Listen to the predawn sounds of the sandhill cranes roosting on the Platte River in Nebraska. First, a murmur. Then wild chatter. And finally, takeoff!
Audubon Nebraska announced a $34 million fundraising campaign to revamp its nature centers and invest in programming and conservation efforts.
The organization, which protects birds and their environments, announced the campaign this week. However, officials already have raised $31 million toward the campaign, dubbed Elevate Nebraska, since July 2020.
A portion of the money will go toward renovation and expansion of two nature centers — Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, and Spring Creek Prairie in Denton, Nebraska.
Spring Creek Prairie will see upgrades to bridges and trails as well as new signage and exhibits, and upgraded lighting both indoors and in parking lots.
Rowe Sanctuary will see multiple new additions, including a space to improve river and bird viewing, a conference room and multipurpose space, and an industrial-grade kitchen designed for catering.
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The space’s great hall would be renovated to create a larger, more open space and office space would be reconfigured.
The sanctuary also would see installation of interpretive and interactive exhibits, an accessible entry, a new overlook deck and boardwalk segments along the Platte River, landscaping with native plants, and more efficient and wildlife-friendly lighting.
Other funds raised through the campaign will go toward conservation programs, native habitat restoration, education programs, as well as partnerships with private landowners across the state. It also would expand the Platte River Initiative, which aims to “put in place a long-term, whole ecosystem approach to natural resource conservation” on the Platte River, according to the Audubon Nebraska website.
“We know that what is good for birds is good for people,” said Kristal Stoner, Audubon Nebraska executive director, in a press release. “When birds thrive, so do people. Which is why we work to conserve our waterways and our native prairies, and share our knowledge to inspire people to join us. Everything is connected, and people need these spaces, too.”
For more information, visit greatplains.audubon.org.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2023

Swimmers take off in the boys 400 yard freestyle relay in the NSAA state swimming championship finals in Lincoln on Saturday.

Snow still covers fields as the sun starts to set near Wynot, Nebraska on Thursday.

Sutherland’s Grady Dempcy is introduced before he takes on David City Aquinas’s Grady Romshek for the Class D during the state final 106 pound match on Saturday.

Millard South’s Miles Anderson, left, walks away after pinning Lincoln East’s Joshua Shaner during the Class A state final 126 pound match on Saturday.

Omaha’s Ty Mueller gets a first-half shot past Colorado College goalie Kaidan Mbereko’s left hand in the first period to put UNO up 1-0 on Friday. Also on the play is Colorado College’s Noah Laba, top right, and Nicklas Andrews, bottom left.

Maria Sosa teaches a Folklórico class at the Hispanic Arts Center inside the former Center Theater located at 3504 Center Street on Tuesday.

A pedestrian crosses east on 13th Street at Harney Street during a winter storm on Thursday.

Wisner-Pilger fans cheer on a wrestler in the NSAA State Wrestling championships in Omaha on Thursday.

A pedestrian crosses west on 17th Street at Douglas Street in the rain on Tuesday.

Haley Quall, right, and Lisa Mueller prepare flower arrangements for Valentine’s Day in the greenhouse at Janousek Florist in Omaha on Monday. The family-owned florist expects to have about 700 orders for the holiday.

Creighton’s Shereef Mitchell (4) walks off the court with head coach Greg McDermott following the UConn vs. Creighton men’s basketball game in Omaha on Saturday. Creighton won the game 56-53.

Victor Benjamin shapes clay in his hand as he works on a sculpture of Chief Big Elk at the KANEKO on Wednesday.

People watch as Victor Benjamin works on a sculpture of Chief Big Elk at the KANEKO on Wednesday. It will eventually be placed at the newly renovated Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront.

Victor Benjamin works on a sculpture of Chief Big Elk at the KANEKO on Wednesday. It will eventually be placed at the newly renovated Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront.

Creighton’s Lauren Jensen dribbles the ball in the first half against St. John’s on Saturday.

Creighton’s Morgan Maly and her team celebrate a second-half three-point basket against St. John’s on Saturday.

Employees and customers retrieve their belongings a day after they fled a Target at 17810 West Center Road after someone walked in and started firing an assault rifle. Omaha police shot and killed the suspect.

Omaha Zoo CEO Luis Padilla announces an update to the Hubbard Orangutan Forrest on Friday.

Sarah Nocita hugs her son, Michael Baker, as they move into a new place in northwest Omaha on Thursday. They were tenants of the Legacy Crossing Apartments before being forced to move after the City of Omaha shut down the complex in December.