Listen to the predawn sounds of the sandhill cranes roosting on the Platte River in Nebraska. First, a murmur. Then wild chatter. And finally, takeoff!
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30 spectacular Nebraska vistas
Badlands beauty
A midsummer storm moves noisily and colorfully across the Badlands north of Harrison. The colorless, sedimentary layers laid down by an ancient ocean, now exposed and eroded, are temporarily awash with color.
Sandhills ridge top
A mule deer doe and fawn survey the landscape at sunset from a Sandhills ridge top in Cherry County.
Hoarfrost on Snake River Falls
Fed by Sandhills springs via Merritt Reservoir, the Snake River seldom freezes. Mist rising from its falls, however, will coat everything around it with hoarfrost in sub-zero weather.
Painted woods
Fall color at Indian Cave State Park from scenic overlook on loop road.
Sunset near Calamus
A windmill is silhouetted against an orange and red sunset near Calamus Reservoir in Sherman County.
Lightning near Chadron
Lightning decorates the sky above a patch of badlands west of Chadron in 2014.
Niobrara's mystery
Cloaked in early morning light and fog, the Niobrara River evokes nature's ethereal beauty and mystery as it flows through Cherry County.
Sioux County sunrise
Bull elk at sunrise in Sioux County.
Wagon Train scene
Wagon Train Lake State Recreation Area near Hickman. Matt and Amy Ludwig of Adams kayaking at sunrise in 2013.
Mexican Canyon Road
Sunset along the Mexican Canyon Road at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford in Dawes County.
Platte River
Goose hunters setting out decoys on the Platte River in Hall County.
Ponca State Park
The Missouri National Recreation River Visitor and Education Center at Ponca State Park in Dixon County is shown here.
Full moon
A full moon hangs over grasslands and a windmill in Sioux County in 2014.
Chat Canyon
Chat Canyon Wildlife Management Area in Cherry County, acquired in 2013 and opened in 2014 in cooperation with Nebraska Forest Service as the state's first Forestry and Wildlife Management Area.
Buttes
Buttes in winter in Nebraska.
North Platte River
The North Platte River near Lewellen. Canada geese and mallards swim in the wintry early morning mist.
Prairie colors
The tallgrass prairie on Nine-Mile Prairie turns to fall colors in 1996.
Fort Robinson
The still water at Grabel Ponds reflects the colors of fall at Fort Robinson State Park.
Platte River sunset
The Platte River from the Lincoln Journal Tower at sunset, with the Lied Platte River Bridge (the converted Rock Island Railroad bridge) pictured.
Prairie landscape
A passing thunderstorm and lightning in Sandhills rangeland and meadows in the northwest corner of Cherry County.
Lake Ogallala
Game and Parks Commission Fisheries and Parks division employees prepare to work on Lake Ogallala renovations as the sun rises in 1997.
Toadstool Geological Park
Toadstool Geological Park in the Badlands north of Crawford in Sioux County at sunrise.
Sun reflects on clouds
The setting sun at Prairie Wolf Wildlife Management Area in Nance County reflects on clouds seen through the silhouette of bluestem grass in 2004.
Thunderstorm on prairie
Shortgrass prairie with an impending thunderstorm 5 miles west and 1 mile north of Bushnell in Kimball County.
Grove Lake
Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area and the east branch of Vertigre Creek in Antelope County.
Wildcat Hills
Wildcat Hills near Gering in Scotts Bluff County.
Nebraska lake
Boating on Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area in 2009.
Mouth of Niobrara
The mouth of the Niobrara River on the Missouri River resembles the natural river with backwater sloughs and marshes.
Chat Canyon
Chat Canyon Wildlife Management Area in Cherry County.
