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/963498
24 NEBRASKAland • APRIL 2018 the most accomplished nest builders in the world. This is because their nests are shaped just a little differently than those of most other birds: they make a hanging, or pendulum, nest. Female Baltimore orioles will meticulously weave flexible, long strands of grass, and every now and then will intertwine man-made materials they find, such as fishing line, to build their nests. Every year when these birds return from migration they will use the same area to build their new nests, often recycling parts of their old nests. Brook Sticklebacks Not all animal architects have to have arms and legs; the brook stickleback can build a nest without them. Considered a non-game fish in Nebraska, this fish is found in a few widely scattered streams and ponds north of the Platte River. The brook stickleback will build a nest to house its eggs. This nest is made of bits of plants that have been woven together to form a round nest. This unique fish will then "glue" the pieces together using a secretion from the male's kidneys. Prairie Dogs Prairie dogs live in a complex network of underground tunnels, which have numerous openings for protection. If you have ever seen a prairie dog town from the top, you'll see the raised portions on land, which are the burrow entrances. From here if you descend into the town, tunnels below the ground can spread hundreds of acres and contain thousands of animals at one time. Prairie dog towns are more like exceptionally well-organized cities with different rooms built for caring for young, storing food, eliminating waste and sleeping. So what if it floods? Well, don't worry. They have thought of this as well: They build levees around the entrances to lessen the risk of flooding. Paper Wasps These insects are called paper wasps because their nests appear to be made of paper. These insects use different types of plant material, which when mixed with their saliva and eventually dried, gives the appearance of paper. These nests will have multiple rooms which are used for rearing young and laying eggs. Paper wasps will feed on pollen and nectar, although Pictured is an open-air (exposed) wild honeybee hive built on a tree branch showing the honeycomb structure. A Baltimore oriole nestling is shown in a typical pendulum-shaped nest, which is anchored firmly to a fork in the upper branches of a tree – usually American elms, but also maples and cottonwoods. A male brook stickleback uses sticks, algae and other plant materials to build a nest, held together by a secretion from his kidneys. Nests are typically the size of a golf ball.