The skies over Rowe Sanctuary have grown noticeably quieter in recent weeks, as the calls of sandhill cranes drift north with the spring migration. With their departure, I find myself reflecting on the intensive and inspiring time of year we simply call “crane season.” What is it about these few weeks that brings people together so powerfully? What draws visitors back, year after year? And what makes Rowe Sanctuary such a meaningful gathering place for people from around the world? The place Perhaps it begins with the sinuous channels of the Platte River itself. The braided river, with its ever-changing sandbars and waterways, has a way of calling people back. As the sun sets over the river each evening, it’s easy to understand why—this landscape is both distinctive and deeply moving, a truly special resource here in central Nebraska.…