Opportunity to Network Between Southeastern and Midwestern Prairie Ecologists

A few months ago, I wrote a post about the necessity for better communication between those working on grassland restoration projects in longleaf pine woodlands and those in midwestern prairies.  At the time, I suggested the need for opportunities to bring together restoration practitioners from both ecosystems (and others) to share experiences and ideas.

Longleaf pine woodlands are just grasslands with pine trees.

As it happens, just such an opportunity has arisen in the form of the Southeastern Prairie Symposium, which will be held in Starkville, Mississippi May 14-17, 2012.  The symposium is not focused on longleaf pine, but more generally on prairies and grasslands of the southeastern United States.  If you’re an ecologist or land manager working on prairies outside of that region, I would encourage you to take a look at the conference website and consider attending.  It looks like a great chance to see some excellent prairies and to interact with the people who restore and manage them.

The website for the symposium is:  http://www.cfr.msstate.edu/wildlife/prairie/index.asp

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Photo of the Week – February 24, 2012

This photo of frost was taken on the frozen surface of a stream in Lancaster County, Nebraska.  It makes me cold just looking at it.

Frost on an ice-covered stream. Lancaster County, Nebraska

Technically, we’ve got almost a month of winter left.  It sure doesn’t feel like it.  The snow has all melted and the forecast is calling for temperatures in the high 40’s and 50’s for the next week or so.  Sandhill cranes and geese appear to think spring is here too – they’re just pouring into the Platte River valley right now.  Pretty soon we’ll hear red-winged blackbirds singing (if you can call it that) on their territories and it’ll be official.