 Sage grouse strutting his stuff. Photo via Wikimedia Commons, Source Greater Sage Grouse Uploaded by Snowmanradio There’s a dance party happening across much of the basin and range as the sage grouse strut their stuff to try to attract females. This is more a Madrid type party than a stateside party as the fun only gets started at dawn. That’s when the males start to dance. There are many descriptions of their dance out there, but it is electric as any disco when you see one of these fantastic beings puffing and stretching in a predawn. It is only the males who puff and strut about, but the more camoflauged females are there too, looking for the best dance partner.
Sage grouse are well known. NDOW has a quick overview of them and I’m sure there are others. But what you might not know is that you can check out the party (from a very respectful distance of course) if you volunteer with NDOWs lek count program. While the program for 2018 is already underway, 2019 is will be here soon. Volunteering provides a great opportunity to explore the basin and range region, see some amazing sunrises, start your hike or play day doing citizen science all while getting to see these unique birds in action. Get out there lekkin’!
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 Working hard on public lands! September 30, 2017 is National Public Lands Day and there are so many ways and opportunities to get involved and give back to your public lands! Follow this link to see all the opportunities in Nevada: https://www.neefusa.org/find-an-event/NV If you are outside of Nevada you can go here and click on your state to see what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Here's a quick glimpse into what is happening here in Nevada. In Northern Nevada: • Soldier Meadows Desert Dace Project-Black Rock Desert Area • Ferris Creek Improvements-Battle Mountain Area • Truckee River Cleanup-Reno Area • Washoe Lake Native Seed Collection-Reno, Carson Area • Bloody Shins Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance –Winnemucca Area • South Fork Canyon Trail Improvements—Elko Area In Southern Nevada: • Willow Creek Habitat Improvement-Las Vegas/Spring Mountains Area • Northern Red Rock Canyon Cleanup-Las Vegas/Red Rock Area • Logandale Trials Kiosk Installation-Logandale/Moapa Valley Area • Lund Dump Site Cleanup-Lund Area • Gold Butte National Monument graffiti Removal-Las Vegas Area • Big Dunes Kiosk and Trail Improvements-Amargossa Valley Area • Lake Mead Litter Cleanup-Las Vegas Area • Mack’s Canyon Cleanup-Las Vegas/Spring Mountains Area September 30, 2017 is National Public Lands Day. To celebrate this we are going to share images of public lands from our archives every day in September. #welovepubliclands #publiclandsproud #publiclandowner #NPLD #basinandrangelandsofseptember  Photo from the USFWS The Great Backyard Bird Count is a fun and fairly easy way to volunteer. If you like birds or just want to get out in nature, this is a great way to do it and give back at the same time. The count runs from February 13 through the 16, 2015. All you have to do is count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day, for each new location, or for the same location if you counted at a different time of day. Estimate the number of individuals of each species you saw during your count period. "The Great Back Yard Bird Count launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society and was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Since then, more than 100,000 people of all ages and walks of life have joined the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds." If you’re new to the count, first register online then enter your checklist. If you have already participated in another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing login. The Nevada State Museum in Carson City is welcoming new volunteers who may be interested in natural history. Tour guide training is Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 17 and 18 at the museum which is also the site of the former U.S. Mint. The program features several Nevada themes including desert adaptations, the capitol and prisons. It also includes a tour of the capitol. To volunteer or register, contact Deborah Stevenson at (775) 687-4810 x237 or dstevenson@nevadaculture.org. From the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension: If you love the outdoors, this is the program for you! Do you love the outdoors? Enjoy exploring the natural world in southern Nevada? Like learning about native plants and animals? Wonder how you can volunteer and participate in conservation projects locally? Then, the Nevada Naturalist program is for you! Drop by the Lifelong Learning Center on Saturday, March 7 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. and chat with current Nevada Naturalists, meet instructors, see interesting and educational project presentations, participate in activities, learn about exciting volunteer opportunities, tour the Outdoor Education Center and more. Nevada Naturalist, a University of Nevada Cooperative Extension program, focuses on giving a broad understanding of nature to participants interested in learning, volunteering, teaching and participating in conservation projects and issues. The program will also give participants the skills and confidence necessary to make a difference for environmental stewardship and conservation in southern Nevada. The Lifelong Learning Center is located at 8050 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nev. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information on the open house or the Nevada Naturalist program, email or call Denise Parsons at 702-948-5906. The Nevada Naturalist program offers two semesters of instruction. Topics include: ecology, regional plants and animals, invasive species, geology and soils, environmental laws, taxonomy, biological diversity, and more. Classes are held in the spring and fall in a variety of settings including classrooms, museums and in the field. Additionally, students complete a project intended to increase their capacity and knowledge about specific issues that interest them. Participants receive a certificate following the completion of the course and their projects. CALIENTE, Nev. ─ The State Historic Preservation Office, Nevada Site Stewardship Program, is pleased to announce a Stewardship training workshop to be held at the BLM Caliente Field Office (US HWY 93, Bldg. 1, Caliente, NV) on February 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This workshop is free of charge and is open to all who are interested in volunteering to help protect Nevada’s heritage. Increased visitation to public lands has overwhelmed archaeologists and law enforcement officers. The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service have joined with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office to create a statewide volunteer site stewardship program that trains site stewards to become vital “eyes and ears” for public land management agencies. The workshop includes an introduction to archaeological sites in Nevada and provides insight into how Nevada’s heritage is at risk. Stewards are educated on the latest laws related to historic preservation so they can work with their local authorities to prevent further damage by reporting vandalism and other activities that could harm archaeological and paleontological sites. Volunteers who attend this workshop will receive a 2015 certification for stewarding in Nevada. “Anyone who enjoys being outdoors, likes to hike, is willing to collaborate with both state and federal agencies and has a love for the past should consider attending this workshop,” said Rebecca Palmer, state historic preservation officer. “Site Stewards play an essential role in maintaining the integrity of Nevada’s archaeological, paleontological and historical sites for generations to come.” To reserve a seat, please RSVP by January 28 to Rayette Martin at ramartin@shpo.nv.gov or at 702-486-5011. Cooperative Extension seeks adult mentors for youth ages 8-14 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program is looking for positive adult role models to mentor youth enrolled in the 4-H Youth and Families with Promise Program. Mentors will be working with youth between the ages of 8 and 14, meeting one-on-one with a youth individually and attending monthly group activity nights and trainings. Mentors should strive to enter into structured and trusting relationships as caring individuals who will offer guidance, support and encouragement to the youth. They should help mentees improve academic performance, increase social competency and strengthen family bonds. Most importantly, they should have fun with their mentees. The 4-H Youth and Families with Promise Program works with youth living in Reno Housing Authority sites. The program hosts regular after-school 4-H meetings for youth to get homework help or participate in enrichment activities; family nights out, where youth and their families can participate together; and mentor-mentee meetings, where the mentors and mentees have fun and strengthen bonds. Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program teaches youth ages 5 to 19 leadership, citizenship and life skills, as well as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Fueled by university-backed curriculum and led by trained staff and dedicated volunteers, 4-H programs engage youth in experiential, or "hands-on," learning. According to a 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development in 2012 by Tufts University, Youth in 4-H are two times more likely to plan to go to college than their peers and are 3.4 times more likely to actively contribute to their communities than their peers. To learn more about becoming a mentor in the 4-H Youth and Families with Promise Program, contact Samantha Shoupe at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 775-336-0270 or shoupes@unce.unr.edu. Carson City - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District-Sierra Front Field Office, and the Kiwanis Club of Carson City invite local residents to join them in Carson City on Saturday, October 11, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for an annual cleanup of public land along the banks of the Carson River, Brunswick Canyon, and Prison Hill Recreation Area.
Participants should meet at the BLM-Carson City District Office's west parking lot, located at 5665 Morgan Mill Road at Deer Run Road (three blocks south of U.S. Highway 50 on the east side of Carson City along the Carson River). This is one of the many events that will be held around the country as part of the 21th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD). NPLD is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands American’s enjoy. Who's Invited? The Carson River Cleanup is an annual event that has been popular for conservation-minded groups, families & individuals, as well as local groups like the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H Club, Junior ROTC, and Key Club. Groups are asked to register in advance by calling Lisa Ross at 775-885-6107 to ensure enough tools, event t-shirts, food and supplies are available for all volunteers. Come on out, get your hands dirty, and enjoy a great BBQ lunch provided by the Kiwanis Club of Carson City. What will Volunteers be Doing? This year's projects include picking up trash along the Carson River, Sedge Road, Brunswick Canyon, and in side-canyons of the Pine Nut Mountains and Prison Hill. BLM will provide all of the needed hand tools, trash bags, and trash bins – volunteers just need help to load up the dumpster! What Should Volunteers Bring? Volunteers are asked to wear long pants, heavy shoes or boots (no sandals, please), a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes, and bring some heavy gloves to protect your hands from broken glass, metal and thorns. Yard rakes and boxes are also requested to gather and dispose of broken glass and shell casings. Also be prepared for either cool, windy weather, or hot, sunny conditions (the weather in mid-October in Carson City is quite unpredictable). For more information & to pre-register: e-mail Lisa Ross, BLM Public Affairs Specialist at lross@blm.gov or call 775-885-6107 by October 10. Carson City, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District, Sierra Front Field Office has launched the “Adopt-a-Space” Program to combat illegal dumping on public lands. A workshop about the new program will be held on Thursday, September 25, from 5 - 7 p.m., at the Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road in Carson City. RSVPs for the open house are requested. “This program facilitates creating public land stewards who will assist the BLM with keeping the public land free of litter so that all may enjoy,” said Leon Thomas, Field Manager. “We are looking for individuals, groups, schools, businesses, organizations and anyone who is interested in participating in this program.” BLM staff will work closely with volunteer groups to guide them through the process of adopting a space. Pre-determined spots have been designated for the program. However, if there is an area in need of clean-up, BLM will work with individuals and groups to get it nominated and adopted. For additional information please call 775-885-6000, email mhornsby@blm.gov, cgardner@blm.gov and adcallan@blm.gov. Las Vegas, NV - Saturday September 27th volunteers from the Las Vegas valley will spend National Public Lands Day working in one of southern Nevada’s most loved places, the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. There are two projects taking place in the Spring Mountains to help expedite recovery after the Carpenter 1 fire of 2013. They will be hosted by two local partners, Go Mt. Charleston and Friends of Nevada Wilderness.
Part of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest, the Spring Mountains provide an escape from the summer heat, opportunities for winter snow play, and a sanctuary for biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth. This important and delicate ecosystem sees 1 million visitors each year, and can always benefit from volunteer’s attention. In July 2013 almost 28,000 acres of the southern Spring Mountains burned in the Carpenter 1 fire. The U.S. Forest Service was required to keep some recreation areas closed to the public until the resulting hazards could be mitigated. One impacted site is the Mt. Charleston National Recreation Trail (NRT), formerly known as the South Loop Trail. Much work remains until this trail and other areas will be ready for visitors. However, Friends of Nevada Wilderness and volunteers have been granted access to improve lower sections. Volunteers from the local Spring Mountain Youth Camp and local REI employees will learn about natural fire ecology and trail maintenance techniques through hands on practice. GO Mt. Charleston will work with volunteers in Kyle Canyon collecting native seeds for germination and re-seeding last year’s burned areas. The Great Basin Institute works closely with the US Forest Service on plant restoration in the Spring Mountains and will help volunteers learn about Mojave Desert plant species. This family friendly event focuses on natural fire ecology and our part in the process. Volunteer efforts like these are instrumental in the recovery process. Founded in 1984, Friends of Nevada has helped protect over 3 million acres of Nevada’s wild lands by leading efforts in the expansion or designation of all 68 wildernesses in the state, including the creation of Mt. Charleston Wilderness. Over the past thirty years, Friends of Nevada Wilderness has also grown a nationally recognized and award-winning Wilderness Stewardship Volunteer Program, generating over $1 million of in-kind services to benefit Nevada’s public lands. |
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