Outdoor notes: Hunt Safe Session waived temporarily; Bird migration offers educational opportunities

Requirements for some Hunter Ed students waived temporarily

LINCOLN, Neb. – Online Hunter Education, without the Hunt Safe Session requirement, is being allowed temporarily for all ages in Nebraska.

Youth ages 11-15 who take the online Hunter Education course normally are required to attend a two-hour Hunt Safe Session before they can receive a certificate of completion. That Hunt Safe Session requirement temporarily is being waived since the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission cancelled all of its events and activities through May 31. Those 11- to 15-year-olds who complete the online course will be certified, and they will be encouraged to take a Hunt Safe Session in the future.

The Hunt Safe Session is a two-hour review focusing on equipment safety for firearms and archery, tree-stand safety and shoot/don’t shoot scenarios.

The cancellations of events, including Hunt Safe Sessions and Hunter Education classroom courses, are a proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

For more on Hunter Education, visit: OutdoorNebraska.gov/huntereducation.

Bird migration, appreciation offer educational opportunities

LINCOLN, Neb. – Though most of the nation has halted travel and started practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, birds across Nebraska have something very different in mind: Migration and in big numbers.

Which is good news for Nebraskans seeking ways to keep busy during these unprecedented times where many are working from home and teaching now stay-at-home children in the face of school closures. With a few resources created by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or partner agencies, Nebraskans can embrace science education and Nebraska’s role along the Central Flyway migration path.

So grab a pair of binoculars, head outdoors, and celebrate birds.

Nebraska Bird Library

The Nebraska Bird Library offers online resources to help Nebraskans identify and learn more about more than 400 species of birds found in the state. Users can search by bird characteristics — size, color, region and habitat; common name; or bird group, and also can gain tips on how to identify birds through anatomy. Find the bird library at nebraskabirdlibrary.org.

Project Beak

Project Beak offers online lesson plans and activities focused on teaching children about Nebraska’s bird species. Users can learn birdwatching basics; discover information on Nebraska’s at-risk and rare bird species; play interactive games; and even learn the history of bird feathers in fashion. Most curriculum and activities can be adapted for a variety of ages. Learn more at projectbeak.org.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Game and Parks also makes available a plethora of lesson plans ranging from birds to pollinators to soil and worms. Find background information, presentation materials and lesson plans, adaptable for a variety of ages, at outdoornebraska.gov/lessonplans

Watch our live bird cams

For those who’d rather stay indoors, Game and Parks and our partners Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary offer live bird cam streams. Watch Game and Park’s resident American Kestrel, the most common and smallest falcon in North America, at outdoornebraska.gov/kestrelcam; our falconcam focused on the peregrine falcon nest box on the eighteen floor of the Nebraska State Capitol at outdoornebraska.gov/falconcam; or  the spring Sandhill Crane activity at rowe.audubon.org/birds/crane-cam. Then head back to the above resources to learn about more about the species.

Nebraska Bird Month

Though Nebraska Bird Month activities have been cancelled, Game and Parks encourages Nebraskans to continue the celebration of our state birds through bird appreciation. Nebraska’s state park areas and wildlife areas remain open-space landscapes that offer opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, see wildlife and escape boredom. Learn more at OutdoorNebraska.org.

April outdoor calendar

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission important dates in April.

April 5 – Light Goose Conservation Order closes in Rainwater Basin and West zones

April 11 – Spring youth shotgun turkey season opens

April 18 – Spring shotgun turkey season opens

April 15 – Light Goose Conservation Order closes in East Zone

April 20 – Application period begins for bighorn sheep lottery permit

In a proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Game and Parks has cancelled all agency-sponsored events scheduled through May 31. Game and Parks aims to protect its staff and customers by removing opportunities for crowds to gather at facilities and events and by maintaining clean facilities.

Keep up to date on all cancellations, postponements and closures for Game and Parks at OutdoorNebraska.org/healthinfo. Visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov for updates on Game and Parks’ events.

Several road closures on wildlife management areas

LINCOLN, Neb. – Roads on several state wildlife management areas (WMAs) have been closed or partially closed because of poor conditions. County roads leading to the areas also may be closed.

These closures are due to 2019 flooding and continued high water table in some areas. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission continues to work with local authorities to get vehicle access to these areas.

The impacted WMAs are: Randal W. Schilling, Cass County; Goose Lake, Holt County; Peru Boat Ramp, Nemaha County; South Pine, Brown County; Twin Lakes, Rock County; Cottonwood/Steverson and Big Alkali, Cherry County; Bufflehead and Kea West, Buffalo County; Loup River Public Power District and Don Dworack, Nance County; Bazile Creek and Niobrara Confluence, Knox County; Parshall Bridge, Boyd County; and Spencer Dam, Holt County.

For more information on closures at Game and Parks properties, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/weatherclosures.

Bighorn sheep lottery applications begin April 20

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for a 2020 bighorn sheep lottery permit beginning April 20.

The application period ends Aug. 7, and the permit will be drawn later that month. A $29 nonrefundable application fee must accompany each application. Only Nebraska residents are eligible for the lottery.

Apply at a Nebraska Game and Parks office or at OutdoorNebraska.org. The 2020 bighorn sheep season is Dec. 1-22.