Nebraskaland Magazine

Calendar says it is mid-September.  The past few evenings have said autumn is definitely here!  Actually, depending on the fish you pursue and the amount of time you spend on the water, the seasons started to transition from summer to fall weeks ago already. You also know that our seasons repeat themselves, year after year.  As a result, I return to the same topics in my blog every year.  So, I am going to dust off an old blog post, …

A brief history of the monarch butterfly as a potential endangered species By Cody Dreier, Pollinator Ecologist Monarch butterflies are the “poster child” of pollinators, and rightfully so. They remind us of the importance of conserving pollinator habitats and creating new ones – even little plots in our own yards. Unfortunately, monarch populations have declined, and conserving them has been no easy task. Reasons for Decline The monarch’s decline is death by a thousand cuts. There is no one universal …

Double, double toil and trouble … It’s the Halloween season and a witch’s brew is not complete without a moist, edible fall mushroom or two, right? Just kidding. But, guess what? We have an array of fall fungi in Nebraska perfect for your dinner plate. The greatest variety of mushrooms is usually found from about mid September through mid November, depending on weather and conditions. I realize it has been dry in places around the state, but any welcome rains …

Many of you will remember that we started an angler access and renovation project on Standing Bear Reservoir this spring (Standing Bear Renovation).  Beside the renovation of the fish community, this concept map describes the work being done: Weather has been relatively favorable this summer, dirt has been moving and progress is being made.  Got a few photos to show.  These are some of the angler access improvements along the north shoreline: Here is a big picture view from the …

The red crossbill is one of three finch species in North America that has an unusual beak. By Delanie Bruce, Education Manager, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies & NGPC The red crossbill, Loxia curvistra, is a peculiar finch found among the spruces, firs, pines and hemlocks of coniferous woodlands. It is one of three finch species in North America that has an unusual, but spectacular beak. Per its name, the crossbill has a crossed bill. This specialized feature makes them …

Mustelids are a diverse group of animals that possess distinctive characteristics. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist When we think of stinky animals, our brains routinely conjure up images of a skunk spraying. However, you might be surprised to learn that skunks only make up a fraction of the “stinkers” in the animal kingdom. In Nebraska, we have an entire group of musty smellers known as mustelids, or Mustelidae. Mustelids are a group of animals that have long, tube-shaped bodies, …

A few weeks ago I published a blog entitled Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Boat.  I wanted to point out that a person does NOT have to have a boat to catch fish, a lot of fish, big fish.  I also wanted to emphasize that good fishing waters are good whether you have a boat or not–find a way!  As an example, I mentioned that shallow water cover often holds fish, even during the summer.  Sometimes you just have to find …

I know, I know, Labor Day weekend is over.  However, some of you will be on the water fishing yet this fall and if you are you might need to know these things: Boat ramp access limited at Sherman, Calamus Seasonal irrigation drawdowns at some north central reservoirs have caused boat ramp closures at two Nebraska Game and Parks state recreation areas. At Calamus Reservoir SRA, the Valley View Flat boat ramp is closed. Boaters can still use Homestead Knolls, …

The calendar indicates that it is not fall yet. The meteorological fall has begun though. And I believe that after Labor Day, the fall season starts. What do you think? For me, unquestionably, fall in Nebraska is one of the best times of the year to spend outdoors. Truth be known, it is my favorite season! The days are definitely getting shorter, the air is getting a bit crisper, the crop harvest will soon start, and before long the leaves …

The size, shape and abilities of eyes vary in the animal kingdom. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist “Eyes on the side hide, eyes on the front hunt.” The size, ability and position of the eyes of animals can vary widely depending on the species, environment and whether the animal is predator or prey. Some animals can move their eyes independently; some can see in ultraviolet light; and others can’t really see much at all. Throughout this article, we will …