Sandhill Crane Bus Trip

To view the pictures from the 2005 Sandhill Crane bus trip please follow the link.

Join Audubon, Cass, Crawford, and Shelby County Conservation Boards as they view the Sandhill Crane migration, one of the most spectacular wildlife happenings that can be witnessed anywhere. Bird enthusiasts travel thousands of miles each year to central Nebraska for this incomparable experience. The relaxing, educational, two-day journey will take place Thursday, March 31, 2005 to Friday, April 1, 2005. The following are the details of the trip. Informational meetings will be held in the counties involved with the trips. These meetings are as follows:

Audubon County: Thursday, January 13, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the meeting room the the Audubon Public Library.

Cass County: Monday, January 10, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the basement meeting room of the Cass County Courthouse.

Crawford County: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nature Center at Yellowsmoke Park.

Shelby County: Monday, January 10, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in Nature Center at Nishna Bend Recreation Area (near Corley).

These meetings will go over the agenda and cost estimates of the trip. A short video or slide show will also be shown of the Sandhill Crane migration. Registration will begin after the short meeting and will be done on a first come, first serve basis.

If you have any questions concerning the trip, please contact the Naturalist from your county with question.

Cass County: Andria Cossolotto, 712-243-6665

Email: acossolotto@casscoia.com

Crawford County: Kelly Sonnichsen, 712-263-3409

Email: kmac@frontiernet.net

Shelby and Audubon Counties: Christina Groen, 712-744-3403

Email: cgroen@fmctc.com

The Itinerary

The bus will stop at the McDonald's parking lot in Denison to pick up the Crawford County attendees (approximately 6:15 or 6:30). The Cass County attendees will meet in the Courthouse parking lot at 6:15 to carpool to Avoca.

Thursday, March 31^st, 2005

7:00 a.m. Arrive at Wings, Exit 40 off of I-80, just north of Avoca

7:15 a.m. Windstar bus arrives at Exit 40

7:30 a.m. On Road

9:30 a.m. Stop around Lincoln for break/snack

10:00 a.m. On Road

11:30 p.m. Lunch in Grand Island (Golden Corral)

12:45 p.m. On Road

1:30 p.m. The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument near Kearney, Nebraska

3:30 p.m. On Road

3:45 p.m. Check-in at Hotel, snack & dress appropriately for evening outdoors!

4:15 p.m. Load Bus

4:30 p.m. On Road

5:00 p.m. ROWE Sanctuary to view cranes return to river

8:00 p.m. On Road

8:30 p.m. Hotel…ON YOUR OWN…your choice: Eat at Perkins or any fast food places within walking distance OR have food delivered

Friday, April 1^st, 2005

5:30 a.m. On Road (Optional)

5:45 a.m. Arrive at river bridge to see cranes (Optional)

7:45 a.m. On Road (Optional)

8:00 a.m. At Hotel…breakfast and check-out

8:55 a.m On Road

9:30 a.m. Crane Meadows Nature Center

9:30-10:00 Crane Film, 10:00-10:30 Small Gift Shop, 10:30-11:30 Bus Tour

11:30 a.m On Road

12:00 p.m. Lunch in Grand Island (Choose from Arby’s, Burger King, or Godfather’s Pizza)

1:15 p.m. On Road

2:45 p.m. Break in Lincoln

3:15 p.m. On Road

5:15 p.m. Arrive at Wings, Exit 40 off of I-80, just north of Avoca

$130 Cost Break-down:

Transportation (Windstar Bus)

$30.00

Archway Monument

$10.00

ROWE Sanctuary

$20.00 for blind (to see cranes up close)

Days Inn

$35.00/person, two queen beds. Rooms will be shared, if you are traveling alone, we will assign you a roommate

Accommodations:

Complimentary Continental Breakfast

Indoor Pool

Whirlpool

10% discount at Perkins restaurant located next door

All rooms have a microwave, mini fridge and hairdryers

Crane Meadows Nature Center

$5.00 for Sandhill Crane presentation, and bus tour, there is also a gift shop.

Handling Fees

$30.00 covers the bus drivers hotel room, a donation to ROWE Sanctuary and a handling fee to the Boyer Valley Environmental Education Foundation.

Meals

Bring funds to cover your meals (two lunches, one supper, and snacks).

Registration:

Registration will be done on a first come, first serve basis and will begin on January 10 following the first informational meetings. There is a minimum age requirement of fourteen year old. The official registration form will be due on or before February 15, 2005 with a $65.00 deposit check made to "Boyer Valley Environmental Foundation." The refund policy is included on the official registration form. If you cannot attend the informational meeting but are interested please contact one of the three Naturalists in charge of the trip.

Items to Bring:

Waterproof boots/shoes

Plastic Bags to store muddy shoes

Layers, layers, layers!

Hats/Gloves

Rain Gear

Binoculars

Camera

Snacks

Important Phone Numbers to leave with relatives:

Days Inn (Kearney) 308-234-5699

Please have them leave a message here if possible

Andria’s Cell Phone 712-254-0105

(please use this sparingly as it will cost me about $.70/minute)

Christina's Cell Phone 712-579-1801

(will answer as long as it is not on roaming, which should not be a problem)

Other Information: From the Windstar Website

All of the following comes standard on all Windstar Lines:
	Large, panoramic windows
	Deluxe, fully upholstered, reclining seats with armrests
	VCR with 3 or 5 monitors
	On-board restroom with hand sanitizer
	Hand-held, wireless PA system (great for passing around, telling stories!)
	CB radios (for communication on multiple bus movements)
	Seat back trays with cup-holders
	Full climate control
	AM/FM Radio Cassette
	Tour guide seat
	Fully carpeted aisles
	Light & air controls above each seat
	Footrests
	Window shades & decorative curtains
	Overhead storage area and large underneath storage

Insurance

Windstar Lines carries 5 million dollars of liability coverage. We have maintained a solid business relationship with National Interstate Insurance Agency since our company was started in 1995.

The Viewing Blinds: ROWE viewing blinds are wooden structures with carpeted floors, that hold from 12 to 36 people. They offer shelter from wind, rain, and snow, but are not heated and will be as cold or colder than the outside. Inside the blinds, rectangular holes of all heights can be found, and are large enough for spotting scopes and any size telephoto lens. Photographs can be taken from the blind, however we recommend video cameras for capturing the sights and sounds of cranes. (Note: flashes on cameras are not allowed)