Zoology Commons^™

Summer Field Report, June–July 2014, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This summer was marked by the "unremarkability," if there is such a thing, of the status of almost all species, especially passerines. A stark exception, however, was the pair of summering hummingbirds in a yard a few miles southeast of Chadron: Juanita Whittecar sent a collection of very good photos of these birds, detailed enough to determine that the pair of supposed Ruby-throated Hummingbirds actually consisted of a female Ruby-throated and a hybrid Ruby-throated x Broad-tailed male. Another odd phenomenon was the number of shorebird species with late Jun records, usually the brief window within which these species are absent …

Subscription And Organization Information [September 2014]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $25 in the United States and $35 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $7 each, postpaid, in the United States and $9 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household (one or more people) $25; Sustaining …

2013 (25th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The "Official List of the Birds of Nebraska" was first published in 1988 (NOU 1988) and has been updated three times (NOURC 1997, 2004, 2009). The "Official List" has been appended twenty-three times: (Mollhoff 1989; Grenon 1990, 1991; Gubanyi 1996a, 1996b, 1996c; Brogie 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009a, 2009b, 2011, 2012, 2013; Jorgensen 2001, 2002, 2003).

The American Ornithologists' Union Checklist of North American Birds, Seventh Edition (1998) and its following supplements: (AOU: 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) contain many taxonomic changes affecting North American birds.

The …

Stomach Content Analysis Of Recent Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus) Specimens From Nebraska, Rachel L. Valenziano, Thomas E. Labedz

Nebraska Bird Review

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a circumpolar bird of prey that breeds in extreme northern latitudes, including Canadian and Alaskan tundra. During winter months, some immature and non-breeding birds disperse south. North American birds may travel to southern Canada and northern parts of the United States, and in some extreme cases as far south as Oklahoma and Texas (Parmelee 1992). Although not fully understood, these irruptive events may be caused by the abundance of prey in northern Canada and Alaska (Parmelee 1992).

Prey typical of Snowy Owls are small mammals (e.g., lemmings and hares) of their home range and …

In Memoriam [June 2014]

Nebraska Bird Review

In memoriam: Alice Rushton, Gertrude Wood, and Mitzi Fox

Double-Crested Cormorant And American White Pelican Abundance At Sandhills Lakes During Fall Migration, Lauren R. Dinan, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Double-crested Cormorants (DCCO, Phalacrocorax auritus) and American White Pelicans (AWPE, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) are migratory piscivorous birds that breed in North America. Both species are abundant spring and fall migrants in Nebraska. DCCOs are also common, albeit local, breeders in northwestern Nebraska (Sharpe et al. 2001 ). DCCO and AWPE numbers have increased throughout their range in recent decades (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [USFWS] 2003, Sauer et al. 2013). Both species, but primarily DCCOs, have become increasingly controversial because of increased numbers and also because their principal food source is fish, a resource humans value. Concentrations of DCCOs, and to …

Subscription And Organization Information [June 2014]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $25 in the United States and $35 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $7 each, postpaid, in the United States and $9 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household (one or more people) $25; Sustaining …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 2014) 82(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Spring Field Report, March–May 2014 ... 46

Double-crested Cormorant and American White Pelican Abundance at Sandhills Lakes during Fall Migration … 73

What Are Blue Ross’s Geese? ... 81

2014 NOU/IOU Joint Meeting in Bellevue ... 86

In Memoriam: Alice Rushton, Gertrude Wood, and Mitzi Fox … 93

Subscription and Organization Information ... 95

What Are Blue Ross's Geese?, Paul A. Johnsgard

Nebraska Bird Review

The existence of blue morph ("phase") Ross's Geese (Chen rossii) was first well documented by McLandress & McLandress (1979). They reported on several blue-morph birds seen and collected in California and Canada that morphologically appeared to be pure Ross's Geese and on others with intermediate traits that appeared to be hybrids with Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens). They also noted that in the California wintering grounds counts held during 1976–77 there were only 3 blue morphs (0.008 percent) among the 38,825 Ross's Geese counted. At that time, only 0.02 percent of the Lesser Snow Geese …

2014 Nou/Iou Joint Meeting In Bellevue, Clem Klaphake

Nebraska Bird Review

The May 16–18 combined meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union and the Iowa Ornithologists' Union at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in Bellevue, Nebraska, was a gigantic success. Over 160 birders from Nebraska, Iowa, and 6 other states attended the 3 day event. Everyone I talked to, from novice to expert, was more than delighted with all of the activities scheduled for this event.

Our Friday evening speaker, Ty Smedes, had some wonderful photos, especially of warblers, and I heard nothing but positive comments about his program from the attendees. On Saturday afternoon Jerry Toll talked about his experiences banding Red-tailed …

Spring Field Report, March 2014 To May 2014, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This spring period was generally uneventful for most species groups, but there were two major influxes in the east that were likely unprecedented in the memories of most Nebraska ornithologists. First was a major influx of gulls of 10 species at Carter Lake and N.P. Dodge Park in Omaha, including good numbers of California and Thayer's Gulls, as well as Iceland, and most surprisingly, a Glaucous-winged Gull. A bit later in the season was a strong influx of the rarer migrant warblers, such as Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Hooded, Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Black-throated Blue. For spice there was a Worm-eating Warbler …

Winter Field Report, December 2013 To February 2014, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was a low-key winter season in terms of reportable phenomena of any significance, although three species provided food for thought: high numbers of Rough-legged Hawks, the possibility of breeding Northern Saw-whet Owls in the cedar canyons of Lincoln Co, and the possible impending demise of Black-billed Magpie over most of the state. Also noteworthy is the continuing increase in midwinter reports of a wide range of species that previously have accounted for very few such records. Notable in this respect are waterfowl, mimids, non-oriole icterids, and sparrows; a Say's Phoebe in December was the most surprising record in this …

Breeding Season Observations Of Sandhill Cranes On The Niobrara River In Nebraska, Mark Czaplewski, Jim Jenniges, Mark Peyton

Nebraska Bird Review

Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD), Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), and the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (Central) have been involved in the monitoring of Interior Least Terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos) and Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) along portions on the lower Niobrara River in northeast Nebraska since 2005. On two occasions, we observed a pair of adult Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) during the breeding season.

A pair of adult cranes was observed on June 8, 2011, on the Niobrara River approximately 7.8 km below the U.S. Route 137 bridge in Holt …

2013 Christmas Bird Counts, Don Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

Fifteen counts were held during the 2013–2014 season. Following a cold snap in early December, the weather was seasonable and mostly dry, but with very limited open water in most circles. An example of the consequences of this can be seen in the Branched Oak–Seward count tally. Although this count has a history of being very productive for water-related birds in most years, only 3 species were found this year: Canada Goose (16), Mallard (2) and Belted Kingfisher (1). The total species count in all the counts was 135, four less than the past two years and historically ranking sixth …

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Treasurer’S Report, December 31, 2013

Nebraska Bird Review

One-page spreadsheet constituting the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union treasurer's report at year end (December 31) of 2013. The grand total is $58,106.34.

Nebraska Bird Review (March 2014) 82(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Winter Field Report, December 2013–February 2014 ... 2

Breeding Season Observations of Sandhill Cranes on the Niobrara River … 16

2013 Christmas Bird Counts in Nebraska ... 27

NOU Annual Treasurer’s Report for 2013 ... 42

Subscription and Organization Information ... 43

“What Do Birds In Nebraska Eat?” Color Photo Section [March 2014, Pp. 20–26]

Nebraska Bird Review

Photographs of American Robins with Eastern red cedar berry and earthworm and Purple Martins with red admiral butterfly and snowberry clearwing moth (p. 20); Lazuli Bunting with millet, Grasshopper Sparrow with grasshopper, Cedar Waxwing with ornamental crab apples, and Herring Gull with unidentified fish (p. 21); Red-tailed Hawk with Eastern fox squirrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk with Eurasian Collared-Dove, Rough-legged Hawk with small mammal, and Cooper’s Hawk with House Finch (p. 22); Swainson’s Thrush with grain, Orchard Oriole with mulberry, Yellow-throated Vireo with unidentified fly, and Turkey Vulture with unidentified snake (p. 23); Pileated Woodpecker feeding juvenile, Downy Woodpecker feeding juvenile, Northern …

Subscription And Organization Information [March 2014]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $25 in the United States and $35 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $7 each, postpaid, in the United States and $9 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household (one or more people) $25; Sustaining …

Correction [December 2013]

Nebraska Bird Review

The first Nebraska record of an Acorn Woodpecker was from Holt Co., 19–22 May 1996, not Cherry Co., as was reported on page 112 of the September 2013 issue of The Nebraska Bird Review.

First Documented Record Of Hooded Oriole (Icterus Cucullatus) In Nebraska, Joseph Gubanyi

Nebraska Bird Review

During May 2013 a very cooperative Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) provided lots of excitement for Nebraska birders, becoming the first documented record for the species in Nebraska. The bird was first observed 25 May 2013 by Susie and Bill Daro at their residence in Garrison (Butler County). The Daros have several oriole feeders, and Baltimore and Orchard Orioles are common visitors. On the morning of May 25 they noted an unusual oriole visiting their feeders and, after checking the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, concluded it was a Hooded Oriole. They found …

Bridgeport Fall Field Days, Janis Paseka

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2013 NOU Fall Field Days took place at the Prairie Winds Community Center in Bridgeport on Sept. 20–22. The meeting, organized by Kathy DeLara, drew a total of 50 attendees. On Friday evening Luke Hamilton led a group owling to the Bridgeport SRA and to Courthouse Rock. Field trip destinations on Saturday and on Sunday morning included Bridgeport SRA, Fleisbach WMA (aka Facus Springs), Crescent Lake NWR, Hackberry Road in Banner Co., the I-80 Exit I area in Kimball Co, Oliver Reservoir, Wildcat Hills SRA and Wind Springs Ranch. Trips were led by Kathy DeLara, Ann Duey, Cheryl Hamilton, …

Index To Volume 81

Nebraska Bird Review

Akers, D. J. 164
Albano, D. J. 164
Alberts, Byron 103, 113
Allen: Edward 4, 52, 103, 136; Jan 136
Arctos 168
Arnold, K. A. 31
Aubushon, Kathy 34
Austin, O. L. 92
Avocet, American 59, 94, 95, 109, 142, 171

. . .

Yantachka, Jen 52
Yellowlegs: Greater 10, 59, 94, 96, 109, 142, 171; Lesser 60, 94, 96, 110, 142, 171
Yellowthroat, Common 71, 97, 117, 156, 173
Young, Matt 53
Zimmerman: Jerald 34; Roy 53
Ziolkowski, D., Jr. 80
Zonotrichia leucophrys: leucophrys 158; oriantha 158

Subscription And Organization Information [December 2013]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $25 in the United States and $35 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $7 each, postpaid, in the United States and $9 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household (one or more people) $25; Sustaining …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 2013) 81(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2013 … 134

First Documented Record of Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) in Nebraska … 161

Hayden, Tristram, and a Pigeon from “Nebraska” … 165

Bridgeport Fall Field Days, September 20–22, 2013 ... 169

Index to Volume 81 ... 175

Subscription and Organization Information ... 187

Hayden, Tristram, And A Pigeon From “Nebraska”, Rick Wright

Nebraska Bird Review

A passenger pigeon skin in the World Museum in Liverpool, England, was collected during an expedition to Nebraska and Dakota led by Gouverneur K. Warren between 1855 and 1857 and later cataloged by geologist and naturalist Ferdinand V. Hayden. For a time it was in the collection of Henry Baker Tristram, a famous naturalist and a founder of the British Ornithologists’ Union. Passenger pigeons were once “quite abundant” along the Missouri River.

Fall Field Report, August–November 2013, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

In most ways, this was a routine fall season. Most interesting from an ongoing point of view were quite a large number of sightings of passerines at rather late dates, notably Empidonax flycatchers, wood warblers, native sparrows, tanagers, towhees, grosbeaks, and buntings. A similar phenomenon was noted among a few cold-sensitive non-passerines, such as Black and Common Terns.

One of the more significant ongoing trends is the proliferation of western and southern hummingbirds and the alteration of traditional migration and summer ranges; no fewer than 6 species were found. Calliope and Rufous Hummingbirds were seemingly more numerous in the east …

2012 (24th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (NOURC) are described in its bylaws (NOURC 2010). 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. Accidental and casual species for which the NOURC seeks documentation (NOURC Review List) can be found at the NOU website (www.NOUbirds.org).

All records mentioned here are available to interested persons at the NOU archives at the University of Nebraska State Museum (UNSM), Lincoln, Nebraska. Interested parties should contact the current NOU Librarian, whose address can be found …

Summer Field Report, June–July 2013, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

In many ways this summer was a rerun of last; the drought persisted over most of the state after some welcome spring rains, but it was not as severe as it was in 2012. Water conditions were generally poor, with Harvard Marsh the only bright spot; it hosted nesting White-faced Ibises, and Little Bitterns were present. Beneficiaries of the generally low water levels were Least Terns and Piping Plovers, which nested in good numbers at Lake McConaughy, where the increased habitat even attracted Snowy Plovers again. Few Black-necked Stilts were reported statewide. Ducks, shorebirds, and passerines in general were unremarkable. …

Subscription And Organization Information [September 2013]

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $25 in the United States and $35 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $7 each, postpaid, in the United States and $9 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Anita Breckbill, NOU Librarian, c/o Music Library, WMB 30, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588-0101.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): Active Household (one or more people) $25; Sustaining …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 2013) 81(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Summer Field Report, June–July 2013 ... 102

2012 (24th) Report of the NOU Records Committee ... 120

Subscription and Organization Information ... 131