The Sandhill Cranes are back in the state and so are the thousands of visitors that flock to Nebraska to watch them.

But this year, with the closing of Crane Meadows near Alda, there's one less place to view the birds.

It's been a bit hectic lately at the Grand Island, Hall County Visitor's Bureau because this year they're adopting the title of Crane Headquarters.

"I kind of go into a panic attack in every so often not too often but once in awhile and then we calm down and take a deep breath," said Liz Gerberding, Visitors' Bureau Convention Services Coordinator.

The visitor's bureau is taking on tasks formally done at Crane Meadows Nature Center, near Alda, which is now closed.

"Between ourselves and Stuhr Musuem, we have taken on the biggest portion of trying to accomodate the public when they do come into our area," said Renee Seifert, Visitors Bureau Director.

That means lining up volunteers for blind tours and bringing in speakers for the thousands that visit.

"A study that was done a number of years ago actually estimate that we have about 60,000 one day visitors to this area," Seifert said.

And those visitors bring in an estimated $50 million to the state money the visitors bureau doesn't want leaving the area, even if it means a lot of extra work during a peak marketing season.

"We've been fielding approximatly 20 requests a day for crane packets and then also for booking of crane tours," Gerberding said.

"Trying to respond to all the requests for information that we get has put an extra burden on the staff at this office," Seifert said.

A burden they hope will be lifted next year, if Crane Meadows reopens.

Rowe Sanctuary, near Gibbon is still open for crane viewing, but according to the visitors' bureau, tours are filling up faster than normal this year.