Life Sciences Commons^™

Whooping Crane Sightings During Fall Migration, 1993, Steven Anschutz

Nebraska Bird Review

During the summer of 1993, an all-time record of 45 whooping-crane nests were confirmed on the breeding grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park. Suspected mortality included two nesting females. A total of 143 whooping cranes (127 adult/subadult and 16 young) arrived at Aransas between October 20 and November 22. As of December 30, five juveniles were missing and presumed dead. The only verified mortality during migration was a crane near Midland, Texas which died November 5 after apparently flying into a fence. The first dates for confirmed observations of migrating whooping cranes were August 16 in Saskatchewan, Canada, and September …

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Fall Meeting, Halsey National Forest, September 3-5, 1993; Excerpts From The Fall Meeting, Robin Harding

Nebraska Bird Review

Excerpts from Minutes of the Fall Meeting (Robin Harding, Secretary):

Heather Whittaker reported on a Wildlife Society program called "Integrating People in Wildlife Conservation", in which she is participating. Five hundred to seven hundred wildlife biologists from all over the world will travel to Costa Rica for this program this fall [1993].

On Sunday morning, Mack Deveraux and Clark Fliege, Forest Service, presented the Master Recreation Plan for Halsey National Forest. They expressed a desire to hear NOU members' ideas and reactions to this plan.

The 1994 Annual Meeting will be held at Niobrara State Park May 2022, and the …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review

Nebraska Bird Review

EDITOR'S NOTE: Appreciation is expressed to Dr. R. G. Cortelyou for compiling the Christmas bird count and the index for this volume.

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official Journal, and sent to members not in arrears for dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $12.50 in the United States, $15.00 in Canada and Mexico, and $17.50 for all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid, in the United States, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to …

1993 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count, R. G. Cortelyou

Nebraska Bird Review

The 1993 Nebraska Christmas Bird Counts are shown in the table in a west (left) to east (right) order, but the narrative accounts are in alphabetical order. In the table those numbers which were underlined (to emphasize the unusual number’s in the reports are shown in bold, and the species for which the names were underlined (to emphasize that the species was unusual in the report are marked * before the number in the particular column. For both Eagles the total number (given first) is broken down by age immediately afterwards, and these numbers are shown in italics to …

Pine Siskins In Breeding Condition Along The North Platte River, Keith County, Nebraska, 1993, William C. Scharf, W. John Berigan, Josef Kren

Nebraska Bird Review

Johnsgard (1979) categorizes the Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) as an erratic breeder in a number of eastern and southeastern Nebraska counties. Ducey (1988) considers this species to be a regular nester throughout the state in suitable coniferous habitat. Neither authors have listed breeding records in Keith County, although Ducey cites a record from Chase County (Bennett 1986). The Pine Siskin is known as a breeder in 12 counties in Kansas (Thompson and Ely 1992).

Methods

We caught and banded Pine Siskins at Cedar Point Biological Station near Lake Keystone, Keith County, Nebraska (41° 13' N, 101° 38' W) …

Whole Issue Nebraska Bird Review (December 1993) 61(4),

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Fall Meeting, Sept. 3-5, 1993 …………….142

Whooping Crane Sightings During Fall Migration, 1993……………. 143

Pine siskins in Breeding Condition Along the North Platte River, Keith County, Nebraska, 1993 …………….144

Nebraska Christmas Bird Count for 1993……………. 145

Index to Volume 61…………….150

EDITOR'S NOTE: Appreciation is expressed to Dr. R. G. Cortelyou for compiling the Christmas bird count and the index for this volume.

Whooping Crane Sightings During Spring Migration, 1993, Steven Anschutz

Nebraska Bird Review

A total of 136 whooping cranes began the migration from Aransas National wildlife Refuge in the spring of 1993, and all the cranes had left by April 26. The migration proceeded rapidly, with no major storms within the flyway. The first dates for confirmed observations of migrating cranes were April 2 in the U.S. and April 5 in Canada. The last sighting date was June 2 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Sightings were reported from Texas (1), Oklahoma (1), Kansas (7), Nebraska (8), South Dakota (3), North Dakota (2), and Saskatchewan, Canada (22). The longest stopover time was a juvenile, migrating alone, …

Bald Eagles Nest At North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, Brad Mckinney

Nebraska Bird Review

The refuge, located in Scotts Bluff County, played host during the summer of 1993 to one of only two bald-eagle nests in Nebraska, and three eaglets were reared to flight stage. A successful nest on the Middle Loup River in 1992 was the first bald-eagle nest to fledge in Nebraska in over 100 years. [See NBR 60 (2): 59. June 1992.]

The nest was discovered on April 2 while I was inspecting an abandoned heron/cormorant rookery. A startled adult bald eagle leaped out of one of the larger nests and began making several treetop-level passes and snapping its beak over …

Corrections In Nebraska Bird Review 61(2) September 1993.

Nebraska Bird Review

Whopping Cranes. The location of the five birds reported by Loren Blake was 5 miles east and 4½ miles north from Brunswick in Antelope Co., not northeast of Creighton in Knox Co.

--Loren Blake, HC 63, Box 18, Chambers, NE 68725 --Eldon Marsh, Box 365, Brunswick, NE 68720

Yellow-headed Blackbirds. The flocks seen by Lee Morris in the Benedict area were in York Co., not Knox Co. [Editor’s error].

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1993) 61(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., and its official Journal, and sent to members not in arrears for dues Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $12.50 in the United States, $15.00 in Canada and Mexico, and $17.50 for all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid in the United States, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issue to Mary H. Pritchard, NOU Librarian, W-436 Nebraska Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in NOU (on a calendar year basis …

"Notes On Bird Sightings In Nebraska," From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1993)

Nebraska Bird Review

Notes on Bird Sighting in Nebraska

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. On Wednesday, May 26, 1993, at 7:00 a.m., we saw two of these birds at our house in rural Lancaster Co., south of Denton, NE (S 26 T-9-N R-5-E). The ducks flew across part of the pond and perched in a dead cedar for about ten minutes before flying off in a southwesterly direction. The distinctive coloration, including black underparts, gray head, bright beak, and pink legs were readily visible. As the birds were flying, the large white areas on the tops of the wings were also clearly discernible.

---Dave …

Whole Issue Nebraska Bird Review (September 1993) 61(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

The Spring 1993 Occurrence Report……………….94

Table for Spring 1993 Occurrence Report……………….96

Continuation of Spring 1993 Occurrence Report……………….136

Notes on Bird Sightings in Nebraska……………….136

Corrections in NBR Vol. 61 (2) 1993……………….138

Bald Eagles Nest at North Platte National Wildlife Refuge……………….138

Whooping Crane Sighting during Spring Migrations, 1993……………….139

The Spring 1993 Occurrence Report, R.G. Cortelyou

Nebraska Bird Review

Three hundred one species, plus the possibility that the Traill's Flycatchers reported by Mrs. Ott in Cuming and Lancaster counties included both Alder and Willow Flycatchers, and that the Empidonax sp. included species not specificallv reported, were reported from 41 counties.

...

Dixon, one species, shown as a note in the Dakota column. Jan and Richard Johnson had a Black-throated Sparrow at their feeder in Wakefield from Ja 2 to early March.

Dodge, 31 species, Larry Einemann, reporter, one date reported: My 30. These are shown in the Cuming Co. column as "d".

Douglas, includes Sarpy, which see.

Deuel, 89 …

First Record Of A Ross' Gull For Nebraska, Stephen J. Dinsmore, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

On 17 December, 1992, we observed a Ross' Gull in second-winter plumage at Sutherland Reservoir, Lincoln County. We studied the bird in detail from 7:35-10.00 a.m. and again from 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. CST as it fed with several Bonaparte's Gulls at the outlet between the cooling pond and the reservoir. The Ross' Gull remained at this location through 28 December and was seen by many birders from around the Midwest.

During all of our observations, the small size, dark underwings, and wedge-shaped tail set this bird apart from the Bonaparte's Gulls. At first, we overlooked the tail shape and tentatively …

Lesser Black-Backed Gull At Sutherland Reservoir, Stephen J. Dinsmore, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

At 8:45 a.m. CST on 17 December, 1992, we observed a Lesser Blackbacked Gull at Sutherland Reservoir in Lincoln County. The bird was first seen resting on the water in the company of Herring and Ringbilled Gulls. Compared to these species, this bird had a very distinct dark charcoal-gray mantle and upperwings, which were at least a shade darker than the mantle color of a Herring Gull, though definitely not black. When, during a brief period, the bird was compared directly to an adult California Gull, it had a noticeably darker mantle, was slightly larger, and had more obvious dark-brown …

Fall 1992 Occurrence Report (July 1-December 31)

Nebraska Bird Review

The total number of species observed in 30 counties of Nebraska during this period was 280. During the past ten years (1983-1992), the number of species for the same reporting period has ranged from 262 in 1983 to 296 in 1987, with the average at 284. Several variables can affect these numbers, including number of observers, frequency of observations, weather conditions for the period, and number of counties included. In 1991 and 1992, the reports by Richard C. Rosche have extended observations to counties in the northwest sector of Nebraska. No reports were obtained from counties in the northern half …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Reveiew (June 1993) 61(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official Journal, and sent to members not in arrears for dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $12.50 in the United States, $15.00 in Canada and Mexico, and $17.50 for all other countries, payable in advance. single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid, in the United states, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary H. Pritchard, NOU Librarian, W-436 Nebraska Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in NOU (on a calendar year basis …

"Notes On Bird Sightings In Nebraska," From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1993) 61(2).

Nebraska Bird Review

Black-throated sparrow. Jan and Richard Johnson first saw this bird on their farm 6 miles north of Wayne (Dixon County) on January 2, 1993. It was still coming to the feeders regularly early in February. Photo by B. J. Rose.

Whooping Cranes. I have enclosed two photos of Whooping Cranes. They were discovered about five miles northeast of Creighton (Knox County) the afternoon of Easter Sunday, April 11, 1993. They were standing in a flooded area in a corn field. During the following days, they also frequented two other wet areas less than a mile from the corn …

Another Description Of Ross' Gull, Richard C. Rosche

Nebraska Bird Review

One immature was observed at Sutherland Reservoir, Lincoln County, on 17 December (myself) and 19 December (myself and Dorothy J. Rosche), 1992. I saw this bird a few hours after Silcock and Dinsmore discovered it on 17 Dec. [See article on p. 88.] It flew by the end of the pier at close distances (as close as 20 feet) for hours on both days of observation. It sometimes landed momentarily on small pieces of ice as it picked up morsels floating in the water. It was a small gull and much more dainty than the nearby Bonaparte's Gulls. It had …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 1993) 61(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Nebraska ornithologists' Union 1993 spring Meeting...................30

Fall 1992 Occurrence Report (July 1 - December 31)...................31

Fall 1992 Occurrence Report, Additional County Lists ................... 84

Sighting Documentation for Fall 1992 Occurrence Report ...................84

Reporters, Observers, and County Tallies, Fall 1992 Occurrence Report ................... 85

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Sutherland Reservoir ................... 87

First Record of a Ross' Gull for Nebraska ...................88

Another Description of Ross' Gull ...................89

Notes on Bird Sightings in Nebraska ...................90

Samuel Aughey’S List Of Nebraska Birds (1878): A Critical Evaluation, Roger S. Sharpe

Nebraska Bird Review

The University of Nebraska was founded in Lincoln in 1869, but finances did not allow the addition of a scientist until 1875, when Samuel Aughey was added to the staff to fill the first chair of natural history (Pound and Clements 1900). Although a theologian by training, Aughey wrote prolifically on a number of natural history subjects pertaining to Nebraska, including its flora, fauna, and geology. A summary of his impressions of the natural history of the state, including its biota, was published in a book, "Sketches of the Physical Geography and Geology of Nebraska" (Aughey 1880), which was printed …

1992 Treasurer's Report

Nebraska Bird Review

1992 TREASURER'S REPORT

BALANCE Jan. 1, 1992

RECEIPTS:

TOTAL RECEIPTS

EXPENSES:

TOTAL EXPENSES

BALANCE:
December 31, 1992

1993 Midwinter Survey Of Bald And Golden Eagles In Nebraska

Nebraska Bird Review

National Wildlife Federation: Bald and Golden Eagles.

The 1993 survey was held January 1-15, and was coordinated and compiled by John Dinan, Nongame Bird Biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, who supplied the following information.

Temperatures during the survey period ranged from approximately 5 to 30 0 F. There was snow cover statewide in varying amounts, but generally deeper in the eastern third of the state. Nearly all water habitats were frozen-over weeks before the survey period. The percent of open, flowing river channel was consistently low for most rivers. While the channelized portion of the Missouri River …

Bird Count, Nou Winter Meeting, Grand Island, Ne, February 26-28, 1993 And 1992 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count

Nebraska Bird Review

Bird Count, NOU Winter Meeting, Grand Island, NE February 26-28, 1993

The list of 56 species was compiled by Scott Purdy, Vice-President, NOU. The temperature ranged from 0-30° F and the days were sunny. There was 100% snow cover, and water areas were 99% iced over. The five counties included are abbreviated as follows: B = Buffalo, H = Hall, HA = Hamilton, HO = Howard, M = Merrick.

1992 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count

The 1992 count was based on eight locations, giving a total of 98 species. This is 11 less than for the 1991 count, and is the …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1993)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc. as its official Journal, and sent to members not in arrears for dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only) are $12.50 in the United States, $15.00 in Canada and Mexico, and $17.50 for all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4.00 each, postpaid, in the United States, and $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Thomas E. Labedz, NOU Librarian, W-436 Nebraska Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in NOU (on a calendar year …

Nebraska Bird Review (March 1993) 61(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

1992 Treasurer’s Report……………..2

Samuel Aughey's List of Nebraska Birds (1878): A critical Evaluation by Roger S. Sharpe …………….. 3

Bird Count, NOU winter Meeting, Grand Island, NE, 1993 ……………..11

1992 Nebraska Christmas Bird Count …………….. 11

1993 Midwinter Survey of Bald and Golden Eagles in Nebraska ……………..22

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 1993 Spring Meeting, South Sioux City, Nebraska, May 14-16, Todd Jensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Highlights of the 92nd Annual Business Meeting (condensed from notes by Todd Jensen, Secretary).

A special committee was appointed at the 1992 Annual Business Meeting to review and recommend changes in the current Articles of Incorporation, and the current and past Bylaws. These recommendations were presented by President George Brown to the 32 members present. After some debate, a motion was made by Emma Johnson, seconded by Ruth Green, that the Articles of Incorporation recommended by the committee be accepted. Motion carried. A motion was made by Clyde Johnson, seconded by Gary Purdy, that the Bylaws recommended by the committee …