Tag Archives: platte river

Photo of the Week – March 7, 2013

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It’s March, which means the sandhill cranes are back on the Central Platte River.  Every spring, the entire mid-continent population of sandhill cranes (500,000-650,000 birds) comes to the Platte River to spend several weeks fueling up for the rest of their northward migration and breeding season.

Sandhill cranes roosting on the Platte River, just north of The Nature Conservancy's Studnicka tract. 2007 photo.

Sandhill cranes roosting on the Platte River, just north of The Nature Conservancy’s Studnicka tract. 2007 photo.

Interestingly, we seem to have fewer cranes right now (March 7) than we did in mid-February back in 2012.  The vagaries of weather – both here and in the wintering grounds in Texas, New Mexico, and northern Mexico – help drive the timing of migration.  I’m not sure exactly what cues they’re using to make their decisions, but apparently there is less urgency to leave the south this year. 

While the cranes are a little slow to arrive, vast numbers of snow geese, along with other geese and ducks, are making up for them.  The skies are full of birds and their calls, making it pretty nice to work outside (and, conversely, hard to stay inside.)

Spring is coming!

New Fellowship Positions Available: Platte River Prairies, Nebraska

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Attention recent college graduates from Natural Resources and Conservation programs…

I am excited to announce the new Claire M. Hubbard Young Leaders in Conservation Fellowship Program.  The program will fund two Fellowship positions with The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska.  Fellows will be based here in the Platte River Prairies, but will also spend significant time at other sites around the state and region.

Join us on the Platte River Prairies for a year you'll never forget.

Join us on the Platte River Prairies for a year you’ll never forget.

The Hubbard Fellowship is designed to give recent college graduates the breadth of experience they need to qualify for a fulfilling conservation career.  As opposed to the typical post-graduate experience of bouncing from seasonal job to seasonal job for several years or more, this paid Fellowship position provides comprehensive experience across multiple facets of conservation work- all in a single year.  Fellows will participate in activities ranging from prairie restoration and prescribed fire to fundraising and marketing.  However, the Fellowship will also be individually designed to emphasize the experiences each Fellow wants or needs to prepare them for the career they want.

The Fellowship is open to graduates of undergraduate and graduate programs in natural resources, conservation biology, or related subjects.  We are looking for highly-qualified, motivated people with strong leadership and communication skills.  Applications are due March 8, 2013 and the position will begin June 1.

If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please click on the links below to learn more:

Hubbard Fellowship Brochure

Official Job Description

We are extremely grateful to Anne Hubbard and the Claire M Hubbard Foundation for funding this Fellowship Program.