28 Nebraskaland • June 2020
ABOVE: One of a pair of little blue herons wades the
shallows of Holmes Lake. Relatively uncommon spring
migrants in our state, the birds were observed over several
weeks in May 2019.
RIGHT: A house wren perches momentarily in the branches
of a pine. Currently widespread and common across our
state, the house wren's range is expected to shift northward
with higher global temperatures.
OPPOSITE TOP: A metallic green bee collects pollen and
forages on a native conefl ower in Lancaster County.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Emerging from a small hole in the ice at
Holmes Lake, a muskrat warms itself at fi rst light this early
February morning.
A Nebraska native and lifelong resident, Chris grew up in
Kimball County and now lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a
regular contributor for Nebraskaland Magazine.