18 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2016
This Month is
for the Birds
By Lindsay Rogers
What's on your to-do list today?
How about biological control of
mosquitos, grasshoppers and other
insects? Or, seed dispersal of numerous
plants including raspberries, cedar,
ground plum and prairie rose? Maybe
you plan to provide food for hundreds
of different species across Nebraska. If
you are like me, none of these critical
ecosystem services are on my to-do list
today (or any day). Thankfully we have
birds to do all this important work.
Without birds, many of our
ecosystem functions would fail. We
rely on birds to keep food webs, seed
dispersal, pollination and biological
control working – all for free. So,
let's take a moment to celebrate these
critical species. May is designated
as Nebraska Migratory Bird Month,
and across the state, conservation
organizations and agencies have
worked together to plan events, classes
and festivals for all Nebraskans
to attend. Join us by finding an
event in your area on the Nebraska
Migratory Bird Month website,
Nebraskabirdmonth.org.
PHOTO
BY
JUSTIN
HAAG
Pelicans stand along the shore of Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area.
