Blog

Robins – A Sign of Spring

by Ann Markin | Apr 7, 2021

I’ve had robins in my yard all year long, but they still seem to be a sign of spring -- maybe because they rarely stayed this far north in winters when I was younger. Currently, they are looking for a nesting site so I have taped the foil strips above my security...

Mourning Doves

by Ann Markin | Mar 8, 2021

The mournful cooing sound of the Mourning Dove is probably responsible for its name. Often heard before dawn and dusk, the call is often mistaken for that of an owl. Most often found on the ground, the browns, grays, and black of their feathers help them blend into...

Help Birds Keep Warm This Winter

by Ann Markin | Feb 11, 2021

In the cold of winter, there are many things you can do to help birds survive the season. Here are a few tips that are easy to implement. Birds use a lot of extra energy to keep warm in cold weather. Therefore, they must consume more calories than they do in warmer...

Nebraska’s Sensational Spring Spectacle

by Ann Markin | Jan 10, 2021

For a few weeks each spring, one of the world’s most awesome wildlife spectacles occurs right here in Nebraska. Nearly half a million sandhill cranes descend upon the Platte River Valley to feed and rest before continuing their long northward migration to their...

Northern Cardinals

by Ann Markin | Dec 9, 2020

The Northern Cardinal is actually one of seven species in the world with the name Cardinal. The name was derived from the Cardinals (the rank above Bishop) of the Roman Catholic Church who wear red robes and hats. The Northern Cardinal is found in the United States....

Nuthatches

by Ann Markin | Nov 9, 2020

The name Nuthatch probably results from the corruption of the word “nuthack,” referring to the bird’s habit of hacking away at a seed with its beak until it opens. Nuthatches have short legs, flat bodies and large heads. Nuthatch pairs stay together throughout the...