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: https://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/377644
OCTOBER 2014 • NEBRASKAland 17 NEBRASKAland Visitor The July issue's winner of the Visitor drawing was Ruth Muldoon of Gladstone, Missouri, who found the Goldsmith Beetle on page 4. 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 Magazine 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 12, 17, 28, 29, 54, 63 or 74. PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER Bridgeport Hunters Create Motion Decoy By Eric Fowler Goose flags, wind socks, kites and other gadgets that add motion to a decoy spread have come a long way in recent years, and now Whiffle Wings, a company from Bridgeport, Nebraska, has added another option to the mix. Only a slight breeze will cause these decoys to wave back and forth, imitating the whiffling, landing movement made by waterfowl. Greg Wickard and Bill Dean, with nearly 100 years of waterfowling experience in the North Platte River Valley between them, first developed the decoy for snow geese and after finding success there, added Canada goose and mallard duck versions. Mounted on a stake fitted with foot pegs, it can easily be set up in the field or in shallow water. (If the ground is frozen, you'll need to be innovative.) I shot my first goose nearly 30 years ago from a corn-field pit blind near Sutherland Reservoir. Nearly 5 miles from the South Platte River, we needed to up our odds of catching the attention of geese flying the river we couldn't see without binoculars, so we stapled pieces of black fabric to 1x2s, started waving them and drawing more birds in for a look. I've been waving flags ever since, but Whiffle Wings adds some motion to the spread without drawing attention to the blind when the birds are close, helping finish the flock. For more information or to order, visit WhiffleWings.com. ■ The Goldsmith Beetle, Cotalpa lanigera, is a large scarab beetle, up to one inch in length. Coloring varies from yellow to greenish, with a metallic gold tint, and white, wooly hairs on its underside. It is found in the eastern U.S., into central Nebraska, though is not commonly seen. The larvae, which look like large June beetle grubs, live in the soil for up to two years, feeding on roots and organic matter. Adults emerge from the soil and feed on tree foliage. Beetles are most active from dusk to dawn; during the day, they conceal themselves in foliage, using their tarsi (feet) to hold leaves like a tent over their bodies. This may protect them from both the sun and predators. Special thanks to Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist, Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Visitor image by Chris Helzer Bugguide.net is a good site for identification. Talking Camp Trash By Eric Fowler In my campsite, trash has almost always gone in a plastic bag tied to a camper, tent, cooler, tree, picnic table or whatever surface happened to be handy. It's been workable, but good luck literally tossing the trash. A new product, Trash-Ease, is a convenient option. The powder- and rubber-coated metal frame can easily hang from your picnic table, tailgate or another flat surface, where it will hold a 13-gallon drawstring kitchen bag wide open (33-gallon if you choose the larger version). That makes it easy to pitch the egg shells when you're cooking breakfast. Its lightweight, compact design makes it easier to pack in the camper or truck than a trash can, which would only blow away when the wind eventually kicked up anyway. Available online at TrashEase.com and from retailers including Camping World and Lowes, Trash Ease runs about $15. ■