By Renae Blum
Last spring, when I decided to try out the new sharp-tailed grouse viewing blind at Niobrara State Park, I wasn’t prepared for how funny the birds would be.
A dozen of them were gathered on a pasture west of the park’s entrance, performing spring mating rituals. The males moved incredibly fast, like video game characters. They rushed along with wings extended, stamping their feet rapidly.
They would freeze in place for about 10 seconds, the moment drawing out until you wondered if something was wrong. Then, out of nowhere, the flurry of activity would begin again, just as furious as before, and everyone in the blind would chuckle. Pairs of males also faced off in intense staredowns, occasionally leaping into the air.
The sounds they made are hard to describe — squeaking, chittering, squawking and even a low thrumming that is a bit like a frog’s. It was a symphony of sorts that began before the sun rose and lasted more than an hour.
The entire thing was delightful, and our group was spellbound. At 7:33 a.m., the last of the birds took flight at once, their morning ritual complete.
“That was fabulous,” a woman commented.
This was the second year the park offered this wildlife watching opportunity, and the three-and-a-half-hour drive from Lincoln was worth it. But the rest of the park was calling. My family had three days to explore Niobrara State Park, and we soon discovered that watching sharp-tailed grouse isn’t the only spring activity the park offers.
Day One
“This is an amazing view.” That was the first thing my mom said upon walking into our cabin. Niobrara State Park’s cabins are arranged atop a forested bluff overlooking the Missouri River Valley. Glance out the windows or step out the back door, and you face a sweeping view of trees and water.
My parents were also impressed by the cabin itself. “It’s like a little house,” Mom said, taking in the living room with sofas and a fully-furnished kitchen. “I didn’t know how modern it would be.”
We wouldn’t head out to see the grouse until morning, so we took some time to explore. Park superintendent Cogan Thompson told us we could see eagles at Niobrara Confluence Wildlife Management Area, a nearly 3-mile area spanning the entire north edge of the park and beyond.
Bathed in golden evening light, two mature eagles watched us quietly from the trees. I had never been that close to one before.
That evening, we also saw about a dozen turkeys along the roadsides. We would spot many more throughout our stay and hear their gobbling often.
Day Two
The next morning, we got up early to ensure we’d get to the blinds before the birds did. An eerie chorus of coyotes howled in the distance as we climbed a steep slope to reach the blind, a small trailer built by a local high school shop program.
It had a couple of space heaters, a carbon monoxide detector, bench and chairs. Dad, who has made similar trips to photograph birds, commented that it was one of the nicest blinds he had been in.
Afterward, I was ready for more adventure. I knew the park had an unusual amount of geocaches — about 60, all placed by Liz and Gary Doerr of Creighton, a husband-and-wife volunteer team. I was eager to find out if the caches were as creative and well-maintained as I had been told.
Geocaching is a bit like a high-tech treasure hunt. Using the Geocaching app, we navigated to different locations around the park, searching for hidden caches at the coordinates listed. We found five out of the eight we searched for and were impressed at the variety of containers and clever hiding spots.
That afternoon, Dad and I hiked Deer Creek Trail, a gently sloping wooded path. To my delight, we were accompanied by dozens of red admiral butterflies. We also spotted a rabbit munching on a leaf and saw deer tracks and scat.
As the sun set, the sky turned golden, then shades of purple, blue and orange. The colors seemed to last for hours, and with expansive views of bluffs and rolling hills all around us, it made a stunning sight.
Day Three
The best time to see the Milky Way in the spring is in early morning, and Niobrara State Park is fairly remote. So we dragged ourselves out of bed at 3:30 a.m. to see if we’d have any luck.
Parking by a picnic table overlook, we were greeted by a spectacular starry sky with zero percent cloud cover. As our eyes adjusted, the Milky Way revealed itself. “I’ve seen it better, but not much better,” Dad said.
Having lived most of my life in or near Lincoln, it was my first time seeing the Milky Way. There seemed to be layers of stars, like pebbles in a stream. It was one of my favorite moments of the entire trip.
Back at our cabin, we made our way to the group lodge to watch the sun rise over the Missouri River Valley, capturing dozens of photos. Then it was time to head home.
Even though it wasn’t peak season, we found plenty at Niobrara State Park to keep us busy for a weekend — and at all hours of the day and night.
Viewing Blinds at Niobrara State Park
Experience the natural wonder of the sharp-tailed grouse mating dance. Niobrara State Park is now taking reservations for its viewing blind, free of charge, for March 7 to April 20.
The large blind holds up to eight guests. A two-person popup blind will also be available for photographers with larger equipment. Both blinds are first-come, first-served by reservation only. Book your spots by calling the park office at 402-857-3373. A Nebraska vehicle park entry permit is required.
Make an early arrival easy by staying at one of the park’s electric campsites or fully-equipped cabins. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Niobrara State Park” to make a reservation. Use the promo code “SHARPTAIL25” for discounted weekend rates. Weekdays during the off-season are already discounted.