Nebraskaland

MARCH 2017 • NEBRASKAland 23 Last issue's winner of the Visitor drawing was Valerie Randall of Gretna, Nebraska, who found the evergreen bagworm on page 3. Readers are encouraged to contact NEBRASKAland within 10 days after this issue's publication with the correct page number and name of this issue's "Visitor" – a critter found in Nebraska. We will then gather the correct entries and draw one to win a NEBRASKAland mug. To enter each month, write: NEBRASKAland Visitor 2200 North 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503 Or e-mail: Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov with "Visitor" in the subject line of the message. HINT: This issue's visitor is not on page 5, 15, 17, 23, 57, or 62. The bagworm moth, (Theridopteryx ephermaeformis) is a Nebraska native that feeds on the foliage of a wide variety of deciduous and ever- green plants. Evergreens, including junipers, are particularly susceptible to defoliation, and heavy infestations may cause plant death. Bagworms overwinter in the egg stage, in bags created the previous summer by female moths. Caterpillars emerge in mid-May and June, and begin to feed, constructing a new bag of silk and foliage over their bodies. This bag protects the caterpillar and is up to 2" in length at maturity. Adult male moths emerge in late summer, and often their pupal case is visible sticking out of the bottom of their bag. Female bagworm moths lack wings and do not leave their bags. After mating, the female lays several hundred eggs inside her bag and dies. The bag will protect the eggs until caterpillars emerge the next spring. Special thanks to Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist, Nebraska Department of Agriculture. NEBRASKAland Visitor Bird Shifters By Lindsay Rogers, Wildlife Education Specialist When we think of migrating birds, we often think of the long-distance migrants such as the cliff swallow that heads to South America. Or the gray catbird which travels to the Gulf Coast and Central America. Then there is the Arctic tern (not found in Nebraska) which migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic to its wintering grounds off Antarctica, traveling a whopping 25,000 miles each way. According to the American Birding Association, 993 birds have been recorded in North America, and over half of them migrate in some fashion. But not all bird migration is the same. There are, of course, the long-distance migrants. But there are numerous short- distance migrants as well – those species that migrate from higher summer altitudes to lower winter altitudes. And there are the medium- distance migrants, too – those species that venture just south of their breeding range for the winter. I like to call these migrants the "shifters." For example, a dark-eyed junco that spends its summer in North Dakota might migrate to Nebraska for the winter. Or, an American robin found in Nebraska during the summer might migrate to Oklahoma for the winter. Other shifters include blue jays, eastern and western meadowlarks, common grackles and American goldfinches. You may notice that some species listed here are found in Nebraska year- round, but because birds are migrating, the individuals you see over the course of a year may change. Blue jays you observe during the summer months may be different blue jays seen during spring and fall migration, and even other individuals may be visiting your feeder during the winter. Starting in late February, Nebraska sees an influx of migrating birds – both long-distance and medium-distance – heading back to Nebraska. Take a pause from cleaning last fall's leaves from the yard and sweeping winter's muck out of your garage to go on a birdwatching adventure. Nebraska's spring migration never disappoints. ■ t t t e m e ARCTIC TERN DARK-EYED JUNCO BLUE JAY

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