Nebraska Bird Partnership

Natural resources districts no longer would have absolute authority to use eminent domain for the acquisition of land for recreational trails under a bill receiving first-round approval March 15.

LB1010, introduced by Louisville Sen. Dave Pankonin, would create a process NRDs must follow before eminent domain may be used to take private land for a recreational trail or corridor.

Full details about LB1010 eminent domain procedures are available from the Unicameral Update.

Cranes will be on center stage in central Nebraska again this Friday, but in this case, as the subject of world-class photography.  Nebraska-based wildlife and nature photographer Michael Forsberg is among the honorees at the Nebraska Bird Partnership’s 5th Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday, March 19, at 12 p.m. The ceremony, which recognizes the conservation accomplishments of 2010 award winners, will be held at the Holiday Inn in Kearney.

Forsberg will receive the Chairman's Award from current Bird Partnership Chairman Ritch Nelson of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  "I am proud to select Michael Forsberg for this award.  His photos have inspired countless Nebraskans to want to conserve our wildlife and natural landscapes for future generations."

NET Television will be honored for work on Project BEAK, an interactive, web-based curriculum targeting Nebraska students in the 5th-8th grade.
The website, www.projectbeak.org, contains information and activities about Nebraska birds, conservation, adaptations, and bird watching, and classroom lesson plans for teachers.

According to Project leader Jeanine Lackey, "When NETV started working on the project, it blossomed into an amazing, interactive, and colorful website.  NETV staff worked diligently because they felt that Project BEAK was exciting, fulfilling, and an important outlet through which a bird conservation and appreciation message could be spread, not only to Nebraskans, but across the country as well."

The land stewardship actions of Jean Parker, owner of the 3,680 acre Cross L Cattle Company in eastern Sheridan County, will also be recognized.  "Partnering with Jean has allowed our agency to reach many of our conservation goals for that particular region," said Shelley Stoley, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologist.  "Even more importantly, the partnership has allowed Jean to profitably and sustainably manage her ranch to the benefit of the unique plant and animal communities of the area."

Visit the Bird Partnership Awards Program page to learn more about the awards.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners at their regular meeting Friday will consider changes to the state's 2010 big-game hunting regulations, including a plan to boost the number of deer killed by hunters.

The 2009 white-tailed deer harvest in Nebraska fell short of expectations. The Commission wants more deer taken in eastern Nebraska, and tighter restrictions for mule deer hunting in southwest and south-central Nebraska.

Read the full article about deer and big game recommendations from the Omaha World Herald.

Native plants have evolved and adapted to local conditions over thousands of years. They are vigorous and hardy, so they can survive winter cold and summer heat with a minimum of care.  The Friends of Wilderness Park will host a panel discussion at 3 p.m. on March 21 at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A St., Lincoln, on how to grow native plants and grasses in your yard.  There is no charge for the presentation and it is open to the public.

Read the full article about the growing native plants presentation at the Lincoln Journal Star.

The Lake Maloney Clean Up event has been postponed until March 27th.  According to Keep North Platte/Lincoln county Beautiful Executive Director Mindy Hope, the shorelines of the lake are "too muddy and too messy" right now.

"Nebraska's Greatest Treasure" is the title of the next "Sunday with a Scientist" lecture series from the University of Nebraska State Museum.  Rachael Herpel of the UNL Water Center and Jamie Oltman of The Groundwater Foundation aim to help people better understand how ground and surface water systems function and interact, as well as the impact they have on our lives.  The presentation is at 1:30pm, this Sunday, March 21st at Morrill Hall on the UNL campus.

Nebraska's pine trees are under attack from two serious pests – the mountain pine beetle and pine wilt disease. The mountain pine beetle, a small insect that has killed millions of acres of pines in the western U.S. and Canada, was identified last year on pines in several western Nebraska counties. So far, the insect has killed only a few trees at several scattered locations, but it can kill many trees easily when conditions are right.

Forest health experts with the Nebraska Forest Service said mountain pine beetle attacks have been reported in Scottsbluff, Gering, Minatare, Kimball, Sidney, and areas of the Wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge. Mark Harrell, Nebraska Forest Service forest health program leader, said adult mountain pine beetles bore into pines from July through October, leaving small, marble-sized masses of resin, called pitch tubes, on the trunk.

Is the Niobrara River more valuable as a water supply for irrigators, as a source for electrical generation, or for the tourism dollars generated by its scenic beauty and recreational appeal?

Economist Steven Shultz has been asked by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to consider this question as it considers whether to seek protections for the benefit of wildlife and recreation on the Niobrara.

The river's multiple uses seem to be in a state of equilibrium for now, Shultz said. Recreational users complain more about the peak-season crowds than they do about too-low water levels.

Kirk Nelson, assistant Game and Parks director, said the Commission is continuing to gather information. It will be at least two years, he said, before a decision is made whether to seek Niobrara flow protections.

Read the full article about the Niobrara's multiple uses from the Omaha World-Herald.

Lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday aimed at reducing the overpopulation of deer in certain parts of the state.  They also approved an amendment allowing the shooting of mountain lions that are preying on livestock or threatening humans.

Read the full article about the deer and mountain lion bills from the Omaha World-Herald.

The Legislature's Natural Resources Committee voted 8-0 on Wednesday evening to advance a wind energy bill, LB 1048, to debate by all lawmakers.  The purpose of LB 1048 is to encourage development of large, privately-owned wind farms that would export power to other states, while not harming the state's unique public power structure.  Debate on the bill could begin as early as next week.

Read the full article about the wind energy bill from the Omaha World-Herald.