Nebraska Bird Partnership

In the lastest issue of the Central Loess Hills Newsletter (pdf, 598kb), you'll find:

• TernCam debut successful
• Wildlife spotlight - Platte River caddisfly
• Conservation Reserve Program 2010
• Summer Natural History Seminar Series

The 16th annual fall seminar series offered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center for Grassland Studies will feature faculty and guest lecturers on topics ranging from future challenges in the turf industry to reclaiming rangeland using prescribed burns to issues relating to wildlife in grassland habitats.

The seminars, which may be taken for academic credit and are also free and open to the public, are held most Mondays during the fall semester from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nebraska East Union (see kiosks for location).

This week, the Nebraska Public Power District attached the last of 147 individual solar panels, or modules, to a large photovoltaic (PV) array south of the District’s new Norfolk Operations Center at 1200 S. Chestnut Street. Once commissioned, the 35-ft. by 70-ft. PV system will directly convert sunlight to electric energy. The SunCarrier PV array will generate approximately 45 kilowatts of energy, or enough power to supply roughly 7 percent of the Center’s total electric energy requirements.

Homestead National Monument has a busy day planned this Saturday, August 28th.

In the morning Homestead staff invites volunteers to assist with their monthly deer survey.  Later that evening, they will host the final campfire program of 2010, featuring classical guitar music and a presentation on butterflies.

The Summer/Fall 2010 issue of the Niobrara Valley Habitat News is now available.  Articles include:

• Habitat seminar draws a crowd
• Fire cache touted at Ranch Expo
• The many values of Yucca
• MNWAG hosts bug tour
• Area youth explore Niobrara "playground"
• These numbers aren't just for the birds!
• Nebraska wildlife field guide now available

Wind developers attended a “Nebraska Wind Forum” organized by Gov. Dave Heineman and two leading state lawmakers, Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood of Norfolk and Sen. Chris Langemeier of Schuyler. The goal was to promote a wind-energy law passed this spring and to consider what else the state might do to attract multimillion-dollar wind farms built by private firms.

"Governor touts state to wind firms", Omaha World-Herald

"Nebraska reaches out to wind energy exporters", Lincoln Journal-Star

The August 2010 issue of Resource, a monthly publication of the Nebraska Environmental Trust is now available.  Articles include:

• Executive Director Corner
• Wetlands Rehabilitation at Millard High School
• Crane Trust Fits Nine Endangered Whooping Crane Chicks with GPS Transmitters
• Nebraska Environmental Trust to Award Bonus Points to Douglas and Sarpy Counties, Southwestern and North Central Nebraska Projects
• Grants Deadline for 2011 Cycle Coming Up!
• Paul Dunn Elected to Nebraska Environmental Trust Board Chair
• Upcoming Events

Nine wild whooping crane chicks in remote Canada are wearing high-tech jewelry, courtesy of a pair of Nebraska scientists.

The endangered chicks were outfitted with miniature Global Positioning System transmitters and color-coded identification bands during a milestone research initiative by the Crane Trust, based near Wood River, Neb.

Read more about the crane tracking project from the Omaha World-Herald.

A Michigan firm is proposing a $20 million wind farm southeast of Ogallala, Neb.  The Ogallala Wind Project, proposed by Green Oak Renewables, LLC is the result of a request by Nebraska Public Power District for small-scale (25 kilowatts to 10 megawatts) renewable energy projects.

Read more about the proposed Ogallala wind farm:

"Wind farm is an option", North Platte Telegraph

"Wind farm proposed near Ogallala", Omaha World-Herald

A spokesman for TransCanada acknowledged Friday that the company has sent letters to Nebraska landowners along the proposed route of the Keystone XL petroleum pipeline urging them to sign easements in the next 30 days or face land condemnation proceedings.

Read more about the Keystone XL letter stir from the Lincoln Journal-Star.

Back-to-back water events are coming to Lincoln's downtown Holiday Inn in early October.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Water Center and University of Nebraska College of Law will co-host a daylong Water Law Conference Oct. 6. The Water Center then joins with the U.S. Geological Survey's Nebraska Water Science Center to present a daylong Greater Platte River Basins Symposium at the same location the following day, Oct. 7.

An Aug. 30 Irrigation and Energy Conservation Field Day at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's South Central Agricultural Laboratory near Clay Center will help corn growers save water and money.

Participants will learn about best management practices for corn production, achieving water conservation in irrigated and dryland corn production, reducing energy use production costs, maintaining and, in some cases, increasing yield and profitability, and better managing surface and groundwater irrigation.