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February / March Birding Events
Great Backyard Bird Count, Lincoln's Bird Encounter and more
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 Senior's Day 1st & 15th of each month
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How's It Growing March 6th, 11:00 am KZUM Community Radio 89.3 FM Birding in Nebraska
Hosts Bob Henrickson and Bertine Loop host a weekly hour of arm chair gardening, The show takes your calls and answers your question about all things gardening plus many other outdoor topics. On March 6th Dave Titterington from the Wild Bird Habitat Stores will be live on-air with Bob and Bertine to talk about birding during Nebraska's spring migration and answer any birding or bird feeding questions you might have. Tune in on your radio or live stream the show on March 6, 11:00 am CDT. If you miss the March 6th show with Bob, Bertine, and Dave you can log into KZUM, click on programming and select "pod-cast" to hear this and other current shows.
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43rd Annual
Rivers and Wildlife Celebration -
Nebraska's Crane Festival
March 21-24, 2013
Kearney, Nebraska
One of the nation's longest-running wildlife festivals, the RWC began in 1971 in Grand Island as the "Spring River Conference" to raise awareness for the Platte River and its importance to the spring bird migration. It was geared for advocacy at the time and resulted in the formation of the Big Bend Audubon Society. The festival moved to Kearney when Rowe Sanctuary was purchased in 1974. Current festivals focus on wildlife and environment education in general, with family-friendly activities and famous field trips to crane blinds along the Platte River and bird migration stopovers in central and southern Nebraska. Roger Tory Peterson, Julie Zickefoose, Bruce Babbitt, and Jane Goodall are some of the well-known attendees from past celebrations.
Get more information and register online at the Nebraska Crane Festival. Sign up early for full day or half day birding trips and to make reservations for river blinds to view the Sandhill Cranes, And be sure to stop by the Wild Bird Habitat Store's booth at the festival to find out about the hundreds of birding sites across Nebraska.
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2nd Annual
 Crane Watch Festival March 22 - 31, 2013 Kearney, Nebraska
This year's Crane Festival will continue the tradition with a calendar of fun-filled, educational, family activities, entertainment and community wide events taking place in Kearney, Minden, and Gibbon. Please check out our calendar for this year's new and expanded events where there is something for everybody to do while enjoying the crane migration. Get a schedule of all the activities at Crane Watch
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 OLLI Birding
Course #401
April 8 - May 13
Monday Mornings
8:30 am to 10:00 am
Learn the essentials of birding, bird identification, and where to go birding in this year's "Birding 401" offered by OLLI, University of Nebraska's Oscher Lifelong Learning Institute. The six weekly classes include 5 field trips to view migratory birds at nearby locations. Classes begin April 8. Phone: 472-6265 or go to olli@unl.edu for more information. Birding #401 Course is $30 for OLLI members or is included with a $50 OLLI membership.
Instructors: 
Dan Wheeler, Emeritus Professor, Ag Leadership,
Education & Communication, UNL, and
Dave Titterington of the Wild Bird Habitat Store
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Harlan County White Pelican Watch and
White Pelican Homecoming Celebration
March 1 - April 15
Harlan County Reservoir
Alma, Nebraska
 Harlan County Reservoir is one of the largest bodies of water within the North American Central Flyway and is a primary stopover for millions of migrating birds, including Bald and Golden Eagles, Osprey, ducks and geese including Ross' and Snow Geese, many species of gulls, and more, including an occasional sighting of a great Whooping Crane. Over 300 bird species have been observed in the area. Parking lots, campgrounds, and local marinas around the reservoir make prime viewing sites.
Area residents know spring is just around the corner when the American White Pelicans begin returning from their winter feeding grounds along the U.S. Gulf Coast to take up temporary residence at Harlan County Reservoir. Arrival dates can be as early as late February up through early April.
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Sandhill Crane Trip March 21, 11:30 am to 11:00 pm 
Join the Pioneers Park Nature Center and trip guides Dave & Linda Titterington from the
Wild Bird Habitat Stores and experience one of our planet's most spectacular wildlife migrations. We'll visit the Crane Trust Visitor's & Nature Center at Alda, NE. Afterwards we'll travel the back roads to Rowe Sanctuary to view the cranes feeding and loafing in the fields. After dinner at Burchell's Whitehill Farmhouse Inn we'll return to Rowe Sanctuary where we'll watch the cranes return to the Platte River at sundown from a blind on the edge of the river. The fee includes transportation, dinner at Burchell's Whitehill Farmhouse Inn, and crane viewing blind.
Must have the ability to walk uneven trails to the blinds and back in low light with our guide.
$75 per person Space is limited. To register, or for more information, call 441-7895
NOTE:
Registration and payment required by February 20 for viewing blind reservations
Sponsored by the Pioneers Park Nature Center, the Wild Bird Habitat Stores, and Lincoln Parks and Recreation
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2013 Prairie Chicken Viewing Tour Packages 
Mid-Plains Community College
McCook, Nebraska
April: 5 - 7 / 12 - 14 / 19 - 21 / 26 - 28
Whimsical, charming, fascinating - and for most of the year, elusive - Southwest Nebraska's Greater Prairie Chickens strut their stuff in a spectacular show each spring. Join a group of early morning birders on the weekends in April to observe the annual mating dance that will enchant, amaze and thrill you!
Visit PrairieChickenDanceTours on Facebook
Or contact Mid-Plains Community College at (308) 535-3687
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2013 Prairie Chicken Festival  Calamus Outfitters April 5 - 7, 2013 Burwell, NE
The 2013 Nebraska Prairie Chicken festival (April 5-7, 2013) will be hosted by Calamus Outfitters and the Gracie Creek Landowners.
Festival activities will include birding excursions to see the Greater Prairie Chicken and Sharp-tailed Grouse as well as other area birds. Interesting and informative presentations will include Photographing NE's Wildlife, Prairie Grouse Ecology, Hitler's Effect on NE's Wildlife, wildlife photographer Noppadol Paothong (featuring his new book), and humorist Al Batt.
Calamus Outfitters is located in north central Nebraska on the Switzer Ranch. We are 16 miles northwest of Burwell, NE, on Highway 96, or 12 miles North of Taylor on Highway 183 then 4 miles East on Highway 96.
Get more information, register for the Prairie Chicken Festival, book a blind to view Prairie Chickens at Calamus Outtfitters
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Spring Birding in Central Nebraska
Calendar of Events for 2013
Central Nebraska Migration Season
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Bluebirds Across Nebraska 
Workshop
March 10th, 2013
Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge
1:30 pm
If you are interested in attracting bluebirds to your property, join Bluebirds Across Nebraska (BAN) foran upcoming workshop on attracting bluebirds. The workshop will be held in the Visitors Center at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge. It will start at 1:30 PM. The workshop will open with an introduction to bluebirds. There will be a discussion about the various bluebird nest boxes available, mounting poles, box location and installation, and how to monitor your bluebird boxes with greater success. The workshop will wrap up with a question and answer session.
Although there is no fee to attend the workshop you might want to take the opportunity to become a member of BAN while attending. You will receive two cedar nest boxes with mounting poles along with a three-year membership for only $25.00.
If you have one acre or 180 acres, chances are you can attract nesting bluebirds. So plan to attend to learn how you too can help this beautiful bird survive.
Make plans to attend Bluebirds Across Nebraska's annual state conference, April 13, 2013 in Unadilla, Nebraska. Watch for more information coming soon.
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Pioneers Park Nature Center 
BIRD IDENTIFICATION 101
Saturdays, April 13 and 20
8-10 a.m.
Prairie Building
$20/2 sessions, register by April 12
Birding is the fastest growing form of outdoor recreation in the US and is popular all over the world. This class will provide participants with some basic identification and acquaint them with the tools available to enhance their birding experience. The class, led by Dave Titterington of the Wild Bird Habitat Stores, will conclude with a morning bird walk through the Nature Center to try out your skills and a bird banding demonstration on April 13.
BIRD BANDING DEMONSTRATIONS
Saturdays, April 13 and May 4
9 a.m. - Noon
Bird Banding Station / Chet Ager Bldg.
This is your opportunity to see up close some of the migratory birds that pass through our area as well as our year round residents. Join a licensed bird bander to watch the banding process and to learn about this nation-wide research project. In case of rain or excessive heat, banding will be cancelled. No registration necessary.
Nature's Market Saturday April 27 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Celebrate spring! It's going to be an exciting day filled with lots of activities. Visit food, jewelry, plant, and craft booths. There will a live and silent auctions that will include Nature Center experiences such as a campfire or birthday party, a hay-rack ride, or a tea party in Heritage School as well as nature items such as elk antlers. Bid on decorated watering cans and 10 unique garden benches during a live auction. Enjoy entertainment by the String Beans at 11:30. It is a day of fun for all ages. Sponsored by the Friends of Pioneers Park Nature Center, all proceeds support scholarships to Nature Center programming. MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST AND BIRD WALK May 12, Sunday 8-10 a.m. Prairie Building $10/person, Register by May 9 This very popular bird walk fills up fast so register early. It is an event where you can treat your mother to a unique Mother's Day with an early morning bird walk followed through the nature center followed by a breakfast of rolls, fruit, and a beverage. Dave Titterington of the Wild Bird Habitat Stores will again be one of the bird walk guides. It is common to view and identify more than 30 bird species during this 45 to 50 minute bird walk. Binoculars will be provided for those who do not have their own.Dress appropriately for the weather.
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