Game Dinner - A Great Chicago Feed

The famous host of the Old Tremont, and more recently of the Grand Pacific hotel, Chicago, has just given his twenty-fifth annual game dinner, and the bill of fare is a wonderful exhibit of the capabilities of the Chicago markets. Mr. Drake's guests, this year, were required to discuss the following:

Blue Point oysters in shell.

Soup — Game, venison broth.

Fish — Black bass, brook trout.

Animals — Loin of buffalo, saddle of black-tail deer, leg of elk, saddle of mountain sheep, red deer, saddle of black bear, leg of black bear, saddle of antelope, loin of moose, coon, woodchuck, opossum, red squirrel, black squirrel, jack rabbit, English hare, Mountain bison, gray squirrel, fox squirrel, striped squirrel, American rabbit.

Boiled potatoes, turnips, onions, mashed potatoes, spinach, celery, baked sweet potatoes, sweet corn, succotash lima beans.

Forest birds — Wild turkey, cedar hen, Spruce grouse, pheasant, partridge, prairie chicken, quail, blackbirds, Virginia partridge, Red-winged starling, pigtail grouse, ruffed grouse, Carolina dove.

Marsh birds — Jack snipe, sand snipe, yellow-leg plover, golden plover, kildeer plover, sand peep, Wilson snipe, least sandpiper, rice birds, reed birds, Dunlin sandpiper, rail, curlew, sand-hill crane.

Wild goose, Canada goose, Laughing goose, Canvas back duck, Black duck, Mallard duck, Coot, Brant, Red-neck Grebe, Longtail duck, Hooded, Merganser duck, Green-winged duck, Blue-winged Teal, Blue-bill Widgeon, Red-neck duck, Ringed neck duck, Wood duck, Gadwald duck, Pintail duck, Cormorant duck, Shoveler duck, Scoop duck, Ruffle-headed duck, Butterball duck, Dusky duck, Gray duck, Arctic goose, stewed terrapin cases, green turtle steak, Burgundy sauce, oyster patties, frogs fried in crumbs.

The pride of the forest — the coon on watch, the happy family, the ranch cottage, the hunter at home, boned snipe with truffles, sand-hill crane in marsh, quail en socle, red-winged starling en arbor, boned ducks in feather, prairie chicken in nest, woodcock running, partridge in plumage, fox squirrel au natural.

Lobster salad, Shrimp salad, dressed lettuce.

Charlotte Russe, chocolate macaroons, wine jelly, pudding a la Margarine, fancy cakes, confectionery, candied fruit, Bon-bons, assorted.

Apples, oranges, California plums, Catawba grapes, Concord grapes, Tokay grapes, Muscat grapes, pears, figs, raisins, Vanilla ice cream, Neapolitan ice cream, punch a la Romaine, nuts.

Cheese, biscuit, coffee.

November 23, 1880. Lancaster Daily Intelligencer 17(72): 1. Issued in Pennsylvania. There are no Chicago newspaper issues online to review for any further details.

Study of Winter Cranes a New Challenge

The winter occurrence of whooping cranes along the central Platte River in Nebraska is a significant change in the behavior of this endangered bird.

Three adult cranes were present from January 27th to February 2nd, said Martha Tacha, a biologist at the Nebraska field office of the Fish and Wildlife Service in Grand Island. One prominent site they utilized was a river channel on the north side of Jeffrey Island.

The sighting of this species during the winter in Nebraska "certainly is unique," Tacha said. Their earliest date of occurrence having previously been February 7th.

Numerous Sandhill Cranes have also wintered along the central Platte.

There have also been Whooping Cranes at Quivira and Cheyenne Bottoms refuges in Kansas. Birds arrived in this region in late November, then never left and continued to be present in late January.

Along the Texas Gulf coast, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of cranes overwintering around Aransas NWR, their usual winter locale.

"It has been difficult for the whoopers at Aransas, due to drought conditions," Tacha said.

The federal agency tracks the occurrence of these cranes. Their effort started in 1975, with additional work done to document previous records. Records are maintained in a database.

"The results of occurrence situations this year will mean new challenges to censusing populations," Tacha said. "We don't have a good handle on the overall current population due to their movements this winter."

"If we can follow the crane's activities, we can better understand what they need to survive," Tacha said. "We need to learn more about how these cranes respond to challenges" influencing their longterm existence.

There are fewer than 300 Whooping Cranes in the flock which migrates through the Great Plains.

Potential Plans Presented for Fontenelle Park

Options for the future Fontenelle Park were presented at a public meeting at the park pavilion on Thursday, February 16th.

Three options were presented. About eighty people were present, including officials of Omaha Parks and Recreation, the mayor's office, stormwater engineers and community residents.

Option One would have the park remain as it is, though the lagoon would be enlarged in association with the CSO! project.

City officials said the financial losses occurring at the course must be considered.

There were no options presented by the public in attendance that would address the large shortfall in funds. There were numerous golf supporters present.

A decision on whether golf will remain will be made in the next two-three weeks, according to city officials. If the course is closed, that would occur immediately.

Option Two indicated immediate steps that would occur if the course closes. The fence surrounding the park would be removed, along with golf-related features. Picnic tables would be added.

The long-term potential for the park is shown with Option Three. The concepts shown reflect many of the features that people attending the previous meetings have shown a preference to including within the park space. Attractive features shown include replanting trees, having a Logan Fontenelle overlook, prairie and probable bioretention gardens southward from the lagoon, and native plantings and a arboretum on the hilltop.

The current club-house would be repurposed to provide recreational uses.

There was no information given at the meeting as to how any CSO! related activities would affect the park, other than enlarging the lagoon. Yet, officials would not commit to any long-term improvements until those plans are determined.

There are four obvious short-comings of this plan.

Any attempt to include a disc-golf course would preclude other uses, and there should be no further attention given to this sort of feature. There is already a course at Hummel Park, and one is being built at Levi Carter Park.

The proposed walkway would constrict the lagoon, and dramatically detract from its value. There are places were it could loop up the hill and provide a perspective view instead. Planners always place walks as close as possible to waterways for some inane reason. The route of the walkway has a number of unnecessary loops and bends.

There is nothing wrong with fishing from the bank, and what appear to be numerous access groins jutting into the lagoon. They would cause an increased disturbance factor and make the lagoon dirtier as trash would get thrown into the waters from these places. Any fishing would be developed in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks commission, and based on the work being done at Carter Lake, their fisheries staff like groins, and the more the better!

A road is not needed for access into the picnic area on the north side. A parking lot would suffice. A road would cause traffic concerns, increased noise and disturbance from people cruising through, a greater occurrence of trash, and demands for maintenance.

There was no information given at the meeting as to how Northstar Foundation efforts to the west of the park could complement any changes at the city area. There was talk about this but no options were mentioned.

A public comment period occurred after the plans were presented. It was a lively discussion, with many speakers wanting to keep golf, concerns over trash.

Councilman Ben Gray said any "changes would be totally for the neighborhood." He also mentioned planning efforts at other North Omaha parks, especially Adams Park. Work has already been completed at Miller Park.

There was no opportunity to discuss the proposed plans, as they were not available for review prior to the meeting, nor was there time to give them a good look before the comment period.

Mitigation Progress Continues Along Missouri River

During the past two years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has continued to purchase additional land tracts for mitigation purposes along the Missouri River.

In the Omaha District, the agency - as of early February - has bought from willing sellers, 20,114.87 acres for the Missouri River Recovery (Mitigation) Program, said Sean M. Keating, a senior realty specialist, civil branch. "We have also acquired an additional 5,438.73 acres of land use through fish and wildlife mitigation easements granted to the United States by our partners in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission."

Thus far in fiscal year 2012, 137.66 acres in two tracts have been acquired, Keating said.

A small tract of 45.41 acres is at Tobacco Island, southeast of Plattsmouth, in Cass County, Nebraska. This area is also known as the William Gilmore WMA, and is managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, through a partnership agreement with the Corps of Engineers.

"This parcel is a little smaller than we would normally acquire, but it will help improve access to Tobacco Island off of Horning Road through Plattsmouth," Keating said. "The previous owner had a tendency to close and lock the gate across the road. A second tract of 92.25 acres is at Brownville Bend in Nemaha County, Nebraska."

There were 454.45 acres acquired during FY 2011 in the Omaha District, which includes Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. The fiscal year ended on October 31st, 2011.

The parcels were all in Nemaha County, Nebraska, according to Keating. Two were associated with the Langdon Bend site (95.07 acres and 265.26 acres).

Langdon Bend now includes 1283 acres, and has been a focus site for additional habitat management work, including the installation of water pumps and creating areas where water conditions can be actively managed to improve conditions for migratory fowl.

A tract of 94.02 acres was bought at Brownville Bend.

"The two smaller tracts were recreational land, encumbered by Wetland Reserve Program easements, while the larger tract was technically agricultural land, although it had not been farmed in almost two years as a result of high groundwater making it too wet to farm," Keating said.

The Missouri River flood of 2011 influenced acquisition of additional property.

"When acquiring real estate, the Corps of Engineers is first required to have the property appraised," Keating said. "Once the water came up, it became very difficult to appraise anything. Even before the flood, our appraisers were having a difficult time attempting to pin down prices in a market where prices for land - particularly agricultural land - were rising daily."

This year the Corps is "looking at the possibility of using more outside appraisers to help carry some of the workload left over from last year in addition to the new willing sellers we have had contact us so far this year."

"We are looking at trying to add to existing Corps-owned projects at Langdon Bend and St. Mary's Island, but there are also exciting new possibilities at Sonora Bend, Civil Bend and even something a little closer to Omaha at Papillion Bend," Keating said. Since this "is a willing seller program, any or all of these potential sites could fall through at any time."

It is uncertain if the flood has had any influence on an increased interest in selling flood-prone land in the river valley.

"We were contacted by a number of landowners between approximately October and January and it did seem at that time as if there was a fairly definite increase in interest," Keating said. "There is a good chance that a number of those landowners are merely exploring all of their options. I don't believe there have been any landowners who have suddenly changed their opinions regarding the Missouri River Recovery Program or the Corps of Engineers, but if the Corps is able to offer them a price that works for them, I think there are some who will be willing to sell their property."

"We are thankful that these landowners are even exploring the possibility and are hopeful to reach agreements that are agreeable and beneficial to all parties," Keating said.

Regarding future property purchases, "a lot will depend on what appraisers say about the market for land in the Missouri River valley in the wake of the flooding, and whether or not landowners agree with their analysis."

Disposition of Nebraska Snowy Owl Carcasses

Several carcasses of the Snowy Owl that have died during their winter sojourn in Nebraska will be mounted or made into study skins.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has about fourteen carcasses, according to Joel Jorgensen, the nongame bird biologist. Those which will not be mounted for placement in agency offices — perhaps 1-2 owls — will be turned over to the University of Nebraska State Museum.

UNSM has received ten carcasses thus far from throughout the state, said Tom Labedz, collections manager. "These specimens are a receipt to prove where the owls were and when."

These specimens can be studied later by researchers, being useful for isotope studies, or evaluation of age and sex of the owls, he said, adding that they can also help provide a "more thorough understanding of the workings of our natural environment."

Labedz is working to get the best possible documentation concerning where and when the dead bird was found. This information will be integrated into the bird collection database, which will eventually be available online.

Those carcasses not kept at this museum, will go to a bird specimen collection in Kansas, he said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has transferred four live snowy owls to Raptor Recovery Nebraska, said Mike George, supervisor of the Ecological Services office in Grand Island.

Any dead specimens are turned over to conservation officers of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The federal agency also hopes to have one of the owls mounted and kept in their office so it can be used for educational purposes.

Snowy Owls Going to Feather Repository

Some of the Snowy Owls which have died during this winter's irruption from the Arctic, will soon provide culturally significant feathers for use by members of many Native American tribes.

Sia, or the Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative, has so far received only one owl carcass from a South Dakota refuge, according to William Voelker, executive director and co-founder.

Several will be sent from Raptor Recovery Nebraska, according to Betsy Finch, director.

Sia is the only tribal effort that can store feathers for distribution to members of federally recognized tribes throughout the United States.

"The feathers are used for cultural, ceremonial or spiritual needs or purposes," Voelker said. "The snowy owl is a sacred and holy bird to some tribes of the northern Plains" such as the Siouxian, Blackfeet and Crow.

"Wing and tail feathers in the form of a fan are used for doctoring in specific healing ceremonies," Voelker said.

"For many tribes, it is important to be able to use a feather and call on the energy of the bird to connect to the power of a higher energy," Voelker said.

Once the usable feathers are removed, a special ceremony then occurs where the remains are painted with ochre, and bundled for a scaffold or rock-pile disposal, Voelker said. "No bird is ever burned or buried, as this would be an affront to Native American culture."

This method allows the bird's spirit and energy to return to their sky domain.

Few Snowy Owl feathers have previously been available, and those that become available now will allow the initiative to establish a stockpile to fulfill future requests.

Though the group has a special focus on raptors, feathers from most native birds are of interest, as different tribes recognize the unique significance of different species.

Feathers of birds not classified under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act are also distributed by the repository to people who are not members of a federally recognized tribe.

"Our repository has feathers of birds from five continents," Voelker said.

Sia — a Comanche word for feather — was established 36 years ago and is an official program of the Comanche Nation.

Other efforts of the initiative include care and breeding of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle, scientific research on the use of plumage by tribal nations, and breeding the Spanish Imperial Eagle in partnership with the Spanish government.

The Initiative operates under authority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has issued a permit that allows the possession of items from birds designated by the MBTA.

A two-year evaluation period for the repository is currently underway, which started in June 2010.

Business Alliance Meeting Discusses Fontenelle Park

The February 8th meeting of the Benson-Ames Alliance was devoted to a discussion of the future of Fontenelle Park.

The meeting involved a brief introduction of future options and then a general presentation of suggestions.

John Royster, of the Big Muddy Workshop, was the meeting facilitator. There was also a representative of the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property.

Items mentioned by the crowd, included:

1. safety a concern and influences whether people visit
2. want more visibility and more people visiting
3. North High students want trails, soccer fields (that might get placed in the southern extent of the park), and fishing and boating in an enlarged lagoon
4. provide programming and instruction to increase use of the park facilities
5. have a dog park
6. put a nine-hole disc-golf course on the space east of the boulevard
7. support naturalistic uses including a recreated creek into the lagoon, add a biorention garden on the south end, and include a wetland at the lagoon
8. plant flower gardens using native plant species

It was pointed out that the park plan needs to consider those options that are being provided by adjacent programs, such as Northstar. This program already has flat property suitable for soccer, and which could be located near their current outdoor facilities.

In regards to a dog park and disc-golf, these two features are planned for relatively close Levi Carter Park.

A final public meeting on the devised plan will be the evening of February 16th at the park pavilion.

A decision on the future of the golf course would occur soon afterward. There was no information available on when the course would be closed, if that was the decision made by city officials.

A short-fall of $111,000 in 2011, plus additional losses in previous years, is why the future of the golf course is being considered.

About seventeen people were present during the meeting at the park pavilion.

Previous meetings, including public meetings, have been held with Northstar, a "private meeting" attended by people interested in sustainability, and with the Edmundsen Outreach program.

The expected changes associated with the CSO! project would occur in 2015.