Birding Tour Policies
Learn about our commitment to providing a safe, respectful, and enriching bird-watching experience. Our policies are designed to ensure the well-being of both our guests and the wildlife we observe at Prairie Wind Birding Tours. We ask that you familiarize yourself with our policies prior to your tour. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
The Prairie Chicken Lek Experience
Prairie Wind Birding Tours provide guests with the opportunity to see and hear the unique sights and sounds of the Greater Prairie Chicken from blinds located with-in yards of the birds visiting the lek. These blinds offer comfortable seating, adequate space for viewing and most types of photography equipment.
Your tour will start with a short introduction of the experience in our home located at 14410 78th Rd. Kearney, NE 68845. Put this address into your Google map app and it will bring you to our door.
Photography Policy:
We encourage photography and have hosted many photographers. To avoid disturbing the birds we ask you to observe the following guidelines:
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No flash photography is allowed. There is room for tripods and monopods.
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Continuous shooting mode is to be limited and you are asked to silence your camera.
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Objects (camera lens) should not extend past the opening of the blind.
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Use of tablets is not allowed.
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Cell phones must be silenced or placed in airplane mode. LCD screens must be dimmed and auto focus lights should be turned off.
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No flashlights are allowed.
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Important Details:
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Departure time to the blind is determined by weather, sunrise, and activity of the birds. Rule of thumb is that guests need to arrive an hour and a half before sunrise. You will be notified the day before by email or phone call with an arrival time. Travel time from Kearney is about 30 minutes. Since we must be in the blind before the birds arrive we can not wait for late guests. Birds typically arrive 30 - 40 minutes before sunrise.
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You will arrive at the blind in time to get situated and get comfortable. Travel to the blinds is approximately 10 minutes. You will be in the blind for 2 to 2 1/2 hours and we will not leave until the birds have left. Water and snack bars are provided along with hand warmers. Once the tour is over we will return to our house for access to a restroom, coffee, rolls, and conversation about your morning.
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You will arrive and unload within a few feet of the blind. However there will be a short walk of about 70 yards back to the vehicle at the end of the tour.
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Blinds are not heated. You will need to dress in warm clothing. Winter coats, insulated gloves, stocking cap, scarves, wool socks, insulated footwear, and thermal layers are advised. Electric socks are a great addition to your wardrobe.
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There are no restroom facilities at the blind. You will have an opportunity for a restroom prior to leaving for the blind. Limiting fluid intake that morning is suggested.
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Nebraska Agritourism Law
You will be asked to sign a waiver stating you have received the following:
Warning - Under Nebraska law, an owner of property, including lands and waters, is not liable for the injury to or death of the participant in agritourism activities or damage to the participants property resulting from the inherent risks of such activities. Inherent risks include, without limitation, the risk of animals and land and water conditions, the ordinary dangers of structures or equipment ordinarily used in farming or ranching operations, and the potential for you or another participant to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your own injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in the agritourism activities for which you are entering the owners' premises.
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Cancellation Policy
We will go on the tour no matter the weather…unless it becomes too hazardous to drive out to the lek or a travel advisory is in place for our area. The likelihood that a cancellation would happen is small…but if it does, we will let you know as far in advance as possible and you will receive a full refund. If there is an extraordinary circumstance that prevents you from coming, you will need to contact us to discuss a possible refund.
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