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The Wildlife Conservation Fund supported many new
projects this year that focused on creating opportunities for
people to connect with the wildlife around them whether
at a park, at home, or at the office. Wildlife viewing is one of
the fastest growing outdoor recreation activities with 54%
of adults participating in this activity nationwide (DOI,
USFWS, 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation). It is important to reach
this growing audience to foster those personal connections
to nature, which are the foundation for garnering support
for wildlife conservation.
•
Bluebirds Across Nebraska (BAN) received a Watchable
Wildlife Grant for building and installing three Chimney
Swift towers across the state. With fewer chimneys on
new homes and higher competition for tree cavities by
the invasive European Starling, these towers will provide
suitable nesting and roosting sites for Chimney Swifts.
Members from BAN worked with Game and Parks staff to
erect two towers at Schramm Park State Recreation Area
and one at Ponca State Park. Visitors to these parks can
enjoy this unique opportunity to watch these fast birds
fly in and out of the towers during the summer nesting
season and during fall migration when the swifts roost in
the towers.
•
Omaha Public Power District and Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission installed a webcam above an Osprey
nest at Fort Calhoun Station near the Missouri River.
Ospreys have a similar conservation success story to the
Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, after the widespread use
of the pesticide, DDT, negatively affected all three species.
With the ban of DDT and help of artificial nest platforms,
Ospreys are recovering. This summer, people tuned in to
Creating New
Connections to Wildlife
Olivia DaRugna, Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Continued on page 8
Chimney Swift nesting tower and interpretive sign near
the entrance to Ponca State Park. PHOTO BY OLIVIA DARUGNA
Ospreys starting to build nest on artificial nesting
platform. BOB GRIER, NEBR ASK ALAND
