Second Saturday Seeds
Conservation Committee Needs Volunteers!
With the popularity of native plants and pollinator gardens, Wachiska's prairies are excellent sites to learn about tallgrass prairies and their flora and fauna. If you want to spend a morning walking through wildflowers, watching grassland birds, and marveling at the butterflies and bees all while gathering seed on one of Wachiska's prairies, join conservation committee members as we harvest native plant seed for a prairie restoration project at Wildcat Prairie in Gage County.
The outings are casual, and beginners are welcome. It is an excellent opportunity to learn about prairie plants from prairie enthusiasts. Depending on what seed is mature, you might even want to save a little seed for use in your own pollinator planting! Our next outing is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, at 10:00 a.m. at Dieken Prairie at Unadilla. (See our website or use Google for the location.) For more information or to be added to our volunteer list, email Ross Scott, chair of conservation committee, at rocaoak@gmail.com or text 402-202-1523. . Second Saturday Seed outings will continue into the fall as more native seeds mature. Save your second Saturdays each month for seed gathering, and watch the newsletter and website for updates.
Floodplain – A Clear View of the Big Mussy
by Alex Wiles
Wachiska Program and General Meeting — Thursday, October 12, 7:00 p.m.,
Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, and also via YouTube link:
https://youtube.com/live/QtklG3HcAyw?feature=share
The Missouri River is the longest river in North America. For centuries we have relied upon the water and species within it for survival, and recent decades have seen its ecology drastically change due to the influences of human development. Natural functions such as seasonal flooding have been mitigated by dams and channelization, enabling invasive species to take hold in this changed environment. Floodplain aims to shed light on the unique and elusive biodiversity of the Missouri River basin in the hope that it will inspire people to care for this intricate source of life.
Alex Wiles is a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller based out of Omaha. His interest in conservation initiatives takes him around the world where he documents the challenges faced by wildlife and the work of those who wish to protect it. Alex’s broader work in the field of natural history and science filmmaking has led to a specialization in macro techniques and finding unique methods of documenting the world’s often overlooked inhabitants.
Join Wachiska on Thursday, October 12, at 7:00 p.m. at Lincoln’s Unitarian Church to see some fascinating photography while learning about the Missouri River basin. This free public in-person talk will also be live-streamed at https://youtube.com/live/QtklG3HcAyw?feature=share. Copy this link into your browser. No registration is necessary. Check Wachiska’s website for links to this and past programs.
Field Trip to Little Salt Fork Marsh
by Tim Houghton, Leader
Join me on Saturday, October 21, for an easy walk at Little Salt Fork Marsh, a bit north of Lincoln. We’ll begin at 8:30 a.m. looking for sparrows, water birds, and others. It is strongly urged that participants wear long pants and use repellant. Waterproof footwear is also advisable. Park in the lot on the north side of Raymond Road, about a half mile or so west of 1st Street. Please REGISTER for the trip by contacting me, preferably by email at timhoughton@comcast.net or by cell phone at 443-883-6886 (if email doesn't work for you).
