route 20 across Iowa and Nebraska

Speaking of the sandhills (cranes that is) I grew up 20 miles from the Platte river where thousands of cranes stop in March to rest before their northern migration. Loved watching their mating dances. We saw them in TX last two winters near Goose Island St. Park near Rockport. They were hanging out with some Whooping cranes. NEAT. And we spent the last two summers near Pinedale WY and they pair up on the meadows there. In summer they are brown instead of grey. This population I think winters in NM along the Rio Grande. One of my favorite birds. Just never understood why they fly in circles endlessly on the migration when they could get there a lot faster flying straight..