Friday, May 31, 2013

Vertical Structures Fragment Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat


Learn About Efforts to Link the Habitat Back Together in New Mexico

Scientists researching the population declines of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken say the bird's habitat has been damaged by the addition of vertical structures and human activity including road-building, oil and gas development, and mesquite and other woody invasives. All of these features lead to habitat fragmentation. Learn more about the bird’s aversion to vertical structures and conservation efforts to link their habitat back together. Listen to the latest episodes of Playa Country, a 4½-minute weekly radio show, to learn more about the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, or visit the Playa Country webpage to learn about other topics.

Grazing Considerations in the Midst of Drought


By David J. Kraft
 State Rangeland Management Specialist
Natural Resources Conservation Service

Is it over yet? A question often heard being asked during the past two growing seasons. For most of us either directly or indirectly involved with the management of grazing lands, this question seems to occupy our thoughts and minds. As we struggle to make sound decisions during the drought with hopefully a favorable growing season in front of us, keep in mind that these grazing lands have endured drought before and most likely will again. The decisions we make prior to, during, and in the recovery period of a drought do and will have lasting impacts.
The current drought can cause stress to both the land and its manager. While we have limited control over the weather, we do have total control of our decisions and actions. Stress can be escalated when we fail to choose in advance actions to take when the climate provides less than we hope for.
So where does a person start? One of the best initial actions you as a manager can take is to make sure a forage inventory, animal inventory, and grazing plan is in place for the land you operate. The plan should include realistic goals which address the direction of your management and a hope of what your land will be in the future. If you haven't completed these items, this is the first step to take in better understanding your land and its capabilities.
Next, ask yourself, "What can I do now, as a manager, to address the current climatic impact or an impact which inevitably is in our future?" Walk through the three steps below.
1. Evaluate the condition of the rangeland in comparison to what is desired for it to be. Are production, species composition, and vigor, still positive? Is grazing management and goals such as wildlife habitat in balance?
2. Have a sound understanding of the desirable plants which are present and what their needs are.
3. Answer the question: "Is the management which I am now applying allowing for sustainability or improvement, or is the direction moving away from my desired plant community?"
Quick answers to those questions will most likely lead you to realize that you may or may not need to make adjustments in your management. We as managers tend to treat the symptom rather than the cause. For example, we are likely to address undesirable plant species, commonly referred to as weeds, by spraying the entire plant community rather than the management that allowed for their presence. In doing so, we remove many native plants which are positive contributors to the plant community as a whole.
Finally, ask yourself, "What are some positive actions I can take to address present concerns?" Some items to consider are listed below.
▪ Take a close look at stocking rates and amount of vegetation being removed through the course of the growing season.
▪ Increase rest or recovery from grazing for plants during the growing season.
▪ Identify actions that relieve stress to plant communities and can be implemented at the onset of drought or continuation of drought. Actions may include destocking, early weaning, culling lower importance animals within the herd, etc.
▪ Gain a better understanding of what average rainfall is for the area you manage and how the precipitation received affects forage production and plant response.
▪ Focus on decisions directed towards long-term sustainability and improvement rather than short-sighted goals.
Presently, ranchers across the Great Plains have developed and are implementing drought plans. Most are hoping for improved conditions, but realize that we live in a location susceptible to drought and are always one good rain away from possibility.
For more information or help developing a grazing management plan, contact David Kraft, State Rangeland Management Specialist for the Kansas Natural Resources Conservation Service, at 620-343-7276, ext. 105, ordavid.kraft@ks.usda.gov

Thursday, May 30, 2013

The Bison: American Icon Opens at Symphony in the Flint Hills in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas





















Photo from <http://www.konza.ksu.edu/keep/sci_adventures/bison/1_bison.htm>

The Bison: American Icon will be on exhibit from June 18 through August 10, 2013 with a special preview during the weekend of the rodeo June 6-8. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc., is located at 331 Broadway, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.  Call 620-273-8955 for more information.

The following is the extremely informative press release form Sandy Dorsey.

Cottonwood Falls, Kan. Few animals conjure the power and symbolic presence of the North American bison. Whether painted on a tipi or an artist’s canvas, minted on a nickel, or seen grazing in Yellowstone National Park, the image of the bison stirs in us deep loyalties to the North American landscape. Wild and fundamental, the bison is a familiar part of our shared heritage. 

The Bison: American Icon, a new exhibition opening June 18 at Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc., explores the meaning and significance of this iconic creature from the Plains Indian culture of the 1800s through the commercial and national symbol of the present. Along the way, The Bison charts the dramatic changes that occurred to the creature and its habitat, and to the people who depended on it for their daily existence.

The exhibition opens with a primary mystery: For thousands of years until the early 1860s, there were tens of millions of bison roaming the plains of North America. By 1890, there were fewer than 300.  What happened? Centered on this question, The Bison explores the “before” and “after” of the bison’s dramatic decline. It also shows how the bison’s seeming extinction was ultimately averted by conservationists. In charting this positive outcome, the exhibition explores the many ways that the bison’s identity was transformed yet again into a symbol of America and a popular image.

Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc., has partnered with Chase County organizations to provide several activities on July 6, during The Bison Grand Opening.  The public is invited to spend the day in the Flint Hills enjoying free community events on Saturday, July 6.  At 1:30 p.m. at Pioneer Bluffs near Matfield Green, Mary Buster will portray Florella Brown Adair in a first-person performance about life in the midst of the Civil War. In the performance, Adair will share family stories of her brother, John Brown, and of the dangerous times for abolitionists that define "Bleeding Kansas." Buster is Adair's great-great-granddaughter; the events in her performance are drawn from Adair's letters passed down through the family. At Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc., Annie Wilson and The Tallgrass Express will perform from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

The Bison: American Icon will be on exhibit from June 18 through August 10, 2013 with a special preview during the weekend of the rodeo June 6-8. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Symphony in the Flint Hills, Inc., is located at 331 Broadway, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.  Call 620-273-8955 for more information.

About The Bison: American Icon
The Bison: American Icon has been made possible by NEH on the Road, a special initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibit was originally developed by the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, and co-curated by Anne Morand and Dr. Lynne Spriggs. This exhibit is toured by Mid-America Arts Alliance through NEH on the Road. NEH on the Road offers an exciting opportunity for communities of all sizes to experience some of the best exhibitions funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Mid-America Arts Alliance was founded in 1972 and is the oldest regional nonprofit arts organization in the United States. For more information, visit www.maaa.org or www.nehontheroad.org

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Birding Big Year Competition Sign-up Still Open


It’s not too late to sign up for the Kansas Birding Big Year competition

Birders can still sign up for the 2013 Kansas Birding Big Year, a competition where participants attempt to observe as many species of birds as they can within the borders of Kansas. Unlike other “big year” competitions that span the U.S. in a calendar year, participants in the Kansas Birding Big Year can compete any time now through Dec. 31, 2013.
“The real driving force behind this competition is getting folks into the Kansas outdoors to enjoy nature and the fun wildlife watching opportunities available,” said KDWPT wildlife education coordinator Mike Rader. “We also hope this competition will help show folks just how many different kinds of birds either migrate through or call Kansas home.”
Participants can compete in one of three categories: youth (16 and under), adult (17-64), and senior (65 and up) by logging their data into the online service, eBird, available on the Cornell University web site,www.ebird.org. Winners from each category will receive prizes to be awarded next January. Event sponsors include Acorn Naturalists, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Bushnell, and Walmart.
Participants must register for the competition, at http://ksoutdoors.com/birding-big-year or by emailing Rader at mike.rader@ksoutdoors.com. To compete, birders will submit their list totals online. Birds must be observed within Kansas boundaries, and must be species accepted by the Kansas Bird Records Committee of the Kansas Ornithological Society. Qualified birds must be alive, wild and unrestrained, and diagnostic field marks must be seen, and/or heard and documented by the recorder.

Kansas State Parks Offer Multitude of Events this June


Visiting a local state park this summer can be fun and easy on the wallet

It’s summertime and Kansas state parks are gearing up with events for everybody under the sun. From fishing tournaments to music festivals, and Kids Days galore, Kansans are sure to find something fun and exciting to do this June at a Kansas state park.
Listed below are a variety of events being held this June at Kansas state parks. For more information on a specific event, please contact the respective state park. State park contact information can be found atwww.ksoutdoors.com by clicking “State Parks / Locations.”
June 1
National Trail Day
Free Fishing Day – Statewide
Kids Free Fishing Derby – Pomona State Park (Boat Ramp #2)
Hillsdale Music Festival (May 31 and June 1) ­– Hillsdale State Park
USD 365 Endowment Association Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk – Prairie Spirit Trail State Park
OK Kids Day – Prairie Dog State Park (Keith Sebelius Reservoir)
OK Kids Day – Meade State Park
Trail Clean Up – Clinton State Park
9th Annual Youth Fishing Tournament – Glen Elder State Park
Governor's Flint Hills Freedom Ride and Motorcycle Show – Starts at Capital in Topeka, Ends at Council Grove
Catfish Chasers Fishing Tournament – Eisenhower State Park (Melvern Reservoir)
Youth Archery Day – Eisenhower State Park
June 2
Free Fishing Day – Statewide
Kids Fishing Derby – Lovewell State Park
JUNE 8
National “Get Outdoors” Day
OK Kids Day – Lake Scott State Park (South of Beach House)
Kids Ironman (Kids triathlon) – Clinton State Park
Kansas Draft Horse & Mule Association Driving Clinic – Boulder Bluff Arena, El Dorado State Park. (Open to public).
Field Coursing Dog Run –?Clinton State Park
JUNE 9
Ironman Triathlon – Clinton State Park
Fishstix Bowfishing Tournament – Eisenhower State Park (Arrow Rock Boat Ramp)
JUNE 10
Fishstix Bowfishing Tournament – Eisenhower State Park (Arrow Rock Boat Ramp)
JUNE 15
Youth Fishing Derby – Cedar Bluff State Park
Youth Scavenger Hunt – Cedar Bluff State Park
Kansas Bass Nation Fishing Tournament –?Wilson State Park (Hell Creek Boat Ramp)
Kids Outdoor Adventure and Free Park Entrance Day – Cedar Bluff State Park. (Camping and utility permits still apply).
Vango Fundraiser – Clinton State Park
OK Kids Day/Free Park Entrance – Wilson State Park
JUNE 16
Kansas Bass Nation Fishing Tournament –?Wilson State Park (Hell Creek Boat Ramp)
Kansas Walleye Association Fishing Tournament – Eisenhower State Park
Wild Within You 5K and 15K Hell Creek on Heels Trail Run?– Wilson State Park (Switchgrass Trail)
June 23
Triathlon Race?– El Dorado State Park (Walnut River Area)
June 27
Country Stampede Music Festival – Tuttle Creek State Park
June 28
Country Stampede Music Festival – Tuttle Creek State Park
June 29
Rocky Mountain Team Series Fishing Tournament?– Wilson State Park (Hell Creek Boat Ramp)
Country Stampede Music Festival – Tuttle Creek State Park
Water Safety Event/Jet ski Simulator – Kanopolis State Park
June 30
Rocky Mountain Team Series Fishing Tournament?– Wilson State Park (Hell Creek Boat Ramp)
Country Stampede Music Festival – Tuttle Creek State Park

Firearm Antelope Application Deadline June 14


Applications accepted only online; archery permits available over the counter beginning July 30

The antelope, also called pronghorn, is a species unique to North America and considered one of the fastest mammals on the continent. Numerous in the western two-thirds of Kansas prior to settlement, today a small, sustainable population of antelope thrive in the western third of the state. A limited firearm hunting season draws hundreds of applications for the highly prized permits.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is accepting applications for the resident firearm and muzzleloader antelope permit drawing. Applications must be submitted online through the KDWPT website, ksoutdoors.com. Click "License/Permits" in the upper right-hand corner of the page to begin the process. Paper applications are not available. For more information, call (620) 672-0728.
Open to Kansas residents only, nearly 1,000 applications are expected for the 142 firearm and 42 muzzleloader permits available this year. A hunter who is unsuccessful in the drawing will receive a preference point, which will give the hunter priority in a future drawing over applicants with fewer or no preference points. It may require six or more preference points for a general resident to draw a firearm permit, or three or four preference points to draw a muzzleloader permit, depending on the number of applicants. Half of the permits allocated in each unit are set aside for landowner/tenant applicants. Those who do not want to apply for a permit and want to purchase a preference point only may select "preference point only" online for $6.50. Only one preference point may be obtained per year.
Archery antelope permits are unlimited, and both resident and nonresident hunters can purchase permits over the counter. One open archery unit comprises the same area as the three firearm units combined. On average, fewer than 200 archery permits are sold each year. Archery antelope permits will be available over the counter from July 30 through Oct. 30.
2013 antelope season dates:
▪ firearm season: Oct. 4-7
▪ muzzleloader season: Sept. 30-Oct. 7
▪ archery season: Sept. 21-29 and Oct. 12-31
Shooting hours for all seasons are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Firearm and muzzleloader antelope general resident permits $47.50, landowner/tenant permits are $27.50 and youth permits are $27.50. General resident archery antelope permits are $42.50, landowner/tenant archery permits are $22.50, and youth permits are $22.50. Nonresident archery permits are $202.50. (Internet and processing fees apply.) Unless exempt, all permit holders must possess a Kansas hunting license.
Antelope were extirpated from Kansas by the turn of the century and remained absent until wild antelope trapped in other states were released in suitable habitat in the early 1960s. Kansas’ first modern-day antelope hunting season was held in 1974 when early 500 hunters applied for 80 permits and harvested 70 animals. Today, hunting is restricted to three management units that include parts or all of Sherman, Thomas, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Trego, Greeley, Wichita, Scott, Lane, Ness, Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, Hodgeman, Ford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade and Clark counties.
For more information on hunting antelope in Kansas, go to Hunting/Big Game/Antelope on the KDWPT website.