You are here: Home / In The News / Nevada State News

Carson Valley Eagles & Agriculture Event

December 24, 2009 By RRAS Info

From: Nevada Magazine

Eagles & Agriculture Event,  February 19 – February 21
Carson Valley Inn,   visitcarsonvalley.org,  800-727-7677

Minden

The Carson Valley agricultural and ranching community, along with the Carson Valley Visitors Authority, the Lahontan Audubon Society, the Great Basin Bird Observatory, the Nature Conservancy and the conservation community have announced that the unique birds of prey viewing and agricultural education experience, the 8th Annual Eagles and Agriculture Event, will take place February 19-21, 2010.

The ‘Eagles and Ag’ tours and workshops focus on the influx of bald eagles and other birds of prey that come to the scenic Carson Valley each year during the winter calving season. This remarkable interaction between nature and agriculture attracts photographers, birders and nature-lovers of all kinds who come to closely observe bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and a variety of other bird and wildlife species.

Friday evening, February 19, join us for the kickoff of Eagles & Agriculture 2010. Meet fellow enthusiasts and see what’s new at displays from the many agency and business sponsors who make this event possible. A generous lineup of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and guest presenters set the tone for an evening of socializing and learning. Our presenters this year are Dr. Alan Gubanich, emeritus faculty member at the University of Nevada-Reno and Vice-President of the Lahontan Audubon Society, on “Tell Me Why It’s Not a Red-tailed Hawk” and Don Henderson, an agriculture and rangeland science expert on “Exactly What is Agriculture in Nevada?” Of course, Falconer Lew Souder will return, and this year will be accompanied by Northern Goshawk. Lew’s presentation and Q&A session is always a high point of the reception.

Saturday morning, February 20, luxury motor coaches depart for the private “Ranch and Eagle” tour. As the guest of the ranches, you’ll observe their operations up close and meet the men and women who run them. Attendees will learn about Carson Valley ranching and conservation plus have the opportunity to observe birds of prey from vantage points not available to the general public. This is a once in a year opportunity for eagle viewing and photography. Following the tour, a sumptuous buffet lunch will be served with a group discussion on sightings allowing participants to compare experiences and observations with their fellow attendees. The tour and luncheon is being offered for just $60 per person and includes luxury motor coach transportation along with expert guides on Carson Valley history and wildlife.

On Saturday afternoon participants are invited on the popular Owl Prowl Tour and Live Falconing Field Demonstration. Led by a local naturalist, the Owl Prowl goes to historic area barns to view owls in their habitat. Watch Falconer Lew Souder fly his Northern Goshawk! The tour is limited to only 45 participants, weather permitting. The cost is $35 per person.

A two-day wildlife photography workshop led by Steve Ting of Steve Ting Photography is offered on Saturday and Sunday with instruction and discussion on Saturday and a nature photo shoot on location at an area ranch on Sunday. This is a very affordable opportunity to take your nature photography skills up a notch or two. The cost is $60 or the two-day workshop and is limited to 20 participants.

On either Saturday or Sunday, participants can join in the “Raptor Highway and Byway Tour” by Birding Under Nevada Skies. This is a supplemental tour for those interested in the Buteos, Accipiters and Falcons which commonly winter in Carson Valley and the perfect complement to the Ranch and Eagle Tour. The cost is $45 and is limited to 15 participants per tour.

Another unique way to observe the eagles, hawks and falcons occurs on Sunday, February 21, when a guided Raft/Canoe Trip conducted by Great Basin Sports is offered. Participants will paddle down the beautiful Carson River and enjoy scenery and wildlife. This is a great event for photography buffs! The cost is $75.

In conjunction with the ‘Eagles and Ag’ event, there is the annual Photography Contest. A $125 prize will be awarded for the best birding photo and another $125 prize is available for the best agricultural/wildlife photo taken in Carson Valley. To qualify, photos of 5 x 7 or larger along with a CD must be submitted by March 16 to the Carson Valley Visitors Authority. A photo release must be signed for eligibility. Enter as many photos as you would like!

Over 3,000 people have attended previous year’s events and have given rave reviews. Participants are encouraged to sign up soon as space is limited for all Eagles and Agriculture events. The tours and workshops demonstrate how agricultural stewardship benefits wildlife and their habitat in Nevada. All proceeds benefit local wildlife, conservation and agriculture projects. All tours and events are staged at or hosted by the Carson Valley Inn on US Hwy 395 in Minden.

Upcoming Dates:
Friday, February 19
Saturday, February 20
Sunday, February 21

Filed Under: Nevada State News Tagged With: ,

Stop the Jungo Landfill

September 19, 2009 By RRAS Info

Submitted by: Nevadans Against Garbage

Winnemucca, Nevada August 22, 2009

The people of Humboldt County are in the midst of a battle.  The beautiful desert of Northern Nevada is being threatened by the possibility of becoming the site of one of the nation’s largest Class 1 landfills.  Nevadans Against Garbage (NAG) are  fighting to stop wide-open spaces from being turned into a “waste” land for California garbage.

Two years ago, a county ordinance was amended and a special use permit was granted that opened the door to our county for out-of-region waste.  This decision had no public input, and in fact, the people in our county are only now realizing the real threat this poses, not only to our community, but to all of Northern Nevada. The California-based company, Recology, is in the process of permitting a 560-acre regional landfill 25 miles west of Winnemucca. This proposed landfill could receive 8 million pounds of garbage per day, five days per week, with a proposed lifetime of 95 years, from the state of California.  To put this amount in perspective, the facility would process more garbage in 3 days than our county creates in an entire year!

The garbage would be brought in, one 45-car trainload each day, from northern California to the site near Winnemucca.  Our area’s precious water supply will be threatened, along with our clean air and garbage-free landscape.  Isn’t that why people choose to live in a place like Northern Nevada?  Fewer people, LESS pollution and LESS garbage?  Unfortunately, that may change if this landfill is completed.

Our true fear is that this landfill would be only the beginning.  You see, there’s plenty more privately owned land where this came from, plenty of wide open spaces where California and other states could put their garbage.  This company also carries options on three additional sections of land that could be used to expand. In that case, we would have a world record-sized landfill!

Nevada, “The Silver State” could now become the new “Garbage State”.  We can’t let this happen.  Please visit nevadansagainstgarbage.com for more information or read this.

Filed Under: Nevada State News

Trail Photo Contest for National Trails Day

July 17, 2009 By RRAS Info

Trail Photo Contest – Sponsored by Henderson Parks and Recreation Department – - for National Trails Day Celebration

July 8, 2009

Friends of Southern Nevada Trails:

Do you have a winning shot? Do you have the discerning eye (and luck!) to capture a special moments in time on a Henderson trail?

Then grab your camera and start shooting, as the City of Henderson wants to see your best trail photo. The contest has been underway for a month and local residents, tourists, young and old are invited to submit their images.

“We’re challenging photographers to be imaginative in coming up with photos that capture the spirit of trails in the City of Henderson. Then we can share these photos with the world,” Jennifer Magby, Outdoor Recreation Specialist, COH said.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With:

N. Shoveler Selected For 2010 Duck Stamp Contest

July 3, 2009 By RRAS Info

Wildlife artists from across the country can once again take their chances in the Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest, an annual event to select artwork for the following year’s Nevada Duck Stamp.

The 2010 Nevada Duck Stamp Art Contest is sponsored by the Nevada Waterfowl Association and sanctioned by the Nevada State Board of Wildlife Commissioners, with the winning piece to be featured on the 2010-2011 state stamp.

The Nevada Waterfowl Association has selected the Northern Shoveler as the subject for this year’s contest. Sometimes known simply as a shoveler or “spoonie”, the Northern Shoveler is a common and widespread duck. The species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its long, spoon-shaped bill. The breeding male has a dark green head with a chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed separated from the green speculum by a white border. In non-breeding plumage, the drake resembles the female. The female shoveler is light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard, but easily distinguished by the long broad bill, which is olive green with yellowish base and edges. The female’s forewing is grey.

All interested artists are encouraged to enter the contest, whether residing in Nevada or elsewhere. Entries must be an original creation, in any drawing medium and must be received by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) no later than October 23, 2009. Contest rules are available on the NDOW website at http://www.ndow.org/wild/stamp, or by calling (775) 688-1915 for more information.

Entries will be judged by seven individuals, including two members of the Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners and five others as appointed by the Nevada Waterfowl Association. The names of the top ten finalists will be announced by NDOW on November 16, 2009. The winning artwork will grace the 2010-11 Nevada Duck Stamp.

In the state of Nevada, any person 12-64 years old who hunts any migratory bird except mourning or white-winged dove, snipe, coot or moorhen (gallinule) is required to purchase a state duck stamp. Money from the sale of Nevada Duck Stamps is used for projects approved by the Commission for the protection and propagation of migratory game birds, and for the acquisition, development and preservation of wetlands in Nevada.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.

Filed Under: Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With:

SB 108 Passes and will help stop bird deaths

June 2, 2009 By RRAS Info

Submitted by: Allison Chaney, Lahonton Audubon Society

The 75th legislative session proved beneficial to Nevada’s state bird, the Mountain Bluebird in addition to a wide variety of other species. As you probably have read, Audubon in Nevada has been working on passing legislation that calls for the removal of all pvc posts used as mine claim markers across Nevada; SB 108 passed this session unanimously and was signed by the Governor on May 26th!

For many years, evidence has been mounting that shows the extreme threat to birds posed by these hollow posts. In 1993, we believed we were going to be successful in eliminating the threat by excluding the use of pvc posts from that point forward and capping posts already on the landscape. This, of course, wasn’t a permanent solution. Caps began to pop off and many claims were abandoned and never capped.  The only real solution to protect our avifauna is to replace the posts with wooden stakes or other solid material that serve to mark active claims; and to provide for the ability to knock over the posts in the event that they are abandoned claims with no one taking responsibility to replace them.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: In The News, Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With: , ,

NEW Nevada IBA Volunteer Listserve

April 20, 2009 By RRAS Info

Submitted by: Robin Powell (NV Director of Bird Conservation)

Since 2001, the Nevada Important Bird Area Program has concentrated on conserving and protecting special areas that provide habitat to “birds of conservation concern.” These special areas, or Important Bird Areas, are significant to birds for nesting, feeding, breeding, or as stopover sites during migration. Currently, there are 39 Important Bird Areas recognized throughout Nevada (www.nevadaaudubon.org/iba.html ) where habitat conservation projects are targeted to keep these areas important to the birds.

The Nevada Important Bird Areas Program has created a habitat-based volunteer program to meet the great conservation need of these vital habitats. The new Nevada Important Bird Areas Volunteer Listserve is now available. This listserve was created to notify all interested parties about upcoming projects and activities that are in need of volunteers. Events will be held within or adjacent to designated Nevada Important Bird Areas. These on-site activities and projects will address habitat conservation needs of the specific Important Bird Area. These are opportunities for you to make a difference with a commitment of only a few hours of your time.

You can help out right now by forwarding this information to anyone else who might be interested!

Robin Powell
NV Director of Bird Conservation
Audubon Society
P.O. Box 5046
Sparks, NV 89432
(775) 247-2798

Filed Under: Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With: ,

State of the Birds in Nevada

April 15, 2009 By RRAS Info

Submitted by: Margie Klein (Conservation Educator, NDOW)

State of the Birds in Nevada

Most of us have been focused recently on the state of the union or the state of the state, but what about the state of birds within the state?

Those who are interested can find the answer to that question in the state of the birds report, recently released by fish and wildlife agencies across the nation, including the Nevada Department of Wildlife. The status report, entitled the “State of the Birds United States of America 2009,” is of vast importance to bird biologists, bird watchers, and bird hunters. It can be viewed online at www.stateofthebirds.org.

The report is a compilation of 40 years of data from ongoing bird surveys conducted across the U.S. Citizen-scientists and biologists from Nevada submitted data gathered from such efforts as the annual Christmas Bird Count and other surveys. The report represents a partnership among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Geological Survey, state wildlife agencies, American Bird Conservancy, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, and other conservation organizations.

Jump to NDOW for more information…

Filed Under: Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With: , , ,

PIF: Revising Nevada Bird Conservation Plan

April 14, 2009 By Cris Tomlinson

The Nevada Chapter of Partners in Flight (PIF) is revising the Nevada bird conservation plan as it will be 10 years old as of 2009.  Nevada PIF is comprised of multiple agencies, non-profit organizations, and private entities that collaborate in bird conservation planning for Nevada.  The new plan includes all conservation priority bird species of Nevada, and it will be a first in that other bird conservation initiatives, such as the Intermountain West Shorebird Initiative, the Colonial Waterbird Initiative, the Pacific Flyway Team, NDOW’s Upland Game Bird team, and others are working together with Nevada PIF to synthesize all conservation strategies that have been developed by the various teams for both land birds and other bird groups. flam_owl

The plan will focus on providing a ‘cookbook’ of conservation recommendations for birds based on their use of key habitats, for example Joshua tree woodlands, Mojave scrub, or riparian habitats in our Mojave Desert.  This will allow land managers to focus their restoration and conservation efforts on the key habitat types while not always having to worry about which particular species to focus on.  The end result is benefits to a myriad of key birds of concern.  Some southern Nevada species targeted on the PIF list include the burrowing owl, Bell’s vireo, Bendire’s thrasher, black-chinned sparrow, Costa’s hummingbird, flammulated owl (picture below) gilded flicker, Grace’s warbler, yellow-billed cuckoo and southwestern willow flycatcher, as well many shorebirds, waterbirds and waterfowl.

The conservation plan revision will also address the many threats to these species and habitats, from climate change to land development, by providing a threat matrix that will help land managers prioritize their efforts.  If you need any additional information on the bird conservation plan, contact Cris Tomlinson, or Elisabeth Ammon at the Great Basin Bird Observatory.  (Photo by Christy Klinger, NDOW)

Filed Under: Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With: , , ,

Nevada's Spring Wings Bird Festival

March 13, 2009 By RRAS Info

May 08-10, 2009, Fallon, NV:

The Spring Wings Bird Festival coincides with International Migratory Bird Day and the height of spring migration in the Lahontan Valley wetlands. These internationally recognized wetlands are temporary home to over 260 species of birds, including thousands of White-faced ibis, Long-billed dowitcher, American white pelicans, Black-necked stilts, American avocets, and many other waterfowl and waterbirds. During the 2008 festival, a respectable 147 different species were logged. Contact Person: Candy Dolan, Phone Number: 775-423-4556.

Filed Under: In The News, Nevada State News Tagged With:

Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge Re-opens

March 1, 2009 By RRAS Info

Submitted By: Amy Sprunger (Manager, Desert National Wildlife Refuge)

Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge will be open to the public every Saturday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, beginning on March 7, 2009. Visitors will now be able to tour the new stream profile viewing chamber featuring a stream cross section, showcasing the endangered Moapa dace.

The new stream profile chamber provides an opportunity for visitors to see under the water’s surface and watch aquatic life in their natural environment. In addition to getting a close-up view of stream life, the Refuge staff plans to have additional activities on opening day.

The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge is located about 60 miles northeast of Las Vegas on Warm Springs Road, off of Highway 168. It was established in 1979 to secure habitat for and protect the endangered Moapa dace. Over the past three years, extensive habitat restoration has taken place, including the construction of visitor facilities. The long process of habitat restoration began by restoring springs and re-stocking the stream channels with dace from other areas of the Muddy River headwaters. In addition to spring and channel restoration efforts, re-vegetation with native plants, removing non-native species, and enhancing stream flows have benefited the Moapa dace and the White River springfish, as well as other the endemic (native) species at the Wildlife Refuge.

Filed Under: Nevada State News, Partner Submitted News Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »