Volume 104, Issue 7, 2026
August-September 2026
- Title:
- Volume 104, Issue 7, 2026
- Issue Name:
- August-September 2026
- Date Issued:
- 2026-08-01
- year:
- 2026
- Season:
- Summer
- PDF filename:
- NL_104.07_2026_Aug_Sep_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Cover image:
- NL_104.07_2026_Aug_Sep_Cover.jpg
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 104
- issue:
- 07
- number:
- 104.07
- Decade:
- 2020s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Subject:
- nebraskaland
- Extracted Text:
-
I N S P I R I N G O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R E S I N C E 1 92 6
AU GU S T/S E P T E M B E R 2 02 6
INSIDE
A Shorebird Summer • Orb-Weavers
Two Parks, One Weekend • The Bird Nerd
County Courthouse History • Blacknose Shiners
2
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
3
Volume 104
20
28
30
•
No. 7
•
August-September 2026
SUMMER TRAVELERS
Story and photos by Justin Haag
OUTDOOR NEBRASKA
What to Do in August/September
By Jeff Kurrus
DANISH ALPS
STATE RECREATION AREA
36
40
Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
ORB-WEAVER SPIDER WEBS
By Monica Macoubrie
THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
44
By David L. Bristow
Nebraska State Historical Society
A TWO-FOR-ONE WEEKEND
EXCURSION
Story and photos by Julie Geiser
52
ANTLER ANALYTICS: THE SCIENCE
AND SYMMETRY OF DEER ANTLERS
Story by Brian Peterson, Photos by Ryan Holt
Departments
8 Your Nebraska
12 In the Field
Mixed Bag
59
66 Portraits from the Past
68 The Last Stop
On the Web
For more articles and information,
visit NebraskalandMagazine.com
Cover: A killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) runs on the
north shoreline of Walgren Lake in Sheridan County.
See story on page 20.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Nebraskaland (VOL. 104 / NO. 7 ISSN 0028-1964) is published monthly, except for the combined
Jan./Feb. and Aug./Sept. issues, by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd
St., Lincoln, NE. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska, and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY
FACILITIES: send address corrections to Nebraskaland, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
This page: Horses, belonging to Nancy and Benton
Shirey of Kentucky, are corralled at the equestrian
campground at Danish Alps State Recreation Area in
Dakota County. See story on page 30.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
4
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
5
magazine
Published by the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission since 1926. The Commission
is dedicated to the conservation and
protection of all the state's natural
resources and the people who use them.
Magazine Staff
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Public Relations Manager Shawna Richter-Ryerson
Editor Jeff Kurrus
Associate Editor Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Regional Editors Eric Fowler, Julie Geiser,
Justin Haag
Contributing Editor Michael Forsberg
Regular Contributors Chris Helzer, Chris Masada,
Todd Mills, Ryan Sparks, Gerry Steinauer
Art Director Ryan Holt
Graphic Designer Mel Severin
Videographer Nick Sauvageau
Photo Librarian Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt
Administration
Director Tim McCoy
Chair - Donna Kush, Omaha
Vice Chair - Dan Hughes, Venango
Magazine Subscriptions
For address changes, magazine and subscription
questions, 800-632-5263 or visit
nebraskalandmagazine.com
Advertising
For advertising information, contact:
Shane G. Gilster, 402-742-0125
shanegilster@solotreemedia.com
The northern shoveler is a common duck
in Nebraska wetlands during migration
and nesting season. Its shovel-shaped bill
has many lamellae — or fine projections
— that filter tiny crustaceans, seeds and
aquatic invertebrates like a colander.
Kurt Arganbright, Valentine
Scott Cassels, Omaha
John Hoggatt, Kearney
Kent McNeill, Papillion
Steve Mossman, Lincoln
Lisa Roskens, Omaha
Doug Zingula, Sidney
Nebraskaland Magazine Copyright 2026, all rights reserved. Nebraskaland is available in audio from the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book
and Braille Service, Suite 120, 1200 N St., Lincoln, NE 68508. 800-742-7691. Nebraskaland Magazine and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
reserve the right to reject any advertising not in keeping with the agency mission. Rates: $18 for one year; $33 for two years; $44 for three years.
Nebraska recipients must add appropriate sales tax. To subscribe call 1-800-NEBLAND (632-5263), or go online to: NebraskalandMagazine.com.
Commission Offices
Conservation Officers
Headquarters/Southeast District Office
2200 N. 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503
Phone 402-471-0641
Northeast District Office
2201 N. 13th St. Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone 402-370-3374
Southwest District Office
301 E. State Farm Rd. North Platte, NE 69101
Phone 308-535-8025
Northwest District Office (temporary)
1317 W 3rd St., Alliance, NE 69301
Phone 308-763-2940
Bassett Office
524 Panzer St., Box 508 Bassett, NE 68714
Phone 402-684-2921
South Central District Office
1617 First Ave. Kearney, NE 68847
Phone 308-865-5310
Schramm Education Center
21502 W. Highway 31 Gretna, NE 68028
Phone 402-332-3901
Omaha Office
8495 Frederick Street, Omaha, NE 68124
Phone 402-595-2144
OutdoorNebraska.gov
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission does not discriminate
based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, religion,
disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status,
and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.
Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in
any program, activity, facility, or service should contact the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-0641, the Equal
Opportunity Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-2024, TTY/TDD 800-6426112; Director, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior,
1849 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20240.
6
WORDS BY MONICA MACOUBRIE, PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG,
NEBRASKALAND
ADMINISTRATION
Jeff Clauson
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Administrator
Travis Shepler
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
Stacey Lewton 402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
Mike Thome
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
(Includes counties covered)
NORTHWEST
Sean McKeehan 308-672-1824
Captain
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Jerod Hahn
308-520-5539
Sergeant
Grant Albrecht 531-229-4405
Cheyenne, Deuel, Kimball
Hunter Lee
308-280-4320
Keith, Deuel
Jaden Porter
308-289-2274
Garden, Grant
Tyler Stueck
308-289-6260
Keith, Arthur
Keith Jadlowski 531-310-2869
Keith, Arthur
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Casey Gehrt
402-617-2112
Sergeant
Josh Widhelm
308-279-9133
Scotts Bluff, Banner, Sioux
Brandon Wallace 308-280-4488
Scotts Bluff, Banner, Sioux
Travis Schultz
308-279-1292
Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Box Butte
Vacant:
Dawes, Sheridan, Sioux
Cassidy Harwood308-562-9099
Box Butte, Sheridan
Justin Gress
308-629-9335
Dawes, Sioux, Sheridan
NORTHEAST
Dale Davis
402-760-0712
Captain
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Jeff Jones
402-762-5022
Sergeant
Hannah Holtmeier 402-601-7514
Boyd, Holt
Greg Hesse
308-546-7464
Rock, Brown, Keya Paha
Jonathan Andreasen 402-340-3981
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
Madison, Pierce
Trevor Stahlecker402-928-9099
Knox, Antelope, Pierce
Mitch Johnson 402-613-8612
Cedar, Knox
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Cory Krause
402-380-6410
Sergeant
Kyler Prochaska 402-830-8278
Platte, Colfax
Matt Costello
402-317-4014
Dodge, Colfax
Kelbi Abke
402-237-2537
Washington, Burt
Nicholas Fix
402-508-0261
Dixon, Dakota, Thurston
Kyle Hansen
531-739-7392
Dodge
Vacant:
Cuming, Wayne, Stanton
CENTRAL SUB-DISTRICT
Doug Pollard
308-730-7050
Sergeant
Vacant:
Howard, Greeley, Merrick
Matt Brandt
308-202-0819
Sherman, Howard
Klint Gill
402-613-5800
Nance, Wheeler, Boone, Polk
Garrett Zimmer 402-416-5736
Garfield, Loup, Valley
SOUTHWEST
Brian Piernicky 308-330-8780
Captain
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Alex Hasenauer 308-660-4671
Sergeant
Frank Miller
402-389-0444
Cherry, Hooker
Dana Miller
531-229-4404
Cherry, Hooker
Luis Nuñez
531-333-6093
Blaine, Custer, Thomas
Jacob Stoinski
308-395-6001
Lincoln, Perkins
Brandon O’Neal 308-530-3157
Lincoln, McPherson, Logan
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Kelsey Glodowski 308-242-9000
Sergeant
Logan Smith
531-229-4406
Frontier, Furnas, Red Willow
Bryce Streger
308-537-0404
Dawson, Gosper
Logan Sanders 402-601-6302
Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock, Red Willow
Tyler Adelman 402-314-4783
Dawson, Gosper
Sophia Gobber 308-222-0368
Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock
SOUTHEAST
Matt Seitz
402-806-0915
Captain
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Matt Taylor
402-200-9597
Sergeant
Carson Ford:
402-902-2017
Adams, Clay, Webster
Vacant:
Thayer, Nuckolls, Fillmore
Trey Kirch:
308-920-2762
Harlan, Franklin, Phelps
Vacant:
Buffalo, Kearney
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Heath Packett
402-210-0888
Sergeant
Brett Greenfield 531-350-0915
Cass
Russell Mort
402-209-1506
Otoe, Johnson
Rich Berggren
402-619-1355
Douglas
Brian Arp
531-530-9011
Douglas, Sarpy
Mike Luben
402-443-6392
Saunders
Bryan Adams
402-429-1924
Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson
CENTRAL SUB-DISTRICT
Curt Prohaska 402-470-1298
Sergeant
Easton Albrecht 531-229-4407
Lancaster
Benjamin Keller 308-430-5500
Gage, Jefferson
Mark McDonald 402-805-2353
Lancaster
Mark Sullivan
402-741-0636
Lancaster, Seward, Butler
Jarrod Messman 531-739-9760
Lancaster, Saline, York
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
7
Instagram Photos
Your Nebraska
Follow us @nebraskaland and tag us in your
photos to be featured in an upcoming issue.
Photos on this page by Bob Matzen, Blair
Desoto Deer
Pasquale Mingarelli, Bellevue
Reflections at Platte River State Park
Send your comments and photos to:
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503
or email Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov
Don Brockmeier, Eustis
I Want to Join the Flock!
8
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
Please include your postal address
and telephone number. Letters
may be condensed and edited.
Photographs are also welcome.
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
9
Your Nebraska
A quilt is more than fabric. It is warmth, memory and
belonging, a reminder of who we are, and that we are held
not just by where we come from, but by those who came
before us. The stitching is not perfect. Some threads pull
tight, others loosen; some edges align, others don’t. But that
is its beauty, the quiet evidence of care, of hands that chose
to keep piecing it together.
From Jenna Rose’s unpublished essay, “The Quilts That Carry Us.”
JENNA ROSE
10
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
11
In the Field
Nebraskaland regular contributor Todd Mills hunts a Rainwater Basin marsh during
teal season. He uses the Game and Parks’ wetland conditions report to begin his
scouting process each year. See story on page 14. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
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Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
13
In the Field
Understanding the
Wetland Conditions Report
By Jeff Kurrus
Un d e rs ta n d i n g t h e Ne b ra s ka G a m e a n d Pa r ks
Commission’s Wetland Conditions Report each August can
be a complicated process. To begin, in the Rainwater Basin
there are 35 properties owned by Game and Parks and 59
Waterfowl Production Areas owned by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Fifty-four of these areas have wells and
pumps, including 29 on Game and Parks properties. Read
on to learn why this report should be your starting point
for research each hunting season.
What Does ‘Good’ Mean?
Published beginning in late-August, this weekly report
uses the categories Dry, Poor, Fair, Good and Excellent.
“Waterfowl biologists assign these categories using their
subjective judgement based on how each of these sites
relate to duck hunting,” according to Game and Parks
Wetland Manager Ted LaGrange.
These ratings take into account the amount of water
present and vegetation density at a particular wetland.
Kirkpatrick Basin North Wildlife Management Area near York during a wet year. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
14
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
For example, a Poor rating could be given when a wetland
has plenty of water, but there is not an open spot for
hunters to set out decoys or ducks to land.
“You’re obviously looking for Good and Excellent,” said
LaGrange. “With Good, there is enough water to float a
decoy. Fair is a little water, and it might be OK for teal. And
Dry is dry.”
What to Pump When?
The report obviously raises question, including which
areas should be pumped. The determination process
and a timeline for doing so starts with a meeting among
wetland biologists in mid-August. Hot, dry and windy
days cause evaporation, making it difficult to sustain
water levels achieved through pumping. “Some areas are
so dry,” said LaGrange, “that an entire week of pumping
wouldn’t help.”
Another factor is vegetation. “What are the conditions
of the plant community?” LaGrange stated. If it’s solid
cattails, there’s no reason to pump because of how hard it
would be to hunt. “It’s not the best use of money,” he said.
But if it’s smartweed or barnyard grass — both excellent
food sources for ducks — then just a few inches of water
would create a duck magnet.
Sometimes an area could be involved in a management
plan, such as the removal of invasive species, that would
preclude pumping. “Biologists will mow at times,” said
LaGrange. “They’ll disk. We may have something with a
lot of cattails that is nearly dry. We might let it winterkill
and disk it to create better habitat in the long run.”
When a wetland covers both public and private land, and
pumping that wetland could lead to water spilling onto
adjacent land, then there must be an understanding between
the biologists and that landowner. “Some neighbors are
tolerant of additional water and others don’t mind water if
their crops are out,” said LaGrange. “Keep in mind we don’t
pump to capacity because there is still a chance of rain, and
we don’t want to flood an adjacent landowner.”
A teal hunt bag shot from the Rainwater Basin. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
What Should Hunters Understand?
Biologists visit these sites once a week starting in midAugust, passing along their assessments to LaGrange and
his staff, who compile the wetland conditions report. “I
trust the biologists,” said LaGrange. “If they say there’s
water, there’s water, but pumping remains a complicated
process. We want to have huntable water with some
open vegetation. If you have 6 inches of water, food and
openings, you’re going to have teal. That’s good water.”
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
15
In the Field
A New Name for
Twin Lakes WMA
By Julie Geiser
cooperative central flyway annual population monitoring,
During his 46-year career with the Nebraska Game
fall banding of mid-continent white-fronted geese in
and Parks Commission, most spent as a wildlife biologist,
Canada and Nebraska, and assisting Canadian biologists
Nick Lyman became an invaluable part of the waterfowl
with arctic snow goose banding projects.
management community, not in just Nebraska, but also
Mark Vrtiska, wildlife management specialist with
throughout the Central Flyway and even in Canada. In
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Lyman’s former
recognition of his contributions, Twin Lakes Wildlife
co-worker, stated: “Nick was one of the best field biologists
Management Area south of his hometown of Bassett in
I knew. He was great at catching Canada geese. I’ll never
Rock County has been renamed the Nick Lyman WMA.
forget those times capturing geese with him in the
Family and friends who knew him consider the lakes’
Sandhills, spending time with him in
renaming an honor.
a duck blind or walking for pheasants.”
Lyman started his career with Game
Vrtiska estimated Lyman banded
and Parks in the parks division in 1960.
close to 40,000 ducks and geese during
He worked out of the Bassett service
his career.
center before transferring to the North
Lyman shared his knowledge of
Platte district office in 1968, where
waterfowl with others during the
he spent the rest of his career as a
annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
wildlife biologist. Lyman, who retired
Migratory Bird Parts Collection
in 2006, died Nov. 26, 2024.
Survey, also known as the Wingbee.
In his early years with Game and
Wings and tail fans from ducks and
Parks, Lyman was instrumental in
geese harvested and submitted by
efforts to reintroduce Canada geese to
hunters in each of the four flyways
the Sandhills. His knowledge of the
in the United States are examined
Sandhills wetlands and friendship with
to determine the species, sex and
landowners was crucial in selecting
age structure of the population.
release sites for geese, as well as the
Lyman was relied on to confirm the
locations to trap and band the birds
Nationally respected among his peers, Nick
identification of difficult submissions.
after populations were established.
Lyman’s lifelong dedication to waterfowl
His involvement at the Wingbee
According to longtime friend Joe
conservation and his love for this resource
leaves a lasting legacy of his efforts.
continued after his retirement.
Hyland, Lyman’s skill as a waterfowl
During his time with Game and Parks, Lyman received
surveyor was relied on by other agencies throughout the
numerous awards, including the Ducks Unlimited Wetland
Central Flyway, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Conservation Achievement Award for Outstanding
and Canadian Wildlife Service. He conducted aerial breeding
Contributions to Wetland Conservation in 2005, the Ducks
duck surveys in Nebraska, which contributed to the creation
Unlimited Conservation Service Award in 1993 and the
of hunting regulations, and was a reliable source for sandhill
Director’s Award of Honor from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
crane numbers. Lyman loved the hundreds of hours he spent
Service in 2005.
on aerial surveys across the United States and Canada, and
Nationally respected among his peers, Lyman’s
counted millions of birds during his lifetime.
lifelong dedication to waterfowl conservation should be
He was also heavily involved with waterfowl banding
remembered by all who love this resource. We, and the
and migration studies in the central United States and
waterfowl he spent years studying, are the beneficiaries of
Canada. Lyman participated in summer duck banding
Lyman’s lasting legacy.
in the Sandhills, pre-season banding of ducks as part of
16
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
17
In the Field
Grouse and
Date Poppers
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Making poppers is a simple way to turn heavily
shot-up game birds into tasty morsels. This sweet,
salty and tangy recipe differs from the usual
poppers most hunters are accustomed to: I trade
jalapeno and cream cheese for dates and goat
cheese. And to provide some crunch, I added a
cashew nut. It’s a riff on a dish I tasted many years
ago at a tapas restaurant in Las Vegas called Firefly.
A cooking note: To avoid overcooking the grouse,
choose a thinner cut of bacon; the thicker the
bacon, the longer it will take to render and cook. I
also allow the bacon to sit at room temperature to
warm up, while keeping the grouse chilled for as
long as I can before assembling the poppers.
Servings: 10 poppers
Prep Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients
• 2 sharp-tailed grouse breasts
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of dried crushed rosemary, or fresh
equivalent
• 5 slices of bacon (not thick cut)
• 2 ounces of goat cheese
• 10 pitted dates
• 10 whole cashews or almonds
Special equipment: toothpicks
18
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
1. Cut breasts into 10 pieces total, including the
tenderloins, and slightly flatten into oblong
pieces with a mallet (or something flat and
heavy). In a small bowl, whisk balsamic
vinegar, olive oil and rosemary to emulsify. Add
grouse pieces and marinate for 1 to 2 hours.
Keep chilled until ready to use.
2. Thirty minutes before assembling poppers, cut
each strip of bacon in half. Allow to rest on the
counter to come to room temperature. This
will help the bacon become more pliable and
render faster.
3.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or
prepare grill for medium-high heat cooking.
4. Split open each date and fill with goat cheese and
one cashew or almond. To assemble the poppers,
take half a piece of bacon and completely wrap
it around one piece of filled date and a piece of
marinated grouse. Secure with a toothpick.
5. Place poppers on a rimmed cookie sheet lined
with foil. Bake on the middle rack of a 450-degree
oven for about 15 minutes, or until bacon is
cooked through, turning occasionally. Oven
temperatures vary so keep an eye on the poppers
to avoid burning, adjusting heat as needed. Or,
grill poppers accordingly. Serve immediately.
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
19
Willets, such as these at Kiowa
Wildlife Management Area,
frequently move through central
and western Nebraska during
the migrations, with some
stopping to breed.
Summer Travelers
STORY AND PHOTOS
BY JUSTIN HAAG
SHOREBIRDS SATISFY THE
ITCH FOR PHOTOG R APHING
THE FALL MIG R ATION
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Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
21
W
A lesser yellowlegs wades for food at Box Butte Wildlife
Management Area. Its bill is straighter and proportionally
shorter than that of the greater yellowlegs.
The diminutive semipalmated plover
walks on a sandbar at Kiowa Wildlife
Management Area.
hen thinking of a certain group of birds, a sporting event from a couple
years back comes to mind.
On a hot day in August my daughter and her teammates are opening their
high school volleyball season in Scottsbluff. As soon as the match is over, I shift
gears from the team’s sports shutterbug to wildlife photographer, setting up
camp at nearby Lake Minatare and trudging through mud in the dark to place a
blind along the water’s edge.
Some don’t think of August as prime time for bird photography, but it can be.
Even though the bulk of fall bird migration comes a little later, there’s one group
that’s on the move in late summer.
Shorebirds are long-distance migrants and early movers through Nebraska for
fall migration. They are attracted to the shallows and are ideal for photographing
from the water’s edge from a ground-level blind. Setting up along a shoreline to
see what birds come near is my favorite thing to do in both fall and spring.
As the group of species in the order Charadriiformes, shorebirds include
sandpipers, plovers, avocets, oystercatchers and phalaropes.
A number of these globetrotters summer in the Arctic tundra and travel to
southern South America for winter. With an aerodynamic anatomy, they don’t
take much time to get from one place to the other.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that about 20 species of shorebirds
have been recorded making nonstop flights of more than 3,100 miles. That’s just
a tad farther than a flight from Lincoln to, say, Greenland’s capitol city, Nuuk.
Yes, nonstop.
The endurance champion is the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) which
flies nonstop in excess of 6,000 miles from western Alaska to either New
Zealand or Australia. To have enough energy to make the trip, it nearly doubles
its body weight with fat reserves before leaving.
A spotted sandpiper walks near the shore at Lake Minatare.
While the origin of the bird’s name is obvious in spring, it loses
its spots outside of breeding.
A least sandpiper moves through exposed vegetation at
Walgren Lake. It’s the smallest species of shorebird in the
world weighing 1 ounce and measuring 5-6 inches long.
A Wilson’s phalarope swims at Fort Robinson State Park.
Phalaropes swim in circles to create a whirlpool that drives
invertebrates to the water’s surface.
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Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
23
OF MORE THAN 235 SPECI ES OF
SHOREB I RDS FOU N D WORLDWI DE ,
87 ARE I N TH E AM E RICAS AN D MORE
THAN 30 MOVE TH ROUG H N E B RAS KA .
A willet fuels up before making a night flight northward in spring.
A pectoral sandpiper lands at Lake Minatare, a stop on a
journey that may be as long as 18,000 miles.
Observers likely won’t see that bird flying over Nebraska as it’s not on the
long-established route, but other long distance migrants do fly over here and
many stop. The pectoral sandpiper, which breeds in upper North America and
Siberia and summers in lower South America, potentially makes a trip of more
than 18,000 miles.
Those that stop along the way from one hemisphere to the other diligently
forage to gather the fuel needed for the next leg of the journey. While there is
some variation in technique, most species have long bills and long legs, suited
for wading the shallows probing the mud or sand for invertebrates. Long toes
keep them from sinking into the substrate.
This characteristic was on full display one spring evening in the blind at Kiowa
Wildlife Management Area when I was visited by a large flock of willets (Tringa
semipalmata). As I put them to bed with a sunset photo that evening, I planned
to rejoin them the next morning. I didn’t know at the time that willets are night
travelers and they were long gone by the time I returned at first light. Migratory
birds such as willets capitalize on the cooler, calmer air of night and evade
daytime predators. They use stars and the Earth’s magnetic field for navigation.
The average shorebird might not get as much attention from people as other
species, with a mottled plumage of brown that provides excellent camouflage
but doesn’t impress upon first glance. The similar plumage among many species
can make identification a challenge. Admittedly, I often don’t know what
species I’m looking at until examining photos later. Solving the mystery is part
of the fun for me.
Of more than 235 species of shorebirds found worldwide, 87 are in the
Americas and more than 30 move through Nebraska. The Nebraska Birding
Guide website directs people to the wet meadows of the Platte Valley, shallow
lakes in the Sandhills, and wetlands and flooded fields of the Rainwater Basin
to see shorebirds. All prime locations, for sure, but I’ve encountered plenty at
farm ponds and the shores of large irrigation reservoirs in western Nebraska
when the water is low in late summer.
A greater yellowlegs searches for food at Walgren Lake in early November.
Adults of the species head south from Alaska and Canada as early as late
July, but the young-of-the-year migrate as late as mid-November.
24
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
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25
American avocets, with their attractive breeding plumage, gather at a Dawes County farm pond.
A long-billed curlew flies over the Oglala Grasslands.
Early in my career with Nebraskaland, I concealed myself under grass sheets
at a nearby farm pond in late June and was visited by a flock of incredibly
elegant American avocets (Recurvirostra americana). Dressed in their striking
breeding plumage, they entertained me at close range as they used their
upturned bills to stir the mud to reveal food. That shoot resulted in my first
cover image for a Nebraskaland calendar.
Some shorebirds are frequently encountered with little water in sight. Parts
of Nebraska serve as breeding grounds for North America’s largest shorebird,
the long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus), which, with its unmistakable
snout, is always a pleasure to see on grasslands in spring. The upland sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda) begs to be photographed as it’s standing on fence posts
along county roads. And, it seems a person never has to go far to see a killdeer
(Charadrius vociferus) and hear its familiar, shrill call. This vocal plover hangs
out not only near water, but also in dry farm fields, golf courses, gravel roads
and parking lots.
Although this special order of birds can be easy to find, they face numerous
conservation challenges. Coastal development, climate change, human
disturbance, nest disruptions and the rise of recreational activities in breeding
areas are listed among the primary threats. A recent study shows that
populations of some shorebird species have declined by more than half in the
past three decades.
That’s bad news for a person who gets the itch to photograph some birds in
late summer. Turning the tide on this shorebird population trend won’t be easy,
but, similar to trudging through the mud in the dark to set up a blind in late
August, will certainly be worthwhile. N
OPPOSITE LEFT: Morning light shines on a killdeer at Walgren Lake. The species is
encountered not only on shorelines, but also parking lots and other urban settings.
OPPOSITE RIGHT: An upland sandpiper stands on a T-post overlooking the
grasslands of northwestern Nebraska.
26
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
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27
Outdoor
Neb raska
WHAT TO DO IN AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER
By Jeff Kurrus
August and September aren’t transition months. It’s just
continuing the party in a different outdoor space using
food sources, pretty colors and the Cornhusker football
team as your guides.
N
Dead Ahead
Second Week Dove
Participate in Nebraska’s Roadkill Reporting project, aiding researchers in
identifying wildlife-crossing locations on our highways and byways. Roughly
2,500 wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported annually in Nebraska, and those
are only the incidents that result in vehicle damage. Track peak wildlife
crossing areas during your travels by uploading photo observations to the free
iNaturalist app. The information will be shared with the Nebraska Department of
Transportation and landowners to help install warning signage, design dedicated
wildlife crossings and add fencing to make road travel safer for people and wildlife.
For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “Dead Ahead.”
“The first cold snap and they’re
g o n e , ” m a ny h u n t e r s w i l l t e l l
you about mourning doves. This
i s fa r f ro m t h e t r u t h . Vi s i t t h e
OutdoorNebraska.gov “Other Small
Game” webpage to find our Mourning
D ove Hu n t i n g Fa c t S h e e t . He re
hunters will find public areas where
food plots have been planted. Revisit
these areas once most hunters have
moved on after opening day. Last
season, while scouting for October
waterfowl, I came across a food plot
that had more than a hundred doves
on it. There was not a hunter in sight.
WORDS BY BRIANNA NUGENT, PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Football
at the Parks
With today’s streaming world, it’s
pretty easy to have everything. You
can watch the Husker game at the RV
and, when the game is over, grab a
fishing rod and catch a few for supper.
Nebraska’s football team opens their
season Sept. 5, right around the
time the summer push is ending at
Nebraska’s state parks. Reserve a spot
at OutdoorNebraska.gov and project
the big game on the big screen — then
be prepared to introduce yourself to a
few new friends who just happen to be
walking by.
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Hoppers
First Fall Color
Match the hatch at many of our
p u b l i c f i s h e r i e s by wa l k i n g t h e
b a n ks a n d n e a r by f i e l d s b e fo re
wetting a line in search of hoppers.
There doesn’t seem to be a fish alive
that won’t chase a grasshopper —
whether real or artificial — including
rainbow trout in western streams to
largemouth bass statewide.
Find your first fall color at the end of
September at Nebraska’s northern parks
— including Ponca, Smith Falls and
Niobrara state parks and Long Pine and
Lewis and Clark state recreation areas.
“Green ash, walnut, Kentucky coffee,
aspen and smooth sumac will begin to
turn in normal years,” said Jeff Fields,
parks division administrator for Game
and Parks. “Paper birch and aspen” at
Smith Falls. Fields also said vines such
as poison ivy and Virginia creeper will
begin to turn red as well.
Other hardwoods, such as bur oak,
cottonwood and linden, will change in
mid-October.
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
28
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
29
Danish
Alps
State Recreation Area
Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Tent campers unwinding in the shadow of
maturing shade trees. RVers marveling at
panoramic views of Kramper Lake from camp.
Horse riders relaxing after a morning on the
trail — their horses happily grazing in corrals
nearby. The silhouette of boaters and anglers
trolling along the length of the 219-acre lake,
shimmering in the golden late-day light ...
Kramper Reservoir is a no-wake lake. It offers a 40-foot boat
launch ramp, ADA-accessible kayak launch and fishing pier.
Since opening in summer 2015, locals and travelers have
come to treasure this Dakota County park. Inspired by the
Danish pioneers who settled in the area, Danish Alps State
Recreation Area has welcomed countless morning dog
walkers, afternoon anglers and weekend warriors during its
relatively new existence.
Parkgoers who have been engaging with the area since
the beginning continue to visit because of the park’s
growing beauty and amenities.
Fishing
Designed for both the shoreline and boat angler in mind,
Kramper Lake offers a 40-foot boat launch ramp, new ADAaccessible kayak launch and fishing pier, and ample bank
fishing opportunities. A fish cleaning station was built
in 2018.
Regional Park Superintendent Tyler Wulf believes it’s
the aquatic habitat and quality fishing that makes Danish
Alps special.
“Although it’s a relatively newer established area, Danish
Alps continues to develop into a destination area for anglers.
Fishing throughout the year continues to be very successful
and popular. It has great structure, depth and diversity of
fish,” Wulf said, noting the lake reaches 45 feet deep in some
areas and is fishable year-round. The lake also sees many ice
anglers during the winter.
Sisters Christina and Ibeth Calderon are enthusiastic
anglers. On a late-summer afternoon, they caught bluegill
from the bank. The sisters love Danish Alps because it’s well
maintained, making the drive from their home near Sioux
City well worth it.
The lake also offers opportunities for keeper-size
largemouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish and walleye.
ABOVE: Aquatic habitat features, such
as three water quality basins, a wetlands
complex, rock breakwaters, underwater
shoals, tree and brush piles and
diverse water depths, encourage
fish to reproduce and grow rapidly.
RIGHT: Christina Calderon of Sioux City,
Iowa, holds a bluegill she caught.
OPPOSITE RIGHT: Sisters Ibeth (left)
and Christina Calderon fish from
the bank.
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Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
August-September 2026 •
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33
The equestrian campground offers hitching
posts, water and four horse corral options.
ABOVE: Seventeen
primitive campsites are
available on a firstcome, first-served basis.
LEFT: A Colorado
man walks his dogs
on the scenic hike-bike
trail that loops around
the lake.
Mark and Robin Heckerson of Beaver Lake
camp with their RV at one of 43 electric
plus campsites.
Camping
Nancy and Benton Shirey stopped by to camp with
their horses while on their way home to Kentucky. They
traveled to Bryce Canyon in Utah to ride, and Danish Alps
happened to be en route. First timers to the park, they rode
the 7-mile equestrian trail that loops around most of the
lake that morning and appreciated the SRA’s scenery and
quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
The equestrian campground offers 29 equestrian electric
plus campsites, hitching posts, water and four horse corral
options, one of which can hold six horses, each in their
own 6’ by 8’ pen.
On the northwestern side of the lake, husband and wife
Mark and Robin Heckerson of Beaver Lake were celebrating
Mark’s retirement. They brought their RV to the most scenic
site they could find. Though, they couldn’t go wrong with
any of the 43 electric plus sites available, each offering
amazing views.
In September 2025, Andrew and Betsy Olson of Sioux
City set up camp for family and friends they were
expecting later in the evening. The group planned on
attending Ponca State Park’s Missouri River Outdoor Expo
that weekend. Just 30 minutes south of Ponca, Danish
Alps’ primitive campground offered the group a less
crowded place to stay during one of the busiest weekends
in the area.
Plus, it’s cheaper than staying in a hotel, they said,
and tent campers will usually have no problems finding
a spot. Seventeen primitive campsites are available on
a first-come, first-served basis, and of those, five are
located on the south side of the lake and accessible only
by backpacking in on foot, canoe or kayak — perfect for
campers looking for a remote experience.
Four modern restrooms with showers are located near
campgrounds, as well as four pit toilets strategically
placed around the lake.
Other Activities
Walk off your morning or evening meal on a 5K hikebike trail. One-third of the original chip limestone trail
was concreted in May, providing 10-foot-wide ADAaccessibility in some areas. Under a cooperative agreement
between the Papio Missouri River National Resource
District and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,
more of the trail will be concreted in future years.
Three-day use areas offer ample shade, seating and
beautiful views of the water for picnicking, birthday
parties and family gatherings.
Hunting is allowed on the 250 acres south of 203rd
Street. The grassland areas hold pheasants, turkey and
quail. Other hunting opportunities include deer and
waterfowl. Regulations apply, so refer to the Nebraska
hunting guides for details.
“With its rolling hills, prairie landscapes, stunning
lake views and with the help of Nebraska’s surrounding
natural beauty, this peaceful rural area is a popular
destination for tourists, hunters and anglers alike,” said
Park Superintendent Hudson Schweers.
At Danish Alps, visitors experience the charm of
the prairie. N
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
35
b
Or
r
e
v
a
e
W
r
e
d
i
p
S
s
b
We
By Monica
Woven overnight, an orb-weaver’s web is both
a work of art and highly effective hunting tool.
AMY KUCERA
M
Wildlife E
acoubrie,
ducation S
pecialist
E
very season in Nebraska has
its markers. For me, one of the
more fascinating signs of fall isn’t
the leaves or the cooler air — it’s the sudden
appearance of perfectly spun spider webs
glistening with morning dew.
This time of year, walk through a field, your own
backyard, or even around the edge of a porch
light, and you’ll likely spot these intricate designs.
Chances are, they are the work of an orb-weaver
spider, one of the largest families of spiders with
more than 4,700 species worldwide and named for
What Is a Spider?
Masters of Web Design
Patient and Precise Hunters
Spiders belong to a group of animals
called arachnids, which also includes
scorpions, ticks and mites. Unlike
insects — which have six legs and three
body segments — spiders have eight
legs and two main body sections: the
cephalothorax (where the legs attach)
and the abdomen.
All spiders are predators, using
venom and silk to catch their prey,
though only a handful of species
worldwide pose any danger to humans.
In Nebraska, we have dozens of spider
species, ranging from tiny crab spiders
that ambush pollinators on flowers, to
wolf spiders that actively chase their
prey on the ground.
Orb-weavers are part of the “webbuilding” group of spiders. Not every
spider spins a web, but every single one
can make silk.
Orb-weaver webs are true works of
engineering. Strong yet flexible, these
webs can stretch several feet across
and are perfectly positioned to catch
anything that flies or crawls by. What’s
impressive is how carefully these spiders
build and maintain their webs. Many
orb-weavers take their webs down each
evening, consuming the silk to recycle
its proteins, then spin a fresh web by
morning. This daily routine keeps the
web sticky and functional — ready to
catch the next meal — and it also helps
repair damage caused by wind, rain or
wandering insects.
Zig-zag patterns are woven into some
webs. This is called a stabilimentum,
and scientists are still debating its
exact purpose. Some think it helps
strengthen the web; others believe it
makes the web more visible to birds, so
they don’t accidentally fly through and
destroy it. There’s also evidence that the
stabilimentum reflects ultraviolet light,
which could attract insects by mimicking
the colors of flowers. In some species,
the pattern may even serve as a sort of
warning, signaling, “Hey, I’m here!” to
other animals.
Every strand in an orb-weaver’s web
is calculated. The radial lines act like
scaffolding, the spirals are sticky trap
lines, and even the spacing of the silk can
influence which types of prey are most
likely caught.
Unlike wolf spiders or jumping
spiders that actively chase down prey,
orb-weavers are true sit-and-wait
predators perched patiently in the center
of their intricate webs. Their legs are
incredibly sensitive, able to detect the
tiniest vibration from a struggling insect,
whether it’s a fly, moth or grasshopper.
When prey wanders into the web,
the orb-weaver springs into action. It
rushes out, wraps the insect tightly
in silk and delivers a venomous bite
to subdue it. Nebraska’s orb-weavers
play a big role in keeping insect
populations in check, catching pests
like mosquitoes, leafhoppers and aphids
before they become a nuisance.
Some of the most common species
include the yellow garden spider (Argiope
aurantia) and the marbled orb-weaver
(Araneus marmoreus), which is smaller
but just as skilled at trapping insects.
their iconic wheel-shaped webs.
A yellow garden spider (Argiope
aurantia) at Wagon Train State
Recreation Area has captured a
grasshopper in its web and begun
wrapping it in silk. Photo taken at
Wagon Train State Recreation Area.
A marbled orb-weaver spider rests
on a plant. This species is sometimes
called the “pumpkin spider” because
the female’s rounded, orange
abdomen resembles a small pumpkin.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
A yellow garden spider (Argiope
aurantia) sitting on its web at Niobrara
State Park. KEN BOUC, NEBRASKALAND
MONICA MACOUBRIE
RADIAL LINE
Appreciating the Web Builders
SPIRAL LINE
An orb-weaver spider forms a web on a foggy
morning at Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management
Area in the Wildcat Hills of Scotts Bluff County.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
38
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
You can find orb-weavers in a wide range of habitats in Nebraska — from backyard gardens
and schoolyards to prairies, wetlands and forest edges. Some of the larger species, like the
yellow garden spider, are impossible to miss, while smaller spotted orb-weavers may go
unnoticed. Regardless of size, each web is a testament to the spider’s skill and persistence.
They’re living reminders of the tiny engineers sharing our world, quietly keeping insect
populations in balance and adding a touch of wonder to the landscape. N
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
39
Hamilton County Courthouse, Aurora. Built in 1895 and still a local landmark, it attracted the attention
of Wheeler County photographer John Nelson, who made and sold this stereocard, designed for a
special viewer that offered the illusion of 3D. NSHS RG3542-254-1
Custer County’s original courthouse in Callaway, shown in
the 1960s after a historical marker was placed. NSHS RG3335-5-16
The County Courthouse
F
By David L. Bristow, Nebraska State Historical Society
rontier courts often met in rented rooms, and
when a county’s first dedicated courthouse was
built, it was usually small and cheap — like Custer
County’s log cabin courthouse. But by the late 19th
century, a grand courthouse became a point of pride,
with Nebraskans eager to show their progress. Several
Nebraska counties still have their landmark courthouses
from that era.
Just as some courthouses are known for the ir
architecture, others past and present are associated with
unusual stories. Here are just a few:
Have you ever been to Orville City? It was the original
seat of Hamilton County, soon challenged by upstart
Aurora. In a series of legal battles in the 1870s, Aurora
twice defeated Orville City in county seat elections, but
the commissioners refused to move and prevailed in court.
In 1874, about 150 Aurora men descended on Orville
City and stole the county records, later grudgingly
returning them under court order. After a few more
disputed elections — rife with accusations of fraud and
40
Nebraskaland
• August-September 2026
ballot box stuffing — Aurora finally defeated both Orville
City and the town of Hamilton in early 1876.
While its rivals faded into ghost towns, Aurora spent two
years building a fine courthouse — only to see it burn down
within two decades. Today’s landmark Hamilton County
Courthouse is an 1895 replacement, a monument to the
city’s persistence.
Nebraska has many stories of county seat rivalries, but
none provided a better photo op than Box Butte County.
After Hemingford lost a county vote in 1904, Alliance men
came to remove the courthouse itself! Balancing the twoand-half-story wooden building on a Burlington Railroad
flatcar, they hauled it 20 miles to Alliance.
In downtown Omaha, the monumental Douglas County
Courthouse is not the first grand courthouse to stand on
that location. Its predecessor was smaller but more ornate
— and it stood on higher ground. A circa-1900 postcard
shows the old courthouse perched strangely atop an
earthen pyramid. Built in 1885, the courthouse in its later
years was accessible only by long stairways after a massive
Moving the Custer County Courthouse from Hemingford to Alliance, 1904. NSHS RG3152-3-1
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
41
Rioters enter the
third, and current,
Douglas County
Courthouse during
the lynching of Will
Brown, Sept. 28,
1919. NSHS RG2281-0-72
Frontier County Courthouse in
Stockville. An addition provides modern
restrooms. NSHS RG3369-5-1
The old Douglas
County Courthouse
as shown in a 1907
postcard.
NSHS RG3348-6-416
Kearney County Courthouse in Minden, decked out for the
holidays, undated postcard. NSHSRG2100-3-9
Saline County Courthouse in 1935, two years after Farm Holiday protestors held the sheriff captive. NSHS RG0813-0-400
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Nebraskaland
• August-September 2026
earth-removal project lowered the steep hills of downtown
Omaha. The remaining land was cut away when the current
courthouse was built in 1912. Both courthouses share a
grim distinction: Each saw mob lynchings of Black men
accused of rape — in 1891 and 1919.
The Saline County Courthouse in Wilber saw its own
version of civil unrest on March 13, 1933 — fortunately
without fatalities. During the Great Depression, protestors
associated with the “Farm Holiday” movement disrupted
farm foreclosure auctions by intimidating anyone from
making more than a token bid. They called it a “penny
auction.” After the property was sold for a few dollars, the
buyers would return everything to the owner.
When such a penny auction was to be held near Wilber, a
crowd of farmers, including women and children, entered
the courthouse and held the sheriff in his office to prevent
him from stopping the planned disruption of the sale.
Barricading themselves in the office, the protestors fought
with deputies until they were dispersed by tear gas. The
Lincoln Star told of “men and women alike jumping out
of windows or doors.” The leaders were later arrested
and fined.
Across Nebraska, women served on juries for many years
before Frontier County empaneled its first female jurors
in 1966. Why so late? The problem was indoor plumbing,
which the tiny courthouse lacked. Many years earlier, a
local judge had issued a rule prohibiting female jurors until
modern restroom facilities could be provided. (As if the
county’s mostly farm-and-ranch women were too delicate
to use an outhouse!) The improvement was finally made
in 1962, but several more years passed before a local case
came to trial.
And finally, in Minden, every year the Kearney County
Courthouse is strung with 12,000 Christmas lights and
hosts an outdoor pageant performed by more than a
hundred local volunteers. The light display began in 1915
and the pageant in 1946 — living traditions now older than
many of the state’s current courthouses. N
Learn more at the NSHS’s website at history.nebraska.gov
August-September 2026 •
Nebraskaland
43
Fishing at Sutherland Reservoir is a
popular sport. Jerry Vieyra of North
Platte gets the net ready to catch the
fish Robby Rowland of Lemoyne is
reeling into the boat.
Sutherland Reservoir and Lake Maloney SRAs
A TWOFOR-ONE
WEEKEND
EXCURSION
Story and Photos By Julie Geiser
It’s a two-for-one weekend, and in southwestern Nebraska, that’s an easy
task. Less than 40 minutes from each other, Sutherland Reservoir and Lake
Maloney state recreation areas offer anything an outdoor family could
desire — regardless of the time of year or the activity.
These two reservoirs were built as part of a public power and irrigation
project for water storage, hydroelectric power and irrigation for central
Nebraska known as the Sutherland Project — and they provide recreation
of all kinds.
Janee Wagner, left, and Lexus Erickson
of North Platte give the thumbs up as
their excitement builds for a tubing
experience at Lake Maloney State
Recreation Area.
American white pelicans can almost
always be seen at Sutherland Reservoir.
These birds swim together at the inlet
of the lake in an attempt to school fish
for a tasty meal.
SUTHERLAND RESERVOIR
Sutherland Reservoir, completed in 1936, was created to connect the North
Platte River with Lake Ogallala’s canal systems. It remains an important part of the
hydroelectric, irrigation and water-management system operated by the Nebraska
Public Power District. It also supplies water to cool the adjacent Gerald Gentleman
Station, which is the largest electricity-generating plant in Nebraska.
After water leaves the station, it travels down a canal to a stair-step device
resembling a waterfall that helps reduce the temperature of the water as it
descends to the Sutherland Reservoir cooling pond, before entering the main part
of the reservoir through what many locals call “the bubble.”
Wildlife
ABOVE: Getting pulled behind a boat or
personal watercraft brings a weekend
of fun at Sutherland Reservoir State
Recreation Area.
OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: Barge hunting is a
great way to successfully hunt waterfowl
at Sutherland Reservoir. Shane Freihage
and Jeremy Gilbert pull their barge into
the decoys to anchor down as Wes
Gilbert opens the barge door.
OPPOSITE MIDDLE LEFT: Fun and
camping in the sun is enjoyed by many
at Hershey Beach at Sutherland, and
there’s plenty of shade trees and water
when you feel the need to cool off.
LEFT: The bubble at Sutherland is where
the action is for fishing — fish love the
fast-moving water there. Water coming
from the cooling pond travels through
a massive underground tube structure,
creating intense pressure as it reaches
the surface of the main part of the
reservoir causing it to bubble.
In the fall, hunters utilize the reservoir in boat blinds and by bank in pursuit of
waterfowl. Then, as winter descends and the lake freezes, the bubble area remains
open and holds ducks, geese and eagles for photographers.
During the spring and fall migrations, shorebirds and songbirds — including
vireos, flycatchers, yellowlegs and sandpipers, to name a few — visit the reservoir
and congregate along the shoreline of the 3,000-acre lake.
Fishing
During the summer, anglers take advantage of the bubble, as fish are attracted
to the flowing water there. As with many reservoirs that have canal water flowing
through them, the flowing channels create drop-offs where anglers troll or anchor
to catch fish.
Sutherland is stocked with walleye, channel catfish, smallmouth bass, yellow
perch, freshwater drum and wiper, making it a prime spot for mixed-bag anglers.
Amenities
Sutherland has three campgrounds run by Game and Parks: the Inlet, Hershey
Beach and Westshore campgrounds.
The Inlet:
• 22 electric sites
• freshwater hydrants
• fire rings
• picnic tables
• a fish cleaning station
• vault latrine
Hershey Beach:
• numerous primitive
campsites with shade
and scenic views
• a popular swim beach
• vault latrines
• boat ramp
Westshore:
• boat ramp
• vault latrine
• basic camping
among the trees and
beautiful shoreline
Every area here has ample places to take a walk, rest in the shade, or sit and enjoy
the sun. Nearby attractions include a nine-hole golf course along the north shore.
46
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
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47
OPPOSITE: Kids try their
luck fishing off the dock
near sundown, hoping
the bite will be on
before night arrives.
ABOVE: Steam rolls
off the cooling pond
in winter as the sun
sets behind the Gerald
Gentleman Station.
LEFT: Waterfowl are
abundant at both
reservoirs, especially
during the spring
migration. These
brightly colored male
northern shoveler ducks
are trying to impress
the two hen ducks as
they make their way
across the water.
LAKE MALONEY
Built in 1935, Lake Maloney was formed by the construction of a large dam across
the Platte River Valley. Once excavated, this off-channel reservoir was developed to
store and regulate water flows before they are used for hydroelectric generation at
the North Platte Hydro facility run by NPPD.
These flows travel down the canal system from Sutherland Reservoir into Lake
Maloney’s inlet on the west side of the lake called Kansas Point.
Trails
At Maloney State Recreation Area, it is the scenic hike/bike trail that garners the
attention. Running adjacent to the lake, the 2.9-mile-long path is where visitors take
in the sights and view a myriad of wildlife, including deer, turkeys and songbirds.
On the Water
At 1,000-acres, visitors paddleboard, kayak, sail, swim, tube and ski while
anglers fish for channel and flathead catfish, crappie, bluegill and smallmouth
and largemouth bass. Ice anglers travel across frozen waters to take advantage of
walleye, perch and white bass during the winter, and hunters can get their fill of
waterfowl on portions of the lake.
Amenities
Lake Maloney has two camping areas, Kansas Point and the Outlet (main
camping area). These areas offer different views of the lake and a nearby public
golf course.
Kansas Point:
• 54 electrical campsites
• vault latrines
• fire rings
• picnic tables
• fish cleaning station
• freshwater hydrants
• new fishing pier and fishing walkway
completed in 2025
As the water continues its way through the lake, it flows to the Outlet area
before traveling down the canal system. The Outlet has its own set of conveniences
and is a great place to walk your dog, view wildlife, fish or enjoy the view from a
lawn chair.
Outlet Area:
• over 60 basic camping sites
• shower facilities
• day-use areas under shade trees
• fire rings
• picnic tables
• a playground
• freshwater hydrants
• swim beach
• two boat ramps
• fish cleaning station
• dump station
Jaycee Park is a day-use area located on the south side of the lake that includes a
swim beach, picnic area, vault pit latrine and a disc golf course which is a popular,
more secluded place for recreation.
While a family can pull a two-for-one and visit both parks on a weekend,
it becomes quickly apparent upon arrival that spending an entire weekend
at one location is better than splitting your time between two spots. And it
gives you reason to visit the other area the next time you find yourself in
southwestern Nebraska. N
LEFT TOP: Fishing from the bank at
Lake Maloney is sure to land some fish,
especially during the annual Carp-O-Rama
event.
LEFT BOTTOM: Gabe Geiser, left, along
with his dad, Dillon, and little brother,
Beckett, walk the jetty at Lake Maloney
SRA with rods and reels in hand.
OPPOSITE TOP: The main camping area,
called the Outlet Area, at Lake Maloney
SRA provides ample camping spots
under the shade trees or in the sun.
With over 60 basic camping sites, there’s
a place for everyone.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Catamarans and
sailboats make good use of the breeze
to travel across the water at Lake
Maloney.
BELOW: The opposite side of the dam at
Lake Maloney provides a steep place to
sled when snow covers the ground.
BOTTOM: Lake Maloney is a popular
place for ice anglers in winter. At times,
the area resembles a small village of ice
huts on the frozen lake.
ANTLER
ANALYTICS:
The Science and Symmetry
of Deer Antlers
By Brian Peterson
PHOTOS BY RYAN HOLT, NEBRASKALAND
52
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
A
ntlers are fast-growing, costly-to-produce
appendages that are shed and regrown
annually. Like most structures in nature,
antler development in most deer species
is genetically coded to grow perfectly symmetrical on
both the right and left sides. A deer’s antlers reflect an
individual’s health and condition, with size and shape
influenced by genetics, age and nutrition.
Interestingly, one notable exception to perfect antler
symmetry in the deer family is found in caribou, also
known as reindeer. Unlike all other common deer species,
their antlers display noticeable asymmetry with the
Abnormal antler growth on the left likely resulted
from genetics or a limb injury, while the deformed
antler on the right was caused by damage to the
pedicle or skull plate.
left antler typically larger than the right, with features
such as the shovel, or brow tine, showing the largest
variation in size.
While antler shape is primarily due to genetic factors,
antler size is more directly related to nutrition and age.
Asymmetry occurs in all deer species at varying degrees,
often due to stressors experienced prior to and during antler
development. These stressors may be environmental
or biological, including climate, pollutants, pathogens,
nutrition, disease, predation, competition, parasites and
insects. These stressors can negatively impact health
which redirects energy away from normal growth.
August-September 2026 •
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PHOTOS BY RYAN HOLT, NEBRASKALAND
UG3
G3
UG4
UG2
G4
BCG4
G2
H4
BPG4
BCG3
H3
BPG3
G1
UG1
BCG2
BAG1
BPG2
BCG1
UMB1
H1
BPG1
H2
MBL
ILLUSTRATION BY DYLAN RILEY
Skull with normal antler
pedicles post antler
shedding.
Mechanical and physical injuries further contribute to
asymmetry. For example, injuries during velvet, insect
damage or damage to the pedicle or skull plate can disrupt
growth, dramatically impacting antler size and shape.
Leg injuries can cause major to minor antler asymmetries,
known as contralateral asymmetry, which disrupts the
transfer of nutrients toward the growing antler side
opposite the injured leg, often resulting in abnormal antler
shape and size.
To better understand antler symmetry in Nebraska’s
white-tailed deer herd, we conducted a long-term study
within the Central Platte River Valley. Our research
focused on naturally shed antlers which provided us with
a unique opportunity to evaluate the final state of antler
54
Nebraskaland • August-September 2026
Skull with abnormal antler
growth which prevented
antler shedding on one side
likely due to pedicle, skull
injury or brain abscess.
pairs following growth, rubbing and fighting damage. We
studied more than 200 antler pairs and evaluated both
standard Boone and Crockett Club as well as a suite of novel
antler measurements to determine the most symmetric
measurements between each antler, while additionally
determining symmetric differences between ages. Our
measurements included main beam length, tine lengths,
antler points, main beam and antler tine circumferences,
tine branching angles, pedicle depth and shape, antler
mass, total score and the branching point of each tine.
We found that the most symmetric measurements
between antler sides included main beam length, pedicle
seal area and the initial main beam and tine circumferences.
The least symmetric and most inconsistent measurements
Like a fingerprint,
each buck’s pedicle
seal has a unique
appearance. While
pedicle seal depth
varied mathematically,
it remained visually
symmetrical between
antlers. The examples
shown illustrate
concave (top) and
convex (bottom)
pedicle seal bases,
unique to each
individual.
included total points and antler tine lengths. Measurements
like tine branching angles and pedicle seal depth showed
low mathematical symmetry but had strong visual
symmetry, unique to each buck like a fingerprint.
Interestingly, we found the antlers of older deer were
more symmetrical than younger deer for more than 90%
of the measurements investigated. These findings suggest
that older, stronger or the most fit bucks are more suited to
cope with and buffer out environmental stressors during
antler development than younger individuals resulting in
more symmetric antlers.
Investigating antler symmetry is a valuable tool to
understand the developmental impacts of environmental
stressors such as habitat quality, individual health and
Main Beam Length - MBL
Antler Tine Circumference - BCG
Antler Points - G
Tine Branching Angle - BAG
Tine Length - UG
Branching Point of Each Tine - BPG
Main Beam Circumference - H
competition within deer populations. By researching
these patterns, we can get a snapshot of the ecological
and physiological forces behind antler development,
highlighting the intricate balance between environmental
conditions, health, age and genetics in shaping one
of nature’s most fascinating and fastest-growing
structures. N
Brian Peterson is a biologist and online academic program
advisor for the Masters of Science Biology Program at
the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He and UNK
undergraduate student Bryce Sutton’s published research
focused on white-tailed deer antler development and growth.
For more information, contact petersonbc@unk.edu.
August-September 2026 •
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Mixed Bag
One for the Bird Nerds: A merlin (Falco columbarius) eats on a fencepost in York County.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
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Nebraskaland • August-Spetember 2026
See story on page 60.
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Mixed Bag
The ‘Birdnerd’
Jason St. Sauver
By Julie Thomas
Self-nicknamed the “Birdnerd,”
Jason St. Sauver has inspired countless
young learners with his knowledge on
environmental and outdoor science.
He is the senior education manager at
Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center in
Denton, and his educational programs
invite people of all ages to develop
personal connections with nature.
Jason remembers being an outdoor
kid who loved tunneling in the snow
and hunting and fishing in South
Dakota. He credits his grandmother
for introducing him to birding. She
kept a bird feeder outside her kitchen
window and gave him his first
“Golden Field Guide.” Although he
could recognize common birds already,
one day he asked his grandmother to
help him identify a bird he couldn’t
name. At her urging to “use your
book!”, Jason identified the dark-eyed
junco by himself — the “spark bird”
that hooked him on birding.
Jason’s father, an avid sportsman,
a l s o h e l p e d s h a p e h i s s o n’s
understanding of outdoor ethics.
His father often brought Jason to
sportsman club meetings, and at one
memorable session, the speaker, from
the South Dakota Game and Parks
Association, shared a series of photos
to help hunters identify the many
ducks that move through the pothole
region of South Dakota and Minnesota.
As Jason remembers, he was “totally
the know-it-all-kid” who identified
every bird.
By age 12, Jason had become an
avid birder — someone who was
increasingly interested in identifying
and listing bird species.
60
Jason always liked lists. Even as
a young boy, he listed things that
interested him in close detail, such
as Matchbox car race records and
radio’s Top 40 songs. And he didn’t
just list songs — he also sang them
and recalls “performing” with the
help of his mother’s electric skillet
cord that he used as a microphone. By
high school, Jason’s interests focused
on music and theater, which led to a
brief stint in New York City.
Jason double majored in zoology and
music theater. Afterward, he worked
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in
Massachusetts banding and surveying
water and forest birds. One day, a
local bird expert — who specialized in
identifying birds by their song — asked
Jason if he knew he was singing back
to the birds. In short time, Jason came
Nebraskaland • August-Spetember 2026
to realize his new work in conservation
helped link his interests in science and
music. His music training became a
unique asset in birding.
Today, Jason leads birding hikes
a n d t ra i n s S p r i n g C re e k s ta f f,
volunteers and guests to identify
birds by song. He is a proud Nebraska
birder who has listed bird sightings
in every county in the state, a very
“nerdy” thing to do.
Julie Thomas is a University of
Nebraska-Lincoln professor emerita
and a Nebraska Master Naturalist. To
celebrate our history of conservation
storytelling, Nebraskaland will feature
experts who have made a difference
for Nebraska’s wildlife and wild places.
Without their work, Nebraskaland
writers would have fewer stories to tell.
August-September 2026 •
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Mixed Bag
Beebalms’
Minty Monoterpenes
By Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
Few Nebraska native plants can match beebalms for
fragrance. Crush the leaves or flowers of these mints
and you release a burst of aroma from compounds called
monoterpenes. Those same compounds give beebalms their
distinct flavor when brewed as tea or used as a culinary
herb or garnish.
Plains beebalm forms a colorful colony in mixed-grass prairie at Fort Robinson State Park.
Nebraska’s Native Beebalms
The annual Plains beebalm (Monarda pectinata) grows
in open, sandy habitats across the western two-thirds of
Nebraska, especially in the Sandhills. Our other native
beebalm, the perennial Monarda fistulosa, is called
simply beebalm or wild bergamot and occurs statewide in
grasslands, woodland edges and roadsides.
A Nebraska botanist described the fragrance of these
beebalms as “strong, pleasant but somewhat medicinal,”
adding that wild bergamot sometimes smelled of roses
and lemons. Their scent comes from monoterpene-rich oils
stored in tiny, hair-like glands on the leaves and flowers.
Rub the leaves or flowers and the glands rupture, releasing
volatile oils and pleasant scents. Besides mints, other plant
families also produce monoterpenes. In citrus fruits, for
example, squeezing the rind releases oils rich in limonene
creating a bright, citrusy odor.
Three monoterpenes — geraniol, carvacrol and thymol —
are most common in Nebraska beebalms. Their abundance
varies by region, possibly as an adaptation to local
climate, herbivores or pollinators. This variation produces
differences in smell and taste. Plants rich in geraniol, for
example, smell sweet and lemony, while those high in
carvacrol or thymol have a sharper, oregano-like scent.
With practice, these differences can be detected by smell
alone. The Pawnee, for instance, named two strains of wild
bergamot based on aroma: one, “tsusahtu,” meaning “illsmelling”; and another, “parakaha,” meaning “fragrant.”
Monoterpenes serve several roles in plants. Their strong
aroma and taste can deter insect and mammal herbivores.
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Nebraskaland • August-Spetember 2026
Plains beebalm flowers emit a sweet, minty fragrance that is
most pronounced on warm, sunny days.
native bees and butterflies are the main pollinators of
beebalm flowers.
Grown in open, sunny sites, Plains beebalm and wild
bergamot make attractive ornamentals. Easily established
from seed or young plants, the hardy plants, adapted to
the rigors of the prairie, need little care. Their long-lasting
blooms will keep a garden abuzz with bees and butterflies
for weeks.
Drawn to Beebalms
Wild bergamot flowers bloom in July and August. Crushed
flowers remain fragrant even when dry in winter.
Eucalyptol, linalool and thymol are antimicrobial and
antifungal, helping protect plants after injury or attack.
Released into the air, monoterpenes can also act as signals,
attracting beneficial pollinators and predatory insects that
feed on plant pests. In Nebraska, bumble bees, smaller
Their fragrant monoterpenes have long drawn people
to beebalms. On the social side, Plains tribes gathered the
flowers of both Nebraska species and mixed them with
water to make a perfume sprinkled on the hair. For medicine,
tribes prepared teas and poultices to treat ailments
including insect bites and stings, headaches, colds and
coughs, and stomach troubles. The Winnebago boiled the
leaves and applied them to pimples, while the Blackfeet
bound flower heads over burst boils until they healed.
Human curiosity about monoterpenes’ medicinal value
continues as researchers experiment with them to inhibit
tumor growth and ease respiratory congestion.
As food and drink, tribes used beebalm leaves and
flowers to make minty teas and to season beans, meats and
stews. Today, food enthusiasts often favor the milder, more
pleasantly flavored wild bergamot over other beebalms.
Carrying on Native traditions, they use it in refreshing teas
and, in contemporary cuisine, to infuse flavor into liqueurs,
ice cream, syrup and flower jelly. Fresh leaves can garnish
soups and salads or be used in marinades and vinaigrettes.
Some refer to bergamot as the “pizza plant” because it
pairs so well with tomato sauce. Dried leaves make a good
substitute for oregano or thyme in foods ranging from bread
dough to sausage. Perhaps this justifies adding beebalms to
your herb garden.
In “Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie,” ethnobotanist
Kelly Kindscher notes that wild bergamot varies greatly
in taste depending on the variety and the time of year it is
harvested. The early leaves are the best substitute for mint
tea, the later leaves before the plants flower make the best
oregano-tasting seasoning, and the old leaves, which can
be tough and are the hottest, can be used in hot sauce.
However you enjoy beebalms — whether for the flight of
their pollinators, the aroma of crushed leaves or the minty
kick of their tea — remember to thank the monoterpenes.
Minty, wild bergamot tea made from young, green leaves.
August-September 2026 •
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Mixed Bag
Threatened
and Endangered –
Blacknose Shiner
By Ruby Micek
Nebraska lists 32 species of plants and animals as
threatened or endangered. The blacknose shiner (Notropis
heterolepis) is listed as endangered and can be found in
the northwest amid sandy-bottomed, cool-water rivers
and streams.
From a bird’s eye view, you’d barely see the winding strip
of water as it cuts through the Sandhills. Grasses and sedges
hang over its edge obscuring it from view with only its silverreflecting pools giving its presence away overhead. Even more
inconspicuous is a small minnow in the cool water along the
stream’s edge. Just two inches long, the blacknose shiner’s
yellowish back and white underbelly disguises it within the
sandy-bottomed stream. Setting it apart from other shiners is
a stripe of black crescents running from nose-tip to tail along
its side. Its edges shimmer with gold-flecked scales.
Listed as endangered in 2000, the blacknose shiner is
considered a glacial relict in our state. This tiny fish likely
thrived during the last ice age. But, as the glaciers melted,
this fish quickly found itself on the fringes of its range
trapped in the few cool, clear-water streams left in the
glacier’s retreat.
Already squeezed into a small range, these shiners were
pushed to the brink by decreased water quality, quantity
and overall warming water due to longer, hotter summers.
To help combat their decline, today’s conservation efforts
focus on promoting stream-friendly farming and grazing
practices like establishing water sources for livestock away
from sensitive prairie streams and leaving buffer strips
along stream edges when planting crops. With the spread of
conservation efforts improving water quality and quantity
across our state, we are hopeful these little fish have a “cool”
future ahead of them.
For more information on Nebraska’s threatened and
endangered species, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov.
The blacknose shiner was listed as endangered in Nebraska in 2000.
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Portraits from the Past
Best Shot in the Family, 1943
My mother, Joy (Loft)
Elstermeier, was the “best shot”
in the family. This picture was
taken in 1943 while she was
hunting with her brother, Dan
Loft, and her husband, Hamie
Elstermeier, north of Ord. She
used a vintage Iver Johnson
matted rib 12-gauge shotgun. I
learned to hunt with that same
gun in the 1960s, and I still use it
when I hunt today.
– Robin Elstermeier, St. Paul
Mixed-Bag Hunt, 1990
Hunting in Butler and Platte counties with The Explorers Outdoor Club on
Nov. 30, 1990, for a mixed-bag hunt. Game bagged included 19 pheasants, nine
cottontail rabbits, 32 quail, six squirrels and seven jackrabbits. Front row:
Marvin Roubal, Jeremy Roubal, James Groene, Jim Gilliam and Larry Plasek.
Back row: Richard Masek, John Andel, Eugene Andel, Larry Polivka, Larry
Polivka Jr., Roger Koke and James Plasek.
– John Andel, Bruno
Pheasant Limit, 1961
Terrance J. Feeken, 19 years old, shot
this limit of pheasants in a cornfield
north of his parents’ farm east of
Dorchester in November 1961.
– Gary Koci, Lincoln
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, Nebraskaland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 685030370. Or e-mail to Jenny.Wheatley@Nebraska.gov. Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor
activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have been taken before 2006. We will give
priority to unusual photos or activities. When possible, please include a story about the photograph and
identify the people, places and approximate date it was taken. Text may be edited and photos adjusted for
reproduction. All photos will be returned. Please send ORIGINALS if possible for best reproduction.
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The Last Stop
The Pink Flamingos
By Julie Geiser
The Last Stop Revisited
Tree Skull
By Eric Fowler
Pink Flamingos from left to right: Lona Clarey, Tam Schlueter, Carla Carda and Connie Thomas, all of Hastings.
If you spot a flock of pink flamingos at a state park, don’t worry. They are
simply there to put a smile on your face.
In 2018, Tam Schlueter of Hastings wanted to spread a little more joy to park
areas that she, her husband Sam, their dog Rolly and other fun-loving friends
went each summer, nicknaming these trips “Glampalooza.”
And that’s where the shenanigans began. Tam and her friends began
dressing up in large, pink, inflated flamingo costumes. They wore sparkled
flamingo glasses with pink, feathered boas around the necks. They filled bags
with toys and trinkets, then danced their way through park areas — including
Fort Kearny State Recreation Area — to their own music.
“I am grateful more than I can describe,” Tam said, whose group continues
this tradition today. “Glampalooza is all about spreading joy in an all-toochaotic world. It’s about friendship and snort-laughs and silly foolishness, and
knowing that, regardless of what you might be facing, you have a flock of pals
to share the journey.”
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Nebraskaland • August-Spetember 2026
I was taught long ago to never assume anything. I forgot that rule when I wrote
“Tree Skull” for the May issue of Nebraskaland, in which I didn’t just get one fact
wrong, but two.
The story accompanied a photo of a skull hanging in a pawpaw tree at Indian Cave
State Park. I spotted it in 2018 while checking camera traps I had set there in hopes
of capturing a photo of a mountain lion. Sam Wilson, the Game and Parks furbearer
biologist, was hoping for more than photos. He wanted to trap the lion and place a
radio collar on it. To up his odds, and mine, he dragged dozens of road-killed deer to
that area of the park for bait. When I spotted the skull, I instantly assumed it was
the skull from one of those deer, began looking for the best composition for a photo,
and never closely inspected the skull in person or in my photos. And everyone I
showed the photo to assumed I knew what I was talking about.
When 16-year-old Eli Cox of Burwell was reading the issue and came to the
photo, he said “Cool coyote skull,” and then read the article to find my mistake. His
mother, Hanna, said they doubted him, but should have known better. Eli spends
his winters trapping and skins and tans the hides of the animals he catches. He
even has a colony of dermestid beetles to clean skulls that fill a shelf in their home.
Included in that collection is a coyote skull that proved he was right.
It gets worse for me. I assumed and wrote that the tree had sprouted beneath
the skull and lifted it off the forest floor. Long-time subscriber Larry Williams of
Lincoln wrote and let me know that tree branches do not grow higher as a tree ages:
They remain at the height they sprouted from the trunk.
Friend and former co-worker Mike Groenewold confirmed Williams’ point and
gave me the same biology lesson he shared with school children during his 40 years
as a Game and Parks horticulturist. “A tree doesn’t grow out of the forest floor like
Jack and the Beanstalk,” Groenewold said. “Say I’m a tree and you drove a nail in
my belly button. In 10 years, how high would that nail be?” The answer is exactly
the same height. “Apparently someone just hung it in the pawpaw at that height is
how I would explain it,” Groenewold said.
Groenewold did say I was correct on one point. Trees add a layer of tissue every
year ... like putting another glove on your hand … and the circumference of the tree
likely outgrew that of the coyote’s (note the correction) eye socket, breaking the
bone and sending the skull back to the forest floor.
Like every publication, we strive for accuracy at Nebraskaland. Sometimes,
mistakes happen, and we run corrections. This isn’t my first. I’ll try to make it my last.
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