Education Commons^™

Winter Wings: An Introduction To Environmental Education, Samuel G. Mothner

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Traffic Noise And Sexual Selection: Studies Of Anthropogenic Impact On Bird Songs And Undergraduate Student Reasoning Of Evolutionary Mechanisms, Sarah Spier

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Humans have transformed much of the natural landscape and are continuing to do so at an accelerated rate, compromising natural areas that serve as important habitat for many species. Roads impact much of the environment as they fragment habitat and introduce traffic noise into the acoustic environment, deferentially affecting wildlife in roadside habitat. I explored how traffic noise affects the detection of birds based on whether their vocalizations were masked by traffic noise. Masked species detection was not affected by an increase in traffic noise amplitude, while there was a negative effect of traffic noise amplitude on unmasked species detection, …

Conservation Education: Using Birds To Connect Communities To Their Natural Environment, Kathryn A. Olson

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The theme of my portfolio is conservation education, using birds as an example of how to connect people of all ages to their natural environment. Birds were chosen as an example because of a personal curiosity for the animal, and because they are an accessible and tangible element of nature for all people, urban and rural. The first component is a Curriculum Development Guide created for the Wings Over Water program of the Montana Natural History Center. It synthesizes scientific research on Ospreys, relates central themes of the literature to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and provides inventive activity ideas …

Animal Mourning: Précis Of How Animals Grieve (King 2013), Barbara J. King

Animal Sentience

Abstract: When an animal dies, that individual’s mate, relatives, or friends may express grief. Changes in the survivor’s patterns of social behavior, eating, sleeping, and/or of expression of affect are the key criteria for defining grief. Based on this understanding of grief, it is not only big-brained mammals like elephants, apes, and cetaceans who can be said to mourn, but also a wide variety of other animals, including domestic companions like cats, dogs, and rabbits; horses and farm animals; and some birds. With keen attention placed on seeking where grief is found to occur and where it is absent …

Mapping Nest Success In Migrating Birds, Daniel Bisaccio

Science and Engineering Saturday Seminars

Does habitat size, fragmented forests, or “the edge effect” impact nest success of migrating / resident birds?

Winter Bird Use Of Conservation Reserve Program Fields Harvested For Biomass, Les D. Murray, Louis B. Best

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

As Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expire, many fields may be returned to agricultural production. Growing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a biomass fuel is an alternative to returning fields to rowcrops. CRP fields provide winter cover for birds, but the harvest of biomass would remove most of the cover and affect bird use of the fields. We estimated winter bird abundances in nonharvested, total-harvested, and partially (strip) harvested switchgrass fields in southern Iowa. Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were observed only in strip-harvested fields and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were observed only in nonharvested fields and uncut areas of strip-harvested fields. …

G02-1464 West Nile Virus - Getting Prepared, Grasso M. Ebako, Sheila Scheideler, Wayne Kramer, Ron J. Johnson, David R. Smith, Del Wilmot, David J. Steffen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides background information and answers to commonly asked questions about this disease. West Nile Virus is spread by mosquitoes and affects birds (mostly Corvidae such as crows, blue jays and magpies), horses, and people. As West Nile Virus appears in neighboring states, the threat of diagnosing a case in Nebraska becomes more likely.

Invasive Birds In Iowa: Status, Problems, And Threats, James J. Dinsmore

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

A total of 18 invasive bird species has been introduced into or have expanded their range to include Iowa. These include ten non-North American species, one North American species that has been displaced and now is established in Iowa, and seven native species that have been released to reestablish Iowa populations. Twelve of those are regularly occurring species in Iowa, and they comprise 3.0% (12 of 404) of the species known from Iowa and 5% (10 of 199) of Iowa's nesting avifauna. These percentages are similar to those found in neighboring states. Several more species are likely to become established …

Iowa's Avifauna: Recent Changes And Prospects For The Future, James J. Dinsmore

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Iowa's avifauna has changed dramatically since 1980. The state list now has 40 additional species and totals 398 species, the most of any vertebrate group. Four species that had not previously nested in Iowa (Ring-billed Gull, Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, Eurasian Tree Sparrow) and four whose nesting populations had disappeared (Double-crested Cormorant, Sandhill Crane, Piping Plover, Least Tern) now breed regularly here. Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, White-faced Ibis, Mississippi Kite, Prairie Warbler, and Red Crossbill nested for the first time but do not have established nesting populations. Trumpeter Swan, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Prairie Chicken, and Sharp-tailed Grouse have been …

G97-1332 Backyard Wildlife Tips For Success (Revised August 2003), Ron J. Johnson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The fifth in the backyard wildlife series, this NebGuide describes tips for success in bird feeding, adding water, birds to expect, dealing with nuisance wildlife, and others. Bring the mystery, color, and wonder of nature to your home and provide a helping hand for wildlife at the same time. Songbirds, butterflies, and even fish or turtles in a backyard pool provide an open window for nature observation, an opportunity often lost in nonfarm environments. Awareness of migrating songbirds can increase interest in global connectivity, with return of migrants from Mexico and South and Central America during spring, and return during …

G97-1331 Backyard Wildlife To Feed A Hummingbird, Ron J. Johnson, Donald H. Steinegger

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The sixth in the backyard wildlife series, this NebGuide describes plants and nectar feeding for attracting hummingbirds to your backyard in Nebraska. Four species of hummingbirds are found in Nebraska, one in the east and three in the west. Ruby-throated hummingbirds migrate through eastern Nebraska in spring and fall, and some nest here, mostly along the Missouri river valley. Typically, ruby-throat migration in Nebraska peaks about May 5-17 and September 2-18, but northward migration may occur from April to June and southward flights from August to early October. Broad-tailed and rufous hummingbirds are seen in the Nebraska panhandle during fall …

Nf97-355 House Finch "Eye" Disease, Eva Wallner-Pendleton, Ron J. Johnson, John Dinan

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

A newly-recognized disease that causes swollen eyelids and weepy eyes in house finches was confirmed in Nebraska in 1996 and has been observed as far west as McCook. Other symptoms of this emerging disease include wet, matted feathers around the eyelids and face, weight loss, fluffed feathers, inactivity, loss of sight, and eventual death in some affected birds. This disease, caused by a strain of the bacteria-like organism Mycoplasma gallisepticum, was first observed in several mid-Atlantic and eastern states in 1994. It has now spread to Canada, all of the eastern and Midwestern United States, and as far west as …

G94-1206 Biosecurity And Disease Prevention For The Ratite Grower, Eva Wallner-Pendleton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide acquaints the ratite grower with management techniques that can help reduce the likelihood of disease introduction and spread on the farm.

Introduction

Infectious diseases always concern people who raise animals, including ratite and poultry producers. In general, the larger the number of animals concentrated in a given area, the more potential there is for diseases to occur. This potential is greatly increased if new animals are frequently introduced. Other ways diseases are spread include allowing visitors near the animals, raising multiple ages close to each other or allowing contact with other species.

As the ratite industry matures, farms …

G93-1183 Butterfly Gardening, Dale T. Lindgren, Stephen M. Spomer, Amy Greving

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide outlines planting schemes and arrangements that will help attract butterflies to a garden area.

Butterflies can be found in almost any part of Nebraska, from the Pine Ridge's coniferous forests and across the grasslands of the Sandhills to the deciduous forests along the Missouri River. Watching butterflies, much like bird watching or observing wildflowers has become a popular and enjoyable pastime. Since many natural butterfly habitats have been lost to urbanization and other development, some environmental organizations have incorporated butterfly conservation into their programs. Many people are taking a personal interest in attracting these fascinating insects to their …

Ec92-107 Nebraska Proso, Sunflower And Amaranth Variety Tests, 1992, David D. Baltensperger, Glen E. Frickel, Mark Swanson, Robert N. Klein, James Krall, Randy Anderson, Daryl Ellis, Drew J. Lyon

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This circular is a progress report of proso, sunflower, and amaranth variety trials conducted in cooperation with the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Conduct of the experiments and publication of results is a joint effort of the UNL Agricultural Research Division and the Cooperative Extension Service.

G92-1089 Control Of Pollurum And Typhoid Through Participation In The National And Nebraska Poultry Improvement Plans (Revised July 2002), Grasso M. Ebako, Del Wilmont

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Participation in the National Poultry Improvement Plan to prevent egg-transmitted diseases to small flocks, game birds, hobby, and exhibition flock owners is explained in this NebGuide.

The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) is a cooperative state/federal program that was established in 1935 to reduce and eventually eliminate several diseases transmitted primarily through infected breeder flocks and theirs eggs. The plan's widespread acceptance among the commercial industry has almost completely eliminated Salmonella pullorum and Salmonella gallinarum from commercial breeding stocks. Participation in the plan has saved the commercial industry and small flock owners millions of dollars due to improved health and …

Ec91-1771 Windbreaks And Wildlife, Ron J. Johnson, James R. Brandle, Mary M. Beck

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Windbreaks can support wildlife that add beauty and pleasure to our lives. They also sustain birds that eat insect pests, improve hunting opportunities, and provide a focal point for family outdoor activities. The world around us would be less appealing without the stimulation--the color, sounds, tracks, and mystery--of wild creatures; windbreaks help wildlife and in some areas are essential to survival of the wildlife we enjoy. You can add wildlife benefits to windbreak plantings whether your main goal is to shelter crops, livestock, roads, or a home or farmstead. This publication provides an overview of windbreaks and wildlife, and gives …

Nf91-28 Psittacosis (Chlamydia Psittaci Infections) In Pet Birds, Eva Wallner-Pendleton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Companion birds continue to increase in popularity as pets in the United States. Birds most frequently kept belong to the family psittacidae, or the parrot family. Although domestic breeding of parrots is becoming more widespread, a large number of birds are still imported from outside the United States. By law, these birds must enter the country through quarantine stations. There they spend at least 30 days and are tested for disease and fed food containing tetracycline, an antibiotic. The antibiotic treatment is to hopefully eliminate infections with Chlamydia psittaci, the bacterium that causes psittacosis.

G88-879 Peafowl, Earl W. Gleaves

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses the care and feeding of the colorful and ornamental peafowl.

The peafowl is an ornamental bird which is often grown to adorn farmsteads, private estates or public parks and zoological gardens. They enjoy living in the open and prefer to roost in trees. The roosting place should be arranged some distance from dwellings because peafowl are inclined to be noisy, especially at night.

G84-711 Managing The Home Goose Breeder Flock, Earl W. Gleaves

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides basic information on breed selection, sexing, housing and equipment needed, feeding, breeding, egg care and incubation for the home goose flock.

The goose has been almost completely ignored in the rapid technical developments that have occurred in other parts of the poultry industry in the past 25 years. Experimental work with the domestic goose has been very limited. This means that management recommendations that are pertinent today may not be in the future.

G84-713 Brooding And Rearing The Home Goose Flock, Earl W. Gleaves

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses brooding and rearing small geese flocks, including feeding from starter to growing and finishing on pasture, and slaughter, cleaning and processing procedures.

Goose growers in general have not been caught up in the ultra- efficient feed utilization trends that have developed in other parts of the poultry meat industry. This may be due to of the fact that the geese are good foragers. Understandably, growers have concluded that a considerable saving in prepared feeds can be achieved by rearing the birds on pasture. Even without special foods, the goose is more rapid growing than other domestic species …

Heg81-144 Home Processing Of Chickens, Daniel E. Bigbee

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides complete step-by-step instructions with pictures for home processing of chickens. Steps for processing chickens are feed withdrawal, killing, scalding, plucking, eviscerating, cooling, packaging, and freezing.

G80-524 Incubation For The Home Flock, Earl W. Gleaves

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide covers how to build and operate an incubator to hatch eggs for a home flock.

Various makes and models of commercial incubators are available for use by the home flock owner.

Ec17-11-80 Nebraska Outdoor Education Series: Plant A Tree, Joe Range, John D. Orr

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Not all trees or shrubs can find a home in your yard or apartment. Help your child to discover a home for the tree or shrub he or she grows or receives. The greatest benefit of this Plant-A-Tree project is being close to a living plant. This project will: introduce five tree planters - one from each area of Nebraska, discuss the parts of tree seeds, give examples of how tree seeds travel, discuss preparation of soil, demonstrate how to grow a seedling tree from seed, demonstrate how to transplant a tree, and offer suggestions for activities and exhibits.

G80-530 Brooder House And Equipment For The Home Flock, Earl W. Gleaves

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses housing and equipment needs for raising home poultry flocks.

This NebGuide lists and describes some of the types of houses and equipment that can be used to raise a home poultry flock. Other management suggestions are included in a series of NebGuides that are available from your county Extension office.

G79-466 Egg Cleaning Procedures For The Household Flock, Daniel E. Bigbee, Glenn W. Froning

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide contains steps for producing clean, sanitary eggs. Household poultry flocks may produce a high percentage of dirty eggs. Many of these eggs are soiled because they are laid in dirty nests or are being laid on the floor. Dirty eggs can be a health hazard if they are not properly cleaned and sanitized. The best control method is to prevent soiling of the eggs. We can't stop the production of floor eggs, but we can keep them to a minimum if we start training the flock early.

G78-412 Guide For Controlling Insects On Pets (Revised December 1989), John B. Campbell, David L. Keith

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This guide is restricted to the most common insect pests of cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, and gerbils.

Pets, like all animals, are subject to attack by certain insects. Sanitation around the area where pets are kept, cleanliness of the pets, good care and nutrition all help reduce the chance of a serious problem.

Ec75-1427 Ponds For Nebraskans, Philip S. Gipson, Darrell E. Feit, Jerry W. Morris

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Nebraskans construct ponds for a variety of reasons. Early ponds were usually constructed to provide water for livestock. Today they are for soil and water conservation, livestock water supply, and recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, and picnicking. The trend is to design ponds for multiple use and benefit.

This extension circular includes information on where and how to build a pond; farm pond design; wildlife planting and erosion control; control of water plants; wildlife plants for farm ponds; and managing for sport fishing.

Cc56-126 Poultry Profit Pointers: Feeding For Egg Production, Elvin C. Schulte

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Eggs are produced from the feed we give our hens. The number of eggs taht are produced depends upon the amount and quality of the ration. For a hen to lay profitabily she must have a full feed of a properly balanced ration.

This campaign circular discusses what is needed to get the best egg production from your hens.

Forty-Eighth Annual Report Of The Agricultural Experiment Station Of Nebraska, February 1, 1935, W.W. Burr

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

This report differs from previous reports in two respects: it covers experimental work up to January 1, 1935, and it includes brief abstracts of publications since the last report. Previously most of the report dealt with work done before the end of the fiscal year; that is, work done between June 30 and January 1 was not reported until over a year later, for the most part. The present report corrects that defect, and in addition the abstracts of publications will make the report useful as a reference guide to published matter.

The projects are discussed under subject headings and …