Birding
Bird watchers come to Garden and Keith County in the spring to view the Sandhills Cranes migration. Garden county is the place to view a large variety of birds. Some of the birds viewed at The Gander Inn are:
Cardinals, Yellow-bellied Fly Catchers, Red headed woodpecker, Nuthatch,
Cardinals, Yellow-bellied Fly Catchers, Red headed woodpecker, Nuthatch,
The Sandhills
Here are just a few reasons people travel to Nebraska. For example a great place for bird watching would be Crescent lake, crescentlake.fws.gov. Many wildlife species use the Refuge. As many as 20 species of bald eagles and over 200,000 waterfowl may concentrate on the Refuge during fall migration. Well over 275 bird species have been observed on the Refuge since 1975. Another great place for bird watching, close to Lewellen is
Clear Creek Wildlife Refuge . The website is www.ngpc.state.ne.us. Clear Creek is also popular with bird watchers. Birders enjoy some excellent viewing opportunities during both the spring and fall migrations. They can spot most species of ducks, geese and shore birds found in the Central Flyway. White pelicans begin to concentrate on the river and along the mud flats of the reservoir in early May. From mid-February to early April, a representative flock of about 5,000 Sandhill cranes usually stages along the Platte in this area. Serious birders have recorded a wide variety of song birds on the area, thanks to the wildlife shrub plantings and associated riparian habitat.
Ash Hollow State Park Grounds open year-round, 8:00 a.m. to sunset, including Windlass Hill center
Interpretive Center, Visitors Center and Cave open daily, May 5 to September 5, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sweet spring water made Ash Hollow near Lewellen a major stopover on the Overland Trail and prompted prehistoric Indians to use it, too. Ruts etched by west-bound wagons are visible on the bluffs at Windlass Hill. The history, archaeology and paleontology of the area are interpreted at the visitor center, Ash Hollow Cave and exhibits and structures.
Ash Hollow State Park
In 1962, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission began acquisition of the 1,000-plus acres that now comprise the park. An interpretive center was built over the entrance of Ash Hollow Cave to protect its unique features. In 1978, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission opened the visitor center on the bluff overlooking the mouth of the canyon. A hiking trail from the visitor center provides access to the spring in the bottom of the canyon.
Also a part of the park, Windlass Hill is located on a separate tract 2 1/4 miles south on U.S. 26. Development there includes an interpretative shelter and informal signs. A walkway provides access to the crest of the hill to view the deep ruts carved by those thousands upon thousands of wagons that traveled the trail those many decades ago on the Oregon Trail and was a popular watering hole because
of fresh spring waters. There is a museum, picnic area and large park.
Lake McConaughy is a wonderland to fishing, hunting and water sports;
www.lakemcconaughy.com
Sandhills of Nebraska make up a large portion of our land, to learn more about the wildlife visit this site;
thenebraskasandhills.com
Clear Creek Wildlife Refuge . The website is www.ngpc.state.ne.us. Clear Creek is also popular with bird watchers. Birders enjoy some excellent viewing opportunities during both the spring and fall migrations. They can spot most species of ducks, geese and shore birds found in the Central Flyway. White pelicans begin to concentrate on the river and along the mud flats of the reservoir in early May. From mid-February to early April, a representative flock of about 5,000 Sandhill cranes usually stages along the Platte in this area. Serious birders have recorded a wide variety of song birds on the area, thanks to the wildlife shrub plantings and associated riparian habitat.
Ash Hollow State Park Grounds open year-round, 8:00 a.m. to sunset, including Windlass Hill center
Interpretive Center, Visitors Center and Cave open daily, May 5 to September 5, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sweet spring water made Ash Hollow near Lewellen a major stopover on the Overland Trail and prompted prehistoric Indians to use it, too. Ruts etched by west-bound wagons are visible on the bluffs at Windlass Hill. The history, archaeology and paleontology of the area are interpreted at the visitor center, Ash Hollow Cave and exhibits and structures.
Ash Hollow State Park
In 1962, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission began acquisition of the 1,000-plus acres that now comprise the park. An interpretive center was built over the entrance of Ash Hollow Cave to protect its unique features. In 1978, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission opened the visitor center on the bluff overlooking the mouth of the canyon. A hiking trail from the visitor center provides access to the spring in the bottom of the canyon.
Also a part of the park, Windlass Hill is located on a separate tract 2 1/4 miles south on U.S. 26. Development there includes an interpretative shelter and informal signs. A walkway provides access to the crest of the hill to view the deep ruts carved by those thousands upon thousands of wagons that traveled the trail those many decades ago on the Oregon Trail and was a popular watering hole because
of fresh spring waters. There is a museum, picnic area and large park.
Lake McConaughy is a wonderland to fishing, hunting and water sports;
www.lakemcconaughy.com
Sandhills of Nebraska make up a large portion of our land, to learn more about the wildlife visit this site;
thenebraskasandhills.com
