Something Wild Newsletter Spring 2010

8/8/2019 Something Wild Newsletter Spring 2010

1/10

You canmake thedifference

Remember our wildlifeand the wild placesthat we want futuregenerations to enjoy.Make sure to checkfor wildlife on yourstate tax return.

Look for the peregrinefalcon symbol anddonate all or a portion of

your tax refund to theWildlife ConservationFund. You can alsodonate throughout theyear by calling (402)471-0641 or visit usonline for details at.OutdoorNebraska.org

All donations are fullytax deductible

Nongame Is...Over 2,000 species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles,

amphibians, and plants are considered nongame species inNebraska, species that are not hunted, trapped or fished.Species such as hawks and herons, bats and brown snakes,turtles and frogs, f lying squirrels and prairie flowers. Inaddition, tens of thousands of invertebrates, like beetlesand butterflies, also fall under the nongame category. Theseconstitute 98% of all species in Nebraska. By law, revenuefrom hunting and fishing licenses cannot be spent directly

on nongame species. The Wildlife Conservation Fund,formerly The Nongame Species Fund, is the states primarysource of funding for monitoring, researching, managingand conserving such spectacular species as the whoopingcrane, bald eagle, swift fox, river otter, western prairie fringedorchid, and blowout penstemon. By supporting the Fundwith a tax-deductible donation, you are taking an active part inconserving our states diverse wildlife and our natural legacy for future generations.

Nebraskas River OttersBy Amy Williams and Sam Wilson

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Annual Report of the Wildlife Conservation Fund 2010

The river otter is native to Nebraska andcould be found in most rivers, streams andwetlands up until the early 1900s when it waseliminated due to habitat destruction in theform of draining of wetlands and destructionof stream side habitatsand unregulatedtrapping. Fortunatelyriver otters werenot eliminatedeverywhere andNebraska was ableto reintroduce riverotters with the help of

trappers in states likeLouisiana, Idaho, andAlaska. Between 1986and 1991 more than150 river otters weretrapped in other statesand released at 7 sitesin Nebraska. Theycan still be found inthe areas they werereintroduced and arecurrently listed as athreatened species inNebraska.

Despite the high profile of thereintroduction and role as a flagship species,relatively little is known about river otterecology in Nebraska. In 2006 the StateWildlife Grants program and the Wildlife

SomethingWild

Pppa a ice edge, Nr Plae Ri ver near Lewellen

P h o t o

b y B b G r i e r

P h o t o

b y G e r r y S e i n a u e r

Blue flag (Iris virginica)

Swif Fx


2/10

Conservation Fund began providingfunding to the Nebraska CooperativeFish and Wildlife Research Unit(NCFWRU) to collaborate with theNebraska Game and Parks Commission(NGPC) in conducting a study withthe objective of trapping 20 river ottersand collecting information on homerange, habitat use, daily and seasonalmovements, and survival along the big

bend area of the Platte River using radiotelemetry.The river otter telemetry study

concluded this year with a total of 18otters being trapped and implanted withtransmitters and over 1200 locationstaken over the past three years. NGPCNon-game Mammal and FurbearerProgram Manager and University ofNebraska-Lincoln graduate student SamWilson will complete the telemetry studyby determining habitat use and homerange size for river otters in Nebraska.

Another collaborative project using

the telemetry data began in fall of 2008.This project was inspired by the recentinvasion of common reed (Phragmitesaustralis), a large grass that is associatedwith wetlands. The ability of commonreed to spread rapidly and over largeareas has caused it to invade many nativeplant communities in Nebraska andencroach on wildlife habitat. Given theimportance of wetland habitats in theGreat Plains and their increasing invasionby non-native vegetation, it is criticalwe understand the effects of rapidlychanging habitat on river otter use of the

Platte River.This study will provide information on

the effects of common reed on river ottermovements, den use, and habitat use forthe development of a management planfor river otters in Nebraska and to informPlatte River restoration efforts. The goalof this study is to gather quantitativedata regarding river otter interactionswith their habitat. The study will provideinsight into the effects of common reedon a state threatened species which willexpand our knowledge on the effectscommon reed has on wildlife and wildlife

habitat in Nebraska.While the information gained from

these two studies will be paramount indeveloping a river otter managementplan, the absence of a populationestimate remains a problem. Due to theelusive nature of river otters, traditionalpopulation estimation methods such ascapture-mark-recapture are impractical.Recent developments in wildlife geneticshave presented researchers with apotential solution. Otter scat containsDNA and analysis of this DNA allows

researchers to identify the individualthat deposited a specific sample. Thus,by using DNA analysis from collectedscat samples we can utilize the same

methodology of capture-mark-recapturewith the individual identification of DNAwithin scat samples. Currently a pilotstudy is underway that will be analyzingscat samples collected in the Big Bendregion of the Platte River to estimatepopulation size in that area. This smallscale study will al low us to determinethe appropriate techniques needed toyield the highest quality of DNA, andthus the highest quality results. Thisknowledge can then be used to determinethe feasibility of a statewide population

estimate using scat.The river otter is one of natures

most playful and charismatic species.By keeping their populations healthy

in Nebraska through research andmanagement we will be able to ensurethat they remain a part of the greatoutdoors here in Nebraska.

This project could not have beencarried out without your donations tothe Wildlife Conservation Fund andthe help and support from the NebraskaCooperative Fish and Wildlife ResearchUnit, the Nature Conservancy, the PlatteRiver Whooping Crane MaintenanceTrust, the Lincoln Childrens Zoo, and theNebraska Fur Harvesters.

P h o t o

b y B b G r i e r

P h o t o

b y B b G r i e r

Mm and yearling n e ice

Mm and ki bnding


3/10

Scrounging is a way of life forNebraska Game and Park Commissionnongame biologists an ornithologist,two mammalogists, a plant ecologist anda botanist (myself). We have learned tolook for a couple hundred dollars hereand a few thousand there until we findenough piecemeal funds for a project.Nongame species are native plants,wildlife and other organisms that are nothunted, trapped or fished. Although they

make up the vast majority of Nebraskasbiodiversity, funding for theirconservation is seldom straightforward oreasy to come by. By law, the Commissioncannot use money from the sale ofhunting and fishing licenses on nongamespecies it can only be used to directlyhelp game species. Similarly, funds fromthe sale of Habitat Stamps and AquaticHabitat Stamps, which are also requiredto hunt and fish, are used to purchase andmanage habitat for game species,although these habitats often benefitnative plants and nongame species aswell. Which brings us to the WildlifeConservation Fund, formerly known asthe Nongame and Endangered SpeciesConservation Fund. The WildlifeConservation Fund is the Commissionsmost consistent funding source fornongame projects, primarily research,inventory and population monitoring.The money also helps fund educationefforts such as the new Master NaturalistProgram, which is designed to train

volunteers to provide education, outreachand service for biodiversityconservation. While l icense and stampsales are the Commissions primaryfunding sources, bringing in severalmillion dollars each year, theConservation Fund, initiated in 1985, isalmost totally supported throughdonations, primarily those made byindividuals through the nongame check-off box located on state income taxforms. Donations to the ConservationFund peaked in 1997 at nearly $120,000,

but have beendeclining since.Last yearsdonations were$96,000. Otherfunding sources for nongame speciesconservation in the state include theNebraska Environmental Trust Fund(NETF), which is supported through thestate lottery, and the federal State WildlifeGrant (SWG) program. NETF funds are

competitive, meaning one must write agrant and compete against others to getfunds for a particular project. The federalgovernment has awarded SWG funds thelast several years, but continued SWGfunding is not guaranteed Congressmust appropriate these funds annuallyand when budgets are tight, conservationfunding is often the first cut. Both NETFand SWG grants require matching funds,so Conservation Fund dollars are oftenused as the match, allowing theCommission to leverage several timesover any money that is donated to thefund. Conservation Fund money is usedfor those species at greatest risk ofdisappearing from our state, threatenedand endangered species such as the riverotter, Topeka shiner and small white-ladys slipper orchid, but also on morecommon species we are trying to keepfrom becoming rarer. Examples of recentprojects completed with ConservationFund dollars include a rare plant surveyon the central Niobrara River, a study of

the recently discovered Platte Rivercaddisfly (see Platte River CaddisflyAugust 2009 NEBRASKAland), andsupport for the Lincoln Safari outdooreducation program. Another recenteffort supported by the ConservationFund is the Nebraska Long-billed CurlewSatellite Tracking Project, which is tryingto identify the previously unknownmigration routes and wintering habitat ofcurlews that breed in Nebraska. Twoadult female long-billed curlews, onenamed Sandy and the other Bailey, were

outfitted with satellite transmitters inGarden County in May 2009 and thetracking is ongoing. Long-billed curlews(Numenius americanus) are NorthAmericas largest shorebird, standingnearly two feet tall. Named for their long,decurved bill and curluoo call, long-billed curlews have a buff-colored body,tinged with pink or cinnamon, and long,

blue-gray legs. Unfortunately, like manygrassland bird species, curlew populationsare in trouble in 2007, their rangewidepopulation was estimated at 123,500individuals. Long-billed curlews nest inthe Great Plains and Intermountain Westand winter on the Gulf and Pacific coasts,as well as interior sites in Mexico andsouth Texas. Breeding bird surveysshow curlews are a declining species witha long-term downward trend, said JoelJorgensen, nongame bird programmanager for the Commission. Curlewsrequire relatively large unbroken nativegrasslands for nesting and in Nebraskathey nest in the Sandhills and thePanhandle, primarily north of the NorthPlatte River. As native prairie is convertedto cropland or developed, curlew habitatis lost. Breeding curlews arrive inNebraska from wintering sites by earlyApril and most are nesting by late-April.Females generally lay four eggs in nests lined scrapes on the ground and bothmales and females incubate the eggs and

defend the nest. The eggs hatchsimultaneously and the young leave thenest a few hours after hatching. Thechicks mature rapidly and areindependent of the adults in about eightweeks. Both adults and young leave theirNebraska breeding grounds on their fallmigration by late-August. Until thetracking project began, the migrationroute and wintering grounds ofNebraskas breeding curlews wereunknown to biologists. We had onerecovery on the Texas coast from a bird

Nongame and endangered species need yourhelp donations accepted!The WildlifeConservation FundBy Gerry Steinauer, Botanist, NGPC

Photo by Cry Gregry


4/10

banded in Nebraska in 1933, but thats it,said Jorgensen. It was easy to speculatethat our birds headed to the Texas GulfCoast vicinity, but speculation is onething and solid data to back it up isanother. Our curlews spend only a fewmonths on their breeding grounds andthe rest of the year they are somewhereelse. To develop effective conservation

strategies to preserve the birds here, weneeded to know where these highlymobile birds were going the rest of theyear, said Jorgensen. We may be doingeverything right in Nebraska, the birdsmay have adequate breeding habitat andfood sources, but if something is afoulelsewhere in their range, our efforts maybe in vain. Thats the reason for thestudy. Cory Gregory, an Iowa StateUniversity graduate student, capturedboth Sandy and Bailey during theirnesting attempts and fitted them with

transmitters as part of his larger statewideproject to estimate breeding curlewnumbers, nest and chick survival, anddetermine what kind of brood- rearinghabitat they require. Along with theCommission, partners in the studyinclude Iowa State University, the

University of Nebraska, the SandhillsTaskforce and the United States Fish andWildlife Service. Satellite transmitters, arelatively new technology, use a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) to trackmigratory birds. The light-weight, solar-powered transmitters are attached to abirds back with a Teflon harness andcause little impediment to movement.

The transmitters attached to Sandy andBailey sent signals that were downloadeddaily by Gregory and Jorgensen andindicated that the birds left Nebraska ontheir fall migration in June after failednesting attempts and ended up on theTexas-Mexico border several days later.Both birds appeared to have settled oninland wetlands or lagoons just a fewmiles from the Gulf of Mexico, but howlong they will remain there is uncertain.At the time of this writing, signals hadnot been received from Baileys

transmitter for several weeks andJorgensen feared it may have fallen off orbecome defective. The Sandhi llsTaskforce and money from a StateWildlife Grant paid for the transmitters,but Wildlife Conservation Fund moneywas used to cover the cost of the satellite

service, which must be subscribed to on amonthly basis and wil l likely run severalthousand dollars by projects end.Jorgensen said he was pleased with thestudys results so far and happy that theywere able to determine where Nebraskacurlews are wintering, which ultimatelymight help biologists protect the speciesfrom further decline. He also said that

without the Conservation Fund, whichhes tapped into for several projects overthe past couple of years, the curlew studyand others like it might never havehappened. The Conservation Fund is theonly flexible money source I have accessto. I dont have to write a grant to get itand I can use it as match to get otherconservation dollars. Im not sure what Iwould do without it. Donations to theWildlife Conservation Fund can be madethrough a check written to the fund andsent to the Commission at P.O. Box

30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.Contributions to the fund can also bemade by using the nongame check-offbox found on state income tax forms. Allcontributions are tax deductible.

THANK YOUWe would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the generosity of the countless people in our state that donate all or a

portion of their state income tax return to help conserve Nebraskas precious nongame wildlife. This, along with the generous directdonations throughout the year, allows us to continue in our mission to conserve our states diverse wildlife for future generations.

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

$140,000

120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000

01984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Donations to the Nebraska Nongame Tax

Check-off Program


5/10

Nebraskas Legacy of Biological DiversityBy Melissa Jo Santiago

The appreciation and conservation ofwildlife and the great outdoors are valuesthat can be shared and passed on tofuture generations. The state, along with

voluntary participants, has undertakenthe important task of ensuring continuedbiological diversity through a partnershipinitiative known as the Nebraska NaturalLegacy Project. Legacy Projects mainobjective is to conserve proactively ourat-risk animal and plant species, byfocusing our efforts in biologically uniquelandscapes (BULs) across the state. Thereare 40 BULs that provide habitat tomore than 600 species that face potentialthreats to their survival.

It is typically more cost-effective toprevent species declines than to tryto bring threatened and endangeredspecies back from the brink of extinction.Agencies, organizations and individuals

are collaborating statewide to achieve TheLegacy Projects many goals, includinghabitat enhancement, monitoring ofspecies, and conservation education.Funds from the Nebraska EnvironmentalTrust, State Wildlife Grants, US Fishand Wildlife Services LandownerIncentive Program, and other sourceshave launched implementation of theLegacy Project. For example, The NaturalResources Conservation ServicesEnvironmental Quality IncentivesProgram (NRCS EQIP) special initiative

designated 1 million dollars in 2008-2009 to create and enhance habitat inBiologically Unique Landscapes.

Conservation ImplementationAcross Nebraska, Coordinating

Wildlife Biologists are scrambling tokeep up with interest from landownersand public managers, as the wordspreads about land managementpractices that benefit both landownersand wildlife. Habitat improvementprojects include prescribed prairie fires,invasive plant species removal, fencingto establish grazing systems, wetlandenhancement, conservation easements,wildlife surveys, and education activitiessuch as landowner workshops and tours.

Grassland management has beena key objective of the Natural LegacyProject. It involves several components.Prairie management actions can involvecontrolled burns, tree removal, and

sometimes implementing a prescribedgrazing regime. In 2009, the LegacyProject coordinated the burning ofapproximately 40,000 acres and clearedtrees from 8,000 acres of Nebraskanprairie. In early spring of 2009, landmanagers conducted a controlled burn of1420 acres at Clear Creek State Wildlife

Management Area in Keith County,

Nebraska. A Terra Torch was used toignite overgrown vegetation along theNorth Platte River and the northwest sideof Lake McConaughy. At the BohemiaPrairie State Wildlife Management Areain Knox County, Nebraska, burningand grazing were incorporated into themanagement strategy, setting an examplefor other land managers interested in

maintaining grassland communities.Fire is very beneficial in maintaininghealthy grasslands and is a naturalecological process that historicallyoccurred more frequently. Firesuppression has altered the naturalcommunity, eliminating habitat for mostspecies. Prescribed burning is an effectiveand safe way to decrease invasive plantnumbers and allow for the rejuvenationof native species. Local fire coalitionsand experts work together to ensureprescribed burns are safe and do not

infringe on adjacent property.

Natural LegacyFocuses on efforts to aid individualspecies and larger ecologicalcommunities and landscapes.

Property owners have showngrowing interest in ecosystemrehabilitation plans. Prospects forecosystem restoration are increasingwith more landowners becominginvolved in conservation projects.The level of accomplishmentseen so far is largely because ofthe collaboration of partnersand a network of biologists withthe opportunity, training, andexperience to implement habitatimprovements. Working together,

we can continue to conserve wildlifeand their habitats.

Nebraska Game and Parks Cmmissin saff wrks wi nn-prfi Less Canyn Rangeland Alliance (LCRA)

persnnel cnrl-burn invasive and vergrwn vegeain n 1420 acres n e nrwes side f Lake

McCnaugy and alng e Nr Plae River a Clear Creek Sae Wildlife Managemen Area in Kei Cuny,

Nebraska.


6/10

Biological Surveysand Habitat Enhancements

In order to ensure conservationactions are effective, biologists conductannual surveys for at-risk species.Recently, surveys were conducted onboth public and private lands for theendangered American Burying Beetle inVerdigre-Bazile Watershed and the Loess

Canyons Biologically Unique Landscapes.American Burying Beetles have a shinyblack appearance and distinct orangebands on each wing cover. They are thelargest burying carrion feeding insects inNorth America, growing up to 1 incheslong. The American Burying Beetle livesin the north-central and southwestcentral portions of the state. The beetlesinhabit wet meadows in sandhills, openwoodlands, loess prairie, and Platte Riverriparian woodlands. Biologists performedsurveys to document the presence and

monitor populations of this endangeredbeetle. Finding locations where remnantpopulations were present was necessaryto prioritize areas that needed protection.Additionally, Red Cedar and otherinvasive species in the Loess Canyonswere removed in an effort to benefitthe beetles. Red Cedars can dominatean area, preventing the growth andestablishment of other species. In 2009,landowners and contractors completed600 acres of tree removal in the LoessCanyons to create a more open landscape,effectively improving habitat quality forthe American Burying Beetle, as well asother native wildlife.

Research MigrationLong-billed Curlews are also a Tier

I at-risk species in Nebraska. Curlewsrequire short-grass and mixed-grasslandsfor breeding and use a variety ofwetland and agricultural habitats duringmigration and winter. In Nebraska, thespecies is now limited to north-centraland western Nebraska where large tracts

of native prairie remain. This currentlyincludes the Nebraska Sandhills andprairies in the panhandle.

Iowa State graduate student CoryGregory equipped 2 Long-billed Curlewswith satellite transmitters to obtaina better understanding of the birdshabits and migration patterns. Thiscollaborative research project is supported

Biologically Unique Landscapes in Nebraska

ECOREGIONSTALLGRASS

PRAIRIE

MIXEDGRASS

PRAIRIE

SANDHILLS SHORTGRASS

PRAIRIE

ElkhornConfluence

Indian Cave Bluffs

Lower Platte River

Missouri River

Ponca Bluffs

Rainwater BasinEast

Rulo Bluffs

Saline Wetlands

Sandstone Prairies

Southeast Prairies

Thurston-DakotaBluffs

Verdigre-BazileWatershed

Willow CreekPrairies

Central Loess Hills

Central Platte River

Keya PahaWatershed

Loess Canyons

Lower Loup River

Lower NiobraraRiver

Middle NiobraraRiver Valley

Platte Confluence

Rainwater BasinWest

Verdigre-BazileWatershed

Cherry CountyWetlands

Dismal RiverHeadwaters

Elkhorn RiverHeadwaters

Middle NiobraraRiver Valley

Platte Confluence

SandhillsAlkaline Lakes

Snake River

Upper Loup Riverand Tributaries

Kimball Grasslands

North Platte RiverWetlands

Oglala Grasslands

Panhandle Prairies

Pine Ridge

Platte Confluence

Sandsage(North and South)

UpperNiobrara River

Wildcat Hills

Nebraskas 40 Bilgically Unique Landscapes are disribued acrss e saes 4 primary ecregins: 1

tallgrass Prairie, 2. Mixedgrass Prairie, 3. Srgrass Prairie, and 4. Sandills. tese landscapes suppr diverse

eclgical cmmuniies.

te Nebraska Naural Legacy Prjec precs a-risk

r reaened and endangered species suc as e

sae and federally lised American Burying Beele.


7/10

by the Nebraska State Wildlife GrantProgram, Iowa State University, NebraskaGame and Parks Commission Wildlife

Conservation Fund, University ofNebraska-Lincoln, Sandhills Task Force,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- Migratory Birds - Region 6, and

Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge.Transmitters allow researchers totrack daily movements and view the

birds travels over thousands of milesfrom a computer monitor using GPStechnology. The two Long-billed Curlewswere marked at Crescent Lake National

Wildlife Refuge in Garden County,Nebraska on 19 May 2009 and beganflying south in June to their winterdestination of coastal lagoons along theGulf of Mexico. The information obtainedfrom this study could be important forthe long-term conservation of the species.The birds journeys can be followed atwww.birdsnebraska.org.

If you would like more informationabout the Natural Legacy Project andits implementation, visit the Legacywebsite at www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/

programs/legacy or contact Kristal StonerWildlife Diversity Program Manager, [email protected] or by phoneat 402-471-5444.

A Lng-billed Curlew, ne f Nebraskas tier I a-Risk species, is fied wi a ligweig saellie ransmier

a allws bilgiss rack abis and migrain paerns in rder develp beer cnservain measures.

Project BEAK: BirdEducation and Awarenessfor KidsCheck it out at www.projectbeak.org

When a cartoon Rose-breasted Grosbeak sweetly singscomplete with a moving beak, you may believe that thiswebsite is just for children, but this website is packed withfun resources for adults, teachers and children. ProjectBEAK is an interactive, web-based curriculum that containsscientifically accurate information about bird conservation,adaptations, Nebraskas birds and those that are threatenedand endangered. It also has resources specifically for teacherresources and tips for beginning birders.

The curriculum is divided into six different modules Birds and People, Adaptations, Nebraska Habitats, The Rare

Ones, Birding Basics and Teacher Resources. Each module hasinformation geared to students in grades 5th through 8th withclassroom lesson plans already prepared so teachers can easilyintegrate this online curriculum with their existing plans.The information comes alive through videos, photos, andinteractive diagrams and games making this website a fun andexciting way to engage students and adults. Lindsay Rogers,of the Lower Platte South NRD explains that The website isdesigned to be extremely interactive. With videos, fun quizzes,and fantastic games, the Project BEAK website is a hit withkids and adults. And, the best part is that the entire websitefocuses on Nebraskas birds and Nebraskas ecosystems.

Some interesting things to look for on this websiteinclude watching a marsh build a nest while suspendedbetween wetland reeds. Also, did you know that the peopleof China (past and present) believe that the presence of amagpie brings happiness, unlimited opportunities, and goodluck? If you have ever wondered why some birds have verylong skinny beaks and while others are curved and thick,check out the Build a bird game and see how well yourcreation survives.

Project BEAK is a product of the Nebraska BirdPartnership (NBP) which felt that the more studentsunderstand and are connected to the places where they live,the more they would care about what happens on the land.Youth and adults need to understand that they can make adifference for conservation. Project BEAK is arguably one ofthe best bird and environmental education websites available,and what makes it even more unique is that it is entirelyfocused on Nebraska birds, rather than birds that Nebraskastudents may never see. - Mike Carter, Playa Lakes Joint

Venture CoordinatorProject BEAK was made possible with cooperation fromthe Nebraska Educational Television, with funding fromthe Nebraska Environmental Trust, the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA), and the Nebraska WildlifeConservation Fund (Nongame Check-off). Individualsthat made Project BEAK happen include teachers, resourceprofessionals, ornithologists, and Educational Service Unit(ESU) staff.

So find the singing Rose-breasted grosbeak at www.project-beak.org and learn a little more about Nebraskas birds!

Photo

byCryGregry


8/10

Maybe youve noticed it too. Perhapsif you enjoy paddling Nebraska Rivers,fishing at a favorite reservoir, or goingwildlife watching, you may be seeingmore Bald Eagles these days. Bald Eaglenumbers have been rising and they

continue to find success in the skies overNebraska. Support for nongame wildlifeand species and habitat conservationefforts have been helpful in the BaldEagles recovery.

The Bald Eagle is one of the countryslargest native birds of prey. As impressiveand powerful as Bald Eagles are standingalmost 3 feet tall and with a wingspanup to 8 feet, they have certainly been

vulnerable to environmental threats andpoor management policies of the past.

Unregulated hunting in the late 1800sand environmental contaminants led toa decline in the eagles population. Theinadvertent ingestion of lead shot hasbeen, and even today, remains a source ofeagle poisoning. Additionally, insecticidescapable of bio-accumulating, such asDichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane(DDT), caused embryonic death oreggshell thinning that prevented adultBald Eagles from being able to incubatetheir eggs without crushing them. By themid 1960s, 55-96% of Bald Eagle nests

were failing.In 1972, the government banned the

further use of DDT in the United States.But, it would take time and additionalefforts to save the Bald Eagle. On 14February 1978, our national bird, theBald Eagle, was officially listed as anendangered species. With these legalprotection measures in place, the BaldEagle population would gradually beginto increase. In the state of Nebraska,the Bald Eagle was upgraded fromendangered status to threatened status in

the year 2000. Continued improvementswould eventually lead to the birdsremoval from the federal threatened andendangered species list on 28 June 2007and from the Nebraska threatened andendangered species list in October 2008.Presently, the Bald Eagle is still affordedprotection from the Bald and GoldenEagle Protection Act and the MigratoryBird Treaty Act.

Historically in Nebraska, Bald Eaglesbred in the eastern portion of the state

along its major riparian corridors.However by 1900, the bird was essentiallyextirpated as a breeding species withinthe state. In 1991, for the first time in over

100 years, a Bald Eagle pair successfullynested near Valley, Nebraska in DouglasCounty. The lone fledgling later died,but this significant event marked thebeginning of a series of successfulmodern-day nesting attempts in the state.In 2007, a recent high number of 55 activeBald Eagle nests were documented.

Each year, wildlife biologists andvolunteers locate and monitor eaglenests across Nebraska. Because the birdshave only recently been de-listed, thesemonitoring efforts are still important

in assessing population f luctuationsand understanding eagle distributionwithin the state. Preliminary resultsfrom the 2009 breeding season suggest

that approximately 82.4% of BaldEagle nests located were active. Of themonitored nests, 78.6% were successful,where nesting success is defined as oneor more eaglets fledging or leaving thenest. The vast majority of nests fledged 2young. Mature eagles typically produce1-3 young per year, but not all of thesebirds may fledge. Normally, 60-80% of

juveniles survive their first year, and awild Bald Eagle can live up to 28 years.

In Nebraska, the majority of nestinghas occurred in the northeastern and

The Bald Eagles Journey to RecoveryBy Melissa Jo Santiago

A bald eagle ends is cicks, Pierce C. Nebraska


9/10


10/10

2200 N. 33rd St./PO Box 30370Lincoln NE 68503-0370

Do Something Wild!Donate to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund

Help protect our natural legacy by making atax-deductible donation to the fund. The Fundsupports the conservation of Nebraskas diverse wildlife(including endangered and threatened species). For yourdonation of $40 you will receive a premium of a T-Shirt

Short sleeve T-Shirt - Adult S, M, L, XL, XXL

To donate call

402-471-0641 or go online at www.OutdoorNebraska.org

Count on me to help support the Wildlife Conservation Fund

Name

Address City State Zip

o$250 o$100 o$50 o$25 oOther

oMC oVisa Card Number Exp. Date Signature

oCheck oMoney Order (No Cash Please)

oT-Shirt S, M, L, XL, XXLMail to Wildlife Conservation Fund

PO Box 30370, 2200 N 33rd, Lincoln NE 68503-0370All gifts are tax-deductible. Please make checks payable to Wildlife Fund

To donate online visit www.OutdoorNebraska.org/wildlife/programs/nongame/ngdonate.asp

Something Wild Newsletter Spring 2010

Documents

Transcript of Something Wild Newsletter Spring 2010