NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/644631
20 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2016 Migration Season By Paula Hoppe Spring is in the air, literally! Step outside; warm breezes blow from the south, melting snow and encouraging the ice on lakes and ponds to break up. This in turn opens the door for a river of birds coursing north through the sky. Waterfowl migration has arrived. Birds make this seasonal movement for two main reasons: food and nesting habitat. Following resources south in the fall, this month they begin to return to their northern breeding grounds. Nebraska is directly in the path of their journey, a perfect stopover to eat and gather strength before continuing on their destination in northern territories. As they migrate through Nebraska the birds follow a predictable pattern. • Snow geese are one of the first to move through the state, and the sheer number of birds (upwards of a million in the Rainwater Basin) makes them hard to miss. Look for them also in the Missouri and Platte river floodplains as they move between fields where they feed mid-morning and mid-afternoon to their overnight roosts on lakes. Others migrating through are Canada, cackling, Ross' and greater white-fronted geese. • The distinctive call of sandhill cranes are often the first clue they are passing through, peaking at almost half a million birds in the central Platte Valley. During the day as they feed in farm fields they are easily viewed from cars along the roadside. But the best experience is to watch from blinds at Rowe Sanctuary or the Crane Trust or viewing platforms near Alda, Gibbon and Fort Kearny as they leave the river at sunrise or when they return at sunset in a cacophony of sound. It's an unforgettable experience. • Ducks move through the state in waves with certain species arriving in February in mild years and others appearing on lakes and ponds later in March. Many are already actively performing courtship displays. • American white pelicans are also migrating through the state in large numbers. Harlan County Reservoir is a great place to view pelicans as the Harlan White Pelican Watch gets underway Mar. 1- Apr. 15 with free birding tours available. ■ PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER March 1, 3, 5 Women's Combo Hunter Education Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex, Platte River State Park (SP), Louisville March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Outdoor Skills Discovery Program Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 1, 15 Ladies Day at the Range Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Introduction to Gun Safety and Technique for Young Shooters Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 3 .22 Pistol League Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 3, 10, 31 Turkey Hunting Series Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Explore Hunting Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 5 Critter Corner Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 5 Archery Fun Shoot Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 5-6, 12, 19-20, 26-27 Marsh Madness Ponca SP, Ponca March 5, 12, 19 Explore Archery Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 6 Shootout at Salt Creek Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 7, 14, 21, 28 Centerfire Challenge Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 7 Hunt Safe Session Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex, Platte River SP, Louisville March 10 Explore Archery Day Camp Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 19 National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament Speedway Sporting Village, Lincoln March 20 Landscaping for Wildlife Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 21 Hunt Safe Session Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex, Platte River SP, Louisville March 25 Archery and youth archery spring turkey hunting season opens March 26 Free Pistol, Standard Pistol and Rapid Fire Pistol Match Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln March 31 Trapping seasons close for muskrat and beaver by Jerry Kane Con ontact t t the Nebraska k Game and and Parks Commis ission n at 402 02-47 -471-0641 or o vi visit s Ou OutdoorNe r bra raska.o .org fo for more re informati ation. Vis Visit Visit Hun H tS tSafeNebrask ska org rg Hun H tS tSafeNebr bras aska.org rg for for g a l a list i of of of hu h nt nter educati t on cla classes and a Boa Boa oatSafe feNebraska.org fo for a list g of of o boating safety ty classes.