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Nebraska Bird Review (December 1984) 52(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

An Exceptional “Fall” Migration of Shorebirds along the Big Bend Reach of the Platte River … 70

1984 Fall Field Day … 71

Least Tern Eggs in Nests of the Piping Plover … 72

Nesting Common Moorhen in Lancaster County … 74

Cattle Egrets and White-faced Ibises Nesting at Valentine Refuge … 6

Notes … 76

Index of Volume 52 … 78

Index To Volume 52

Nebraska Bird Review

Accipiter sp. 14

Adcock, Dorothy 18, 58

Alexander, George 17

Irene 17

Alfred, Norris 3, 23, 56

Allison, Mary 18

Anderson, RoseAnn 17

Sheridan 17

Ardinger, Bruce 18

Arrowhead (plant) 21

Avocet, American 6, 30, 55(2), 76

. . .

Yellowlegs, Greater 6, 30, 55, 60, 70, 71

Lesser 6, 30, 55, 70, 71

Yellowthroat, Common 11, 33, 40, 41, 50, 64

Zeillemaker, C. Fred 26, 28(6), 29(4), 30(5), 31(3), 32(6), 33, 34(5)

Melly 26

“Notes” From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1984) 52(4)

Nebraska Bird Review

EARLY NESTING WOOD DUCKS. On 7 May 1983 I found a female Wood Duck with newly hatched ducklings at Cedar Island, a property along the Platte River in Sarpy County owned by Metropolitan Utilities District.—Ruth C. Green, Bellevue

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER NEST. On 20 June 1984 I saw Great Crested Flycatchers nesting in a bluebird box. This was at Beaver Lake, Cass Co.—Ruth C. Green, Bellevue

LAZULI BUNTING. I saw a male Lazuli Bunting by the railroad tracks at the foot of Child’s Hollow in Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy County, on 14 May 1984.—Ray Korpi, Bellevue

GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW IN BOX BUTTE …

Nesting Common Moorhen In Lancaster County, William C. Garthright

Nebraska Bird Review

On 6 July 1984, at 6 PM CDT, I saw a Common Moorhen at the Capitol Beach marsh, in Lincoln. It was about 10 yards to the north when I first saw it, and I could see the red facial shield and red bill with yellow tip, the yellow legs, a thin white horizontal line along the side, and prominent white patches along either side of dark undertail coverts. It acted mildly agitated, and swam away from me but stayed in the vicinity.

At 7 the next morning I waded into the pond at that spot. This time I saw …

1984 Fall Field Day

Nebraska Bird Review

The 1984 Fall Field Day was held (officially) from noon to noon, 6/7 October, at the4-H Camp at Halsey National Forest. The weather was not the best—light rain early Saturday morning, only a couple of short showers in the afternoon, and no rain Sunday, both days dull and gray. But the attendance was good—87 were officially registered—but the added manpower could not make up for the lateness in the season and the poor weather—the tally on or near the Forest was only 81. In addition, 4 species (marked N) not recorded in the Forest were seen by a party that …

An Exceptional "Fall" Migration Of Shorebirds Along The Big Bend Reach Of The Platte River, Gary R. Lingle, Thomas E. Labedz

Nebraska Bird Review

The Big Bend reach of the Platte River extends about 80 miles from Overton to Chapman, Nebraska. This area is characterized by braided channels with numerous riverine islands bordered by cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) and willows (Salix spp.) along the high banks. Habitat between the high banks consists of open water, barren sandbars and mudflats, herbaceous islands, shrub islands, and floodplain forest.

Prolonged summer flows during 1983 were among the highest recorded this century; in excess of 20,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). Spring 1984 also consisted of high flows resulting in much scouring and shifting of …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1984) 52(4)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $7.00 per year in the United States and $9.00 per year in all other countries payable in advance. Single copies are $2.25 each, postpaid.

Memberships (on a calendar year basis only): Student, $.3.00; Active, $7.00; Sustaining, $15.00; Family Active, $10.00; Family Sustaining, $20.00; Life, $100.00.

All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Treasurer, Mrs. Jack Shafer, RR2, Box 61, Wood …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 1984) 52(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Spring 1984 Whooping Crane Records in Nebraska … 46

1983 Nebraska Nesting Survey … 47

1984 (Fifty-ninth) Spring Occurrence Report … 51

Notes … 59

Book Review … 68

“Book Review” From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1984) 52(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

Birding with a Purpose: Of Raptors, Gabboons, and Other Creatures, Frances Hamerstrom, 130 pp., 6¼ x 9¼, The Iowa State University Press, Ames. Hardcover, $13.95.

These are snippets—interesting, amusing, sometimes amazing—from Mrs. Hamerstrom’s long experience with birds and birders. She devised her own methods of marking individual birds so they could be recognized while flying free; she had to learn about trapping raptors and adapting these traps to different species; she had run-ins with authorities, and was helped by individual law enforcement officers; and she had problems (as so did others) with five high school boys who attached themselves …

“Notes” From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1984) 52(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

BURCHARD LAKE. Bill Garthright and Bill and Bonnie Mulder went to Burchard Lake, Pawnee Co. 16 April 1984 and saw the Greater Prairie Chickens on their booming grounds. Jim and Sandra Kovanda were there and reported these birds: 27 May 2 Double-crested Cormorants, 1 Little Blue Heron (immature), 2 Hooded Mergansers, and 1 Forster's Tern; an immature Common Loon 3 and 23 June, and a Loggerhead Shrike 23 June.

WADERS. I found Great Egrets in Holt Co. in mid-June 1984, adult Little Blue Herons at three locations in Boone and Nance counties from April through June, and 10 adult Cattle …

1984 (Fifty-Ninth) Spring Occurrence Report

Nebraska Bird Review

Two hundred ninety-three species (and the possibility that one of the Swan sp. was not a Tundra Swan) are listed in this report, from 13 locations. The comparable figures for 1983 are 288 and 2 possibles from 13 location, 1982 287 from 15 locations, and 1981 298 from 12. The symbols used in the tabulations are: . . .

1983 Nebraska Nesting Survey, Esther V. Bennett

Nebraska Bird Review

Data on the 1983 nesting season in Nebraska were received from 24 observers, reporting on 69 species from 49 counties. Counties in the tabulation are listed in a west to east order, with the northernmost of approximately equal locations given first. Numbers represent Nest Record Cards: N represents nests observed for which no Nest Record Card was submitted; and Y represents young observed. GPC in the following paragraph represents Nebraska State Game and Parks Commission. Fifty-four species were reported on 595 North American Nest Record Cards. The counties, with column numbers on the tabulation shown in parentheses, and the contributors …

Spring 1984 Whooping Crane Records In Nebraska

Nebraska Bird Review

The Pierre, S.D., office of the Fish and Wildlife Service has released their records of sightings of the Wood Buffalo flock of Whooping Cranes, and those that pertain to Nebraska are given below.

There are three classes of sightings:

Confirmed Sightings. Observation made by a State or Federal Biologist or officer or by other known qualified observer (trained ornithologist or birder with experience in identification of Whooping Cranes). A photograph may also be used to confirm sightings.

Probable Sighting. No confirmation made by State or Federal Biologist or officer or by other known qualified observer, yet details of the sighting …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1984) 52(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $7.00 per year in the United States and $9.00 per year in all other countries payable in advance. Single copies are $2.25 each, postpaid.

Memberships (on a calendar year basis only): Student, $.3.00; Active, $7.00; Sustaining, $15.00; Family Active, $10.00; Family Sustaining, $20.00; Life, $100.00.

All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Treasurer, Mrs. Jack Shafer, RR2, Box 61, Wood …

“Book Review” From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1984) 52(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

How Birds Work: A Guide to Bird Biology, Ron Freethy, 232 pp., 6 x 9¼, Blandford Press, England, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, bibliography, indexed, hardbound $19.95, paperback $8.95.

“How Birds Work is a straightforward introduction to the science of ornithology and provides basic information enabling the amateur birdwatcher to understand his ‘quarry’ more easily. As a direct result of reading this book, the behavior of birds will be more readily understood, and in particular the complexities of migration.” Which is a fair summary of the book, although it may over-stress migration. The chapter headings are The …

“Notes” From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1984) 52(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

DIPPER. In late September or early October 1982 I saw a Dipper on wood stacked in my yard, near the business center of Stanton.—Bruce P. Jundt, Stanton

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD. On 17 September 1983 I saw a Mockingbird in the shelter belt on our farm.—Mike Erickson, Wayne

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. On 8 October 1983 I saw a female Black-throated Blue Warbler in our shelter belt.—Mike Erickson, Wayne

WORM-EATING WARBLER. On 26 April 1984 Layne Johnson, John Chase, Paul Pearson, and I saw a Worm-eating Warbler in the shelter belt on our farm 8 miles north and 1 mile west of Wayne.—Mike …

Lesser Goldfinch Recorded In Nebraska, Phil Swanson

Nebraska Bird Review

I photographed this Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) at Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Area (north of Harrison, Nebraska) about 9:00 a.m. on 20 May 1984. The bird was in the campground area with American Goldfinches. I watched the Lesser Goldfinch with binoculars for a few minutes before I took the photograph and easily noted the field marks. The bird was the black-backed variety (C. p. psaltria).

The Eighty-Third Annual Meeting

Nebraska Bird Review

Almost perfect weather greeted the 59 who registered for the eighty-third Annual Meeting, held at Camp Norwesca, near Chadron State Park, 19 and 20 May 1984. There was a slide show (including a bird identification quiz) Friday night. Saturday there were bird trips to Sowbelly Canyon and Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Area, north of Crawford, and on over to the Wyoming border; to Soldiers Creek, near Fort Robinson; to Beaver Valley, north of Hay Springs; and a shorter, morning only, visit to the Jeanne Dueker home, south of Chadron. At the paper session and Annual Meeting, Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Joyce Brashear read …

Birds Of Lake Mcconaughy And The North Platte River Valley, Oshkosh To Keystone, Richard C. Rasche, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

Cedar Point Biological Station was established in 1975 at a site approximately one mile below Kingsley Dam in Keith County, Nebraska. Since that time, summer ornithology classes have been periodically offered beginning in 1977 when it was taught by Dr. Stephen Fretwell. A variety of ornithologists have kept records of the summer birds of the area. Beginning in 1970, when he first visited the area, the senior author has accumulated a large amount of data covering all seasons of the year, which form the primary basis for the seasonal information in this paper. In addition, much information was contributed by …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1984) 52(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc., as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $7.00 per year in the United States and $9.00 per year in all other countries payable in advance. Single copies are $2.25 each, postpaid.

Memberships (on a calendar year basis only): Student, $3.00; Active, $7.00; Sustaining, $15.00; Family Active, $10.00; Family Sustaining, $20.00; Life, $100.00.

All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Treasurer, Mrs. Jack Shafer, RR2, Box 61, Wood …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 1984) 52(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Birds of Lake McConaughy and the North Platte River Valley, Oshkosh to Keystone … 26

Some 1983 Summer Birds of the Missouri National Recreation River, Nebraska … 36

The Eighty-third Annual Meeting … 41

Lesser Goldfinch Recorded in Nebraska … 42

Notes … 42

Book Review … 44

Record Count For Whooping Cranes On The Platte River

Nebraska Bird Review

Since 1942, there have been eight confirmed Whooping Crane (Grus americana) sightings on the Platte River (Whooping Crane Recovery Team. 1983. List of confirmed whooping crane migration sightings of the Wood Buffalo - Arkansas population. U.S. Fish and Wild\. Serv., Washington, D.C. 18 pp.). The largest number of birds on the Platte was five although seven were seen flying along the Platte near Kearney in April 1980. On 27 October 1983, five adult Whooping Cranes were reported feeding in an idle cornfield 3.5 mi. NE of Denman in Hall County and later, these 5 individuals were observed landing …

"1983 Christmas Count," From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

Ninety-two species (nine less than last year) were reported on the 1983 Christmas Count, and three species (compared to one last year) were reported as present during the count period but not recorded on the count day on any count. The same eight localities reported both years. Two additional races (a Harlan's Hawk on the Tri-state count is not shown separately) were reported, the same as last year. Thirteen species were reported on all the counts this year, compared to sixteen last year. The total individual count this year was 43,652; in 1982 it was

1983 (Twenty-Sixth) Fall Occurrence Report, From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

1983 (TWENTY -SIXTH) FALL OCCURRENCE REPORT

Two hundred sixty-two species, from 10 locations, are listed in this report. Comparable figures for previous years are 269 species from 10 localities in 1982, 277 species from 14 localities in 1981, and 218 (and a possible Veery) from 12 localities in 1980.

The information is presented in a rough west (left) to east (right) order, with locations of about the same longitude listed with the northernmost first. Two dates indicate the first and last records for the period. The symbols are:

JI, Au, Sp, Ot, No, and Dm for the months.

P to …

"Book Review," From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1).

Nebraska Bird Review

Cranes of the World, Paul A. Johnsgard, 258 pp. 8 1/2 x 11, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, bibliography, indexed, hardbound, $37.50.

The Sandhill Crane, the Whooping Crane, and the Eurasian (Common) Crane, in that order, receive the most attention in the species accounts in this book, reflecting the relative amounts of information available in the literature. Luckily, those are the three cranes which have been recorded in Nebraska (and North America), and so are of most interest to us. The book discusses cranes in general under the following headings: Classification and Evolution, Individualistic and Social Behavior, Vocalizations, Ecology and …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc. as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $7.00 per year in the United States and $9.00 per year in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $2.25 each, postpaid.

"Notes," From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1).

Nebraska Bird Review

CORRECTION TO NBR 51:86 (CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW'S NEST) The upper picture in "A New Nesting Species for Nebraska" is inverted, and the picture captions were omitted. The upper picture shows the "nest" with a hatchling in front and to the right of the egg; the lower picture shows the adult.

AND TO NBR 51:96 (HOUSE FINCH NEST). The first date should be 24 April, not 24 May.

Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1), Whole Issue.

Nebraska Bird Review

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Treasurer's Report 2

1983 (Twenty-sixth) Fall Occurrence Report 3

1983 Christmas Count 13

Book Review 18

Record Count for Whooping Cranes on the Platte River 19

Location and Habitat Size of Lakes in the Nebraska Sandhills Utilized by Trumpeter Swans 19

Notes 22

1983 Treasurers Report Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

1983 Treasurer's Report