26 Nebraskaland • March 2019
Outdoor Nebraska
By Renae Blum
The outdoor world is slowly waking up. Don't miss the start
of spring – try these ideas for outdoor fun this month to stay
active and enjoy time outside with family and friends.
Spot a ring-
necked snake
Late March | Eastern
Nebraska
Ring-necked snakes are
one of the fi rst snakes to
emerge from hibernation in
Nebraska, says Nebraska
Game and Parks wildlife
educator Monica Macoubrie.
"During this time, if you fl ip a
few rocks, logs or pieces of metal,
you might fi nd hundreds of these
snakes huddled in the same spot,"
she writes. "Ring-necked snakes
are some of the smallest snakes in
Nebraska, reaching about the length
of a ruler. They are olive green to
gray on top and bright yellow, red,
and orange on their stomachs."
Harlan white pelican watch
March 1 – April 15 | Harlan County Reservoir
Annually, hundreds and sometimes thousands of
American white pelicans land in Harlan County Reservoir
to feed on their way to breeding grounds in the north. For
locals, the arrival of the large birds is a sign that spring
is almost here. The annual White Pelican Watch starts
March 1 and runs through April 15, although dates and
numbers of birds can be variable. Pelicans can generally
be observed during daylight hours from locations all
around the Reservoir. Learn more at harlantourism.org.
