OutdoorNebraska

20 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • 2016 Annual Report P E R E G R I N E F A L C O N R E H A B A N D R E L E A S E The peregrine falcons that call Nebraska's Capitol building home had a memorable 2016 nesting season. The pair welcomed five eggs into their nest box in early April, with only one egg hatching in May. The apparent infertility of four eggs was believed to be due to the advanced age of the pair. Shortly after the one egg hatched, the male adult was found injured in north Lincoln with what Fontenelle Forest's Raptor Recovery determined was a dislocated elbow. The female adult raised the young falcon, which was named "Dinan," by herself and it fledged in late June. The name honors John J. Dinan, former Game and Parks nongame bird program manager, who was instrumental in initiating the peregrine falcon projects at the Nebraska Capitol and WoodmenLife Tower. After several months in rehab, the male was released at the Capitol in October and appears to be thriving. W I L D L I F E M A N A G E M E N T A R E A A C Q U I S I T I O N S B E N E F I T W I L D L I F E Acquisition of land for use as wildlife management areas (WMA) is increasingly important to conserve important wildlife habitats and to provide hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities. It also provides the public with an opportunity to experience wildlife and their habitats within a natural outdoor environment, enhance wildlife, fish and plant species and conserve natural plant and wildlife species. In a state that is 97 percent privately owned, acquiring land for consumptive and non-consumptive outdoor recreation is essential to Game and Parks' goal of providing diverse outdoor opportunities. In 2016, Game and Parks acquired additions to three existing WMAs, traded for land on two areas and acquired a new WMA. Acres were acquired on Ayr Lake WMA in Adams County and an acre-for-acre land trade occurred on Whitefront WMA in Clay County, which are both wetland areas and provide more options for waterfowl management. Acres were acquired on Chat Canyon WMA in Cherry County, and Ponderosa WMA and Chadron Creek WMA in Dawes County, as well as an acre-for-acre land trade on Gilbert-Baker WMA in Sioux County that will add elk and deer habitat to these areas. In Knox County, 998 acres were acquired along the Missouri River floodplain to establish the Niobrara Confluence WMA. This area, located at the mouth of the Niobrara River, borders the Missouri and contains off-river wetland habitat to create excellent hunting, trapping and fishing prospects. This area adjoins Niobrara State Park and Bazile Creek WMA, forming a 6,730-acre complex for multiple uses. THE MALE PEREGRINE FALCON "19/K" HUNTING PHEASANT AND QUAIL AT CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM FIELD (ENROLLED IN THE OPEN FIELDS AND WATERS PROGRAM) IN LANCASTER COUNTY

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