Yes — the session is free but registration is required; check the booking link to reserve a spot.

Please check in at the Welcome Desk inside the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary on arrival.

Is the event accessible?

Yes — the session is wheelchair accessible. Indicate any accommodation requests when registering.

What ages are allowed?

Children eight and older are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Can I photograph during the talk?

Photography during the indoor talk is generally allowed but be respectful of speakers and other guests; outdoor photography is encouraged at designated viewing areas.

Do I need to bring anything?

Bring binoculars, a field guide or app, water, and layered clothing if you plan to visit nearby viewing areas after the talk.

Inside Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin: Wetlands, Migration, and Conservation with USFWS | Guided Tour | Wildlife

On a flat expanse of loess prairie in south‑central Nebraska, the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District is where millions of migratory birds pause on spring journeys. Join Jessica Bolser, Station Manager at the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District, for a free, one‑hour speaker session at the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary (44450 Elm Island Rd, Gibbon NE 68840) to learn how this patchwork of shallow playa wetlands and grassland supports flocks of geese, sandpipers, and the rare Whooping Crane. The talk frames field biology around concrete conservation action. The District oversees 63 Waterfowl Production Areas scattered across gently rolling loess plains; these shallow, seasonal playa wetlands fill, drain, and refill, creating intense but fleeting feeding grounds for waterfowl and shorebirds. You’ll hear how managers time seasonal manipulations, control invasive plants, and maintain grassland buffers to increase food availability for species like Greater White‑fronted Geese, Northern Pintails, Buff‑breasted Sandpipers, and the endangered Whooping Crane. What makes this event a standout is its local perspective. Jessica brings eighteen years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and first‑hand experience balancing habitat restoration with public access. Her background in stopover ecology and fieldwork across continental migration routes gives context to why the Rainwater Basin matters: it functions as a critical refueling network in the Central Flyway rather than as an isolated preserve. The talk connects policy and practice by explaining how WPAs are acquired, how seasonal water is managed in an agricultural landscape, and how partnerships with ranchers, volunteers, and state agencies amplify on‑the‑ground outcomes. Visitors will leave with more than anecdotes: expect practical guidance on where to watch migrating flocks from safe vantage points at Rowe Sanctuary, how to read wetland cues that predict bird concentrations, and how to volunteer or support habitat projects. The session is wheelchair accessible; register in advance and check in at the Welcome Desk. Children eight and older are welcome when accompanied by a parent or guardian. If you’re planning a spring trip to central Nebraska, pair this talk with an early morning watch along the Platte River, a short drive to nearby WPAs, or a guided crane viewing at Rowe Sanctuary. Even outside peak migration the presentation reframes the landscape by explaining winds, precipitation patterns, and human choices that shape wetland availability. For birders, biologists, photographers, and anyone curious about practical conservation, this is a compact, high‑value primer on why protecting shallow seasonal wetlands matters on a continental scale. Arrive ten to fifteen minutes early to check in, bring binoculars and a field guide if you have them, and prepare questions about water management, grazing partnerships, and volunteer monitoring opportunities that the presenter highlights for visitors who want hands‑on ways to support wetland recovery.

About Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, is a conservation and education site operated by Audubon dedicated to protecting the Platte River ecosystem and its migrating Sandhill Cranes. The center manages habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, and public programs that connect visitors with river, wetland, and prairie species.

Rowe Sanctuary hosts seasonal Crane Season events, offering guided crane viewing from accessible indoor and outdoor vantage points where thousands of Sandhill Cranes funnel along the Platte River at sunset. Programs include art workshops, accessible nature journaling, and special cultural events that blend storytelling, conservation, and hands-on learning.

Rowe Sanctuary partners with artists, researchers, and community leaders to present experiences such as the MONA Art Workshop: Dances of the Cranes with Susan Hart; Birdability Indoor Crane Viewing Experience; Birdability & Rowe: Accessible Nature Journaling Workshop; and Braided in Unison, a public event featuring author Amy Tan and conservation experts. Each offering emphasizes habitat preservation, visitor accessibility, and interpretive education about migratory birds and river dynamics.

Facilities at the center are designed to welcome diverse audiences, with accessible viewing areas and inclusive programming led by trained staff and volunteers. Education programs serve families, students, and conservation supporters, while fundraising events support ongoing land stewardship. Visitors can expect expert interpretation, panoramic river views, and opportunities to support the protection of the Platte River’s braided ecosystem.

The visitor center includes interpretive exhibits, educational displays, staff-led programs highlighting local ecology and research initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and ways for visitors to support ongoing conservation efforts.

Inside Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin: Wetlands, Migration, and Conservation with USFWS

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