The Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to the protection and enhancement of habitats for cranes and other migratory birds in the Platte River Valley, Nebraska.  The Trust accomplishes these activities by three main strategies: a) Research, b) Land Management, and c) Communication and Outreach. Research is focused on a better understanding of the elements of crane and other bird habitats and the ways that specific land management or other activities affect birds directly and through impact on their habitat. Our research is also focused on better understanding the ecosystem of the Platte River and its associated environments such as wetlands and grasslands.  The Trust currently owns over 10,000 acres of lands along the river and adjacent areas.  Therefore, our efforts in land management are focused on developing and implementing land management practices that maintain native environments in natural states and provide the best habitat for a diversity of bird species. In addition to management on our own lands, we directly support and conduct activities directed at improving riverine environments for cranes roosting areas and other activities aimed and restoring the Platte River ecosystem to more natural condition.  Our advocacy role is to speak for cranes and other migratory birds. To accomplish this we represent the crane and other migratory bird interest in different settings aimed at influencing the river and associated habitats.