A Sound Across the Sandhills

Conservation Works

Air Date: 07/23/2026

Discover the remarkable comeback of the Trumpeter Swan in Nebraska’s Sandhills, and what it takes to keep their habitats healthy. Dive a little deeper with field notes from Mark Vrtiska, Wildlife Management Specialist with the University of Nebraska's School of Natural Resources, and John McKinney, Waterfowl Program Manager with Nebraska Game and Parks. Together, they talk further on the work being done to conserve Nebraska's waterfowl and the future of the places they depend on. The host of Conservation Works, Carlee Moates, shares her journey into conservation and the experiences that shaped her path. We take a trip northwest and fly over the Sugarloaf Butte in the scenic badlands of Sioux County.