Latest Features

Ways to celebrate new growth in spring. By Alie Mayes, Community Science Specialist This article is part of the Nebraska Nature in Color series. This limited series will run monthly from December 2023- June 2024. Spring has officially sprung! Well in truth, spring has been springing for a while now. The U.S.A. National Phenology Network has volunteers across the nation who help track spring’s progression. According to their Spring First Leaf Index, spring arrived in Nebraska 20 days early this …

A Trophy from the Year Nebraska Banned Girls’ Basketball Tournaments By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska Jim Brogden was browsing an estate sale in Acworth, Georgia, when he noticed this beautiful trophy. It tells a story not only of a basketball team, but also of a generation-long reaction against girls’ and womens’ sports. Brogden bought the trophy and took it home. He knew nothing about it except the inscription: O C H S Invitation Tournament GIRLS BASKET BALL 1922 Won …

When night falls, nocturnal creatures play essential roles in shaping Nebraska’s ecosystems. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist As the sun dips below the horizon, a hidden world awakens under the cloak of darkness. In the shadows of woodlands, across the sprawling plains and along the meandering waterways, nocturnal creatures emerge to navigate the night. From the silent wings of owls to the cryptic movements of mammals, Nebraska’s nocturnal creatures have evolved to thrive in the darkness. In this realm …

Trail cameras on the Platte River catches sandhill cranes on their bellies. Story and photos by Eric Fowler Do sandhill cranes sleep? On their bellies? In a wooded creekbottom? From what we know about the cranes that stop in the Platte River Valley in Nebraska each spring, none of those ideas seem to make sense. It certainly didn’t to Chris Helzer of the Nature Conservancy, whose tip on this seemingly odd behavior spurred me to spend two days in a …

A championship duck caller shares his methods for success. By Todd Mills It’s one thing to call in ducks from a blind, but to compete and earn a championship title, competitive callers have to excel at a much higher level. After a few years of attending classes, exchanging audio files with other callers, obsessively watching videos and driving my wife crazy by blowing nonstop in our basement, I entered the world of competition calling. In 2011, I competed in the …

In March, the millions of ducks that move through Nebraska are just as impressive as the gathering of sandhill cranes. By Eric Fowler When it comes to birdwatching in Nebraska in March, sandhill cranes get most of the love. But many don’t realize that a few miles south of the Platte River in the Rainwater Basin there is an equally impressive gathering of millions of ducks. The Rainwater Basin includes nearly 400 wetlands, ranging in size from a few to …

While you wait for the spring turkey opener, here are a few hunting seasons still open. By Jeff Kurrus There are years when I don’t want to put down my shotgun, even in late winter or early spring. Fortunately, in Nebraska, I don’t have to. While many bird hunters have put away their pumps, semi-autos and over-and-unders, waiting until the spring turkey opener, there are still a few transition hunting seasons to keep you gunning until that first gobble. Eurasian …

The American mink is becoming increasingly prevalent in Nebraska’s aquatic ecosystems. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist In the quiet corners of the Midwest, among the rustling reeds and meandering streams, lurks a creature of remarkable stealth and cunning: the American mink (Neovison vison). With its sleek fur and sinuous movements, this mysterious carnivore prowls the water’s edge, weaving through the tangled undergrowth in search of its next meal. While they are rarely seen by humans, the American mink is …

The color yellow can be found throughout the year in outdoor Nebraska. By Alie Mayes, Community Science Specialist Ya’ll – I went outside the other day, and there was a bright yellow dandelion in my front yard! I think it is only after the harshest of winters that something so mundane can seem so special. Early season blooms are special. In addition to providing an exciting, visible sign that spring is on its way, early blooms provide valuable food resources …

Monthly moon names offer a glimpse into North American cultural traditions and folklore. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist The night sky has long been a source of wonder and inspiration, and the lunar cycles have long been observed and celebrated by cultures and civilization across the world. In North America, moon folklore and traditions surround monthly full moon names. January – The Wolf Moon January’s full moon is often dubbed the Wolf Moon. This name hearkens back to ancient …