July 2010
Carp-O-RamaLarry Pape proved a capable master of ceremonies. Vendors and organizations with booths included Bowmen of Nebraska, NEFGA, Corps Of Engineers, and Dragon’s Custom Rods. Participants watched demonstrations on bow fishing, fish printing, how to catch, clean, and cook carp; and enjoyed eating the end result; fried carp.
Final Report from Last Month’s Carp-O-Rama
Pawnee reservoir’s fifth annual Carp-O-Rama was a well attended event with more than 500 carp anglers and attendees turning out to enjoy the fishing, prizes, activities and demonstrations. The parking lot began to fill at 6 a.m. with the sunrise. Within 15 minutes, the first carp were taking the bait and the fish-cleaning table was a hub of activity. Demonstrations followed beginning with the appropriate dressing of carp. NGPC staff seized the opportunity to videotape the carp being cleaned and the proper scoring technique used to make the small y-bones of the fish dissolve while cooking. 
The video is now available on NGPC’s YouTube Channel. More than 100 pounds of carp and catfish were cooked in TomKatt brand breading donated by Tom Basset of Republican City. The carp was served up fried, canned, smoked and chowdered and went very well with Mary Woltemath’s coleslaw. Informational displays by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on Water Safety and NGPC’s Fisheries Division were available. Nebraska Fish and Game Association acted as the “bait shop” distributing over 15 pounds of strawberry dough-bait and numerous cans of sweet corn. 
Bowfishers of Nebraska assisted young archers shooting floating carp targets at the bow fishing activity. Daryl Bauer and Steve Satra were on deck as fish “guides”, answering questions and helping anglers land fish. The day wound down with the presentation of prizes of fishing gear and gift certificates valued at over $800. Fish prints of carp caught during the event, made by Greg Hartell, proved to be the most popular prizes.
Carp-O-Rama began five years ago as a goofy idea. The event has subsequently grown beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. This “goofy idea” evolution has been possible due to the hard work of volunteers and NGPC staff. Special thanks to volunteer, Allan Roos, who was solely responsible for most of the prizes, publicity and promotion. NGPC staff from all divisions graciously gave up a Saturday morning to make it all possible. The support, enthusiasm and creativity of the Information and Education Division proved critical to the success of the event, and Jay Woltemath had the Pawnee SRA areas looking spiffy and welcoming to all comers. View all the photos of the event.
Related in the Media
- Lincoln Journal Star
- Meta Cafe Video of Cleaning Carp
- Loads of Photos on Huntingne.com
Holmes Lake – Waterfest
On June 12 from 5-8 p.m., 1,300 people turned out for the “Waterfest” at Holmes Lake. The free event featured water quality learning and hands-on opportunities. The collaborative event was sponsored by the City of Lincoln, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Lower Platte South NRD and Nebraska Game and Parks. Even though the night was overcast, attendees had a wonderful time trying their hand at fishing, canoeing and a variety of other water related experiences.
Thanks to all the staff and volunteers who helped out at the event. They helped to create a wonderful experience for all the Lincoln families in attendance.
Read more about the event. More photos of the event >>
Go Fish Kids Fishing Clinic and Water Expo
Game and Parks teamed up with many partners to host the third annual Go Fish Kids Fishing Clinic and Water Expo at Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area (SRA) on June 5. Partners included Nebraska Walleye Association, Cabela’s, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Big Mac Sports Club, Wimmers, Pamida of Ogallala, Sunmart of Ogallala, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Ogallala Flotillia, Lake McConaughy Dive Rescue, KayakJak Outfitters, Ogallala Optimists, and the Lake McConaughy Water Education Committee. Boating safety officer Scott Eveland of Ogallala helped organize the event with local NWA member Jerry Steinke. Staff from the Game and Parks’ Boating Safety Section, Fisheries Division and Lake McConaughy SRA helped with the event. Seventy-one students rotated through eight stations dealing with water safety, water quality, kayaking, and five different fishing presentations. Thanks to everyone who particpated and helped make it a great learning and recreational event.
Pre-Deployment Military Picnic – Pawnee State Recreation Area
The VFW department of Nebraska hosted a Pre-deployment picnic for the 1167 Battalion Support Company that is stationed in Lincoln. The event was well attended with approximately 575 people.
The picnic was planned so that the soldiers could spend time in the outdoors with their families before being deployed. The VFW provided the food, an assortment of traditional favorites, hamburgers, hotdogs, fried chicken and pulled pork, while the Family Readiness group of Lincoln provided entertainment for all members of the families. They had decks of cards available for the elderly and a clown from Clown Alley to entertain the youth with balloon animals and fun antics.
The Battalion is scheduled to be stationed in Afghanistan with deployment dates set for sometime next week. More photos of the event >>
Pool Numbers Floating to the Top at Eugene T. Mahoney
The pool had a near record day June 26, with more than 2, 700 people. The number of people in the pool in June last year totalled 14, 790. This year that number reached 26,239. Other activities in the park for the month of June are up slightly from last year’s numbers. Paddle boats are up 4 percent from last year, miniature golf and driving range are up 3 percent from last year. The stables have seen an increase of 13 percent in sales from last year.
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan SagaThese two adventurers (pictured on the right) were escorted into the Bellevue Marina for no life preservers. Both were from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. They had recently graduated from college and had put their canoe in the Missouri River in western North Dakota enroute to St. Louis where they had planned to rent a vehicle to drive back home after their water trail adventure. They’d been on the river for 23 days. They portaged all the upper dams and were making about 50 miles a day, sleeping on the river bank. They’d experienced storms including one tornado. Their initial life preservers had rotted away on them. Conservation Officer Dan Evasco got them back on their mission by donating them two life preservers and one flotation device that had been donated to him. Needless to say, the two were very grateful for the hospitality.
Ash Hollow Pageant
The 18th annual Ash Hollow Pageant was held on the June 18-19. Total attendance for the two evenings was around 1,400 people. This event has proven to be quite popular through the years. The first pageant was held in 1993 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oregon-Cailfornia trail. The public enjoyed a chuck wagon supper of roast beef, fry bread, beans, salads, and drinks.
The pageant “The Lighter side of Life on the Oregon Trail” was held on the stage below the cliffs of Ash Hollow in the spring –picnic area of the park. The outdoor performers read and re-enacted the historical details as accounted in actual diaries of pioneers on the trail to Oregon and California in the 1840’s .
Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch – “Sod House Sunday”
Nebraska’s Oldest State Park Celebrates 89th Anniversary
Chadron State Park Celebrated its 89th Anniversary as Nebraska’s oldest state park. More than 350 meals were served at 89 cents a meal at the Trading Post while the Bald Mountain Rounders Band played on. Activities included demonstrations on how to shoot a bow and arrow, horseshoeing, making pinecone bird feeders, starting fires, basket weaving, paddle boats races, archery shoot for prizes. The antique tractor show and parade, wagon rides and free paddle boat jaunts were available throughout the entire day. Bordeaux Art Society displayed and sold arts and crafts at the Lagoon Shelter.
Fort Robinson State Park
The 13th Annual Crazy Horse Ride was held Monday, June 7 at Fort Robinson State Park. The group of 200-250 riders completed the honorary ride to Chief Crazy Horse in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
The annual 4-H Horse Camp was also held at Fort Robinson. More than 50 children and leaders used the mare barn stalls, annex and campground for the two day event of classes to teach the students about horses and their handling. The group rode their horses to the Soldier Creek Wilderness area where they spent the night.
Every Thursday and Sunday, the guests are treated to a free rodeo. Some of the action includes steer roping and rodeo games provided by permanent staff and wranglers.
A favorite game that the guests find entertaining, is the “rescue race” where the rider races from one the end of the arena to the other end, picking up their partner by swinging them up on the horse behind them. The horse and two riders then race back to the finish line to beat the clock and other contestants.
Major Wind Damage Wails on Crystal LakeOn Friday June 11, Crystal Lake SRA sustained major damage from high winds (twister action) and heavy rains. There are many large trees down in the area, as well as many trees blown over into other trees.
There was also a great deal of damage up in the existing trees, which need to be removed to make the area safe. At this time the area remains closed until clean up work can be started.
Two Rivers State Recreation Area
The Horse Competition event took place in the park on June 4 – 5 with 200 people attending.
Greg Wagner brought his Saturday radio program out for a live broadcast.
“Operation Dry Water”
Officers spent six hours on the water checking boaters and fishermen at Carter Lake, Cunningham Lake and Standing Bear Lake in Douglas County. Activity was light but 38 vessels and 52 fishermen were checked with a total of 12 citations and 16 warnings issued. Violations included no fishing permit, no boat registration, insufficient PFDs, no type IV PFD, creating a wake in a no wake area and an alcohol violation. Another Operation Dry Water detail was conducted on Johnson and Maloney Lakes by District 3 officers and they reported making several good contacts regarding safety and alcohol.
District 6 officers worked a special boating alcohol detail at the Calamus and Davis Creek Reservoirs. This special project/detail was a national effort in its second year to make people aware of the dangers of using alcohol while boating and to remove inebriated boaters from public waters. Three citations were issued during this year’s effort, one of which was for Boating Under the Influence in addition to jumping the wake of another boater.
RESEARCH
Pine Ridge Mountain Lion Survey
Innovations in Fish Production
Normally, hybrid striped bass (wiper) fry begin their lives eating zooplankton (microscopic animals), naturally found in water and increased through fertilization of rearing ponds. This year, the North Platte Hatchery attempted to convert one of two ponds with wiper fry to commercial feed. After 40 days of being fed a standard trout diet, these fish were almost twice as heavy as those in the pond that ate only zooplankton. Increased and more uniform size should increase survival of these fish, some of which will be transferred to the Calamus Hatchery, where they will continue to be raised on commercial feed. This fall, they will be stocked at a size of approximately 6 inches into Branched Oak, Wagon Train, and Zorinsky lakes.
Annual District Birding Days Complete
The District Birding Days are complete for 2010 and were a big success. Thanks to everyone who participated. The following is a wrap-up of each district’s event:
- District I, June 8, Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge – 11 participants, 97 species
- District II, May 18, Sherman Reservoir and Davis Creek WMAs – 25 participants, 84 species.
- District III, May 27, Wood Duck WMA – 28 participants, 88 species.
- District IV, June 3, Swanson Reservoir WMA – 22 participants, 80 species.
- District V, May 12, Rainwater Basin – 42 participants, 110 species.
- District VI, June 2, Guide Rock WMA – 14 participants, 70 species
Survey: Winter Took Toll on Some Pheasants
The results of the Rural Mail Carrier Survey suggest that the harsh winter took a toll on pheasants in central and southeast Nebraska, but other regions fared better. Populations in the southwest, Panhandle, and Sandhills regions still remain well above their 20-year averages and should offer good hunting if weather during the nesting season is fairly normal. Not surprisingly, quail suffered heavier losses from the severe winter, with statewide numbers down 36 percent from last year. Additional mail carrier surveys will be run in July and October to measure reproductive success and refine hunting forecasts.
PARTNERSHIPS
Flood Efforts
The officers in District 3 did an exceptional job of handling complaints and responding to calls for service both in their own areas and in other areas with no assigned officer. The available officers were involved with providing assistance during the flooding that took place early in June. The primary source of flooding was the Elkhorn River from O’Neill to Fremont, which was out of its banks for nearly 10 days. Most of the area residents reported that it was the worst flooding that they could remember.
Local fire and sheriff’s departments and the Nebraska State Patrol appreciated the officers assistance with sand bagging, evacuation of families along the river as well as closing roads that were under water.
Flood waters did considerable damage to roadways around the district. This photo was taken of the road washing out on Gracie Creek near Calamus. District officers were also called in to participate in search efforts in the Norfolk area for a drowning victim.
Area landowners needed help from Law Enforcement officers to locate livestock along the river. The flooding caused a substantial loss of livestock in the area and the significant amount of damage to area roads, crops, buildings, and residences became more apparent as the river level dropped. The loss of life was reduced significantly due to the collaborative efforts of local fire departments, law enforcement and volunteers.
Missouri River Drowning
The month of June included a drowning and a boat accident on the Missouri River. The drowning incident involved a man who had fallen out of a boat near a power plant on the river. His body was recovered four days later. Alcohol was involved. The boating accident involved a Bayliner boat colliding and hurdling over the top of a Ranger bass boat on the river. Fortunately, there were only minor injuries.
Cleaning out the Freezers
Officers disposed of evidence collected on cases this past fall. The evidence was being held in freezers in Norfolk and Bassett. The officers are tasked with disposing of the evidence after the cases had cleared the county courts. Follow-up investigations on turkey and deer poaching complaints are still being conducted. The investigations are going well and charges are expected to be filed on the individuals involved.
Joint Boat Patrol
Officers worked fishermen at five different tournaments on Harlan County Reservoir and also spent several hours on joint boat patrol with Rangers from the Army Corps of Engineers.
Camp Hotshots
Camp Hotshots at Platte River State Park. This event has been hosted for the past several years for children that have diabetes, they get to explore different things at the park and view many different things outside of their normal routine.
Wagon Train Lake Drowning
Officers in District 5 assisted in the search and recovery of a victim at Wagontrain Lake SRA that was involved in a boating accident. Their boat capsized in a storm, drowning one occupant. With our new side sonar equipment, officers were able to locate the body and, with assistance from the Lincoln dive team, recover the body in a timely manner.
Boat Safety Day at Gavins Point Dam
Boat Safety Day was held at Gavins Point Dam. The day was devoted to boating demonstrations and information on safe boating. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers.
Training and Leadership
Officer Thome attended a two week multiple agency training session with a group called LEIN. At the end of the training he was given the Academic and Leadership Award. This award was based not only his test scores but more importantly for his demonstration of his overall leadership in the class that involved officers from the NE State Patrol, multiple sheriff’s departments and many local enforcement officers.
PERSONNEL
Porath is New Aquatic Habitat Program Manager
Mark Porath has been selected to fill the position of Aquatic Habitat Program Manager for the Fisheries Division. The position previously was held by Randy Winter, who recently retired. Mark assumed his new duties effective July 5.
July 2010 Service Awards
5 Years
Mark Pinkerton, Budget and Fiscal
Andrea Faas, Fisheries
Sam Sidner, Administration
10 Years
Mark Staab, Fisheries
35 Years
Randy Fox, Parks
50 Years
Marjorie Seuferer, Wildlife
Retirement
John Hutchinson, Fisheries, June 30
Retirement Information
Some employees have wanted to know some info regarding Retirement. Jana Cockerham has provided this information for those considering or electing to retire:
- Personnel Division will notify Retirement Systems when an employee is Terminating/or Retiring. Retirement Systems will mail out information to the employee in regards to their Retirement account options.
- Deferral of Leave Payouts: Before terminating employment, a member may elect to defer accumulated sick and vacation pay, provided the employee signs and submits a Deferred Comp form prior to the calendar month of the retirement. Employee should sign and return form to Personnel for processing. The 2010 Maximum Limit is $22,000 this year. The DCP minimum is $25.00 per month.
- Health, Dental, & Vision insurance coverage will continue to the end of the month the employee resigns/or retires in. Personnel will notify COBRA and they will notify the employee of the costs to continue insurance. Any questions, please call Jana Cockerham, Personnel at 402-471-5494.
EDUCATION
With the rain this spring came the Cornhusker State Games
In an effort to remind instructors of the need to get Hunter Education Classes on the books for the coming season, Heather Weihe spent time at the Youth Trap shoot as well as the Archery Events held June 19 -20. With both sports increasing their participation, it was a great opportunity to catch some of our volunteer Hunter Education Instructors in action as they donated their time and effort competing and coaching their students at the Cornhusker State Games. More photos >>
Hunter Education Efforts
To date 1,685 firearm hunter education students have been certified in 96 classes, with the help of 312 volunteer instructors. Sixty new instructors have been trained, of which 36 were certified. Also, 444 bow hunter education students have been certified in 41 classes, with the help of 109 volunteer instructors. Thirty new instructors have been trained, of which 14 were certified. Photos >>
Wildcat Hills SRA & Nature Center
The last few weeks have found many teachers receiving training at the Wildcat Hills Nature Center. At the end of May, Lindsay Rogers, NE Project WILD Coordinator, and Christine Hoyt, NE Project PLT/WET Coordinator, conducted a Project Learning Tree/Project WILD, and Project WET facilitator training. Fifteen resource professionals/teachers were trained. The following day, Lindsay presented a Project BEAK training for 15 teachers. In June, the University of NE State Museum/NE Dept. of Education brought 28 teachers from across NE to the Wildcat Hills as part of their KICKS (summer science teacher training).
The teachers focused on geology and paleontology of the Wildcat Hills region. Outdoor Education Specialist, Anne James, assisted State paleontologist, Shane Tucker, with the program.The Wildcat Hills provides educational opportunities for children of pre-school age through adulthood. WET/PLT/WILD training KICKS Science teachers leaning paleontology excavation Lindsay Rogers (left) Paleontologist, Shane Tucker (center)
Conservation Officers Active in Local Youth Events
Youth Catfish Rodeo – Ogallala Water Expo – Halsey Youth Skills Camp
Conservation Officers gave presentations and assisted with various activities associated with the Youth Catfish Rodeo held at Clear Ck. WMA, the Ogallala Water Expo held at Lake Ogallala SRA and the Halsey Youth Skills Camp. Attendees for the three events included 191 youth and 63 adults. Events for the month included functions with local sportsman’s groups and 10 program presentations in local communities that are especially important in that they provide an excellent opportunity to promote Nebraska Game and Parks projects and keep people informed about local outdoor opportunities.
Nebraska Game and Parks law enforcement officers were involved in 12 aquatic education outreach programs and local fishing clinics.
There were 11 outreach programs held in June that involved 468 youth and more than 100 adults in the District 4 area. These programs included: Boat Safety, Halsey 4-H Skills Camp, nongame and fur and how to score antlers. There were also two fishing clinics and a Family Fishing Day during the month of June. District 4 officers were also called on to assist with the North Platte’s Manihouta Archery Club’s annual Youth Archery Day.
RDR Events
Jo Momsen coordinated and assisted with a fishing clinic for about 30 at-risk students from Omaha Public Schools through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Omaha at Brookestone Meadows Fishing Pond and Recreation Area in Omaha on June 30.
Desoto Fest was also held at Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, which included information on fishing and camping in the outdoors. Our officers participated in the activities and fishing demonstrations along with providing outdoor cooking and camping presentations.
In the News
The Imperial Nebraska newspaper interviewed an NGPC law enforcement officer for a story on area parks. Nebraska Outdoors TV program on the North Platte TV station did a news piece featuring Officer Dudley Sorensen educating the public on boat safety issues for the upcoming holiday. 
[Photo: Greg Wagner records weekly PSAs and sound bytes for various radio stations in the metro and elsewhere in the state at Salem Broadcasting Studios in Omaha. Salem, which owns KGBI and KCRO, makes studio/production time available to the agency at no charge and then e-mails the spots/bytes to the stations.]
News Release Blog Launched
NGPC has an updated location for their news releases. NGPC News is now publishing news releases in a WordPress Blog format, and they are located at http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/blogs/. If you are seeking past news releases, they are still available in the searchable database. Don’t forget to bookmark the news release blog location to stay current on NGPC news and updates.
Project BEAK
Four “Project BEAK” educator workshops were offered to educators in Scottsbluff, Gibbon, Bellevue, and Denton this month . The workshops provide teaching resources for educators on birding and how to incorporate birds into their curriculum and programs. Visit the Project Beak Web site
Outdoor Education and Outreach
The Outdoor Education team conducted a shooting skills camp June 20-25 and a hunting camp June 27-July 2. It assisted in a goose-hunting workshop and, in late June, provided an archery range program for the Cornhusker State Games and a fish-cleaning demonstration at Carp-O-Rama. It discussed a variety of topics on weekly and monthly radio call-in programs, and taught target and 3-D archery in the UNL Archery Program. The team also started a new partnership with a church to develop a family outdoor skills camp in York.
Junior Cadet Law Week
Space Age Technology Used to Track Curlews
On June 12, a long-billed curlew named Bailey took flight in Garden County and headed south, commencing its “fall” migration. Six days later, the adult female curlew was in northeastern Mexico. How were researchers able to track a bird’s migration? The answer is by the use of newly developed lightweight satellite transmitters.
On May 19, 2009, two long-billed curlews were outfitted with micro-sized, solar-powered, satellite transmitters on their nesting grounds in Garden County. One bird was named Bailey, the other Sandy. Both transmitters worked for several months, tracking the birds’ fall migration. However, Sandy’s transmitter stopped sending data over the winter, for unknown reasons. Bailey’s transmitter has functioned for more than a year and has tracked the bird during three migrations.
The project will aid conservation efforts by linking breeding and wintering sites. Long-billed curlews that breed in Nebraska may spend as much as 75 percent of their annual cycle somewhere else. Both Sandy and Bailey wintered on the Gulf Coast of northeastern Mexico in 2009-10. Long-billed curlews have been declining in the Great Plains for decades. Visit BirdsNebraska.org for more information on the satellite-tracking project.
Capitol Peregrine Falcons Success Continues The peregrine falcon pair atop Nebraska’s state capitol had a successful year and continue to attract attention. This is the fifth year that the peregrine pair has successfully raised young.
In mid-April, the peregrine pair laid four eggs. In mid-May, three of the eggs hatched, and on June 4 the chicks were banded. In late June, Joan Darling of Lincoln won the chick-naming contest. Her winning entries were Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka, after the three stars on the belt of the constellation Orion, the Hunter.
The peregrines were featured with full articles in the Lincoln Journal Star on three occasions (egg laying, hatching, banding). The chick banding was featured on both Lincoln television stations and the peregrine Web site received more than 50,000 visits. More than 350 entries from 12 states were received for the chick-naming contest. Watch a video of the chick banding.
Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Receives Grants
The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project has received two major grants to assist with implementation and monitoring. The Nebraska Environmental Trust has awarded the Project $1.2 million over the next three years, and the competitive State Wildlife Grant program (federal dollars) has awarded $1 million.
The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project is being updated this year. Many public input meetings and conservation practitioner workshops have been held. Feedback on the program has been very good, and the findings indicate that people are educated and engaged in the Project. Individuals are providing valuable feedback that will be used to revise and enhance the Project.
Nebraska’s At-Risk Wildlife Guide – Now Available for Distribution
As part of the non-profit outreach effort of the Nebraska’s wildlife action plan, the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project has compiled the “Nebraska’s At-Risk Wildlife Guide.” More than 600 of Nebraska’s species have been identified as “at risk’ in the state.
This field guide focuses on wildlife that is at the highest risk level in the state and provides basic information on species’ biological life histories and occurrences in Nebraska. Information has been included to guide readers on everyday actions that could help save the state’s diverse “at-risk” wildlife populations.
Forest Management Continues on Public, Private Lands
We are accomplishing more forest management on our public and private lands in the northwest and north central Nebraska. Public land forest management is being accomplished with the help of the Nebraska Forest Service Cooperative Forestry Assistance Program (federal dollars). To date, we have agreements to do work on Chadron Creek Ranch, Metcalf, Pine Glen, and Bordeaux Creek wildlife management areas. Projects include removal of slash piles, ladder fuel and thinning to prepare for prescribed burns in the future.
Habitat Share Program
Work on the Habitat Share Program with Pheasants Forever, Inc. has shifted to south central Nebraska. Projects include tree removal from grasslands, food plots and disking/seeding to increase the diversity of habitat on wildlife management areas.
As seen in the photos, tree clearing can have an immediate effect on Nebraska’s grasslands. The funding from this project is coming from Pittman-Robertson federal aid, matched with cash from Pheasants Forever, Inc.
Impact of Flooding in Eastern Nebraska
Flooding on the Elkhorn, Platte and Missouri rivers, and their tributaries, in June is having a destructive impact on wildlife resources.
WMAs – Outlined in red in the photo on the left, Redwing WMA in Antelope County is situated on the flooded Elkhorn River. Roads, fences, buildings, and other facilities have been damaged by the flooding
Terns and Plovers – Flooding has resulted in both negative and positive consequences for two imperiled bird species. The least tern, an endangered species, and the piping plover, a threatened species, both nest on bare, mid-stream, sandbars on the Platte and Loup Rivers. This year’s flood washed away chicks and nests, however, it also regenerated and recreated the habitat that the species require and will use for several years. Without occasional high flows, the birds’ habitat will become overgrown and disappear.
Upland Game Birds – Species that nest on the ground, such as quail, prairie grouse, and pheasant, are most susceptible to flooding during the breeding season. Nests along road ditches, in low-lying areas, and in fields abutting waterways are most at risk of loss to flooding. Flooding and the rain causing it can also result in loss of chicks, especially during the peak of hatching in early summer. Because they cannot regulate their body temperatures effectively, young chicks can become chilled if they become wet and will perish as a result.
TernCam Unveiled
In cooperation with the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, a remote camera system has been placed on a sandpit along the North Loup River near Ord. The camera system was designed by FiveNines Technology Group out of Lincoln. This camera is sending a continuous display of images of an interior least tern nesting at a sandpit. The least tern (or two terns actually) have been affectionately named Truman.
(Note: the babies have hatched and left the nest so the web cam has been removed until next year. but you can view the still photo collection at this link http://ternandplover.unl.edu/terncam.htm)
This is just one tribute to the biodiversity that we have along the Loup River and the great collaborative efforts being made to support and research Nebraska’s rich wildlife.
Wildlife Division Bands Geese
The wildlife crew banded geese with great success. They banded approximately 65 geese and encountered about 30 that had been banded prior. The Wildlife Division worked with the assistance from conservation officers to accomplish their goose banding goals in Burt County and the Fisheries Division in the Columbus area worked alongside NGPC officers checking hoop nets in the Loup Canal to monitor catfish populations.
