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Latest Features

Mississippi Kite Comeback

By Julie Geiser The Mississippi kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) is a small raptor that many people don’t know about. After reading this, hopefully you’ll keep an eye on the sky as these graceful birds will leave you admiring them. The Mississippi kite is about the size of a peregrine falcon; their body length is about 13 to 15 inches, with a 3-foot wingspan. They weigh 7 to 14 ounces. Both the male and female are similar in appearance and have gray …

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Foraging for Wild Plums, Cherries and Berries

Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist I began foraging as a youngster in small-town Millard in the 1960s. On July mornings, my sister Teri and I would hoof it down to Grandma’s house to pick luscious raspberries from fence line bushes, and when playing along the local creek, my friends and I often snacked on plump, ripe mulberries. Now much older, I still pluck wild fruits whenever the opportunity arises and strategically stock our shelves with enough jars of …

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Crossing the Platte, ‘the meanest of rivers’

By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska This is our experience crossing Platte River; the meanest of rivers — broad, shallow, fishless, snakeful, quicksand bars and muddy waters — the stage rumbles over the bottom like on a bed of rock; yet haste must be made to effect a crossing, else you disappear beneath its turbid waters, and your doom is certain,” so reads an 1862 emigrant diary quoted by historian Merrill Mattes in his landmark book, The Great Platte River …

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Prairies Here and Prairies There

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist If you took a road trip from one side of Nebraska to the other, you will marvel at the change in landscape from east to west. In the east — aside from being home to 66 percent of Nebraska’s population – you will see deciduous trees, bluffs and the Missouri River. In the central portion of Nebraska, you have the Rainwater Basin, gentle rolling hills and tributaries of the Platte. And finally, just before …

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Celebrating Pollinators in Nebraska

Pollinator Week is June 19-25 By Alie Mayes, Community Science Specialist Most of us know the basics of what a pollinator is: an animal that moves pollen within a flower, or between flowers, in a way that aids in plant reproduction. We also understand that pollinators are vital to the health of ecosystems, and they provide invaluable services to humans, including pollination of many of the fruits and vegetables we eat. It seems fitting, then, that once a year we …

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June Wildlife Viewing — Butterflies

By Olivia DaRugna, Watchable Wildlife Biologist While birds are celebrated during the month of May, it’s time to transition our focus to other incredible animals to watch in Nebraska. Let’s take a look at butterflies in June, and unlike birds, you don’t have to wake up early to enjoy these pretty insects. Brunch and then butterflies, anyone? You don’t have to go far or search very long to see butterflies. Just sit in your yard or local park, and you …

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Branched Oak Through the Seasons

There is not a time of the year when Branched Oak State Recreation Area northwest of Lincoln isn’t busy. But there’s also not a time of year when a person can’t find their own little slice of nature so close to the city. Photos and story by Eric Fowler Branched Oak State Recreation Area is a busy place. Especially in the summer. Which makes sense considering the 1,800-acre reservoir is the largest body of water within an hour’s drive of …

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Lady Beetles of Nebraska

By Alie Mayes, Community Science Specialist Lady beetles, also known as ladybird beetles or ladybugs, are common and widely recognized insects. They are marketed in popular culture as charismatic and “cute,” featured on a variety of children’s clothing, toys and even TV shows. But what do we really know about lady beetles in Nebraska? Life History Lady beetles belong to the beetle family Coccinellidae. They are commonly thought of as red with back spots, though different species have varying colors. …

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The Crankbait Canvas

Painting baits is rewarding, economical and fun. Story and photos by Justin Haag Many a fly angler knows the satisfaction of catching fish on a hand-tied masterpiece. For those more inclined to cast and retrieve for pike, bass and walleye, here is a way to emulate that remarkable experience: painting crankbaits. Quality crankbaits are some of the most expensive products to tie to the end of a line. At $5-20 each, losing one to a deep snag can put a …

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Three Outdoor Apps

By Renae Blum Wish your kids spent more time outdoors and less time in front of a screen? It’s a common concern. Rather than cutting out electronics completely, a phone can be a great tool in helping spark a child’s curiosity and interest in the outdoors. Give the three apps below a try. All are free, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store — and can enrich your family’s experience of the outdoors. Merlin Bird ID Kids …

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