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Birders talley encounters with winged friends this holiday

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Editor
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Photo Credit: Brendan Lally

If you have an interest in birds and some spare time this winter, consider participating in a count

PRATT — You don’t have to be a seasoned birder, or even own an expensive pair of binoculars to participate in a Christmas bird count. In fact, an identification book and a bit of free time will do the trick. Birders of all skill levels will spend the next few weeks during organized bird counts recording sightings of resident and migratory birds in an effort to compile as much data as possible about Kansas’ winged species. If you have an interest in birds and don’t mind weathering the elements, consider participating in a Christmas bird count this season. It’s fun and a great way to learn more about birds in Kansas.

There are many count compilers in Kansas who send data to the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS), and there is no charge to participate. The KOS will accept data collected on counts conducted from Dec. 13 through Jan. 11, 2015. The official Audubon Christmas Bird Count period is Dec. 14 to Jan. 5 and participation is also free of charge.

Christmas bird counts have been conducted for more than 100 years, and more than 2,000 counts are held across the nation each year. Each winter, about 50 individual count events occur in Kansas. More than 40 are scheduled so far this year with others to be announced. Count locations are scheduled in all corners of the state and points in between. Christmas bird counts are typically conducted in traditional circular census areas, each with a 7.5-mile radius. This consistency ensures data collected is comparable for population trends over time.

Count events are easy to prepare for; the best tools are a pair of binoculars, a good field guide, and appropriate clothing and footwear for possible extreme weather. For those counting in an area with a lake, a spotting scope may be necessary to identify birds at long distances. It’s also a good idea to study up on species expected in your location.

Information about Kansas Christmas bird counts can be found at the KOS website, www.ksbirds.org. For details, just click “2014/15 Kansas Christmas Bird Counts.”

For more information about Audubon Christmas Bird Counts in Kansas, go to birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count.

Source: Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

New sweet corn variety for organic farmers hits marketplace

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Editor
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Organic Seed Alliance and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have announced the release of a new open-pollinated sweet corn variety. ‘Who Gets Kissed?’ is the first in a series of organic sweet corn releases developed through participatory plant breeding. ‘Who Gets Kissed?’ has yellow and white kernels, yields well, tolerates cool soils, and is resistant to common rust and corn smut. It also demonstrates superior flavor and sweetness.

Source: Weekly Harvest

USDA announces farm to school grants

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Editor
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usda

USDA has announced more than $5 million in grants for 82 projects through its Farm to School Program. The program helps schools purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers, expanding access to healthy local food and supporting local economies. A complete list of FY15 Farm to School grant recipients is available online.

Source:Weekly Harvest

December 15 buy your 2015 licenses and permits

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Editor
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colorado hunting
credit - Zach Dischner

Get a head start on the 2015 seasons buy buying your licenses, permits early

PRATT – It’s a new year, you’ve got your tackle bag in order, your reels all have new line, and your buddy just called saying he found a school of fish and he’s catching them faster than he can reel them in. You hightail it to the lake and begin to unload your gear only to realize you forgot to buy your 2015 fishing license. So much for hitting that honey hole. Most annual licenses and permits expire Dec. 31, but you can avoid missing out on another fishing hot spot by buying early. Licenses and permits for the 2015 hunting, fishing seasons, as well as park permits, go on sale Dec. 15, 2014 and are valid through end of 2014 and all of 2015.

Licenses and permits can be purchased online at ksoutdoors.com, at any Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) state park or regional office, and at any license vendor.

Still have a few people on your Christmas list to buy for, but are stumped on what to get them? Consider giving the gift of a permit or license. It’s a gift that will last all year long, and make memories that will last even longer.

Licenses and permits that will go on sale Dec. 15 include:

-Hunting licenses and annual permits

-Fishing licenses and annual permits

-Furharvesting licenses

-State park vehicle, camping, and trail permits

For more gift ideas, including magazine subscriptions to Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine, visit the KDWPT Outdoor Store online at ksoutdoors.com/outdoor-store. And, the state’s premier travel magazine, Kansas!, is available at www.travelks.com/ks-mag

To purchase a license or permit online, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Licenses/Permits.”

Choosing and caring for your Christmas Tree

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K-State
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If selecting a cut tree, watch for these signs that the tree is too far gone.
– Needles are a dull, grayish-green color
– Needles fail to ooze pitch when broken apart and squeezed
– Needles feel stiff and brittle
– Needles pull easily off tree
Once you have your tree home, recut the trunk about one inch above the
original cut. This will open up clogged, water-conducting tissues.
Immediately place the trunk in warm water.
Locate the tree in as cool a spot as possible. Avoid areas near fireplaces,
wood-burning stoves, heat ducts and television sets as the heat will result
in excess water loss. Make sure the reservoir stays filled. If the reservoir
loses enough water that the bottom of the trunk is exposed, the trunk will
need to be recut. Adding aspirins, copper pennies, soda pop, sugar and
bleach to the water reservoir have not been shown to prolong the life of a
tree.
If you choose a living Christmas tree, be sure to dig the planting hole
before the ground freezes. Mulch the hole and backfill soil to keep them
from freezing. Live trees should not be kept inside for more than three
days. Longer periods may cause them to lose dormancy resulting in severe
injury when planted outside. You may wish to tag the tree at the nursery and
then pick it up a couple days before Christmas. After Christmas, move the
tree to an unheated garage for several days to acclimatize it to outside
temperatures. After planting, water well and leave some mulch in place to
prevent the soil water from freezing and becoming unavailable for plant
uptake. (Ward Upham)

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