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Many birds flock, but only a relative handful fly in synchrony to create the mesmerizing, flowing aerial formations. Scientists are still unraveling the mystery of how hundreds of birds seem to abruptly turn together midflight, but why they do it is well established; they are stronger when they work together. There is much to be learned and gained by mimicking the birds we protect.
Changes to the flock
Audubon Nebraska’s flock has seen many changes in the past several years and may appear different to our long-time volunteers and supporters, but our foundation and mission to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow haven’t changed. Audubon Nebraska’s team is located from Omaha to Gibbon. This team has a mix of experience and talent that you will see in our nature centers, towns, and rural landscapes to deliver conservation and education.
What hasn’t changed
Audubon Nebraska has long been known for its two nature centers: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, located near Denton focused on tallgrass prairie conservation, and Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary focused on Platte River conservation. These centers and sanctuaries will always be foundational to Audubon Nebraska as hubs of education, research, and action.
Beyond our centers, Audubon Nebraska is collaborating with Audubon Dakota to deliver a grassland program called Conservation Ranching that helps ranchers apply “bird-friendly” grazing practices. Audubon Nebraska is working in many towns and cities to improve habitat and create bird-friendly communities. With our dedicated volunteers, we are also monitoring how climate change is impacting birds.
Our new look
With the addition of Allison Christenson, our communications coordinator, we are streamlining our communication and media. Allison has a background in journalism, advertising, and marketing and with her talent and skills, we will elevate Audubon Nebraska’s work while freeing other biologists and educators to better focus their talent. This Audubon Nebraska newsletter will consolidate the previous two center’s newsletters and highlight all the work across Nebraska.
I am excited for what the future holds and Audubon Nebraska’s ability to take on our most pressing conservation challenges. Stay tuned, as Audubon Nebraska elevates conservation.
According to Audubon’s highly anticipated North American Grasslands and Birds Report, there is little debate that grasslands like we have in Nebraska are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America. With temperate grassland regions projected to have some of the highest rates of climate change among biomes on Earth, our native prairies are in trouble and so are the birds and wildlife that depend on them.
Grassland bird conservation is inextricably linked to management practices on millions of acres of rangelands, the vast majority of which are privately owned. Because of this, partnering with ranchers is our best hope for conserving these birds.
Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Program uses an innovative, market-based approach to connect conservation-conscious consumers to ranchers who employ bird-friendly management practices in raising their livestock. The program addresses loss in ecosystem function and health through the conservation of at-risk bird species and the habitat they depend upon. It incentivizes bird-friendly livestock management practices, emphasizing regenerative grazing approaches that improve soil health, diversify habitat structure, and ensure environmental sustainability that benefits pollinators and other grassland wildlife.
Audubon Conservation Ranching is making its way to Nebraska ranchers, retailers and consumers. To learn more about the program, visit audbuon.org/ranching. You can also find the Grasslands and Birds Report here: www.audubon.org/conservation/working-lands/grasslands-report.
Audubon’s new community science project may provide answers for how climate change is affecting the nation’s birds. Nebraska volunteers were excited to take part.
Barbara DiBernard, a Lincoln-area volunteer, decided to get involved after retiring as an English professor. “The idea that a total non-scientist could participate and make observations was really appealing to me,” said Barbara. “I like feeling like I’m a part of something with others to acknowledge and preserve the environment.”
In addition to being a simpler survey, volunteers believe it’s very important because changing climate will have a wide variety of complex impacts. As project participant Steve Martindale explains, “The climate is clearly changing and flooding across Nebraska is a direct correlation.”
“This survey will provide a window to how birds are responding,” explained Kristal Stoner, Executive Director for Audubon Nebraska. “It’s necessary that biologists understand how different birds respond to a changing climate in order to make science-based management decisions.”
Though the summer survey is over, there is still another opportunity to take part. The winter survey begins in January; get a head start by contacting Jason “The Birdnerd” at jstsauver@audubon.org.
Audubon supporters stepped up and helped our Nebraska Audubon Centers reach funding goals this spring.
Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center and Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary conducted fund drives fueled with the help of challenge gift donors. All together, 775 donors contributed more than $200,000.
At Rowe Sanctuary, contributions will help fill the financial gap left after extreme weather, flooding, and road closures devastated their crane tourism business. Spurred by the offer of two generous matching gifts, donors both near and far responded to help critical conservation work on the Platte River go on without disruption. One of the matching gifts came from the family of former Rowe Sanctuary employee Greg Wingfield and his sister Deb Wingfield, who volunteers for Rowe during the crane migration.
“The response this spring was great from our supporters,” said Rowe Director Bill Taddicken. “People from all across the country and right here close to home sent in gifts, often increasing their support to help us during this difficult financial time. We also had many donations from new supporters.”
At Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, the J.A. Woollam Foundation offered a matching grant to support important programs. The challenge helped spur awareness during the annual Give To Lincoln Day drive and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center jumped from 60th to 41st in the rankings of organizations supported during the annual community-wide philanthropy day.
“We greatly appreciate the response of supporters,” said Meghan Sittler, Director at Spring Creek Prairie. “Programs like this fall’s Prairie Immersion for fourth graders at Lincoln Public Schools is only possible through underwriting from our donors. The fact that we gained many new donors during this spring drive is a testament to the importance of our conservation work and our outreach in the community.”
What are the benefits of conservation easements for private landowners?
In a new report, experts ruled out a range of causes, but they still recommend taking down feeders until the source of the disease is identified.
A new report from the National Audubon Society shows that important bird habitats are critical to reducing greenhouse emissions due to their ability to naturally store and sequester carbon. In Nebraska, this means maintaining and restoring grasslands while utilizing incentives for management and conservation.
Scientists and advocates say neonicotinoids—shown to harm bees, birds, and other wildlife—need tougher regulation. The U.S. EPA has a key window to take action in the next year.
Even some photos that can’t be captured tell a powerful story.
Anyone who enjoys birds—wherever, however—should be able to call themselves a birder.
Scroll through these superb images that feature birds in all their varied glory, and find out the backstory behind each shot.
A carbon-free power sector will require vast new transmission infrastructure, but it shouldn't come at the cost of wildlife, advocates say.
