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Index To Volume 87

Nebraska Bird Review

14 pages: Akers, Danny 108 to Zeglen, Nancy 45

2019 Hitchcock Raptor Banding Project In Perspective, Jerry Toll

Nebraska Bird Review

Hitchcock Nature Center in Pottawattamie County, north of Crescent, Iowa, is home to the Hitchcock HawkWatch and Raptor Banding Project. The Nature Center is in the heart of the Loess Hills which, together with the flat expanse of the Missouri River Valley to the west, provides the perfect conditions for creating the updraft that aids migrating birds. The Hawkwatch began in 1992, and every fall from September through December, birds-of-prey enthusiasts gather on the 45-foot observation tower to watch and count thousands of eagles, hawks, and other raptors as they migrate south. Every year since 2007, Sandy Reinken and I …

The Nebraska Bird Review, Volume 87 December 2019 Number 4

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August - November 2019, by W. Ross Silcock …118-138

2019 Hitchcock Raptor Banding Project in Perspective, by Jerry Toll …138-147

Imperial Fall Field Days, Sept 13-15, 2019 …148-152

Index to Volume 87 …153-166

Subscription and Organization Information …167

Imperial Fall Field Days, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2019 NOU Fall Field Days were held in Imperial, Chase County, on September 13 - 15, with 59 registered. Field trips were led by Mark Brogie, Bill Flack, and T. J. Walker to the Wauneta cemetery, Frenchman WMA, Hayes Center WMA, Enders Reservoir WMA and SRA, Champion Mill Lake, Swinging Bridge Arboretum, Church Grove Recreation Area, Rock Creek Lake SRA and Fish Hatchery, and Swanson Reservoir SRA and WMA. Among the highlights were Osprey, which were seen at several locations, Sabine’s Gull, Ferruginous Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Red-naped Sapsucker, Merlin, and Prairie Falcon. Anita Breckbill, Doctor of Musical Arts, head …

Summer Field Report, June - July 2019, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

There was a lot to ponder this summer, including several notable breeding records of waterbirds, including the 3rd for Canvasback and an “unprecedented” breeding season for Eared Grebe in the Rainwater Basin. Intriguing summer occurrences that might presage or indicate nesting were large numbers of Redhead and Ring-necked Duck in larger wetlands, the 3rd Jun record of Dusky Flycatcher, first Jun record of Baird’s Sparrow, 3rd summer record of Ash-throated Flycatcher, and a Sage Thrasher in Jun in Kimball County. Additional breeding records of interest were the 10 Peregrine Falcons fledged at three Omaha sites, possible nesting by Mississippi Kites …

New Wilson’S Phalarope Nesting Record From The Central Platte River Valley, Mormon Island, Hall County, Nebraska, Andrew J. Caven, Bethany L. Ostrom, Aurora Fowler, Joshua D. Wiese, Kelsey C. King

Nebraska Bird Review

The southeastern portion of the Wilson’s Phalarope’s (Phalaropus tricolor) breeding range encompasses parts of Nebraska (Colwell and Jehl 1994), including the Sandhills and northern Panhandle (Silcock and Jorgensen 2018). Additionally, there have been a number of breeding records from southcentral and southeastern Nebraska within the Rainwater Basin ecoregion since the mid-1990s (Mollhoff 2016, Silcock and Jorgensen 2018). However, there is very little evidence of regular breeding activity in the nearby Central Platte River Valley (CPRV), which spans from Chapman west to Overton, Nebraska, and is considered a globally important area for waterbirds (Johnsgard and Brown 2013, Silcock and Jorgensen 2018). …

The Nebraska Bird Review, Volume 87 September 2019 Number 3

Nebraska Bird Review

Summer Field Report, June - July 2019, by W. Ross Silcock …74-95

2018 (30th) Report of the NOU Records Committee, by Mark A. Brogie … 96-109

New Wilson's Phalarope Nesting Record from the Central Platte River Valley, Mormon Island, Hall County, Nebraska by Andrew J. Caven, Bethany Ostrom, Aurora Fowler, Joshua D. Wiese, Kelsey C. King …110-114

Subscription and Organization Information …115

2018 (30th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

2018 Additions/Deletions to the "Official List of the Birds of Nebraska”: There was one new species added in 2018. Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) Accidental - Class 1-P. With this addition, the “Official List of the Birds of Nebraska” stands at 463 species.

2018 Changes in Frequency of Occurrence

Changes Involving Nebraska Species Due to Taxonomic Revisions

NOURC Accepted Records (Received in 2018)

NOURC Unaccepted Records (Received in 2018)

Spring Field Report, March - May 2019, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

There were many significant reports, including high and low numbers, early and late dates, out-of-range sightings including nesting, and, of course, rarities. High numbers were led by geese; an amazing 1.7 million Snows were estimated by acreage (!) and counts of 10,000 Greater White-fronted and 100,000 Canada Geese were near-record high counts for spring. A bit surprising as record spring counts were 3000 European Starlings and 3000 American White Pelicans. Nightjar surveys by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and others yielded an amazing 40+ Chuck-will’s-widows in the southeast; Ruddy Turnstones put on a show with 85 in Platte Co; 127 …

Book Review: Sparrows Of North America By Rick Wright, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This book is a tour de force.

Not only is it a comprehensive summary of field identification, range, and taxonomy of species of the New World family Passerellidae, but the introductory paragraphs for each species, which describe the provenance of the English and Latin species names we know today, read like a historical novel that is a perfect vehicle for Wright to display his well-known erudition and could quite justifiably stand alone. Wright’s extensive research into often obscure places and sources that may be penetrated and interpreted only by one with his classical literary background is clear in these historical …

The Nebraska Bird Review, Volume 87 June 2019 Number 2

Nebraska Bird Review

Spring Field Report, March - May 2019, by W. Ross Silcock …42-61

Book Review: Sparrows of North America by Rick Wright, reviewed by W. Ross Silcock …62-65

NOU Spring Field Days and Annual Meeting in Fairbury, May 17-19, 2019, by Janis Paseka … 65

Subscription and Organization Information …71

Nou Spring Field Days And Annual Meeting, Fairbury, May 17-19, 2019, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The NOU Annual Meeting and Spring Field Days, organized by Jan Johnson, was held in Fairbury on May 17-19, 2019, with 64 in attendance. Our meetings and meals took place in the 4-H building at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Despite the forecast for rain, the weather was perfect on Saturday morning, with rain arriving only in the late afternoon. Wind made listening for nightjars difficult on both evenings and it continued to be a problem on Sunday, but the total species list for the meeting was 165. Field trips were led by Shari Schwartz, John Carlini, Bill Flack, and Ross …

2018-2019 Christmas Bird Counts, Don Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

Eighteen counts were held during the 2018-19 Christmas Bird Count season. This is two more than were done last season, which was the first time that as many as sixteen counts were held. This year no counts were postponed or cancelled, and the Beaver Valley Count was revived after a four year hiatus. Twelve of the counts were done during the first week of the count period. While the conditions for these early counts were mild and dry, heavy precipitation in late fall coupled with an early onset of cold weather in the first part of December resulted in little …

The Nebraska Bird Review, Volume 87 March 2019 Number 1

Nebraska Bird Review

NOU Annual Treasurer's Report for 2018, by Jan Johnson … 2

Winter Field Report, Dec. 2018 - Feb. 2019, by W. Ross Silcock …3

2018 - 2019 Christmas Bird Counts, by Don Paseka …15-16 & 25-38

Annual Color Photo Section …17-24

Subscription and Organization Information … 39

Annual Color Photo Section (2019)

Nebraska Bird Review

LeConte's Sparrow, Little Salt Fork Marsh, Lancaster Co., 22 Oct. 2018. Photo by Ruth Stearns.

Harris's Sparrow and Whitecrowned Sparrow, Polk Co., 29 Oct. 2018. Photo by Jan Johnson.

Vesper Sparrow, Chimney Rock Road, Morrill Co., 18 Sept. 2017. Photo by Clem Klaphake.

Fox Sparrow, Mahoney State Park, Cass Co., 25 Feb 2019. Photo by Elizabeth Winter.

Adult Bald Eagle, Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Sarpy Co., 25 Jan. 2019. Photo by Mike Schilmoeller.

White-winged Dove, photographer's yard,Wahoo, Saunders Co., 19 May 2019. Photo by Joe Freeborn.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, midtown Omaha, Douglas Co,. 18 Aug. 2014. Photo by Craig Crews. …

Winter Field Report, December 2018 To February 2019, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

As has been the trend in recent winters, and despite the relative coolness of this winter, there were numerous examples of species north of expected midwinter ranges or present in higher numbers than usual in winter. The long list includes unexpected midwinter records of Tundra Swan, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, White-winged Dove, Sandhill Crane, Clark’s Grebe, Doublecrested Cormorant, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Startling was the state’s first winter record of Sedge Wren, perhaps the biggest rarity of the season. And Eastern Meadowlark was documented in midwinter for the first time, although its presence in the southeast has …

Fall Field Report, August - November 2019, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

By far the most striking feature of this fall’s report is the large number of lingering migrants, a trend that is continuing and apparently increasing, especially among passerines. Editor Jan Paseka counted 17 uses of the word “tardy” and 43 of “late” or “latest”. It is tempting to relate this to the warmer environment and resulting increased availability of food items at higher latitudes and later dates than in previous years. A sad note: a startling occurrence in Gering, Scotts Bluff 20 Aug was described by Marie Smith: “We had a huge hailstorm around 10:30. The hail was probably pea …