Springtime always brings a renewed sense of hope along with lots of bright colors and lovely natural sights. In a few weeks, it will also bring some colorful visitors: migrating ruby-throated hummingbirds.
Most hummingbirds are migratory, and they tend to stick to the same migratory path every year. They don't stay in Nebraska very long during their spring migration, which just makes it more magical when you do spot them.
The hummingbirds stick mainly to eastern Nebraska. Except for a few outliers every year, the hummingbirds coming through Nebraska are almost exclusively of the ruby-throated variety.
In early March of 2021, the hummingbirds have barely made it out of the tropics. Peak spring migration sightings in Nebraska will be between April and May.
These itty-bitty feathered friends are truly tiny and easy to overlook. You're likely to spot them in gardens planted with hummingbird- and bee-attracting flowers.
Their tiny wings can flap up to 80 times per second, so it's no wonder they seem to always be feeding. In fact, they can feed anywhere from five to eight times a day!
You may be wondering, "How can I attract hummingbirds to my yard?" A hummingbird feeder like this one is a great way to invite the birds into your yard.
A pre-made hummingbird nectar (skip the ones with with dyes) will attract hummingbirds, but you can also easily make your own with a simple recipe using just sugar and water. Just be sure to change the nectar every other day and wash the feeder twice a week to avoid fermentation and mold.
Have you seen any hummingbirds yet this spring? Do you put out feeders for them? Tell us all about your hummingbird sightings in the comments! Keep track of the 2021 migration on this interactive map.
Interacting with animals in Nebraska can be a very healing and rewarding experience. While we love our pets, there are places right here in Nebraska where we can pet animals that we don’t normally interact with. At Scatter Joy Acres in Murray, NE, you can interact with llamas, ponies, alpacas, donkeys, and even a camel! Let’s explore this fantastic petting zoo in Nebraska.
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On the outskirts of the tiny town of Murray, on a lonesome gravel road in the heart of Nebraska farmland, is a beautiful ranch that is full of friendly animals.
Its 26 acres are run by Joy Bartling who started this place as a way to offer healing to people through animal interaction and is meant to bring joy to as many people as possible.
One of the main purposes here is to provide therapeutic interaction for autistic and otherwise developmentally-disabled people of all ages, as well as veterans and at-risk children. The sweet and docile animals are perfect for this.
It’s a wonderful feeling to gallivant with goats, bask in the love of burros, and kick back with kangaroos - all on the same day. It’s a wonderful idea for a birthday party, field trip, or other special occasion. Or, just because you want to spend a day with these beautiful creatures.
Scatter Joy Acres also has an excellent pet adoption program; and since the animals are so well socialized through interacting with many people, they’d make perfect pets.
There’s also an exceptional program called Be Somebody that teaches elementary and high school students how to live with more kindness, authenticity, and self-awareness through experiential learning, games, discussion, and various activities.
Whatever your reasons for visiting, you’re sure to leave feeling relaxed, invigorated, and with a big smile on your face. Treat yourself to this loving experience.
Have you ever had the experience of interacting with animals at Scatter Joy Acres in Murray, NE? Are there other petting zoos in Nebraska where you love to hang out with animals? In the comments, let us know about your favorite experiences. For the most current updates, be sure to follow Scatter Joy Acres on Facebook. If you’d like to go on a hiking trail where you can see tons of wildlife, you’ll love this one.
Fall in Nebraska is the time for festive family fun and fulsome foliage! Seeing the leaves come alive in multiple colors while sipping hot apple cider and enjoying the bountiful harvest of the season at a Nebraska pumpkin patch is something we all look forward to. One of the best things about the autumn season is visiting pumpkin patches to try pumpkin treats, carve pumpkins, and enjoy all kinds of events. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best pumpkin patches in Nebraska.
The Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch hosts an annual Pumpkin Roundup which starts this year on September 13 and goes until October 31. 2024. It includes a haunted house, haunted hayrides, 20 acres of pumpkins, antiques, livestock, an old-fashioned playground, and veggie picking. There’s a ghost town with mines and caves, and a play area with slides, bounce pillows, zip lines, swings, and more. There’s enough family fun to fill a whole day at this lovely pumpkin patch in Papillion!
A ton of festive fun awaits at the Bloom Where You’re Planted Farm when the Pumpkin Patch season starts on September 21 and runs until October 27. 2024. This pumpkin patch in Avoca has hayrides, U-Pick Pumpkins, a Nature Scavenger Hunt, Farm Animals, a Corn Box, a 40-foot Tube Slide, and so much more to do. This year, an obstacle course and rock tables with a construction area have been added for extra fun! The farm is also surrounded by lush nature trails to walk off all those pumpkin-laden treats!
The picturesque and idyllic Fanny’s Fruit Farm & Pumpkin Patch is a pumpkin patch in Gurley that kicks off its pumpkin season in late September and it runs on weekends only until late October. It’s a quaint and lovely place that lets you paint your own pumpkin and take it home with you. There’s a coffee shop and restaurant on site and you’ll see goats, lambs, ducks, and chickens up close! Kids will love the tractor rides, corn maze, and massive inflatable slide.
You won’t be able to throw a pumpkin without being in the range of something fun to do at the Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch. During the season which runs from mid-September to the end of October, you’ll enjoy zip lines, the Deadwood Forest, a giant corn pit, three race tracks, skeeball, barn slides, jumping pillows, a corn maze, and lots more. It’s also a great venue to hold a wedding! This pumpkin patch in Oakland has it all!
Helgoth’s Pumpkin Patch ruins this year’s pumpkin season from September 14 to October 27, 2024, and it is a heck of a great time! Activities like jumping pillows, train rides, 150-foot mega slides, and a big pumpkin cannon bring a full day of family fun. Pumpkin donuts, kettle corn, hot dogs, hamburgers, fresh-baked pies, and other yummy treats await you too! It’s just 5 miles north of charming Grand Island and it’s the perfect place for fall fun.
Just outside of North Platte, you’ll find the Homestead Pumpkin Patch. From late September to late October, you’ll be able to enjoy treats like Apple Cider Slushes, Kettle Corn, Strawberry Lemonade, and much more. Activities include a Trike Track, Zip Lines, Jumping Pillows, a Corn Maze, Foosball, Hay Rides, Corn Boxes, and several other fun things to do. Your whole family will greatly enjoy this wonderful pumpkin patch in North Platte.
Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch in Norfolk is a lovely farm that provides a festive time for everyone. The season begins in early September and lasts until late October. Have fun with a Super Slide, Hamster Wheels, a petting zoo, a zip line, skeeball, an Enchanted Forest, a corn pit, and so many more activities. Sink your teeth into fresh, scrumptious pies, caramel apples, and other delectable treats! It also has one of the largest slides in the state!
Since 1980, Roca Berry Farm has been delighting families with its annual Fall Festival which runs this year from mid-September to the end of October. This pumpkin patch in Roca is one of the largest fall events in the state and has several activities that most pumpkin patches lack like mini golf, a locomotive, a giant rocking horse, a House of Illusions, Duck Races, a Life-Sized Candyland Game, and so much more. There are several live shows like the Swamp Frog Show and the Monster Mash Show. You can spend an entire weekend and not do it all.
Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch in Blair, Nebraska is rustic and unique. You’ll find a Tornado Alley, the Frankenslide, the Daisy Train, pedal carts, a corn pool, the Mad Cow Ride, a House of Mystery, and several other whimsical attractions for all ages. Running from September 6 to November 2, 2024, this fantastic pumpkin patch has more than enough entertainment and activities to make you want to return a few times over the season.
Have you ever been to any of these wonderful pumpkin patches in Nebraska? Let us know all about your experiences in the comments. If you want to see the beautiful fall colors up close, take this road trip to some of the best fall foliage in Nebraska:
