LINCOLN, Neb. – The public is invited to celebrate International Migratory Bird Month by participating in Willows and Wings on May 19 at Willow Creek State Recreation Area in Pierce County. This event includes a bird identification hike and an introduction to eBird, an online citizen science tool for monitoring bird populations. All ages and experience levels are welcome. No park entry permit is required as May 19 is Free Fishing and Park Entry Day in Nebraska. Flights of birders …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Project WILD will have a free educator workshop April 30 in Norfolk to help teachers engage their students through birds. It will be held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Elkhorn Valley Museum, 515 Queen City Blvd. Participants will receive a Birds of Nebraska field guide and Flying WILD: An Educators Guide to Celebrating Birds. Through more than 40 activities, the Flying WILD guide helps non-formal and formal teachers introduce students to birds and show …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Ag producers in Furnas, Red Willow and Hitchcock counties are eligible to receive $49.29 per acre assistance for planting multispecies cover crops after wheat or other summer-harvested crop. Grazing is allowed on up to 75 percent of the field but is not required. Cover crops provide a supplemental forage source, suppress weeds, improve moisture infiltration, boost soil organic matter, and provide habitat for wildlife. The application deadline is May 18. This Regional Conservation Partnership Program’s Cropland Cover …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in May. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. May 1 – Family Fishing Event, Terry’s Pit, Terrytown May 1 – Growing Up WILD educator workshop, Southeast Community College, Lincoln May 2 – Southeast District Birding Day, Indian Cave State Park (SP), Shubert May 2, 9, 16 – Becoming an …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Free Fishing and Park Entry Day in Nebraska is May 19. Enjoy a Saturday of fishing or state park activities without the need to purchase a fishing or park entry permit for the day. Free Fishing and Park Entry Day, held annually in Nebraska on the Saturday preceding Memorial Day weekend, means anyone can explore outdoor opportunities at any Nebraska state park, state recreation area or state historical park. Anglers must observe all fishing regulations. Camping, lodging …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A project scheduled to start in June on Pine Glen Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Brown County will improve stream habitat on Long Pine Creek for fish and anglers alike. As a continuation of the cool-water stream program, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will build several in-stream habitat features that create a variety of current breaks for resting and feeding trout. Specific habitat features also will narrow the stream to increase flow velocities and add pool …

LINCOLN, Neb. – More than 2,000 students are expected to compete in the 49th Annual Cornhusker Trapshoot May 3-5 on the home grounds of the Nebraska Trapshooting Association (NTA) in Doniphan. Competition will take place in individual and team divisions. Junior high students (grades 6-8) will shoot 100 16-yard targets on May 3. High school competitors (grades 9-12) will shoot 75 16-yard targets on May 4, then 75 handicap targets on May 5. The high school shooter with the highest …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With summer approaching, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding water lovers to be mindful of the state’s education requirements for boating. Nebraska law requires any motorboat or personal watercraft operator born after Dec. 31, 1985 to complete a boating safety course and be in possession of a course certificate. Operators must be at least 14 years old to drive motorboats and personal watercraft in Nebraska. Game and Parks offers three options for taking boating safety …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for 2018 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons when it met April 19 at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford. Among the big game changes to Commission orders: Deer — 1,550 buck permits are added in the Calamus East, Frenchman, Keya Paha, Loup East, Loup West, Plains, Platte, and Sandhills units. — 700 buck permits are removed from the Blue Northwest and Wahoo units. — 750 any-deer permits are …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Anglers at the Two Rivers State Recreation Area (SRA) trout lake are facing some stiff competition. Double-crested cormorants recently discovered the lake. As a result, the fish-eating birds have lowered the anglers’ catch rates. A daily trout tag is required to attempt to take and to possess trout on the area March 1 through June 30. Steve Wilhelm, fish production manager at Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal, said typical catch rates this time of year are …