Nebraska Bird Partnership

Normally, we're anxiously anticipating the arrival of sandhill cranes at this time of year.  The small flock of wintering sandhill cranes may have thrown off our biological clocks, but not the timing of celebrations scheduled during traditional March crane season.  Crane enthusiasts and birders from outside central Nebraska should consider renting a room, because March will be filled with events and activities.

Will this mild winter's open water bring an earlier than usual arrival of migrating Canvasbacks?  Usually spring migrants of this diving duck begin arriving in late February.

Canvasback is a Nebraska Bird Partnership priority nonbreeding species for conservation.  Learn more about Canvasback from the Nebraska Bird Library.

Photo courtesy Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Weekends in February:  Eagle Viewing, Lexington and Ogallala

Feb 4:  Pheasants Forever 2012 State Habitat Meeting, Kearney

Feb 8:  Rainwater Basin Joint Venture 17th Annual Informational Seminar, Hastings

Feb 17-20:  Great Backyard Bird Count

Feb 18:  Birds and Bagels, Alda

Feb 20:  Bird Feeding and Backyard Habitat, Grand Island

Feb 26:  Regal Bald Eagles at Branched Oak Lake and Pawnee Lake Field Trip, Lincoln

A Common Crane originally spotted on January 27th among a flock of Sandhill Cranes south of Alda has brought in birdwatchers from far and wide.

The Grand Island and Hastings Public Libraries were both recently presented with copies of the Mark Obmascik book "The Big Year" by the Nebraska Bird Partnership.

Greg Miller, one of the birders featured in the book and the inspiration for Jack Black's character in the movie of the same name, will be visiting central Nebraska in March to share his Big Year experiences firsthand.

Jim Douglas, Deputy Director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, was presented the Nebraska Bird Partnership's Chairman's Award at the January Commission meeting.

 From left to right:  Marian Langan (current NBP chair), Ritch Nelson (retired chair), Jim Douglas, Jill Liske-Clark (NBP coordinator) . Photo courtesy Doug Carroll/NGPC.

It sure looks like we’re going to have sandhill cranes around for the entire winter.  In fact, the consensus among biologists is that the number of cranes has actually grown over the last couple of weeks.  There was even a sighting of three whooping cranes this week, a common event in April, but nearly unheard of in January.

The 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will be held February 17-20, 2012. The GBBC is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are across the U.S. and Canada.

Back in 1957, Bob Marcotte traveled Nebraska for Mutual of Omaha.  He also was state chairman of Ducks Unlimited.

Michael Furtman's book offers a unique look at DU from its founding in 1937 and a peek at the future.