Sandhill crane migration generates more than $19 million
Report shows a 96 percent increase in direct visitor spending tied to the sandhill crane migration in central Nebraska.
CENTRAL NEBRASKA — The annual spring migration of sandhill cranes generated more than $19 million for central Nebraska, according to the most recent report.
The Nebraska Flyway Partnership, along with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration’s Department of Economics, released a report detailing the economic impact of the annual sandhill crane migration along the Central Platte River flyway corridor in 2025.
The report estimates a total economic impact of $28 million for the 2025 spring migration season, nearly double the $14.3 million recorded in 2017, representing a 96 percent increase. The figures include direct visitor spending and additional economic activity that circulated throughout the region.
An estimated 35,400 people visited central Nebraska during the migration season, staying an average of just over three days, for a total of nearly 109,000 visitor days.
Survey responses showed most visitors came from Omaha, Lincoln and other areas outside central Nebraska. Out-of-state visitors included 15 percent from Colorado, 9.3 percent from Minnesota, 7.1 percent from Iowa and 5 percent from Wisconsin, with additional visitors traveling from California, New York and Florida.
Since 2017, labor income tied to the migration has grown faster than inflation, employment has increased 20 percent, and migration-related business sales have nearly doubled, according to the report.