Flora & Fauna

Turkey chasers, its officially the late season.  No doubts about it. If you are still holding an open spring turkey permit, such as I am, it may be time to adjust your tactics just a bit to fill it.  The good news is there is about two weeks left of season – including a couple of weekends – which is plenty of time to make something happen. The situation: Trees are fully leafed out now making gobbles harder to hear …

LINCOLN – Warren Schwanebeck, a fish and wildlife biologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, has been named wetland manager of the year by Ducks Unlimited. Schwanebeck was recognized for his work at Wilkinson Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Platte County, where he oversaw a large wetland restoration project that was the result of a partnership with many different agencies. This spring, three endangered whooping cranes spent 12 days on those wetlands during a stopover on their spring migration. …

LINCOLN – Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation declaring May to be Nebraska Migratory Bird Month, underscoring the importance of birds in Nebraska. The governor signed the proclamation during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 4, at the Nebraska State Capitol. “Nebraska is home to four ecosystems – tallgrass prairie, mixedgrass prairie, shortgrass prairie and Sandhills – and birds are an integral part of each one,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Education Specialist Lindsay Rogers. Nebraska Migratory Bird Month was …

I am a recreational birdwatcher, and proud of it! Even if I could get organized enough to keep a life list of birds I’ve seen, I simply enjoy just watching them and attempting to get some decent photos of them to share with you. Birders, or avid birders, as I call them, are easy to identify. They each keep a remarkable log of bird sightings to include the description of the species, numbers of them, date and time seen, as well as habitat and weather conditions along with any bird …

LINCOLN – Bird lovers across the state will be congregating in May in dozens of get-togethers to celebrate International Migratory Bird Month, better known as Nebraska Bird Month. “The goal of Nebraska Bird Month is to help Nebraskans learn about and protect our feathered friends,” said Nebraska Game and Parks wildlife educator Lindsay Rogers. “Public awareness and concern are crucial components of migratory bird conservation.” Several Nebraska state parks and recreational areas will be hosting events: • Ponca State Park, …

LINCOLN – Bird watchers of all ages are invited to join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for Southeast District Birding Day on May 11 at Burchard Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This event is a great opportunity to get into the field, learn a bit about birds and local resource areas, and visit with agency staff and partners. Participants will meet at the WMA parking area at 7:30 a.m. Lunch and presentations are at 11 a.m. Participants should bring binoculars, …

By Adam Kester Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Biologist Anyone who has hunted turkeys in Nebraska knows that it’s one of the best turkey hunting states around. Why? There are plenty of reasons. Following are just six. Turkeys are everywhere. Literally, you can find turkeys in every county in the state! Some counties in Nebraska even rank within the top 10 counties in the nation for turkey abundance. There are plenty of places to go. Turkey hunting opportunities on public …

LINCOLN – Ordinary people become “citizen scientists” during a BioBlitz walk, four of which are being held for the first time in Nebraska this May. During a BioBlitz event, participants find and identify as many species of plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible in a specific area. The information collected is passed on to wildlife biologists and conservationists, who use it to track populations of different species. “Participating in these hands-on studies is a fun and exciting way …

LINCOLN – Learn more about the wildlife of Ponca State Park during Saturday Fun Day on April 23. The event, which is suited for all ages, focuses on education about the various animal and bird species that live in the park and along the Missouri River. “Ponca has a diverse range of wildlife,” says event coordinator Lynn Mellick. “We have an abundance of songbirds, as well as beavers, turkeys, and raccoons, to name a few. This event is an exciting …

LINCOLN – Goose Lake Wildlife Management Area, located southeast of Chambers in southern Holt County, is closed to public access until further notice. The closure by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is necessary because of an infestation of the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian watermilfoil. Eurasian watermilfoil can spread rapidly because a single fragment of stem or leaf can take root and form a new colony, and plants can grow up to 2 inches per day. Once established, the plant …