Nebraska Bird Partnership

A stretch of I-80 near the Platte River between Lincoln and Omaha has the highest deer density and highest I-80 collision rate of anywhere in the state.  To reduce collisions, the Nebraska Department of Roads plans to install an 8' fence along a 4-mile stretch between the Mahoney Interchange and Pflug Road.  The DOR hosted an informational meeting on Tuesday where citizens could learn more and express concerns.  Read the full article about the I-80 deer fence from the Lincoln Journal Star.

If you're from eastern Nebraska, visit the Greater Prairie-Chicken Survey page to learn more about volunteering to run a lek survey route or two this April. No prior bird or other survey experience is necessary; you only need reliable transportation, average or better hearing, willingness to get up early in the morning (the early bird gets the worm, you know), and an interest in wildlife.

We will conduct these surveys only in April 2010, so you would not be making a long-term commitment.

Each route is twenty miles long and will be surveyed only once. You'll stop about every one mile (20 total stops) and get out of your car for two minutes to listen and scan for prairie-chicken lek activity. If you've never been to a lek, we'll teach you what you need to know. A route will take about an hour to complete, not including your travel time to and from your home.

To see route locations, visit the Greater Prairie-Chicken Survey page.

The Nebraska Bird Partnership cooperated with the Great Plains GIS Partnership, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Northern Prairies Land Trust to develop a model to predict where Greater Prairie-Chickens occur in eastern Nebraska. The data collected in these surveys will be used to evaluate how accurate the model's predictions are.

Internationally-renowned wildlife photographer and conservationist Joel Sartore will be the featured speaker at the 2010 Peacemaking Workshop in Lincoln on March 26th. As he shares his photographs and experiences, he will direct attention to what we all can do, both locally and globally, to care for the earth and its resources.

Witnessing Change: A Call for Action

Friday, March 26 -2:00 PM

Nebraska Wesleyan University, Olin Hall, Olin B Lecture Hall

A top wildlife and nature photographer turns his lens on us, asking whether we value wildlife for its own sake, or only to the degree that it can produce things for us. In this critical 11th hour, Sartore sounds a warning bell and a convincing call for change. This includes images and discussion of some of North America's most endangered species.

Grounded: A Reflection on the Use of Life and Land

Friday, March 26 - 7:00 PM

First United Methodist Church, 2723 N. 50th St. Lincoln, NE

When Joel Sartore's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, this National Geographic photographer who had traveled the world for 18 years knew it was time to stay home. His wife's illness triggered a reconnection with family and with the reason Sartore takes pictures: to show people that wild places and Earth's creatures need and deserve protection.

The Crane Trust (formerly the Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust) invites the public to two upcoming seminars:

• USGS Avian Influenza Monitoring, Hon Ip, USGS National Wildlife Health Center
• Intercontinental Microbial Transport of African Dust, Dale Griffith, USGS

Date:  Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Time:  2pm

Location:  Crane Trust offices near Alda, NE

Check out the Crane Cam on the Platte River at Audubon's Roe Sanctuary.  It's kind of foggy right now, but the cranes have already left the river this morning anyway to spend the day foraging in cornfields and wet meadows.  You can tune in to the Crane Cam around dusk and dawn through spring migration to see thousands of cranes coming and going from the nightly roost.

It's not the same as being in a blind, but if you can't make it in person, it's the next best thing.  And it just might inspire you to make the trip next year.

UNL Extension has released revised publications in the "Backyard Wildlife" Series designed to help you attract birds to your yard.  The Bird Houses and Shelves (pdf, 879k) guide describes how to properly build and maintain a bird house or shelf, including specifications for particular birds.  Bird Feeding (pdf, 900k) describes the ins and outs of feeders and types of bird feed.

Many other UNL Extension publications on wildlife and conservation topics are available for download.

Thousands of sandhill cranes are now arriving in the Platte River Valley from their wintering grounds.  Human visitors from across the United States and from around the world have started arriving too.

Nebraska Nature and Visitors Center in Alda celebrated opening weekend with both returning visitors and newcomers.  Read the full article about the start of crane season in Central Nebraska from the Grand Island Independent.

Water -- even stormwater -- is taking center stage in Nebraska.

Consequently, thanks to a grant awarded to University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Nebraska's lakes, rivers and ponds soon may get a little cleaner.

UNL Extension received a $544,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to increase education and research ways to protect the state's waterways from urban stormwater runoff carrying sediment, fertilizers, automotive fluids and other substances, said UNL Extension Educator Kelly Feehan, based in Columbus.

A study released by the Nebraska Power Association reports that adding large amounts of wind-powered generation to the state's electric power grid would add 10% in economic costs to utilities.  However, the study did not consider the relative environmental costs of wind-powered vs. fossil fuel-generated power.  Read the full article and join the online discussion about the Nebraska wind power study at the Lincoln Journal Star.

The Nebraska Ornithologists' Union is making plans for the 2010 spring meeting in Chadron, May 14-16th.  Learn more about the meeting and get other news from the NOU in the February 2010 NOU Newsletter.

Since 1899, the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union has been dedicated to the study, appreciation, and protection of birds.  The NOU publishes The Nebraska Bird Review, a magazine of ornithology of the Nebraska region.  Visit the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union website to learn more.