NEBRASKA: Sandhill Crane Migration

Length of Tour

5-days/4-nights

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Omaha, NE, overnight in Omaha

Day 2: Transfer to Kearney, Evening Photography Blinds

Day 3: Morning in Photography Blind, Field Photography, Evening Photography Blind

Day 4: Morning in Photography Blind, Field Photography, Evening Photography Blind

Day 5: Morning in Photography Blind, Field Photography, transfer to Omaha for evening flight

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Omaha International Airport Eppley Airfield. You will be transferred to a nearby hotel to rest for the night before heading out into the field the next day. We will have a welcome dinner, where you will meet your leader and discuss what to expect during the next few days. We will talk about how to photograph from photography blinds and some of the rules and etiquette so as not to disturb the birds.  

Day 2: Drive to Kearney, NE, Lunch, Afternoon photographing Sandhill cranes, snow geese and bald eagles in the fields. 

The next few days will be spent photographing Sandhill Cranes from photography blinds in the early morning and in the evening when the cranes come and go from the Platte River. We will also be photographing them in the corn fields in the middle of the day when they are feeding to refuel for the rest of their migration.

After checking into our hotel in Kearney, we will head out to our photography spot for the night for the first opportunity to photograph from the blinds.

Day 3: The next two days will be spent photographing cranes from the photography blinds and then heading out into the fields to photograph the cranes, snow geese and eagles that gather in this area this time of year.

After we are done in the blinds we will enjoy dinner and spend the evening reviewing the images we made.

Day 4: Same as day 3.

Day 5: The morning will be spent back at the photography blinds and we will get one last look at the cranes before transferring to Omaha for an afternoon flight home.

Cost

Cost is $3,300 per person, based upon double occupancy, from Omaha, Nebraska (Airport code OMA.
This trip ends in same as arrival city (Airport code ).

This trip includes meals, airport pickup, transportation during the workshop,

Single Supplement

If a single hotel room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $185 will be assessed.

NOTE: For boat-based tours, see pricing options for single cabins. Single cabin cost includes the single hotel cost above.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.

Deposit Requirements

A $750 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.

How to Book

In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.

Final Payment

For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.

For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.

NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.

This workshop uses standard hotel accommodations.

Activity Level Rating: 2 (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)

It will be cold and you will need to be able to walk at least a ¼ of a mile to and from the blinds on uneven ground. The Prairie Chicken blinds are not heated.

Gear for Birding & Wildlife Viewing

• Good quality binoculars

Photography Gear Recommendations

The best camera is the one you have with you! That said, we will help you get great photos no matter what camera you use.

This Photo Workshop is geared toward those using DSLR or Mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses; here is what we recommend that you bring:

• Bring at least 2 camera bodies – to reduce changing lenses and just in case of accidental damage to one

Recommended Lenses for Birds & Wildlife

• 100-400mm (or equivalent) for birds in flight
• 500mm lens or longer for birds and wildlife

Recommended Lenses for Landscape Opportunities

• 24-105mm (or equivalent) for landscape and general purpose
• In addition you may also want to have an ultra-wide lens equivalent to about 16-35mm which may be used for fun landscapes and night sky photography.

Filters (Mainly for Landscape Photography)

• Polarizing Filter for removing reflections (screw in for wide-angle lenses)
• Filter Holder for 4×6″ (or similar) filters
• 2-stop Neutral Density Filter
• 8-stop (or more) Neutral Density Filter
• 2-stop Hard and/or Soft Graduated Neutral Density Filter

Other Accessories

• Tripod for long exposures, big lenses and steady video
• Flash for low light, fill light and stop action

• Rain cover for camera
• Weather resistant Camera Bag (Backpack style is best)
• Batteries and chargers
• Lots of memory cards!
• Laptop or other downloading device

*Although we will eat our meals as a group, meals costs are not included in this tour.

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.