Come spend a day on the Platte River Prairies!  Our annual open house/field day, just south of Wood River, Nebraska, will provide opportunities to hike the prairies with a variety of grassland experts.

– Learn about prairie reptiles and amphibians (and see live examples) with Dennis Ferraro of the University of Nebraska.

– Take a birding hike with Michelle Biodrowski (graduate student from the University of Nebraska-Omaha) and learn about her research on how grassland birds respond to the edges between patch-burn grazing habitat patches – spoiler alert: it’s good news.

– Find out how The Nature Conservancy is using high-diversity prairie restoration and fire/grazing management to create diverse and resilient grasslands.  See both the tools of the trade and the on-the-ground results.

– Learn to identify prairie and wetland plants with Gerry Steinauer, the state botanist for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

– See the results of more than a decade of experimentation with overseeding degraded prairies.  (Major lesson: use LOTS of seed)

Grasshopper sparrows and other prairie birds are abundant in the Platte River Prairies. Learn about all the species and the way they respond to prairie management from Michelle Biodrowski (UNO).

In addition, we’ll have speakers and/or displays on prairie invertebrates, small mammals, invasive species, and much more.  We’re still developing the agenda, and will get more information out when we have it.

The field day is free and open to the public.  Snacks and cold water/lemonade will be provided, but please bring your own lunch. Dress for hiking in grasslands, and bring your own water bottle, plenty of sunscreen, and insect repellant.

Events will run from approximately 9am to 4pm, so come and go as you please.  No registration is required, but we’d appreciate hearing from you if you plan to come.  Contact Mardell Jasnowski if you think you’ll be attending – and for more information. mjasnowski@tnc.org or 402-694-4191.

Click here for directions to the site.