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/923510
20 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 W hen there is snow on the ground, many of us get out and enjoy snowy day activities such as sledding, snowball fights and building snowmen and snow forts. Many areas across the state may be without the white stuff this winter, but there are plenty of great outdoor activities to do – just be creative. Geocaching Geocaching can be done year-round; it is fun to hunt for caches and a great way to spend time outdoors even if there's no snow on the ground. You'll need a GPS unit or a smart phone to get started. To find cache locations visit geocaching.com, create an account and search for the caches hidden in your area. Caches can be close to home, or pack a sack lunch and sodas for a day of adventure. Caches can be found across the state. Many of our state recreation areas and state parks have caches, which is a two-for-one deal: you can enjoy a day at a state area while you cache. All caches should contain a logbook or paper scroll to sign when you find it; some caches contain small treasures for the taking as long as you leave a treasure for the next cacher. Wildlife Watching Even if you can't track animal prints in the snow, you can still enjoy observing tracks and compare them to those in track books to see which animal made them. Wildlife management areas, lakes, state parks and state recreation areas are great places to view wildlife. To increase your chances of seeing wildlife, consider these tips: look for out-of-place shapes and movements; look above and below you; be as quiet as possible and use binoculars. Set up a pop-up blind and make a game out of wildlife viewing. Kids love making games out of finding animals. Keep in mind that dusk and dawn are usually prime times for wildlife watching, and many birds will be out and about for viewing and photographing. Visit State Parks There is no better time to spend a weekend at a state park. Winter is a slower season at state parks so securing a cabin reservation or a spot for your camper or tent is much easier. Even in winter there are plenty of fun things to do such as fishing, hiking, birdwatching and photography – or just enjoying a quiet weekend away. Have a winter picnic at a state or local park or state recreation area. If fire pits are available, warm your fingers and toes by the fire as you cook hotdogs and s'mores. Backyard Campfires Put your hat, coat and warm clothes on and gather around the campfire. With backyard fire pits, anyone can enjoy sitting around the fire any time of the year. This can be a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening. It's an ideal location to sit and watch the flames, read a book or enjoy some hot chocolate and family time. Grab the s'mores supplies and make yourselves a treat, snuggle up in a blanket on your outdoor swing and enjoy the night sky with all the stars and moon. It just doesn't get much better than that. Bird Feeding With the winter months upon us, birds have a difficult time finding food and water. Below is a homemade treat for birds that kids and adults can both have fun making and watching birds eat. Sift all the dry ingredients together and cut in the lard with a blunt knife. Add the eggs. Add the birdseed and knead until smooth. Allow the dough to chill overnight. Roll out the dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Insert a paper clip into the top of the shape to act as a hanger. Brush the cookie with beaten egg whites and press birdseed into the top of the cookie. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes or until the cookies are hard. String yarn through the paper clip to make a hanger and hang outside. Don't forget to water the birds this winter; they rely on water to drink and to bathe even during the winter months. Watching birds come to a feeder or watering area can be exciting. Keep a journal of the birds that come to your feeder. Draw or take photos of them and compare them to those in a birding book to determine which birds have visited your backyard at that time of the year. ■ Winter Fun – With or Without Snow By Julie Geiser Looking for geocaches can be done year-round. PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS Wild Birdseed Cookies • 2 cups flour • ½ teaspoon of baking powder • ½ cup of sugar • ¾ cup vegetable shortening • 2 eggs • ¾ cup birdseed of choice • 3 egg whites • Cookie cutters • Yarn to hang cookies