Conservation

I know this has been publicized already, but I want to give it another round and make sure as many folks as possible are aware of this opportunity: Rock Creek Station Hosting Youth Fishing Instructor Certification Jerry Kane January 19, 2016 Fishing, How To, NGPC News, Parks LINCOLN – Learn to teach youth and families the lifelong activity of fishing by becoming certified as a youth fishing instructor. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct this free workshop Feb. …

Give the nation a snap shot of the birds living in your backyard this weekend as part of the 19th annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Dave Titterington from the Wild Bird Habitat Store will tell us how when he visits Nebraska Outdoors this Thursday evening.   We will also find out what our feather friends are up to this time of year and how you can attract them closer. Nebraska Outdoors radio can be heard every Thursday evening starting at …

I am a huge fan of fishing clubs and organizations, especially those with Nebraska connections.  I will always tell you that joining those organizations is a great way to learn more about the fish you pursue, become a better angler, socialize with fellow anglers, and give something back to the sport and our fisheries resources.  If you are serious about your fishing, find an organization like that and JOIN IT! In my position as the fisheries outreach program manager for …

With days getting longer Nebraska wildlife are getting ready for a very important part of the year right now.  The season of love is upon us all.  Jeff and Hershy invite Wildlife Education Specialist Lindsay Rogers to Nebraska Outdoors radio tonight (2/4) to give us the low down on what is taking place.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, she may even have an idea or two about what you can do to attract yourself a sweetie, too. Nebraska …

Alleged sightings of mountain loins tend to cause a hysteria in some parts. . . . In the future, Nebraska anglers will have to keep their eyes open for tigers too. No, I am not talking about the large, orange and black-striped cats that adorn boxes of breakfast cereal.  I am referring to a fish that is now being stocked in some Nebraska waters.  In fact, some of you may have already heard about tiger trout and in recent blog …

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has awarded six grants to enhance watchable wildlife and nature-based opportunities in Nebraska. The watchable wildlife grant program is administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, with support from the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund. This year’s grants totaled more than $13,000. Groups awarded grants in 2016 include: Project Grow; Omaha Youth Birding Group; The Audubon Society of Omaha Experiential Education Program; Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning Sacred Hoop …

LINCOLN – In 2015, a record 118 active bald eagle nests were documented in Nebraska by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and its partners. Bald eagles were on federal and state endangered species lists as late as 2007 and 2008, respectively. In less than a quarter century the species has gone from a nonexistent breeding species in the state to one that is relatively numerous, according to Joel Jorgensen, Nebraska Game and Parks’ nongame bird program manager. In the …

Let me say a few things about one of the most popular species of fish that anglers, especially ice anglers, like to catch, yellow perch.  Most people would tell you that walleyes are one of the best fish on the table and they are right.  Except their smaller “cousin” the yellow perch, is just as good, and maybe even a little bit better.  For that reason word of a hot perch bite during a Nebraska winter travels faster than the …

I hope many of you have looked at the title of this blog post and wondered, “What in the world is “barotrauma?””.  Barotrauma is the pointy-headed fish biologist term for what happens to some species of fish when they are quickly raised from relatively deep water to the surface.  Most species of our freshwater fish have swim bladders–internal “bags” of gas that the fish use to regulate buoyancy.  Fish living at depths of 20-30 feet or more only have a …

LINCOLN – Get out of the house this winter and spend some time viewing Nebraska’s bald eagles. They can be seen year-round across the state, but winter and early spring are the best times to see numbers of eagles. In the winter, there often are concentrations of bald eagles feeding on fish and sick or wounded waterfowl at reservoirs that have some open water. Favored sites include Sutherland Reservoir near Sutherland, Harlan County Reservoir near Alma, and below Gavins Point …