Conservation

By Joel Jorgensen Spring is a period when many birds are on the move. This means it is a great time of year for birders to be on the lookout for rarities or vagrants. A rarity is a bird that usually appears somewhere outside of its normal range. Finding a rarity sometimes requires special effort, but other times, it’s just luck. On April 26, birder and photographer Steve Kruse discovered a vulture on the ground at Merganser Recreation Area in …

Planning on an extended weekend for this 4th of July.  So, I am dropping this blog today, and then will take a break for a few days.  Never fear, I will be back, sometime next week. Again a number of topics come around at the same time every year.  It is hard for me to think of anything new to say for Independence Day.  As with many of you, this is a big family holiday for us.  We will spend …

I have some news about an Aquatic Habitat project and evaluation underway in the beautiful Pine Ridge of Nebraska: Stream renovation underway at Bordeaux Creek WMA Workers have begun a project to improve a stream and its banks at Bordeaux Creek Wildlife Management Area near Chadron. Brett Roberg, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries biologist, said the project on Big Bordeaux Creek is expected to increase stream-angling opportunities, provide cleaner water and increase resilience to drought and flooding. The …

Before I get to the point of this blog, let me post the disclaimer. . . . “My name is Daryl, and I have a fishing tackle problem.”  Yes, I have just as much fishing tackle as any, probably more than most. I had to laugh earlier this summer.  Driving down a street I saw a garage sale sign that said “Huge Selection of Fishing Tackle”.  Of course I had to drive by, in fact, drove by once, then turned …

Once again, spreading a news item.  This will be of interest to some of you: Work on Main Ramp Area at Merritt SRA now set to begin June 27 A repair project at the Main Ramp Area at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area has been pushed back slightly. Users of that area should be aware of repairs there that will result in temporary closures. Originally scheduled for June 22-24, the contractor now has rescheduled the work for June 27-29. Water …

Calendar says Father’s Day is this weekend.  If you have put off getting your father or grandfather the perfect gift, never fear.  I have the perfect gift idea for them. . . . No, it is not a tie. . . . GO FISH! And, if you need an excuse, enter ’em in the Take ‘Em Fishing Challenge. My Dad and granddads are gone now.  If they were still here, I will guarantee a fishing trip would be the perfect …

Workers have begun a project to improve a stream and its banks at Bordeaux Creek Wildlife Management Area near Chadron. Brett Roberg, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries biologist, said the project on Big Bordeaux Creek is expected to increase stream-angling opportunities, provide cleaner water and increase resilience to drought and flooding. The project’s primary goal is to regrade a floodplain along the creek to safeguard the active stream channel during times of high water and improve recreational access …

By Allison Barg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Graduate Assistant Read Part I: https://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2022/04/a-researchers-field-season-part-i/ Read Part II: https://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2022/05/a-researchers-field-season-part-ii/ One of the hardest and most interesting aspects of research is that answering one question generally leads to at least three new ones. For example: What is the best way to count pheasants? Answer: Males crow regularly during the breeding season, so we can listen for those calls and count how many we hear. Easy, right? But to make those counts useful, we …

This is not a big deal, will not affect very many folks, but as usual, I like to spread the word on these things: Grove Trout Rearing Station closing temporarily to visitors The Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal, Nebraska, will be closed to visitors until further notice due to upcoming expected high air temperatures in the area. Warm water stresses trout, which have experienced health issues as the water to the facility has warmed. Warm water holds less oxygen, …

Spreading the word on this, coming this Saturday! If you are anywhere near the area, come on out!  Come have fun with us!  Learn something new!  Fish will be caught! More information HERE.