Great Plains News Rowe Sanctuary

Pedaling the Whooper Highway

Partner spotlight: Platte Basin Timelapse
By Marcos Stoltzfus
Center Director
Published May 19, 2026
This article is from Audubon Great Plains . Find Audubon near you here.
Editor's note: Conservation along the Platte River is a collaborative effort, and Rowe Sanctuary works closely with many partners to work towards our habitat and landscape goals.  This month, we shine a light on one of our partner's programs: Pedaling the Whooper Highway, an effort to raise awareness on Whooping Crane migratory pathways. Enjoy! 
Imagine pedaling 2,500 miles through the heart of the Great Plains–following an ancient migration of one of the rarest birds in the world, powered by grit, determination, and love for a species we almost lost. Right now, a photographer and an ecologist are doing just that. 
On May 11, 2026, Mike Forsberg and Dr. Andy Caven began a 2,500-mile, 50-day bike trip to raise awareness for whooping crane conservation. The bikers started on the Texas Gulf Coast and will finish in central Saskatchewan. Mike and Andy’s goal is to physically feel the distance that whooping cranes, along with hundreds of other migratory species, travel between nesting and wintering grounds. Our goal is to uplift the stories, communities, habitats, and wildlife that define this narrow, yet critical, corridor so that whooping cranes and other species can endure for generations to come. 
Mike Forsberg is a Nebraska-based conservation photographer and the co-founder of Platte Basin Timelapse. He has dedicated the last seven years to telling the story of whooping cranes and his efforts have been made into a book, podcast, and soon-to-be feature-length film. Dr. Andy Caven is the International Crane Foundation’s Director of Central Flyway Programs. His work focuses on conservation policy, delivery, and research regarding whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, and their habitats.
Mike and Andy will pedal into Nebraska and reach the Platte River in early June. If you are interested in biking with them, meeting up, or following along virtually, follow us on social media and visit our website to learn more.
“I want everybody to feel a part of a community,” said Forsberg. “These birds have a great story to tell. But it’s not just their story, it’s our story. This trip helps us to tell other people's stories that we come in contact with along the way and lift them up.”
Check out their website: Pedaling the Whooper Highway and follow on Instagram!
Rowe Sanctuary will host Mike and Andy on June 5 for a Q&A presentation, followed by a 20-mile gravel bike-along to Crane Trust.  At 6 pm, Crane Trust will host a BBQ (reservations required).  Find more information here: [link forthcoming]