WACHISKA SPEAKER SERIES:
BIRDS OF NEBRASKA:
THROUGH OUR LENSE
with Dr. Gabriel Rivera and Jennifer Blankenship Rivera
Join us in person for the Rivera’s presentation:
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A St.
live stream:https://youtube.com/live/jOn_S_ks1KY?feature=share
Dr. Gabriel Rivera and Jennifer Blankenship Rivera invite you
to join them on a visual journey through the heart of Nebraska,
a place where the Central Flyway stitches the continent together
in motion each year. Millions of birds move through this corridor,
turning the skies above into living maps of migration.
From their home in Omaha, they sit at a remarkable crossroads—where eastern deciduous forests begin to soften into prairie grasslands, and where the wide-open Great Plains quietly point the way toward the Rocky Mountains. It is a landscape of transition, and in that in-between space lives an extraordinary richness of birdlife, constantly shifting with the seasons.
Their presentation shares the story of how they first stepped into the world of birding and how, over time, photography became their way of slowing it all down—of noticing more, and seeing differently. With backgrounds in biology and psychology, they’re drawn to the deeper questions of how birds live: their behaviors, personalities, and subtle ways they interact with the landscapes they depend on. A passing glance becomes a behavior to interpret, a silhouette becomes a story, and each image becomes an invitation to look a little longer.
Gabriel Rivera and Jennifer Blankenship Rivera live in Omaha, where Gabriel is a biology professor at Creighton University and Jennifer works as a counselor. They have shared their work and presentations with audiences at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Creighton University, bird clubs across Nebraska, and a variety of community organizations, with additional talks scheduled throughout 2025–2026.
Join us in person for the Rivera’s presentation:
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A St.
live stream: https://youtube.com/live/jOn_S_ks1KY?feature=share
JUNE PRAIRIE PINES PARTNERS EVENTS
Friday, June 12th 10:30-11:30AM
"Around Town Storytime" Tree themed story time in the arboretum with Lincoln City Libraries. Stay to explore the trails, bring a picnic. Geared towards 5 and under, all ages welcome.
Saturday, June 20th 10AM-1PM
"Pollinators, Plants and Prairie Pines" -- An interactive event celebrating the roles pollinator plants, insects and wildlife play in our ecosystems. Learn more about how you can make a difference!
OPEN HOUSE AT WILDCAT CREEK PRAIRIE
Ross Scott is planning an open house and tour at Ernie Rousek’s Wildcat Creek Prairie on Saturday, June 13.
This 80-acre prairie is located in Gage County, south-southwest of Virginia. We hope you are able to visit one or more of our ten prairies this summer.
WACHISKA SPEAKER SERIES:
BIRDS OF NEBRASKA:
THROUGH OUR LENSE
with Dr. Gabriel Rivera and Jennifer Blankenship Rivera
Join us in person for the Rivera’s presentation:
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A St.
live stream: https://youtube.com/live/6yv2aId0t8k?feature=share
Dr. Gabriel Rivera and Jennifer Blankenship Rivera invite you
to join them on a visual journey through the heart of Nebraska,
a place where the Central Flyway stitches the continent together
in motion each year. Millions of birds move through this corridor,
turning the skies above into living maps of migration.
From their home in Omaha, they sit at a remarkable crossroads—where eastern deciduous forests begin to soften into prairie grasslands, and where the wide-open Great Plains quietly point the way toward the Rocky Mountains. It is a landscape of transition, and in that in-between space lives an extraordinary richness of birdlife, constantly shifting with the seasons.
Their presentation shares the story of how they first stepped into the world of birding and how, over time, photography became their way of slowing it all down—of noticing more, and seeing differently. With backgrounds in biology and psychology, they’re drawn to the deeper questions of how birds live: their behaviors, personalities, and subtle ways they interact with the landscapes they depend on. A passing glance becomes a behavior to interpret, a silhouette becomes a story, and each image becomes an invitation to look a little longer.
Gabriel Rivera and Jennifer Blankenship Rivera live in Omaha, where Gabriel is a biology professor at Creighton University and Jennifer works as a counselor. They have shared their work and presentations with audiences at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Creighton University, bird clubs across Nebraska, and a variety of community organizations, with additional talks scheduled throughout 2025–2026.
Join us in person for the Rivera’s presentation:
Thursday, June 11, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A St.
live stream: https://youtube.com/live/6yv2aId0t8k?feature=share