Stuhr Museum's Crane Speakers

Crane Speakers

GRAND ISLAND, STUHR MUSEUM - Every Friday and Saturday in March, Stuhr Museum is proud to present a variety of speakers who will provide unique insights into the science, art and lives of the sandhill cranes.All speakers will give their presentations in the Stuhr Building's auditorium, unless otherwise noted.

2009 Crane Speaker Series

Saturday, March 21, 1:00 p.m.
Dr. William Locke - In his presentation entitled "Rocky Mountain Head Waters," Locke will speak on the study of the headwaters in the High Rockies and how they affect the Great Plains crops and wildlife. Locke taught at Hastings Junior High, where one hallmark of his career was outdoor education experiences for students. He developed the idea when serving as a scoutmaster for his son. As a Ameritus Professor of Teacher Education, he led practicing teachers on the "Trails Programs" so they could offer the same kinds of outdoor courses to their own K-12 students.

Friday, March 27, 11:00 a.m.
Dr. Karine Gil-Weir - Dr. Karine Gil, Population Ecologist at the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, will speak at 11 a.m. Saturday at Stuhr Museum. Her talk is entitled "Whooping Crane Life Cycle and Population Dynamic During the Last 30 Years."

There are a reported 260 Whooping Cranes left in the wild, and for much of her life Dr. Karine Gil has studied these elusive, beautiful animals. The Whooping Crane is not only the tallest bird in North America, it is one of our most spectacular and recognizable symbols for the conservation of endangered species. Since settlers arrived in Nebraska in the 1840s, there have been reports that whooping cranes (Grus americana) were observed here during their spring and fall migrations.

In addition, Dr. Gil will be asking for volunteers to help with the Whooper Watch program, which seeks to track Whooping Cranes through a network of spotters throughout the state. For more information on the Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, log onto www.whoopingcrane.org.

Saturday, March 28 1:00 p.m.
Dr. William Beachly - Beachly, a professor at Hastings College, will present "The Platte: Prehistory and Phenomenology," which will focus on the origins of the Platte River and the study of structures of consciousness as experienced from the first-person point of view.