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AT: The Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes SPECIAL GUEST KEANNA LEONARD

December 14, 2019 @ 8:00 am - 11:30 am

$30 – $35

Sandhill Cranes are extraordinary birds with sophisticated vocal and body language and identifiable patterns of interacting with each other. Let Keanna Leonard, retired Education Director at Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon, Nebraska, take you on a journey into this little discussed, yet fascinating realm of crane life. You will also learn about crane migration routes and the importance of the Platte River to over eighty percent of the Sandhill Cranes in the world.

About Keanna

We are always excited when the Sandhill Crane migration brings them to the Island to winter with us. We are especially thrilled that this year, they are bringing Holiday with the Cranes’ favorite Keanna Leonard with them!

Keanna and her family have lived in the Big Bend region of the Platte River in central Nebraska for twenty-five years. The area is in the heart of the central flyway and home of the largest gathering of Sandhill Cranes in the world. Before retiring, Keanna established educational programs for Rowe Sanctuary and conducted two hundred nature-based educational programs for well over thirteen thousand people each year. Her love for the outdoors and passion to share nature with others led her to a B.A. in biology and into the field of conservation education. Her interest in Sandhill Cranes and crane behavior began when she helped conduct the first Crane Behavior workshop for the Festival of the Cranes in New Mexico eighteen years ago. Her passion led her to collaborate with illustrator and artist Caryl McHarney in writing a family-oriented informative book called The Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes. Keanna has served on numerous boards most notably the Association of Nature Center Directors and as a founding board member of the Nebraska Master Naturalists. Keanna has also received several awards including the 2012 Tamar Chotzen Audubon Educator of the Year Award, a national recognition for exemplary commitment, professionalism and accomplishment in conservation education, and was honored in 2016 as Chadron State College Distinguished Alumnus.

The program includes coffee and a light breakfast. Weather permitting, participants will head out on Holiday with the Crane’s signature Crane Crawl. This self-driving tour to nearby crane hotspots will be a real-time opportunity to see Sandhills as they forage and play. You will be given a map and directions. Viewing areas will be outfitted with local birding volunteers using spotting scopes to assist and answer questions.

Tickets: $30 Early Bird Special until Nov. 18

$35 After Nov. 18

10% discount to GINTC members.

Details

Date:
December 14, 2019
Time:
8:00 am - 11:30 am
Cost:
$30 – $35
Event Category:

Venue

Moody Gardens Golf Course Banquet Facility
1700 Sydnor
Galveston Island,
+ Google Map