Connecting People
With Nature
July – Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias)
Found throughout Nebraska, this bird is noticed by many because of its size combined with its unique silhouette when flying or sitting motionless in shallow water. Fishermen often blame them if fish seem scarce. Their long neck has well designed neck vertebrae to strike prey fast and hard. They nest in colonies, constructing stick nests near the crowns of tall trees.
To learn more -
Outdoor Nebraska Great Blue Heron
To find Nebraska birding trails -http://nebraskabirdingtrails.com/
Nebraska Walleye Spawn
by Marcus Miller
Wachiska Program —
Thursday, August 11, 7:00 p.m., via Zoom
web conference (registration required) Link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqcumrpz4sGtTVXPnX-b_s7TBt-KLlU6k_
Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Springtime in Nebraska is often full of life. The weather begins to warm, and the flora and fauna starts to come alive. For members of Nebraska’s state fish hatcheries it means one thing, Walleye Spawn. Walleyes are one of the most sought after freshwater sportfish across the Midwest. In Nebraska, that continues to be true as walleyes play a huge part in most of the state’s waterbodies. They are wonderful table fare which contributes to their popularity among anglers. In order to keep Nebraska’s reservoirs up with the demand of walleye anglers, walleyes must be raised and stocked each year. Roughly 130 million walleyes are spawned annually to fill the stocking requests of the state’s public waters. Nebraska Game and Parks fisheries workers set out each spring primarily to three main waterbodies: Sherman Reservoir, Merritt Reservoir, and
Lake McConaughy.
Marcus Miller has seen firsthand the effort it takes to raise walleyes for Nebraska’s anglers. His experience primarily highlights the spawning efforts at Merritt Reservoir. Walleyes upwards of 12 pounds are frequently handled and selected to produce the progeny that will serve Nebraska. Marcus enjoys handling those big fish and doing the collection work involving gill netting, trap netting, and electrofishing. He is also involved with the culture process that takes place once the eggs have been fertilized. This process is the “bread and butter” of hatchery work and encompasses enumeration, egg treatments, egg hatching, and fry stocking.
Marcus grew up just a couple miles from the North Platte Fish Hatchery. His childhood years were spent doing anything outdoors that involved hunting, fishing, or just flat out being outside—all things that he still enjoys now. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from UNL, majoring in fisheries ecology and management and minoring in water science. Upon graduation began working with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission where he has been for six years. Currently, Marcus is a conservation technician at the North Platte Fish Hatchery. Fishing is his passion, and he couldn’t imagine a career not working with them.
Join Wachiska Audubon for our next Zoom program on Thursday, August 11, at 7:00 p.m. This free, public presentation is available to those who register at this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYqcumrpz4sGtTVXPnX-b_s7TBt-KLlU6k_. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the meeting number and password. Save that email, and a few minutes before the program is to begin, click on that confirmation email, and you’ll be invited into the meeting. Encourage friends and colleagues to join us.
August Calendar of Events
August 1 Education Committee via Zoom, 6:00 p.m.
August 8 Conservation Committee via Zoom, 6:30 p.m.
August 11 General Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
"Nebraska Walleye Spawn”
by Marcus Miller Registration required
August 15 Newsletter submission deadline in
Wachiska office, 5:00 p.m.
August 16 Board Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
August 6 - "Tour the Wild Side" 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center Upcoming Programs and Events
Birding is for Everybody: Accessible Bird Outing
Monday, August 15, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Read more at https://www.birdability.org/. Free admission.
Third Tuesday Bird Outing
Tuesday, August 16, 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Register online.
Discovery Leader Training
Friday, August 19, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
If you would like to help, contact our education team for more information.
Tastes in the Tallgrass
Sunday, September 18, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Tickets available now on our website.
More information on these and other programs can be found on our website, https://springcreek.audubon.org/events. Send questions to 402-797-2301; scp@audubon.org.
NEW! Wachiska is on YouTube
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.
Second Saturday Seeds
by Beth Coufal, Conservation Committee
Second Saturday Seeds continues throughout late summer and into fall. August 13, September 10, and October 8 will all take place at Dieken Prairie. This drier prairie is closer to Lincoln, just south of Unadilla. This location will be our best opportunity to collect seeds, including purple and white prairie clover, rudbeckia, and three species of Liatris.
Dress for rough walking and the weather. Bring gloves, clippers, and a bucket for seed collecting. If it is raining, we will cancel. Check Wachiska’s website for directions to Dieken Prairie. If you would like to carpool, call the Wachiska office at least five days before the event and leave your name and phone number. If you have any questions, call Beth at 402-417-3928.
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.
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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.