A pair of adult whooping cranes and a juvenile recently visited Ducks Unlimited's Hinz property in Nebraska's Rainwater Basin. DU property manager David Hoferer snapped a picture of the three on the 160 acre property about four miles southwest of Minden in Kearney County.

The land was purchased as part of DU's revolving habitat program. A USFWS easement is in the works for 80 acres of the land, using dollars from a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant. The remaining 80 acres may be used to trade for an adjoining property, which will provide excellent habitat for waterfowl, particularly during spring migration.

This land is in the western half of the Rainwater Basin, known as an important whooping crane area. Whoopers have also been spotted on another DU property about 10 miles away.