North Platte, Nebraska: Butterflies & Blooms in the Briar Patch has been designated as a Sustainable Monarch Reserve. Sustainable Monarch is working with partners to establish a network of sites specifically managed for butterflies from Mexico to Canada that will support the Monarch migration and benefit local communities through economic incentives. Butterflies & Blooms in the Briar Patch, located in Eatonton, Georgia has created a wonderful community greenspace entirely supported by volunteers. The organization delivers educational programs throughout the region, has a strong social media presence and is open to the public year-round free of charge for butterfly walks, counts, garden club meetings, nature photography, native plant sales and workdays that promote use of native plants in the area. A special activity includes collaborating with the local middle school to grow milkweed plants from seeds gathered in the garden for use on the site.

“Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch shows what can be accomplished for butterflies with a dedicated crew,” said Marcus Gray Executive Director of Sustainable Monarch, “The passion demonstrated by the people working on this public garden is something we would like others to emulate across the continent.”

Started in 2013, attaining multiple certifications, the group has installed native larval host plants for forty species of butterflies. The property is owned by the City of Eatonton and maintained as a park. The ¼ mile walking trail is composed of recycled, shredded, tires. The registered 501c(3) non-profit organization, spearheaded by retired Magistrate Judge, Virginia C. Linch, has planted native and nonnative nectar supplying plants as well as larval host plants inside and outside of the loop. Outreach undertakings for Butterflies & Blooms in the Briar Patch include working with Georgia State Parks to produce the first printed guide to Georgia butterflies. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Last deer season was one of the best I’ve ever experienced for deer hunting.  It didn’t have anything to do with filling the freezer, either, although that part of the chase has its nutritional rewards.  It was the mere spectacle of owning a ring-side seat to the herd’s movements and interactions.  Adult bucks, yearlings, does and fawns were the actors in a show that perpetuated itself with predictable sequels on a daily basis.  And, the drawing card was a food plot of clover, alfalfa, chicory and birdsfoot trefoil – all main ingredients of attraction.

Healthy Spring Clover

Each afternoon session in any one of several blinds overlooking the field was as if Ground Hog Day was being shown on the largest screen in the world.  The previews would display the youngsters that always garnered the spotlight before the stars entered the stage.  The little ones were always stealing the show with their energetic antics, followed closely by their watchful mothers, who diligently monitored their surroundings in search of threats.

This perennial food plot has the proper ingredients to compel whitetails to come out of hiding to gorge themselves on the most nutritious forage available in the area; it was like clockwork.  Even though a small plot of brassicas was part of the available food, it wasn’t much of a draw.

The only rational reason for the preference is that deer will choose the forage that they need.  But, why plant turnips when deer don’t seem to prefer them?  The simple answer would point to weather conditions.

When ice and snow cover the ground, that clover and alfalfa is difficult, if not impossible to reach – even with the most prolific digging action.   It appears as though the deer have their own brand of snowblowers as the snow is viciously scattered into the wind in search of some greenery.  Ah, but those turnips are largely above ground and being the size of softballs, they are easier to eat.  In addition, they have a more appealing taste of sweetness after the cold sets in.  Oh, sure, the whitetails love the luscious green leaves of the brassicas, but the plants’ foliage gets gobbled up before long.

The strategy in food plot management has to be to offer a smorgasbord of nutrition for the various scenarios that unfold with changing weather conditions.  Since nobody has yet to predict the severity of our winters, we would be wise to plan for the worst by planting a mixture of food plots.

Michigan Archery Whitetail

The interesting thing about the clover and alfalfa (legume) food plot I hunt is that it has been in existence for many years with little maintenance – unlike that of the annual plots that require much more effort and expense yearly.  No doubt, that grasses become part of the mix eventually, but deer will search out the good stuff from the bad.   Although fertilizer will sweeten and invigorate the legumes, it’s proved not to be essential in my observation of what has transpired over the years.  The plot described does get frequent mowing and that seems to produce the most bang for bucks, because alfalfa is more attractive to deer when less than 10 inches tall; if the plot gets taller, mow it to 4-6 inches. It is not recommended let your alfalfa get several feet tall and then mow it short, because cuttings will pile up, resulting in dead or diseased plants under the clippings.

If you have large plots, you may consider having the plot mowed and baled by local farmers who know it is best to mow plots before a majority of plants produce flowers.

Variety is the not only the spice of life for wildlife, it’s a necessity.

Described as “a once-in-a-lifetime, one-in-a-million bird encounter,” 11 days ago on February 20, long-time birder and ornithologist Jamie Hill and his friend Annette Smith documented a Northern Cardinal – a remarkably ultra-rare and unusual cardinal! Known as a bilateral gynandromorph, it was a cardinal divided right down the middle as a half-male and half-female. The most obvious result in cardinals is that the plumage on one side is male red, and the other side is colored female tan – hard to believe without the resulting photos that illustrate this exciting bird so well. Read more

MISSOULA, Mont. — The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and its partners contributed $508,392 in funding for 13 wildlife habitat enhancement, research and hunting heritage projects in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. RMEF directly granted $191,102 in funding that leveraged an additional $317,290 in partner dollars.

“To help elk populations continue to strengthen and grow across their historic range across the eastern portion of the United States, it’s vital to enhance habitat and gather all the elk-related scientific knowledge that we can,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “This grant funding targets exactly that.”

There are 35 RMEF chapters and more than 14,100 members across the five-state region. Read more

Prepare now to welcome home new pet

PHOENIX — For some, a dog or cat will do just fine. But for others who are considering adopting something truly unique to Arizona, say hello to your next family member:

A Sonoran desert tortoise.

“Many people don’t even consider opening up their homes to desert tortoises, but they make fantastic and personable pets,” said Tegan Wolf, desert tortoise adoption program coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

“It’s rewarding to hear stories from those who have adopted a captive tortoise and made them part of the family, because they’re a unique alternative to traditional family pets. They offer many of the same life lessons to children, and they can provide just as much companionship and personality as a dog or cat.”

Due primarily to illegal breeding, AZGFD has more than 100 tortoises of various ages and sizes available for adoption. Captive tortoises grow up to about 14 inches long and can live upward of 100 years. They cannot be released back into the wild, however, because they could spread diseases that harm wild populations. Read more

 This feature was received from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It’s good information for anyone with bird feeders.

Pine Siskins are one species that are being reported frequently as sick and dying birds are discovered at feeders throughout the state.

Winter weather offers a great opportunity to see a wide collection of birds at your feeders. While food resources are lower in winter, bird seed provided in your back yard is especially appetizing for resident birds that can be found here year-round and even more so for those birds who have migrated south for the winter. This year we have received reports of larger than normal flocks of wintering birds across the state congregating at feeders, including American goldfinches, purple and house finches, and pine siskins.

While bird feeders are useful in providing additional resources to many birds, they also can cause harm when disease issues arise. One such disease which is spread thru feces contamination is Salmonellosis. Signs that a bird is ill include ruffled feathers, lethargy, letting you approach them or even pick them up, or you may even find dead birds around your feeders. If you start to see birds acting strange or showing any of these signs, the best thing to do is to take your feeders down and disinfect them with a bleach solution. Leave the feeders down for a couple of weeks and rake up any excess feed that may be left in the yard. Also remove bird baths and clean them. This will allow the birds to disperse and lower the chances of salmonellosis spreading further. If you do find dead birds around your feeders, you can dispose of them by double bagging and placing them in a trash can.

& Read more

Protect/restore habitat, develop conservationists, and advocate for grasslands policy

St. Paul, Minn. – Feb. 26, 2021 – Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever announced a historic effort yesterday evening to protect and conserve North America’s upland habitats by launching its first comprehensive, $500 million Call of the Uplands® National Campaign.The bold plan encompasses habitat conservation, education & outreach, and national advocacy strategies to conserve 9 million acres, engage 1.5 million outdoor participants, and enact landscape-level national policy for wildlife and rural communities.

Throughout the pheasant, quail, and native grouse ranges of the United States, more than 53 million acres of grasslands have vanished over the last decade, and less than three percent of the nation’s 90 million historical acres of longleaf pine woodlands remain intact today. These catastrophic habitat losses have contributed to precipitous population declines for pheasants (-27%), quail (-82%), and other grassland bird species (-40% decline) since 1966.

“Conversion of grasslands have quickly transformed this important ecosystem into the Amazon rainforest in our backyard; the unprecedented number of acres and biodiversity wiped from the landscape over a relatively short period have created a pivotal moment for wildlife, hunters, conservationists, farmers and all Americans interested in a bright future filled with abundant natural resources,” stated Howard Vincent, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Through the work we do, we have a window in time to flip the script before it’s too late – Call of the Uplands is the catalyst for this change.” Read more

If you or someone you know has been debating about applying for the upcoming conservation officer academy, don’t wait any longer! The DNR is accepting applications through Friday, Feb. 26. This is a unique opportunity to work outdoors while protecting Michigan’s natural resources and serving local communities.

A college degree or previous law enforcement training is not required for the job – recruits receive paid training for everything they need to know (like rescuing someone from a submerged vehicle, as shown in this photo from the 2018 CO academy). Once hired, conservation officers are full-time State of Michigan employees and receive biweekly paychecks. Read more