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Nebraska Bird Review (March 1996) 64(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

NOU Treasurer's Annual Report ... 2

First Record of Glaucous-winged Gull for Nebraska ... 3

Winter Field Report, December-February 1995-96 ... 5

Nebraska Christmas Bird Count for 1995 ... 17

1996 Survey of Bald and Golden Eagles in Nebraska ... 26

1992, 1993 (Fifth) Report of the NOU Records Committee ... 30

Notes on Bird Sightings in Nebraska ... 35

1996 Survey Of Bald And Golden Eagles In Nebraska, John Dinan

Nebraska Bird Review

John Dinan, Nongame Bird Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd st., Lincoln, NE 68503-0370 (phone: 402/471-0641; Fax: 402/471-5528), supplied the results of the 1990 (January 3-15) Bald and Golden Eagle surveys. Nine organizations and twenty-one individuals participated in the survey.

Conditions for 1996 survey: Temperatures 10 to 50 0 F. The Niobrara River had 70 to 100% ice cover, while the unchannelized portion of the Missouri River was mostly open. The channelized portion of the Missouri was open but had floating ice. The Platte River had 50 to 90 % ice cover; the South Platte, 30 …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1996) 64(1)

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 is 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, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Nebraska Christmas Bird Count For 1995

Nebraska Bird Review

The official count period for the 96th Audubon National Society I s Christmas Bird Count was 16 December 1995 through 2 January 1996. One location (North Platte) conducted counts outside the official period.

The numerical data are presented in Table 1 (pages 18-23) in a west (left) to east (right) order for 10 locations in Nebraska except for the inclusion of one Iowa location in the Omaha count. Unusual species that were underlined in the individual reports are marked by an asterisk (*) before the number in a particular column and unusual numbers underlined in the reports are shown in …

First Record Of Glaucous-Winged Gull For Nebraska, Don Roberson, Rita Carratello

Nebraska Bird Review

During Easter vacation in 1995, we visited the Western Great Plains in search of dancing prairie-chickens and grouse. We started in southeastern Colorado and planned on driving to the Bessey Division, Nebraska National Forest, where we had reservations at photo blinds. But at dawn on 10 April, a huge blizzard began howling and worsened during the drive through Kansas. By the time we reached western Nebraska, our excursion stalled at Ogallala when interstate 80 was closed due to high winds and snow. It was becoming apparent that we would not make it to our planned destination.

1992, 1993 (Fifth) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Joseph A. Gubanyi

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the NOU Records committee are described in its bylaws (NOU Records Committee 1986). The committee's purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. The official list of birds was last published in 1988 (NOU Records Committee 1988) and has been appended three times (Mollhoff 1989, Grenon 1990, and Grenon 1991).

This report includes accounts submitted in late 1991 as well as all records submitted during the calendar years of 1992 and 1993, covering records with accession numbers 295-358. All records mentioned …

Notes On Bird Sightings In Nebraska

Nebraska Bird Review

Ross' Goose. A single bird came to Heartwell Lake (in the Hastings area) in mid-December 1995 and has been here up to now (4 April 1996). It is not injured and flies well, but it has chosen to stay because Hastings uses a device to keep the water open. I threw food out especially to the little goose because the larger domestic ducks chase it away. It is so used to me by now that it will come to within 12-15 feet of me. I walk to the lake nearly every day, and the wild Mallards, Lesser Scaups, Ringnecked …

Winter Field Report, December-February 1995-96, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

As far as the birds are concerned, this was an uneventful winter, with only a few rarities. Highlights include the second pile-up of rare gulls at L. McConaughy, and a Common Redpoll influx. Best of the rarities (all subject to Records committee scrutiny and pending its acceptance) were a 5th record Red-necked Grebe at L. McConaughy; a first-record Mew Gull at L. McConaughy; Iceland, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed Gulls at L. McConaughy; a Cassin’s Finch at Crawford; White-winged Crossbills at Norfolk and North Platte; and a Hoary Redpoll at Wakefield. Out-of-season reports were record-early Blue-winged Teal in Dixon Co, …

Determination Of The Minimal Zinc Oxide Concentration Acceptable In The Diets Of Single Comb White Leghorn Hens, Shane Stephen Berger

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Minimum Ventilation For Modern Broiler Facilities, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Shuhui H. Zhang

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

New functions for whole-house broiler heat production as a function of bird age using modern straight run broiler growth rates are presented and compared to values in the literature. The approximations are based on field measurements of environmental conditions in modern broiler housing, using a technique that matches predicted to actual fuel use to estimate partitioning between latent and sensible heat. Development of a program utilizing these approximations to compute ventilation and heating requirements for temperature and humidity control in broiler housing is described. The program utilizes steady-state heat and moisture balances commonly used for design purposes, with hourly or …

Communities Of Cloacal Bacteria In Tree Swallow Families, Michael P. Lombardo, Patrick A. Thorpe, R. Cichewicz, M. Henshaw, C. Millard, C. Steen, T. K. Zeller

Peer Reviewed Publications

Our aim in this study was to survey the communities of bacteria found in the cloacae of adult and nestling Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), determine if there were familial patterns of prevalence, and determine if there were relationships between bacteria loads and nestling size when 12 days old and fledging success.

Bulletin No. 34: Tidal Marshes Of Long Island Sound: Ecology, History And Restoration, Glenn D. Dreyer, William A. Niering

Bulletins

No abstract provided.

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1995) 63(4)

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 is sent to members not b 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, am $5.00 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary H. Pritchard, NOU Librarian, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NI 68588-0514.

Whooping Crane Sightings During July-December 1995 Migration, Steven Anschutz

Nebraska Bird Review

The first dates recorded for confirmed observations of migrating Whooping Cranes were July 13 in Canada and September 2 in the United States, and the last date was November 6 in Nebraska. Sightings were reported in Canada from Alberta (1) and Saskatchewan (34), and in the U.S. from North Dakota (4), South Dakota (1), Nebraska (4), Kansas (10), and Oklahoma (2). The weather during September and October was mild with minor disturbances on Sept. 20 and Oct. 23 causing snow over the Northern Great Plains. The first significant outbreak of cold air occurred during the week of November 5. Based …

Index To Volume 63

Nebraska Bird Review

Index to Volume 63

8 pages

A-Z

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Fall Field Days, October 6-8, 1995, At The Nebraska National Forest Near Halsey

Nebraska Bird Review

Betty Grenon, Treasurer, reported that NOU has 240 members.

George Brown, Past President, reported on plans for the 1996 Annual Meeting to be held in Kearney, NE on May 17-19. Bill Huser, Vice President, announced that the 1997 Annual Meeting will be held jointly with The Iowa Ornithologists' Union and The South Dakota Ornithologists’ Union in South Sioux City, NE. in May (dates not set). There was some discussion about having a hospitality room to encourage mixing of the three groups. The 1996 Fall Field Days will be held at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey on the first weekend …

A Possible Breeding Record For Clark's Nutcracker, Diana F. Tomback

Nebraska Bird Review

In the late morning of 17 May, 1987, my husband and I drove into Sowbelly Canyon, which is in the Pine Ridge area in northwestern Nebraska. In the canyon, about 3.3 miles from Harrison, we were in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)–riparian community ecotone, and were startled to hear and see a flock of Clark's Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana). About 30 adults were perched on branches or flying about the tops of the ponderosa pines. From the abundance of cones, it was clear that there had been a good seed crop the previous fall. Some of the …

Fall Field Report, August-November 1995, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Generally this was a "normal" fall, if there is such a thing; a few new early and late dates but no pattern, a few notable species showing or absent, and a few rarities. Grebes and loons were in evidence, including Red-throated and Pacific Loons and Red-necked Grebe, but geese did not arrive (or were not reported) in great numbers by the end of the period. The less common herons were in good numbers, notably Snowy Egret, and also Little Blue Heron and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Notable for their absence were the thrushes; few Swainson's were found, and no Gray-cheeked, Veery, or …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 1995) 63(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Fall Field Report, August-November, 1995 ..............94

Observers for Fall Field Report ..............113

A Possible Breeding Record for Clark's Nutcracker in Northwestern Nebraska in 1987.............. 114

Whooping Crane Sightings, July-December, 1995 Migration ..............116

NOU Fall Field Days, 1995, Nebraska National Forest: Executive Committee Meeting ..............117

Table for NOU Fall Bird Count, October 7-8, 1995 ..............117

Index to Volume 63..............120

Cattle Egrets Nesting In Keith County, Stephen J. Dinsmore, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

On 6 August, 1994, we observed 31 Cattle Egrets perched in willows at the west end of Lake McConaughy, Keith County (NBR 62: 104, 128. 1994). The habitat and the birds' behavior suggested that they were nesting, which we confirmed the next morning when we waded to the area. Eleven adult egrets were present and we found five nests, three with three eggs each and the other two nests under construction. All of the nests were in live willows and were 4-6 feet above the water surface. The willow thicket used by the egrets was one of several in the …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1995)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists I union, Inc., as its official journal, and is 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, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

Memberships in NOU (on a calendar year …

"Notes On Bird Sightings In Nebraska," From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1995), Iola Pennington

Nebraska Bird Review

During the summer of 1995, I saw the following species around my home near Wauneta, where I supplied lots of pans of water, and on a trip to Imperial, both in Chase County: Swainson's Hawk, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Western Kingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, House Wren, American Robin, Brown Thrasher, Bell's Vireo, Northern Cardinal, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lark Sparrow, Common Grackle, Orchard Oriole, Northern Oriole, House Finch, House Sparrow.

-----L. lola Pennington, RR2 Box 119, Wauneta, NE 69045

Nebraska Waterfowl Stamp And Neal R. Anderson

Nebraska Bird Review

In 1991, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission established the Nebraska Waterfowl Stamp and commissioned Neal R. Anderson, a Nebraska native, to create the first stamp print. He also has designed a stamp each year from 1992 to 1995. The 1995 Nebraska Waterfowl Stamp Print depicts a pair of wood ducks in striking detail (see photo). Funds from the sale of the 1995 Stamp will be used to benefit the Nebraska wildlife Habitat Fund.

Neal Anderson has provided illustrations for several wildlife magazines including Nebraska land, and he has designed Sponsor Prints for Ducks Unlimited in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and …

Summer Field Report, June-July 1995, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was an interesting summer, with a few rarities, further information on species that are restricted or rare in NE in summer and a couple of additional observations, which involve a little speculation on my part.

Perhaps the best of the rarities was a Neotropic Cormorant at Valentine NWR, while the apparent presence of a Black Rail population at Crescent L NWR is intriguing. Unexpected also were 2 Pacific Loons at L. McConaughy.

Isolated populations or just plain rare summer birds in NE provided interest, with updates on Mississippi Kite at Ogallala, Red-shouldered Hawk at Fontenelle Forest, Acadian Flycatcher at …

Whooping Crane Sightings During Spring Migration, March-May 1995, Steven Anschutz

Nebraska Bird Review

Dates and locations of confirmed and probable sightings in Nebraska are presented in the following table. The first number under "No. of Cranes" refers to adults and the second number to young birds. The legal descriptions of locations by township and rage are omitted, but may be obtained from the NBR Editor or from Wally Jobman at the address under the title. There were six unconfirmed sightings in Nebraska between March 9 and May 10 from Boyd, Buffalo, Hamilton, Hall, and Holt Counties.

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union (Nou) 1995 Annual Meeting

Nebraska Bird Review

At the NOU annual meeting on May 20, 1995, all the incumbent officers were reelected for 1995-96 and are listed on the back over of The Nebraska Bird Review. Thomas Labedz, Lincoln, was elected to the Board of Directors for a three-year term to eucceed Roger Sharpe, Omaha, who completed his term.

On the Records Committee, the Board approved three-year terms for Robin Harding, Gibbon; Joel Jorgensen, Blair; and Thomas Labedz, Lincoln. They replaced the expired terms of Alan Grenon and Rick Wright, and the resignation of William Scharf, who moved away from Nebraska. The Board approved the reappointment of …

Wintering Bald Eagle Survey In Central Nebraska, 1994-1995, Mark M. Peyton

Nebraska Bird Review

The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (Central) and Nebraska Public Power District conducted monitoring studies from 1987 to 1991 to evaluate the use by wintering Bald Eagles of the canal and lake systems associated with Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) projects 1417 and 1835. The results of these studies were reported by Plettner (1990 and 1993), Stalmaster (1990), and Stalmaster and Plettner (1991). Central has continued to monitor Bald Eagles along Central's canal and lake system since 1992. Ten locations, which the 198791 studies identified as having the highest number of wintering Bald Eagles, were used for the …

First Nesting Records For Mississippi Kite In Nebraska, Stephen J. Dinsmore, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

Mississippi Kites are regular visitors to Nebraska. Prior to 1974, there were four reports for the state (NBR 33:49. 1965), but it has occurred almost annually since then. Almost all reports are from the North Platte and Missouri River valleys, with concentrations of sightings at Fontenelle Forest in Sarpy County, near Aurora in Polk County, and, most recently, in Ogallala, Keith County. Of 39 dated reports, 12 were in May and 13 in September, suggesting spring overshoot migrants and fall dispersal. The first summer report was an adult at Shoemaker Island, Hall County on 10 July, 1983 (NBR 51:90). …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 1995) 63(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Summer Field Report, June-July 1995 .................... 70

Observers for Summer Report 82 Whooping Crane Sightings During Spring Migration, 1995.................... 82

Notes on Bird sightings in Nebraska .................... 84

Wintering Bald Eagle Survey in Central Nebraska, 1994-95 .................... 84

First Nesting Records for Mississippi Kite in Nebraska .................... 88

Cattle Egrets Nesting in Keith County.................... 89

Nebraska Waterfowl Stamp and Neal R. Anderson .................... 90

Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 1995 Annual Meeting .................... 91

Successional Changes And Habitat Selection In Hayfield Bird Communities, Eric K. Bollinger

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

I examined the effects of successional changes in vegetation on the breeding dispersion of grassland birds in hayfields in New York. I sampled vegetation and counted birds in 90 hayfields of various ages (i.e. number of years since planting) and sizes that were originally planted to a legume-dominated seed mixture. I also resampled a subset of these fields two years later. Over time, these hayfields changed from tall, dense, homogeneous stands of legume-dominated vegetation to short, sparse, patchy stands of grass-dominated vegetation. Fields of all ages were dominated by introduced plant species. Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), the most common bird …