BirdingTrails

Birding Trails Workgroup

The purpose of the Birding Trails Workgroup is to to encourage the preservation and conservation of bird habitat in Nebraska, and to facilitate statewide economic development, by promoting the economic value of birdwatching as an attractive eco-tourism resource.

The Birding Trails Workgroup is a web-based project. The website, www.nebraskabirdingtrails.com, has been on-line since spring 2004. The website contains information about each of Nebraska’s eco-regions, the birding trails (which are closely linked with the Nebraska Scenic Byways), and each of over 400 birding sites that have already been designated. The searchable database function enables visitors to find birding sites of interest by searching by community, region, eco-region, or keyword. For each site, there is a list of nearby communities, complete with links to those communities on the Travel and Tourism website (www.visitnebraska.org). Text for the site and region descriptions was composed by Dr. Paul Johnsgard of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Current projects being undertaken by the Birding Trails Workgroup are outlined in Issue 20 of the Annual Plan of Operations (APO). In addition to helping prepare for the next symposium, the workgroup is addressing the following Issues:

Developing state maps depicting Nebraska's ecoregions and the birding trails, 13 Birding-Regions maps, and individual Site maps. The statewide and Birding-Region maps are already on-line, and 200 site maps will be completed by the end of October 2006. Maps are being developed by Rachel Simpson, Research Assistant Professor for the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Redesigning the website to enhance its visual appeal and marketability. The current website has excellent content but a rather dry format. The redesign will be much more attractive and user-friendly. Funding for the redesign has been secured, and the workgroup is in the process of hiring a web developer.
Entering Phase II of the project by developing the first hard-copy booklet. We have applied for funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to develop a birding guide to northeast Nebraska.

Workgroup Composition
Name	Organization
Dave Titterington - Chair	Wild Bird Habitat Stores
Bob Bettger	Landowner - Eastern Nebraska
Linda Brown	Raptor Recovery Nebraska
Mace Hack	The Nature Conservancy
Paul Johnsgard	Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
Clem Klaphake	Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
Steve Moran	Rainwater Basin Joint Venture
Steve Riley	Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
Rachel Simpson	Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Tom Tabor	Department of Economic Development, Division of Travel & Tourism
Linda Titterington	Wild Bird Habitat Stores

Funding History
Source	Year	Amount	Purpose
Department of Economic Development	2004	$8,000	Website Construction
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund	2005	$7,300	Development and Publication of Maps
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission	2005	$5,000	Development and Publication of Maps
Department of Economic Development	2006	$5,000	Website Enhancements
Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund	2006	$12,000	Website redesign and enhancements, development and publication of additional maps, one year of website maintenance, development of visual displays