Connecting People
With Nature
Wachiska Program and General Meeting —
Thursday, February 12, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street,
and also via YouTube link:
The Best of Intentions
A Visit with Author Larkin Powell
L arkin Powell grew up on a small farm in southern Iowa. His work on the nature staff at the Iowa 4H Camp in college led him away from a pre-vet program and toward graduate school in wildlife ecology and management. He attended Graceland College, Iowa State University, and University of Georgia. His wife, Kelly, and son, Tristan, moved to Lincoln in 2001. Kelly has an MS in animal ecology and is an adjunct professor in the School of Natural Resources. Larkin is Director for the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The program has 85 faculty with expertise in climate, water, soils, and biodiversity in working landscapes.
As professor of conservation biology and animal ecology in the School, Larkin taught undergraduate and graduate courses on wildlife management and research, and his research program focused on landscape dynamics, animal demography and movements, and decisions made by private landowners in the Great Plains and throughout the world. He’s a Fellow of the Wildlife Society, and author of eight books including The Best of Intentions: A Story of Landscape Change in the Heart of the Great Plains, released in 2026.
In The Best of Intentions, Larkin Powell blends historical photographs, personal narratives, and decades of ecological research to reveal how Nebraska’s working landscapes have been transformed through time — and what that means for our future. His book explores the delicate balance between agricultural productivity, rural community vitality, and the conservation of grasslands, wetlands, and wildlife. Powell focuses on three themes: ethics and how we use our land, 'conductors'—socioeconomic forces that orchestrate change on the landscape, and environmental designs which shape landscapes that work for all.
Join Wachiska Thursday, February 12, 7:00 PM, at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street or stream live:
https://youtube.com/live/mMH5RAY1xXw?feature=share
If you are reading this, you are encouraged to complete the survey – please!
If you select Wachiska Audubon Society at the end of the survey (not mandatory) your input will be combined with others in an anonymous and generalized manner that can be helpful to the chapter as we try to better serve our community.
Wachiska’s Board values everyone’s voice and this is an easy way to obtain input without duplicating efforts. Your insights will help improve programs, boost engagement, and make our chapter a stronger one. Thank you for taking the time!
Job Posting For Education Coordinator
Prairie Pines Partners
Are you an educator looking to share nature and make a difference in a non-profit organization, or do you know someone who is? Do you enjoy spending time outdoors with various groups of people? Do you enjoy planning nature-based programming, events, and working with volunteers?
Prairie Pines Partners is seeking a part time education coordina-tor at the Prairie Pines Nature Preserve.
Contact sue@prairiepines.org for questions,
job description and application.
February 2026 Calendar of Events
February 2 Education Committee: via zoom 6pm
February 9 Conservation Committee via zoom 6:30 p.m.
February 12 General Meeting Larkin Powell
Unitarian Church 6300 A St. 7 PM
February 15 Newsletter Deadline: Noon
February 17 Board Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
Join Wachiska Today
Become a member of the Wachiska chapter of the National Audubon Society and support environmental conservation, education, and outreach in Southeast Nebraska.
Click HERE for details.
Read recent newsletters
In September 2021, the Wachiska Board adopted the National Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as the Chapter’s own goals:
The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Wachiska Audubon Society's vision is to share the experience and love for nature and help protect its diversity.
NEW! Wachiska is on YouTube
Join friends and neighbors to show your concern about our climate and our elected officials. Stop by the Wachiska office and pick up your Climate yard sign.
Signs that say “VOTE with CLIMATE in Mind” are available for $10 each. They are made of material that will hold up well to the elements and come with a metal holder to push into the ground. You are encouraged to put your signs out now for the fall elections. Since they are so durable, they could easily last three or four years even if kept out all year.
On November 18, 2025, the Board approved the revised Constitution and Bylaws. Members will be asked to vote on the revisions during the February 2026 general meeting, following publication of the document in the January and February newsletters, which will have more details. Both the 2022 and 2025 versions may be viewed or downloaded.
The photos on this website were taken by Wachiska members. Many thanks to Bruce Wendorff,
Linda Brown, Paul Johnsguard, Tim Knott, Stu Luttich, John Carlini and Elizabeth Nelson.