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Masthead And Table Of Contents Nebraska Bird Review 64(3) September 1996

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

A Review of the Status of Limnodromus griseus, the Short-billed Dowitcher, in Nebraska ……………..74

A Late Baird’s Sandpiper in Keith County ……………..79

Another Common Crane in Nebraska with a Summary of North American Records…………….. 80

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Annual Meeting 18 May 1996…………….. 82

NOU and NAMC Spring Bird Counts May 1996…………….. 83

Table of Bird Species Observed during NOU Annual Meeting 17-19 May 1996, and NAMC 11 May 1996 in Two Counties…………….. 84

Summer Field Report June-July 1996 ……………..90

Observers for Summer Field Report ……………..103

Summer Field Report, June-July 1996, W. Ross Silcock, Joel G. Jorgensen

Nebraska Bird Review

Starting with this report, Joel Jorgensen will write the reports for sub-passerines. Hopefully this will help with timeliness, especially in getting reports to the Regional Editor for Audubon Field Notes. It is a long process writing up especially the Spring and Fall reports, given the excellent number received.

Highlights in this report are rare loons at Lake McConaughy, three reports of Clark's Grebe, King Rail in Seward Co, Sandhill Cranes in Clay Co, Mountain Plovers in Kimball Co, easterly reports of Black-necked Stilt, first breeding record for Wilson's Phalarope in the Rainwater Basin, Brown Creeper in Sarpy Co, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 1996) 64(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

A Review of the Status of Limnodromus griseus, the Short-billed Dowitcher, in Nebraska ... 74

A Late Baird’s Sandpiper in Keith County ... 79

Another Common Crane in Nebraska with a Summary of North American Records … 80

Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Annual Meeting 18 May 1996 ... 82

NOU and NAMC Spring Bird Counts May 1996 ... 83

Table of Bird Species Observed during NOU Annual Meeting 17–19 May 1996, and NAMC 11 May 1996 in Two Counties ... 84

Summer Field Report June–July 1996 ... 90

Observers for Summer Field Report … 103

Nou And Namc Spring Bird Count, May 1996

Nebraska Bird Review

Bird species seen in a Nebraska five-county area during the Annual Meeting of the Nebraska ornithologists' Union 17-19 May, are presented in Table 1 on pages 84-90. The total count was 161 species.

The table also includes data for the North American Migration count on 11 May in two Nebraska counties, Boone (compiler: Wayne Mollhoff, Ashland), and Sarpy (compiler: Betty Grenon, Bellevue). Observations in Boone Co. were made between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. with two observers for 6 hours and one observer for 3 hours. They covered 3 miles on foot for 6 hours and 40 miles by car …

Whooping Crane Sightings During March-May 1996 Migration, Steven Anschutz

Nebraska Bird Review

A peak population of 158 whooping cranes (130 adult/subadult and 28 juvenile) was reported at the Aransas National wildlife Refuge in Texas during the winter of 1995-96. One juvenile was believed to have died between March 17 and 20, so 157 cranes began the spring migration, an increase of 24 birds over 133 in spring, 1995. By April 4, about 82 cranes had begun to migrate, and by April 25, only 9 cranes remained at Aransas. All but 2 of these had migrated by May 3. One of the two cranes migrated sometime after May 22, but the other bird …

Spring Field Report, March-May 1996, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

This was an interesting spring season, with something for everyone. Interesting data in terms of numbers are being produced by the North American Migration Count (NAMC), especially this spring in Sarpy County; examples are 499 Swainson's Thrushes, 76 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, and 118 Black-and-white Warblers, and others. Some species appeared in large numbers such as 5,000 Western Grebes, 16 Clark's Grebes, 10,000 Wilson's Phalaropes, 300 each of Black-bellied Plover and Sanderling, 54 Whimbrels, and two flocks of over 100 Great-tailed Grackles.

Some interesting early and late dates are included in the species accounts, but several observers noted unexpected species such as …

Wanted: Information On Cliff Swallow Mortality, Charles R. Brown

Nebraska Bird Review

Cold and rainy weather during late May 1996 caused widespread mortality among Cliff Swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) in southwestern Nebraska. Thousands of birds died, and some local populations were reduced by at least half. I am trying to determine the geographic scope of the mortality event. I am also interested in determining how often kills like this occur. If you are aware of mortality among any hirundinids during spring 1996 in the central U.S. or ~ave recollections or records of other major Cliff Swallow die-offs ln any past years, please send details to me at the above address. Phone: …

Snowy Plovers In The Rainwater Basin, Stephen J. Dinsmore

Nebraska Bird Review

While conducting shorebird surveys in the Rainwater Basin of southcentral Nebraska in spring, 1995, I observed two Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus). Both sightings were on 6 May, one at the Kissinger Basin Wildlife Management Area in Clay County, and the other at Ayr Lake in Adams County.

When I arrived at Kissinger Basin WMA, the weather was poor with steady rain and strong, northeast winds. At 8:15 a.m. I noticed a pale plover feeding on the far side of the wetland. I noted the black bill and legs, dark auricular patch, and slender appearance, and I identified the bird as …

1994 (Sixth) 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, Gubanyi 1996).

This report includes accounts submitted during the calendar year of 1994 covering records with accession numbers 359-395, 411, and 412. All records mentioned here will be available to interested …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1996) 64(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 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 Bird Review (June 1996) 64(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

1994 (Sixth) Report of the NOU Records Committee ... 38

Spring Field Report, March-May 1996 ... 42

Whooping Crane Sightings during March-May 1996 Migration ... 68

Snowy Plovers in the Rainwater Basin ... 71

Wanted: Information on Cliff Swallow Mortality ... 71

The Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., Treasurer’S Annual Report, 12/31/95, Elizabeth Grenon

Nebraska Bird Review

Balance 1/1/95 on cash basis per bank account: Cash $1,593.16 Investments $13,500.00 Total $15,093.16

Total Receipts: Cash $9,466.13 Investments $11,354.40 Total $20,820.53

Total Disbursements: Cash $8,777.48 Investments $10,551.66 Total $19,329.14

Balance 12/31/95: Cash $2,281.81 Investments $14,302.74 Total $16,584.55

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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

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.

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 …