Heron Haven

05/28/2026

⚠️Main trail closed! ⚠️ Apologies for the inconvenience, but due to a small construction project the trail to the photo blind is closed until 2PM Friday! Thank you for your patience and understanding!

*The boardwalk and gardens are still open though!*

05/13/2026

BIRD ALERT! The next couple of nights are high migration for eastern Nebraska and Iowa! 🐦✨Help reduce bird collisions and light pollution, by turn off nonessential lighting or switching to motion sensors, draw shades at night, angle exterior lights away from windows, and shield or cover outdoor lights to direct light downward and out of the night sky. Small changes can make a big difference for our migrating feathered friends!

To stay up to date on migration alerts for your area: https://birdcast.org/migration-tools/local-migration-alerts/

05/12/2026

🐦 Baby bird season is here! Before stepping in, stop and assess the situation first.
Many young feathered birds you see on the ground are fledglings, they’ve naturally left the nest and are learning to fly while their parents continue caring for them nearby.
If you find a baby bird:
- Make sure it’s in a safe location away from pets, traffic, or immediate danger
- Watch from a distance for about an hour to see if a parent returns
- Only intervene if the bird appears injured, weak, or abandoned
Sometimes the best way to help wildlife is to give them space. 💚

Oh no! You’ve found a baby bird on the ground, apparently alone and in distress. 🐥 Its tiny chirps may pull at your heartstrings, and it can be tempting to spring into action—but, not all baby birds need rescuing. That's why it's so important to stop and assess the situation.

If they do need your help, how to help them depends on a few factors: does this bird need immediate medical attention? And is it a nestling or a fledgling? Take a look at this graphic to determine how and when to assist baby birds—then click the link in our comments to learn more!

🖌️: Julie Rossman/Audubon

05/11/2026

"If you find a fawn laying quietly in the grass, leave the area immediately and do not disturb it! Mother deer leave their young fawns laying in the grass while they go off to feed. It is not uncommon for a fawn to be left lying in the same place for 8-12 hours at a time. Do not touch, disturb or feed a fawn under any circumstance, because doing so may doom the fawn to death." 🦌

It is illegal to rehabilitate deer in Nebraska, which means it is imperative to keep fawns with their mother. If you find a fawn laying quietly in the grass, leave the area immediately and do not disturb it. Mother deer leave their young fawns laying in the grass while they go off to feed. They return periodically to check on their fawns and to feed them, but it is not uncommon for a fawn to be left lying in the same place for 8-12 hours at a time. Do not touch, disturb or feed a fawn under any circumstance, because doing so may doom the fawn to death.

Please share this post! Thank you for supporting native wildlife 🦌

05/08/2026

BIRD ALERT! Another high migration night! 🐦✨ You can help by simply turning off non-essential lights especially outdoors from dusk to dawn to give these travelers a safer journey!💚

05/03/2026

Spring migration is in full swing, and Omaha is seeing a big wave of birds passing through tonight! 🐦✨ As they travel overnight, bright city lights can confuse and disorient them. You can help by simply turning off non-essential lights from dusk to dawn to give these incredible travelers a safer journey. Every light off makes a difference!

For more info on ways you can reduce bird collisions check out: www.stopbirdcollisions.org

04/22/2026

🌎 Happy Earth Day!

From wetlands to wildlife, Heron Haven is a reminder of how beautiful, and important, it is to care for the natural world around us. This Earth Day, take a moment to reconnect with nature: listen to the birds, watch the clouds drift by, or step outside for a walk.

Then consider one simple action to protect the wildlife and places you cherish, maybe it’s using less water, planting native, or simply spending more time outdoors.

Together, we can make a lasting impact 🌱

02/04/2026

Even though the groundhog didnt bring us the news we were hoping for, that doesn't mean we can't coexist with them💚

01/30/2026

🚨 ACTION NEEDED: Public Comments Due Feb 2nd by 8 AM! 🚨

Legislators are considering LB 1072, a bill that threatens the future of the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, a vital source of support for clean water, wildlife habitat, and environmental restoration across our state.

📣 Tell lawmakers to protect the Environmental Trust, not undermine it!
👉 Submit your comment here:
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=62666&docnum=LB1072&leg=109

Talking Points:
- The Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund is a voter-approved, dedicated funding source created to protect Nebraska’s natural resources through a competitive, transparent grant process.
- LB 1072 undermines the intent of the Trust Fund by allowing Lottery dollars meant for conservation to be diverted to agency budgets or the general fund, weakening long-term environmental protections.
- For nearly 35 years, the Trust Fund has invested over $450 million in more than 2,600 projects across all 93 Nebraska counties, delivering measurable benefits for clean water, wildlife habitat, and healthy ecosystems statewide.

Nebraska Legislature

01/26/2026

It's coyote mating season!🐺 You may see them out at weird hours or being more vocal, this is totally normal during this season! Give them space and keep your pets on a leash/supervised.💚

Coyote mating season typically occurs from January through March across the Midwest, including Nebraska, when they become more vocal and active searching for mates, which means there might be increased sightings in your area. Coyotes are largely monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds, and this period is focused on courtship, mating, and establishing territories for raising pups, which are usually born in March and April.

Some of the behaviors commonly observed during winter (i.e. howling, yipping, pair travel, and daytime activity) are normal parts of mating and territorial communication. This heightened visibility can give the impression of population growth, even though overall coyote numbers remain relatively stable.

Many people become concerned about their pets during this time. While coyotes are not seeking conflict with people or pets, they may be more defensive near territories and future den sites. Pet owners are encouraged to keep dogs on a leash, supervise pets outdoors, avoid letting cats roam freely, and remove attractants such as unsecured trash or outdoor pet food. Taking these simple precautions helps reduce encounters and supports safe coexistence during this natural and temporary phase of the coyote life cycle.

Learn more at https://nebraskawildliferehab.org/wildlife-help/wildlife-conflict-issues/coyotes.html