at the cranes.

If you get there in the spring, there are impressive numbers of sandhill cranes there.

Great people and lots of great expertise! Very fun day watching cranes and a great addition to our trip out here. Theyve got tours and lots if information on everything wildlife related.