The cranes aren't the only migration to central Nebraska this time of year. Thousands of tourists also flock to the area.

Local businesses have taken notice and are taking advantage of the multimillion-dollar crane industry.

"The total is between $25.1 and $53 million for a season. It's a big business," said Renee Seifert, Grand Island/Hall County Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

It's the business of cranes.

"This is the only place in the world where this phenomenon occurs, and we have a tendency to draw people not only from all over the nation, but all over the world into this area to have the experience of seeing all the cranes at one place at one time," Seifert said.

Nearly 500,000 cranes migrate to a small stretch of the Platte River, and thousands of visitors follow with each of them needing food, services and a place to stay.

"They have expense of flying or driving in, eating, taking tours, visiting other attractions, maybe forgot spotting scope, so they buy binoculars or spotting scope, or they didn't come prepared with clothing and buy boots or jackets, mittens," she said.

It all adds up. Nature provides the opportunity, and local businesses are cashing in, giving tourists everything they need in hopes they'll continue to migrate back to this area year after year just like the cranes.

"Most people that come to see birds want a great experience, and we want them to go home with great experience," Seifert said. "It's that experience that people want to have, and once they have it, a lot of times what will happen is they will say to someone else, 'You need to experience this or they bring their kids back because want to have their kids see this.'"

Business leaders say they want tourists to feel like they received the biggest bang for their buck while in the area.

It's not just cranes they sell. Officials say other birds, ducks, geese and prairie chickens, also help bring in the wildlife lovers in the Spring.