Conservation

Contributed by Nongame Bird Biologist Lauren Dinan As we are set to endure the coldest temperatures in years, “our” famous home grown Piping Plover was once again photographed on a warm beach.  Something to ponder as you shiver.  More importantly, these photographic reports document a bird’s  travels.  As you may remember from a post a few months ago, we work in cooperation with the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln School of Natural Resources in …

Yesterday afternoon, I harvested a large Canada goose with a leg band on it. How cool, I thought! How fortunate I was to bag a goose with a leg band! That’s never happened to me! This was Goose #1138-33826. Waterfowl bands are treasured collectibles by hunters. But, far more than being a collectible item to be cleaned up and put on a duck or goose call lanyard, reporting band numbers from ducks and geese is vital! This information gives waterfowl …

I remember when a large retail chain opened a store near my hometown and brought with it something amazing. To a child such as me, bar code scanner technology seemed magical. No longer did we have to wait for the cashier to hand input each item – all that was required was a simple beep. The same technology received positive feedback last week at a place far from the express lane– a northwestern district public deer meeting at Chadron. The …

Bald Eagle nest monitoring is an annual project of the Nongame Bird Program.  Fortunately, we are assisted by numerous partners and individuals such as the National Park Service-Missouri River National Recreational River, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Bald Eagles bred in the state historically but were absent as a breeding species for at least a century, if not longer.   Not all that long ago, Bald Eagles were state and federally listed as …

I, like many other dedicated birders, will be out in the elements this upcoming Saturday searching for birds as Christmas Bird Count (CBCs) season kick off.  CBCs are several things:  serious birding, volunteerism, a little bit of socializing, a dash of competition, citizen science and just getting outside during a season when it can be a little too easy to find excuses not to venture out.  CBCs were initiated in 1900 by Frank Chapman as an alternative to Christmas side …

I have stated before that THE issue of this century for western states including Nebraska will be water–who gets to use it, and how much is left for fish & wildlife and outdoor recreation.  Once again let me post a little reminder that ran on the news last week, Farmers Voice Concerns at Water Limit Hearing in York.  Take a minute and watch the video, read through the article. Now if you took the time to read and listen, let …

Just a couple of weeks ago I told you about successfully completing my quest to catch a tagged flathead catfish from Branched Oak Reservoir (Finally Got One!).  Well, as the fall has progressed and waters have cooled, I have shifted my focus from warm-water species like flathead catfish to species that will continue to be more active, and easier to catch, in cooler water.  I have made several trips up to Lake Wanahoo the past few weeks and have consistently …

Conifers are an important component in our Nebraska landscapes both natural and created. They are a major component of windbreaks and of landscape design for the purposes of screening unsightly views, the framing of desired views and general beautification. Wildlife, including birds and mammals, utilize conifers for food, nesting and shelter. A winter landscape scene in Nebraska featuring snow mantled conifers is a beautiful sight. Conifers are by simple definition, evergreen, cone bearing trees and shrubs with needle-like or scaly …

If you are bored on a cold, winter day and don’t mind burning some $3 a gallon gas, you might check out some unique, large trees growing in Nebraska. Many Nebraska Communities have extraordinary trees growing in their parks and public right-of-ways. Some are native species while others are long lived, successful introductions. A list of the largest of each species and their location is published by the Nebraska Forest Service within their Nebraska Champion and Heritage Tree Program. This …