Watershed Land Trust and Watershed Institute

Good guide, native hosts for our favorite 'flying flowers'. There's more, of course, but like this.

Konza Nature Nugget - Wednesday, November 18th. What are the deer doing right now? 1. They're eating - a lot! White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are h...erbivores, they love to feed on young, juicy leaves of trees and shrubs in the spring. In the autumn, they'll feed on acorns, berries (they love Buck Brush), and waste corn and beans from fields. In fact, agricultural crops make up to 60% of a deer's diet. In the autumn and winter deer can spend up to 7 hours a day feeding. 2. They're hanging out in the creek bottoms and at the edges of fields. Deer love riparian areas - creek bottoms where there are large trees and dense vegetation under the trees (undercover). They need quite a bit of water, so you'll find deer where there is a puddle of water in a creek surrounded by trees that is next to a corn field. 3. They're looking for love. It's November, which means the rut is on! I've been seeing bucks frequently, and they're driven by hormones to find a girlfriend. No long-lasting bonds will occur; this is a very short relationship and then the buck is back out looking for a new gal. Gestation is 6.5 - 7.0 months, so expect to see some new fawns come next April or May. WARNING! Bucks are not thinking clearly (insert human metaphor here...) and they are more likely to casually run in front of your car during this month. Be careful driving - especially at night - on gravel country roads. More information on deer in Kansas may be found here: https://ksoutdoors.com//Wildlife-Education-/On-T.R.A.C.K.S

I, and our entire science department, is/are so excited that Steve Schnarr won the Columbia Missourian Progress in Sustainability Award! Steve is the executive... director for Missouri River Relief - our CPS Science Partner in Education- and he and his crew have taken thousands of our students out on the MO River and taught ALL of us so much. His kindness, calmness, and love for the environment is a gift to all of us. Congratulations, Steve and all of Missouri River Relief!

Better than meditation. Beaver eating cabbage #amiright #momentofzen #mood

Thank you to Steve Thompson for sharing this wonderful picture of sandhill cranes in flight at Quivira. The refuge is a key stopover site for cranes as they he...ad South for the winter. As of the last count yesterday, there were close to 12,000 of them on the refuge! (Photo Credit: Steve Thompson) See more

Our national symbol is always an impressive sight to see in the wild. Bald eagles usually soar with their wings almost flat, and this gliding technique is not o...nly effective, but a great way to identify them. Bald Eagles often live near rivers, lakes, and marshes -- where they can find fish, their staple food. They require a good food base, perching areas, and excellent nesting sites. Their habitat includes estuaries, large lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and some seacoasts and they can be found across the country. In winter, the birds congregate in communal roosts near open water in tall trees, allowing them shelter and a chance to spot prey. Photo at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in California by Sekar Balasubramanian (www.sharetheexperience.org). See more