It helps that the New Englander is far from a typical young alt-folkie he's recorded for Bright Eyes' label and toured with Beth Orton and Death Cab for Cutie and his stripped-wood voice implies resilience more than defeat.

NPR: A Rugged Ode to Checking Out

He launched the Saddle Creek label to release Bright Eyes' Songs Written and Recorded 1995-1997, a collection of four-track songs featuring a diverse group of musicians.

NPR: Bright Eyes: New Ideas from a 'New Dylan'

The large grey-feathered birds, known for the bright red skin above their eyes, a loud trilling call that can be heard up to a mile away, and a wingspan of up to 7ft, travel around 350 miles a day from Texas, Oklahoma or Mexico to stop in Nebraska on their way to their breeding grounds, which are spread across the northern United States and Canada.

BBC: Nebraska��s awe-inspiring crane migration