Children Enjoy Old West Nature Day at Valentine

Sounds of many kids having fun outdoors were obvious amidst the mighty oaks at Valentine City Park during Sunday afternoon, October 9th. Youngsters were appreciating the activities at Old West Nature Day. By walking from place to place, they could learn something about outdoor activities, and more subtly, some bit of historic lore.

A skill any of them could experience was archery, where Kim Martin, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was readily helpful. Most of the youngsters she helped had never before shot a bow, but were given the essentials for getting an arrow set, how to stand to aim at the apple target, and very importantly, how to do it safely. There was an obvious thrill by the archer when an arrow hit the paper apple target. Having six girls rapt in their attention, watching their friend shooting the bow as they awaited their turn, indicated the value to them of having this opportunity. One girl kept shooting because of her enjoyment, and repeatedly did so because there was no one else in line!

Similar experiences happened elsewhere beneath the colorful, autumn oaks where the winds of the season were slight and temperatures were quite nicely warm.

During this afternoon, some people walked about shaking and continuing to shake small jars they held. Why? Their arm-action was required to make themselves a sample of butter. They got the ingredients and then had to do the work to get something tasty to take home.

To create their own candle, many kids slowly dipped a short length of string into some hot wax. Their creation, once finished, was hung to cool, then retrieved later, once it was solid.

Next to the Girl Scout cabin was a dutch-oven cooking a unique batch of sweet chili made with bison meat. Anyone interested could taste a bit of the simmering food.

Close to Minnechaduza creek, Robin Roth, of Valentine, did a great job of showing the proper technique for throwing a tomahawk at a wood target. He conveyed a vital step for success, which was – well anyone with an interest will just have to get the answer from him. An adjacent tent featured his distinctive skins of plains mammals.

Acoustical music by the Roger Monroe family wafted among the arboreal setting during the afternoon event, as they created a musical theme. Near the seats where the musicians played, a tepee conveyed an essence of tribal history. Tin-stamping was another activity of the day, with a star usually made.

Westward at the Mill Pond, the National Park Service provided canoes that visitors could use to paddle around the choppy water, which was significant but not enough to be unsafe. A National Park Service ranger was on the scene to help get a watercraft afloat, and in some instances accompany someone.

Locally involved, and essential participants, were the sponsor the Niobrara Council, as well as the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as help by staff of the Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District.

Obvious during the day were efforts by volunteers, assisting and participating to accommodate the vivid interests of so many children. It was obvious, from my perspective for a while as a volunteer at the “archery range”, that the Old West Nature Day was once again a success due to community effort.

Issued in the Valentine Midland News.

Eastern Tourists Attracted by Superintendent's Niobrara River Float

September 7, 2016. Eastern tourists attracted by superintendent's Niobrara river float. Valentine Midland News 43(10): 7.

The attendees at the superintendent’s float on the Niobrara National Scenic River were residents of Omaha and Lincoln that had not previously floated the river, said Steve Thede, superintendent of the scenic river office.

The river section between Smith Falls State Park and Brewer Bridge was selected for the event as it is a distance that could be quickly traversed and has features representative of the overall river, Thede said. A favorite event of the outing was the “very impressive” sighting of an adult bald eagle that flew over the group.

The superintendent’s float during the evening on August 25th was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and was among the first events sponsored by the scenic river office at Valentine. Canoes were provided by the Niobrara Council.

Locally, the Niobrara National Scenic River was established in 1991. It is an example of how one of the best places in the U.S. has been protected, Thede said. Efforts by the National Park Service are an embodiment of this principal, he noted.

Protection of the river and providing public enjoyment has been done while respecting private property within the park boundary, Thede said. This has been accomplished by the park service and Niobrara Council in cooperation with private landowners.

Important partners during the years have included the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Middle Niobrara NRD and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. River outfitters and the Valentine Chamber of Commerce have also been involved and supportive.

We have learned how to better approach issues through a cooperative effort, Thede said.

Looking to the future, the National Park Services has “a commitment to public enjoyment and we have a tremendous opportunity to expand the visitor base,” Thede said. We would like to have the river be a “destination place where people visit for a few days rather than just overnight.”

There are other river conservation and management goals that will continue to be important considerations during the next 25 years.

Foremost, is the need to ensure water rights for instream flows, Thede said. “I’ve yet to meet someone that want’s the river to go dry. All users will have to compromise to make this work.”

A better understanding of the biological features of the Niobrara valley is one goal.

“We need to further explore and determine how unique the valley is,” Thede said.

Currently underway is an inventory and monitoring of wild birds being done by a NPS group from Rapid City. Studies initiated in 2015 are determining the occurrence of species such as buntings, grosbeaks and orioles present at the edge of their range and may shift due to climate change, drought and changing temperature norms.

Studies will also continue to determine how to retain unique plant species such as the aspens, and to retain the different habitats which have created a “biological crossroads.”

The park service will have to determine projects that can help fill in knowledge gaps, Thede said.

The success of the “superintendents float” as well as a night float earlier in the season, means the park service staff will continue to promote with ranger-guided trips. “We expect to do more during future floating seasons,” Thede said. “We would like more participants from the local community.”

Birdtastic Event at Hummel Park

A "birdtastic" event focused on the family was held Saturday morning, May 2nd at Hummel Park nature center. Activities featured included an opportunity to create a nature journal, paint a bird feeder made of popsicle sticks, use crayons to color bird outlines or go on a scavenger hunt and enjoy the spring woods, including the blooming timber phlox.

The kids could also enjoy touching animal skins, deer horns, read children books with a nature theme, play with stuffed animals and enjoy other items in the nature center.

The birdtastic event was a "complement to other nature-based activities" at the center, said Christine Stehno, camp supervisor.

There was a small, enthusiastic attendance. One child, Isaac, found a turkey feature that was a treasure from his visit. He also took home a painted bird feeder, and some sunflower seeds to place in it once hung at home.

A new addition to the park is a flock of chickens. They - and newly hatched chicks - will be used for educational purposes, especially during the summer day camp, Stehno said. The birds are all white, but some colored varieties are expected to be added.

Birds noted about the nature center during the morning included the Chipping Sparrow, Carolina Wren, House Wren at a bird house, the favorite Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Northern Flicker, a Blue Jay carrying nest material, a Wild Turkey, Tufted titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Turkey Vulture soaring overhead, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker and a vividly territorial Eastern Bluebird.

Although it was not specifically scheduled for Nebraska Bird Month, it was the first-bird related event in the Omaha area for International Migratory Bird Day.

Autumn Pictorial - Spring Lake Park

A visit was made to Spring Lake Park in south Omaha to see what autumn birds were about on November 1, 2011. There weren't many birds, but it was a nice day and the autumn colors were vibrant.

Debris dumped in the north part of the park.
With the many tires usually about this park, it should almost be called tire park!

Former ball field which will be made into a stormwater detention basin (i.e., a wetland).

Illegal fire site.

Fishing tackle box abandoned at the south spring, the largest in the park. What might they have been fishing for?

The following two images indicate the results of unfettered stormwater runoff from the corner at 18th and G Streets. The resultant erosional rift - more than 20 feet deep and a prominent park hazard - among the forest trees has been ongoing for years, and the Public Works department has never addressed the problem.

Perhaps a local resident is trying to build a facility for a tire business.

This is a view of the area where there was a fishing pond constructed in 1931, according to a newspaper article of the era.

Water stream from a north spring. The robins - and other birds - enjoy this water for drinking and bathing, especially during the winter when few other water sources are available. This spring and others would be inundated by a pond.

Terns and Plovers Get Consideration by Airboaters

When the "Thunder on the Loup" airboat races were held on the Middle Loup River, there was special consideration given to endangered Least Terns and threatened Piping Plovers breeding in the area.

"With all the flooding on the Elkhorn, Loup and Platte river systems, the birds had moved upriver on the Loup and found nesting habitat," said Robert Harms, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "There were quite a few nests," in the area of the airboat races.

Surveys for the birds had occurred earlier in the summer, as well as 2009, so this section of the river was a known nesting area.

Harms, and Joel Jorgensen and Michelle Koch, biologists with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, met with the airboaters to determine if the race noise and activity might cause any harm to the threatened and endangered birds.

There were nests within a half mile of the race route, but none along the race route, Harms said. "We didn’t have to change a thing, but we thought that the more they knew, the better."

Informing them of the birds nesting further up the river, helped them realize the importance of not running the airboats in that particular stretch of the channel.

The races occurred on the weekend of July 31 and August 1, west of Fullerton.

Following the event, Harms made a visit to the site to evaluate the situation.

"The nests and birds were still there," he said. There was no sign of human activity in the nesting area.

"Having the pre-race meeting generated some good will, and resulted in a positive situation," Harms said. "The birds were able to continue their nesting activity and the airboaters had a successful event."

A Perfect Autumn Afternoon at a Wrens' Ravine

Monday afternoon came about without delay and it became obvious without a doubt that it was a fine time to be out amongst the woods, looking and the birds and otherwise appreciating natural conditions. After days of drab gray skies, wind gusts seemingly without end, ongoing drizzle or rain, the conditions were perfectly sublime for a change

The spot of choice for the day was along midtown's Wood Creek. These woods are a regular haunt for birds and other critters of smaller or larger size. There was no disappointment for the many minutes, stretching into hours, slowly spent watching birds and simply enjoying the coloration of the foliage, the animal antics and simply, the whole scene.

Conveying their active conditions, the so special feathered mites - the so small Winter Wrens - could be readily heard, and nearly as soon were seen bouncing here, to there and other where in search of a tasty bit. Their subtle call was the obvious indicator for where they were, for some visiting observer.

Coloration of the leaves was at its autumnal peak. The creek was adorned with fallen foliage, dramatically presented in the bright sun of the afternoon, highlighting the variety of color of arboreal relics from different trees along the languid creek through the middle of the city.

The Winter Wrens were the highlight, as they regularly are each wintery season hereabouts at these city park lands. So small, yet so dynamic as they forage in - around - between branches and trunks of fallen trees and other low-level places of their choice, nearly continually announcing their place. First one, then another were readily noted, up close, yet exquisite in such small details of brown, with spots and that indicative tail posture erected to announce their presence.

A period of time spent watching one or the other of these wrens was no waste of effort. Instead it was a joy to catch a glimpse of their life under a sunny sky ... a time that could only be appreciated and enjoyed.

There were other birds around the Elmwood Park Ravine, including, notably, some White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Hermit Thrush and Brown Creeper, and some other regular residents that for this day, will remain unidentified, though no less appreciated.

During the slow walk along the creek, a boisterous Carolina Wren made certain it was recognized with its clarion call. Its rolling chant could not be missed, and as the scape was scanned, it could be seen flitting along the way. Then a few minutes later, as the outing was ending, there were two of these wrens calling at the south end of the ravine.

It was a fine ending for the time in the woods of the park on October 26th. The temperature was 55^o, with only a slight breeze, beneath occasional clouds with dynamic cerulean skies.

Outdoor Enthusiasts Appreciate Lancaster County Saline Wetlands

A languid day of late summer presented a fine time to get out and about to visit a variety of those especial saline wetland places of northern Lancaster county, about Lincoln.

Birds were naturally about, silent in their ways, ignorant about foreign visitors, as they foraged and continued their blatant daily routine of birdly existence.

Landscape view of the Little Salt Creek environs, as seen from Little Salt Fork preserve. The north side of the fence is the Hermone Tract.

Each wetland place visited gave a different presentation for this particular time of the season.

The first of the morning showed fog along northerly Little Salt Creek along north 27th Street, especially at the renowned Arbor Lake. Further to the northwest, beyond the pale light of the rising sun, dew adorned the plants and made for wet conditions during a walk about at the forks of the creek.

In their aerial realm, birds were subtle and contrite. Just a few of them proclaimed their usual song of the early breeding season. Instead, subtle calls or chirps revealed the relevant place for a species. Blue Jays were readily raucous over in the sparse woods where resident had homes and other buildings. The dickcissels chirped from atop a heighty bit of a plant. Further up the small creek at the marsh preserve, a pond was a haven for a bunch of ducks that were not going anywhere else. Saline marshness was appreciated by some shorebirds, with the yellowlegs readily loud, while some sandpipers cared only about finding a nourishing tidbit.

Cattle being used to graze the lowlands and grassy lands on the hills, cared about nothing other than munching on a bit or green finely suited for chewing.

August is a quiet season for birds as the nesting season continues to wane. A closer look was needed to determine there were wrens. Killdeer were so obvious - an exception to any subtlety as they loudly expressed the presence of a human intruder. A family of kingbirds were bunched about on a tree they certainly appreciated.

In the early hours after a dynamic dawn, the hiking was through moist, hindering bunchings of plants, expressed as drenched jeans to see and survey the birds of the day. Places visited in the morning were up there on Little Salt Creek. Proper names included the Little Salt WMA and the Little Salt Fork Marsh Preserve. Driving during the day meant visits to the Lincoln Saline Wetland Nature Center where a couple bicycling were taking advantage of the fine conditions, and onward to Oak Lake Park, for a brief visit where miscreant kids were harassing the geese, as their uncaring mother ignored the situation.

Mark Vanek and his kids after their hike about Frank Shoemaker Marsh.

There was an early afternoon interlude indoors, to avoid the blaze of the midday sun. After a time, as the day waned, the outside time continued. First with a scan from the fast-food parking lot west of the Whitehead Saline Wetland, and then northward to the wonderful scene at Frank Shoemaker Marsh.

A family had been enjoying what they had seen. Mark Vanek, a Lincoln resident, and his youngsters had enjoyed a time at a place they learned about in 2008 when the place was among the sites included on the Safari Lincoln event. Shoemaker Marsh is now "one of their favorite spots," they agreed after the visit on Saturday afternoon. Each of them appreciated something different:

Mark: "getting out with the kinds on a beautiful day";

Emily: a "new trail overgrown and fun to explore where it went";

Ryan: "a digger wasp"; and

Nick "loved the walk and the yellow rock."

Each of the kids had a walking stick for the family hike around nature's scene. The marsh was a place to get the kids "curious about nature," Mark Vanek said.

A bit of time later, as the day was drawing to a close, there were five vehicles in the Shoemaker marsh parking lot ... it seemed as if there was a party. The explanation was images were being captured for promotional purposes for a Lincoln photographic business, according to a person waiting at a van, with the remainder of the bunch were out and about along the trail to the overlook platform perched above listless Little Salt Creek.

Shorebird habitat along north Little Salt Creek. The sandpipers can be seen in the background.

There were a number of species noted during the hours afield. The tally for the day? Consider that there were to a varying extent, the: Canada Goose, Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Bobwhite, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, Barn Swallow, House Wren, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Dickcissel, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird and the American Goldfinch. Those troublesome sparrows of late summer were probably present, but not seen in an obvious manner conducive to viewing well enough to identify.

This is a tally of more than 30 species, each ignoring any census, but essentially attentive to their day's routine of survival.

In a presentation of subtlety, these birds of the day did convey a presence to appreciate by some looked giving attention to the natural features of saline wetlands and what species find these habitats are a haven. The glory of the flora was colorful and expressive, set against the clear cerulean skies so bold.

On the bare relics of truly saline flats, diminutive beetles were still active, yet hardly noticed, expressing in a sublime yet essential way, the reason for these places having been bought and managed for their nature.

Black Swallowtail on a thistle at Little Salt WMA.

Showy Snow-on-Mountain, also at Little Salt WMA.

During this Saturday at the saline wetlands, nature continued its fundamental ways ignorant of it being some day of the week or a date on the calendar, but there were a number of visitors that appreciated the fine weather for them to enjoy and appreciate being outdoors at the prairie and wetlands that endure.