Welcome to

Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary

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Discover adventure, birds, and how to make a difference at an Audubon center.

44450 Elm Island Rd, Gibbon, NE 68840

Visitor Center Hours:

Open Hours: 10:00am - 5:00am

Sandhill Cranes and Northern Pintail. Photo: Tom Barnwell/Audubon Photography Awards

Our Mission

The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary is a 3,000-acre nature sanctuary located along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. Rowe Sanctuary works to conserve and restore the Platte River ecosystem, focusing on cranes, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.

About Us

Our trails are open daily from dawn-dusk; look for signage to indicate the trailhead location. Pets on a leash are only allowed in the parking lot and in a designated pet exercise area South of the parking lot. No pets are allowed on the trails.

Crane Season

Rowe Sanctuary lies at the heart of a critical staging area for hundreds of thousands of migrating Sandhill Cranes each Spring. Each year, visitors come from all over the globe to witness North America’s great migration.

Crane migration typically starts in early March, and lasts for 4-6 weeks until early/mid April. Rowe Sanctuary offers tours, programs, and events to celebrate the migration and allow members of the public to experience this incredible natural phenomenon.

Learn About Crane Season

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How We Make a Difference

Platte River Initiative

GREAT PLAINS

Build a riverscape throughout the Platte River Basin that sustains thriving local communities and the ecosystems that birds depend on through trusting partnerships, community engagement, habitat restoration, and science-driven decision-making that balances numerous water needs in a changing climate.

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