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Peregrine Falcon Chicks Named for Stars in Orion’s Belt

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. – -(AmmoLand.com)- The peregrine falcon chicks hatched atop the Nebraska State Capitol building have been named Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka – after the three bright stars that comprise the belt of the constellation Orion, the Hunter, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission announced Friday, June 25.

Game and Parks conducted its annual contest to name the chicks. The winning entry was submitted by Joan Darling of Lincoln.

“These are the three stars in Orion, the Hunter’s belt, which is such a dominant feature of the Nebraska night sky,” Darling wrote in her entry. “Like Orion, peregrine falcons are mighty hunters in the sky. These chicks also are webcam ‘stars’.”

The three stars of the belt were prominent in ancient timekeeping because they mark the northern night sky when the sun is at its lowest point.

For the record, one male chick (leg band identification 24/C) is Alnitak, one male (25/C) is Alnilam and the female (53/H) is Mintaka.

More than 350 contest entries were received from 12 states. For her winning entry, Darling will receive, among other prizes, a stuffed toy peregrine falcon and a one-year subscription to NEBRASKAland Magazine.

The chicks, which should be taking their first flight soon, may be viewed on Game and Parks’ Falconcam, although they are increasingly moving outside the camera’s field of view.

View the Falconcam at http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/webcam/peregrine/default.asp .

This is the fifth year the peregrine pair has successfully raised young. One chick was raised in 2005, three in ’06, and four in both ’07 and ’09. No chicks were successfully fledged in 2008.

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10 Reasons to Stop Reading and Go Hunt Turkeys in Nebraska
It’s Time to Talk Turkey!

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Nebraska --(AmmoLand.com)- Here in Nebraska, the hills are alive…..with the sound of turkeys!

And so are the valleys, fields, pastures and every place in between for that matter.

It’s spring in Nebraska and Tom Turkey is king of the outdoors!

In case visions of deer, pheasant and waterfowl are still on your mind, we thought we’d give you a quick list of 10 reasons why you should be hunting turkeys in Nebraska right now:

It's Time to Talk Turkey!

Strength in Numbers. Wants lots of opportunity to hunt? Then you want a place with lots of birds – and that place would be Nebraska! Our turkey population has absolutely exploded in recent years, with triple digit populations gains in almost every area of the state.

Location, Location, Location! Turkeys can be found all across the state, in every county and region. River drainage areas boast some of the highest density of turkeys, but the breakup of flocks and spring mating season mean that toms are on the move and looking for love.

The Season is Long. Archery season is already underway and the regular shotgun season opens April 17. Both run through May 31 (Memorial Day), so you have time to enjoy multiple hunting trips. Click here for details.

$5 Permits for Those 15 and Under. Got a budding hunter at home? Bring them along! Nebraska’s unique combination of no minimum age for turkey hunters and $5 youth turkey tags makes it easy to provide some great ‘first hunt’ opportunities for aspiring young hunters. To learn more, click here.

Getting a Permit is Easy. Permits are available online 24/7, are valid statewide, and you can have up to three of them. What could be simpler?

Archery or Shotgun – Your Choice. You can use either weapon to fill your permit, without having to specify it ahead of time.

Three Subspecies to Hunt. Nebraska is home to Merriam’s in the western Pine Ridge, Rio Grande in the southern sections of the state and the Eastern subspecies in the east and central regions. Three subspecies and three permits per hunter…..no coincidence there!

We Can Jumpstart Your Hunt. Our website is a great source of information on public hunting lands, places to stay, hunting regulations, outfitters or other information to plan your hunting trip.

The Odds Are Good. A record 22,000 turkeys were harvested last spring, with shotgun success rates of 68% and archery success rates of 48%, both among the highest in the nation.

The Fun Factor. Whether it’s calling in a big tom, seeing a youngster bag their first bird or watching the woods wake up in the morning, nothing beats being outdoors. Whatever you like most, you can experience it here.

So what are you waiting for? The gobbling has started! Get your gear, your favorite call and head for Nebraska. And those visions of deer, pheasant and waterfowl? Hold on to ‘em – fall will be here before you know it.

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