Connecting People
With Nature
Survival by Degrees
by Kristal Stoner, Executive Director,
Audubon Nebraska
In Nebraska, 85 bird species including the Piping Plover, Long-
billed Curlew, Red-headed Woodpecker, Henslow’s Sparrow,
and Lark Bunting are climate vulnerable in summer, meaning
they stand to lose more of their summer range across North
America than they gain under a warming climate.
Within this report, Audubon’s online Birds and Climate
Visualizer helps everyone explore the data analysis by bird
species and allows individuals to understand the impacts to
birds where they live by zip code. It makes climate change even
more local, immediate, and, for bird fans, deeply personal.
Audubon has outlined five key steps that range from actions
every individual can take in their home to policy changes. Losing
a species forever is tragic, so now is the time for action. That is
the power of this report along with localized tools. It’s not just
about the problems, it’s about what we all need to do to be a
part of the solution.
Join Kristal Stoner, executive director of Audubon Nebraska, to
learn about this impact on Thursday, January 9, at 7:00 p.m. at
Lincoln’s Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street. Free parking is readily
available in the church lot with overflow parking in the Pius X
High School lot across the street to the west. There is easy
access to the church with no steps and plenty of space for
visiting with speakers and mingling with friends while enjoying
refreshments following this free public program.
Search for Seven Swans A-swimming
by John Carlini, Field Trip Coordinator
Saturday January 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Wachiska Office
Thanks to the success of human intervention in various states, Trumpeter Swans are finally becoming less of a rarity and are starting to
grace more of our landscapes each winter. The annual swan count tally in Iowa increased
from 193 in 2010 to 1,823 in 2016, and Dr. Paul Johnsgard recently reported a continuing
increase of wintering swans at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge (formerly Squaw Creek NWR) in northwest Missouri, where our swan search will take place. This outing will consist of stops along the refuge road and will require little to no walking. Other winter residents at the refuge are Bald Eagles and possibly Tundra Swans.
We'll meet at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, in the Wachiska office parking lot located at 4547 Calvert Street. Participants can caravan or carpool for the 110-mile drive to our destination. We plan to arrive at the main parking lot for the refuge headquarters building a little before 11:30 a.m. for
anyone preferring to meet up with the group there on Highwa 159 west of 1-29 exit 79. Unless the roads are icy or impassable, winter weather will not deter us. Bring binoculars and scope if you have them. There is no fee required, and the public is
welcome. If you have questions, call John at 402-475-7275.
January Calendar of Events
January 9 General Meeting, “Survival by Degrees,” by Kristal Stoner,
Unitarian Church, 7:00 p.m.
January 13 Conservation Committee, Wachiska office, 5:30 p.m.
January 14 Finance Committee, Wachiska office, 5:30 p.m.
January 15 Newsletter deadline, Wachiska office, 5:00 p.m.
January 18 Field trip to see swans, 9:30 a.m. (page 2)
January 21 Board Meeting, Wachiska office, 7:00 p.m.
January 23 Legislation Committee, DaVinci’s, 11th & G sts., 6:00 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 the most recent Newsletter
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.
