Audubon's Nebraska Crane Festival, March 21-24, brings together nature enthusiasts from around the country to Kearney, Nebraska, for an exciting weekend of field trips and speakers, all centered around the amazing migration of hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes and millions of waterfowl through central Nebraska. Festival registration is $150/person ($160 after February 15). Tickets are available at the festival's webpage. Registration includes all speakers; Friday lunch; Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and Sunday brunch. Field trips can be added for additional fees.

National and local speakers will present information on a variety of wildlife and conservation topics during concurrent sessions March 22 and 23. Saturday’s banquet will feature David Mizejewski, television host, media personality, author, blogger, and naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. Additional speakers include Lili  Taylor, actress and National Audubon Society Board member; and Michael Farrell, co-creator of the Platte Basin Timelapse Project.

Audubon Nebraska will host a showing of the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications production of “Follow the Water” at the World Theatre in Kearney on Friday, March 22, at 7:30 pm. Doors will open for festival participants at 7:00 and to the general public at 7:15. The Wild Experience Room returns to the Kearney Public Library on Saturday, March 24, from 10 am-2 pm with free, family-fun activities and live animals.

Visit Audubon Nebraska's festival page for updates of the festival's line-up. To receive periodic e-mail updates on festival news and activities, contact us at nebraska@audubon.org.