Exploring the Diversity of Nebraska's Wetlands and the People and Wildlife Depending on Them
by Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager,
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Wachiska Program — Thursday, March 9, 7:00 p.m.,
Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, and also via YouTube link: https://youtu.be/OLi-S_-Ekq4
For Wachiska’s March program, we will learn about the recently completed “Wetlands of Nebraska Outreach and Education” project that produced a series of products to increase awareness of the importance of wetlands in our state. The products include five feature films about Nebraska’s wetlands and the wildlife and people that depend on them along with several wetlands publications. The talented team from Platte Basin Timelapse produced the films that will take you on a journey across Nebraska to meet some interesting characters. You will see scenes and wildlife that few people get to experience. The quality of the videography is outstanding. Scenes from several of the films will be shown, and the new publications will be distributed at the meeting.
These new products are available on the wetlands section of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s (NGPC) website, www.NebraskaWetlands.com. NGPC helped coordinate the project alongside partners assisting with grant implementation and funding: EPA, Platte Basin Timelapse group at UNL, Ducks Unlimited, Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
Ted LaGrange has been the wetland program manager for NGPC for 29 years. In this capacity, he works on a variety of wetland issues throughout Nebraska, including partnerships, private land restoration programs, public lands management, research, regulations, and outreach. For eight years prior to moving to Nebraska, Ted was a waterfowl research technician for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. LaGrange received BS and MS degrees in wildlife biology from Iowa State University. His professional interests are in prairie wetlands and waterfowl/water bird ecology.
Join Wachiska for this wetlands presentation on Thursday, March 9, at 7:00 p.m. for this program. We are meeting in person at the Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street, in Lincoln. This free public talk will also be live streamed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/OLi-S_-Ekq4. Copy this link into your browser before the program begins. No registration will be necessary. Invite family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to join us either in person or online. The program can also be viewed at a later date. Check the Wachiska website for program links to view past programs.
In March we’ll take a field trip to Branched Oak Reservoir. Let’s meet at the parking lot on Lieber’s Point on Sunday, March 26, at 9:00 a.m. Early migration will be well underway, so look forward to enjoying a wide variety of birds.
From the intersection of NE 79th and West Raymond Road (also known as 55T), follow West Raymond Road west for 6 miles to NW 140th Street. Go right (north) on 140th Street for half a mile, then right (east) on West Branched Oak Road for 2 miles. Proceed to the parking lot just short of the tip of the point.
Bring binoculars if you have them, a face mask for COVID-19 protection, and dress for the weather. There is no fee, and the public is welcome as long as you are fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 (those under 5 years of age are exempt from this requirement). Call Todd at 507-458-9416 if you have questions. You’re also welcome to call me if you wish to carpool.