Zoology Commons^™

Common Black-Headed Gull In Nebraska, Loren Padelford, Babs Padelford

Nebraska Bird Review

About noon on 18 November 1985 B.J. Rose (14937 N St., Omaha, Neb. 68137) saw a gull flying over the Hartford Sand & Gravel Co.'s sandpit lake, a mile north of Venice, Douglas Co. Because of the size and flight pattern he expected it to be a Kittiwake, but when he got the binoculars on it he saw the white wedge along the outer wing, similar to that of a Bonaparte's. However, except for the white outer primaries, the underwings were uniformly dark. It was an adult winter-plumaged bird with a dark spot behind the eye, bill brownish color (not …

Nebraska Bird Review (March 1986) 54(1), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Treasurer's Report.................2

1985 Christmas Count.................3

1985 (Twenty-eighth) Fall Occurrence Report .................7

Notes .................16

Hybrid Blue bird Update.................26

Book Reviews .................27

Common Black-headed Gull in Nebraska.................28

1985 Christmas Count

Nebraska Bird Review

The Christmas count includes 101 species, two more than last year, and three species (compared to two last year) were recorded as present during the count period but not recorded on the count day on any count. Two additional localities (Beaver Valley, northwest Boone Co., and Norfolk) brought the total reporting areas to ten. Fourteen species, compared to eighteen last year, were reported from all localities this year. The total investment count this year was 124,642, compared to 345,092 last year and 43,652 in 1983. The Red-winged Blackbird count for Omaha last year was 255,806; this year it was 32. …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1986) 54(1).

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December, by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Inc. as its official journal and sent to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on a calendar year basis only) are $10.00 per year in the United States, $12.00 per year in Canada and Mexico and $12.50 per year in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $3.00 each, postpaid, in the United States; $3.50 elsewhere. Memberships (on a calendar year basis only): Students, $3.00; Active $7.00; Sustaining $15.00; Family Active $10.00; Family Sustaining $20.00; Life $100.00.

"Notes," From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1986) 54(1).

Nebraska Bird Review

CORRECTION TO CRESCENT LAKE ITEMS. Mark J. Heisinger's name was misspelled in the Crescent Lake items in the December issue -- NBR 53, pages 53 and 80 (twice), and Kevin J. Brennan was misspelled the first time mentioned on page 72.

HERON ROOKERY. When South Sioux City pilot Gene Martin flew over an area of mature cottonwoods along the Missouri River, near Homer, Neb., on 15 June 1985 he spotted about 30 heron nests in the tree tops. This was near the Thurston Co. line. The following morning Art Huser, of Sioux City, Iowa, and I located the rookery from …

"1985 (Twenty-Eighth) Fall Occurrence Report," From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1986) 54(1).

Nebraska Bird Review

Two hundred eighty-five species (plus the possibility that the Empidonax species was one not listed) from eleven "full-time" locations and eight "spot check" locations are listed in this report. Comparable figures for previous years are 278 from 12 locations in 1984, 262 from 10 locations in 1983, and 269 from 10 locations in 1982.

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.

Eimeria Halleri Sp. N. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) From The Round Stingray, Urolophus Halleri (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae), Steve Upton, John Bristol, Scott Lyell Gardner, Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Eimeria halleri sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is described from the rectal contents ofthe round stingray, Urolophus halleri Cooper (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) from Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Oocysts are spherical or subspherical, 16.9 x 16.8 (15.0-18.0 x 15.0-18.0) /μm, with a smooth, thin wall. Micropyle, polar granule, and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are ovoid, 11.1 x 6.8 (10.0-13.0 x 6.0-7.5) /μm and possess Stieda and substieda bodies. Sporozoites are comma-shaped, 9.9 x 3.2 (9.0-11.0 x 2.8-4.0) /μm and contain an ovoid posterior and a spherical anterior refractile body. The sporocyst residuum consists either of numerous finely granular particles scattered among the sporozoites …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1985) 53(4)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal and sent to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $10.00 per year in the United States, $12.00 per year in Canada and Mexico, and $12.50 per year in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $3.00 each, postpaid, in the United States; $3.50 elsewhere.

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 …

“Notes” From Nebraska Bird Review (December 1985) 53(4)

Nebraska Bird Review

FILLMORE COUNTY. On 23 June 1985, while I was atlasing block #IF01 in Fillmore County, just north of Shickley, I saw a Common Moorhen in Weis Lagoon and found a nest with 11 eggs. There was also a very large colony of Black-crowned Night-Herons [and] also a colony of Great-tailed Grackles.—William C. Garthright, Lincoln

RED-NECKED GREBE. On 16 June 1985 1 was wading through some cattails at the edge of a small open area in a pond at the North 27th Street marsh when I came upon a grebe sitting in the open on the water.—William C. Garthright, Lincoln

IBIS …

Nebraska Bird Review (December 1985) 53(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

1985 Fall Field Day … 70

Supplement to 1985 Spring Occurrence Report … 70

Black-necked Stilts Nesting in Nebraska … 72

A Red Phalarope in Pierce County, Nebraska … 72

The Red-naped Sapsucker in Nebraska … 73

Nesting Observations of the Piping Plover near Sioux City … 74

Notes … 76

Index To Volume 53

Nebraska Bird Review

Accipiter sp. 19

Adcock, Cash and Dorothy 63

Albino 41, 54

Alexander, George and Irene 22

Alfred, Norris 6, 17, 46, 60

Ani, Groove-billed 78

Avocet, American 9, 39(2), 46, 48, 55, 71, 72, 77, 78

. . .

Wright, Rick 3, 18, 22, 41, 42, 44, 57, 68, 70, 82

Wyman, Howard and Wilma 70

Wilma 22

Yellowlegs, Greater 9, 55, 70

Lesser 10, 39, 41, 55

sp. 9, 39

Yellowthroat, Common 15, 39, 46, 63

Zendeh, Scheil 41(2), 43, 82

Nesting Observations Of The Piping Plover Near Sioux City, Randall D. Williams

Nebraska Bird Review

From mid-April to early August 1985 members of the Loess Hills Audubon Society monitored the nesting of Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) on fly-ash settling ponds of the IPS Port Neal Generating Station, on the Missouri River near Salix, Iowa. Declining regional and national populations (Barie, 1985; Kaufman, 1984; and Evans, 1985) make the discovery of nesting individuals quite exciting. Piping Plovers were first found at this site in 1984.

The ash ponds appear to be very good nesting habitat (Evans, 1985). There are large areas of gravel-like substrate with little to no vegetation, minimal human disturbance, and an …

A Red Phalarope In Pierce County, Nebraska, Mark A. Brogie, Ed M. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria) is seen yearly in the central portion of the United States, from the Great Lakes to Texas. More than 85% of these sightings are from fall, with 75% of the total from September to November (Dinsmore et al., 1984). This species is, however, considered a very rare or accidental migrant through the Plains States (Johnsgard 1980). A single specimen, taken on 15 October 1921 at Dad’s Lake, near Wood Lake in Cherry County (Conover 1934) represents the only previous record of this species in Nebraska. The following represents the first record for this …

Black-Necked Stilts Nesting In Nebraska, Mark J. Helsinger

Nebraska Bird Review

On 7 May 1985 I saw two adult Black-necked Stilts on Lower Harrison Lake, Crescent Lake NWR, Garden County. In the middle of June photographers Charlie and Rita Summers saw two on Martin Lake. On 11 July I saw two adults. and four young on Martin Lake. The whitish/gray-colored young had long grayish/green legs (3–4") and a black bill, about 2" long. They appeared to be feeding by probing soft mud. The two adults were exhibiting aggressive behavior. One adult dived and screamed at a Blue-winged Teal hen with eight ducklings until they moved from the area, and also chased …

1985 Fall Field Day

Nebraska Bird Review

Pleasant weather greeted the 70 people who attended part or all of the 1985 Fall Field Day, at the 4-H Camp at Halsey National Forest, 5 and 6 October. There was a slide show Friday night and the official tally Sunday noon, but other than the scheduled meals, the rest of the time was free for individual birding. The committee on a records committee completed its work and presented its report to the directors. The report was accepted and Tanya Bray, Ruth Green, and Wayne Mollhoff were appointed to 3-year terms on the committee, Alice Kenitz and Barbara Padelford for …

The Red-Naped Sapsucker In Nebraska, Tanya E. Bray, Barbara K. Padelford, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

The Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) was for many years accorded subspecific status within Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyapicus varius), but the American Ornithologists’ Union recently revised this opinion, and now regards nuchalis as a “good” species (Auk 102:680). Red-naped Sapsucker can be added to the Nebraska (species) list on the basis of three specimens in the collection of the University of Nebraska State Museum (UNSM).

The breeding range of Red-naped Sapsucker includes the Rocky Mountains east of the Cascades from southwest Canada south to central Arizona and it winters in much of northern Mexico, north as far …

Supplement To 1985 Spring Occurrence Report

Nebraska Bird Review

The following records were overlooked until it was too late to include them in the original report (NBR 53:50). They are either earlier, later, or new records for the localities listed, most recorded by Rick Wright, but also by Glen Kramer and the Werthmans. April is A, May is M. Four species and a hybrid, all marked +, were not in the first report, so that the total for the state is 296 rather than 292. The Douglas-Sarpy count is increased by two; no attempt was made to get similar figures for the other columns since they would affect …

“Notes” From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1985) 53(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

RE SWAN GEESE IN KEITH COUNTY. A recent account (NBR 53:4) of Chinese Geese (domestic forms of the Swan Goose are called Chinese Geese –Ed.) in Keith County seems to suggest that the birds were of natural occurrence. No wild individuals of this species have ever been reported in North America, however, and it may in fact be declining in its native range. It is exceedingly common, though, in zoos and parks as well as on farms, where it is often only nominally a captive; birds are readily available and are not typically afforded the close watch given more valuable …

Hybrid Bluebirds In The Pine Ridge, Barbara L. Wilson, Jim Minyard, Hope Minyard, Tanya Bray

Nebraska Bird Review

A hybrid pair of bluebirds is raising young in Dawes County, Nebraska, in the yard of Jim and Hope Minyard, approximately 8 miles south of Crawford. The female of the pair is a Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides). She is basically a dull gray bluebird, with little contrast between upperparts and underparts. There is no rusty or tan on her breast, and no sharp demarcation between the gray breast and the lighter belly. Her rump and the bases of her outer tail feathers are a light, bright blue, while the other tail feathers and the primaries are blackish. When …

Nebraska Bird Review (September 1985) 53(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

1984 Nebraska Nesting Survey … 46

1985 (Sixtieth) Spring Occurrence Report … 50

Hybrid Bluebirds in the Pine Ridge … 67

Notes … 67

Book Review … 68

“Book Review” From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1985) 53(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

The Bird Identification Calendar, 1986, illustrated in color by John Sill, 11 x 14, Stephen Greene Press in cooperation with The Massachusetts Audubon Society, distributed by Viking Penguin Inc., New York City.

The calendar space is full size; the over 70 illustrations and short paragraphs are on the facing page (back of the previous page). Also, two preliminary pages on bird identification in general.

1984 Nebraska Nesting Survey, Esther V. Bennett

Nebraska Bird Review

Data on the 1984 nesting season in Nebraska were received from 17 observers and organizations, reporting on 72 species from 36 counties or groups of counties. Counties in the tabulations are listed in a west to east order, with the northernmost of the approximately equal locations given first. Numbers represent Nest Record Cards; N represents nests observed for which no Nest Record Card was submitted; F represents feeding; CF represents carrying food; CN represents carrying nesting material; and Y represents young observed. GPC in the following paragraph represents Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Thirty species were reported on 192 North …

1985 (Sixtieth) Spring Occurrence Report

Nebraska Bird Review

Two hundred ninety-two species, plus Clark’s Nutcracker, for which no specific dates were reported, and Lapland Longspur, which was not recorded, are listed in this report, from 22 locations. The comparable figures for 1984 are 293 and one possible, from 13 locations; 1983 288 and 2 possibles from 13; and 1982 287 from 15 locations.

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (September 1985) 53(3)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal and sent to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $10.00 per year in the United States, $12.00 per year in Canada and Mexico, and $12.50 per year in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $3.00 each, postpaid, in the United States; $3.50 elsewhere.

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

All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to …

“Notes” From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1985) 53(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

DESOTO NWR. Our Independent Science Research class at Laurel-Concord High School, led by Ed Brogie, took a field trip to DeSoto NWR 3 November 1984. We spotted two species listed as “rare” on the NWR checklist: Western Grebe and Lesser Golden-Plover; and one not listed for fall: Water Pipit.—Paul L. Pearson, Wakefield

CLAY COUNTY. Here are some observations Joe Gabig, Ross Lock, and I made 22 September 1984 at Harvard Marsh, just west of the town of Harvard.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION MIDWINTER EAGLE SURVEY. The NWF survey was initiated in January 1979 as a means of monitoring the nation’s wintering …

Nebraska Bird Review (June 1985) 53(2), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

The Historic Breeding Distribution of the Least Tern in Nebraska … 26

Possible Addition of the Prairie Skink to the Diet of the Common Grackle … 36

Observations of the Barred Owl in Southeastern Nebraska … 37

The Eighty-fourth Annual Meeting … 38

Notes … 39

Observations Of The Barred Owl In Southeastern Nebraska, Steve Shupe

Nebraska Bird Review

The status of the Barred Owl (Strix varia) in Nebraska has been questioned for several years. The concern rests mainly with the continued depletion of deep forest habitat which has threatened the very existence of this magnificent raptor. During a three-year study of the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Barred Owls were encountered at various times. It seemed appropriate to accumulate some data on the birds; however, because of their precarious status only limited ecological information was collected.

In 1983 seven nest sites were located within the study area …

The Eighty-Fourth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Bird Review

About 75 people participated in at least one of the events at the eighty-fourth Annual Meeting, held 18 and 19 May 1985 at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Camp, adjacent to Schramm State Park, between Louisville and Gretna, in Sarpy County. There was the usual slide show Friday night. Saturday morning was available for birding. In the afternoon the following papers were presented:

Waterfowl Production in the Rainwater Basins—Robin Harding, Department of Biology, Kearney State College

Age and Reproductive Success in Northern Orioles—Thomas Labedz, Nebraska State Museum

A Comparative Analysis of Long-eared Owl Pellets—Russell Benedict and Ray Korpi, presented by Ray …

Possible Addition Of The Prairie Skink To The Diet Of The Common Grackle, Louis A. Somma

Nebraska Bird Review

On 8 June 1984, at the intersection of California Street and the Union Pacific railroad tracks, just west of Saddle Creek Road in Omaha, a Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscala) was seen flying approximately 2 m above the observer, with a large adult prairie skink, (Eumeces septentrionalis) (Reptilia; Sauria) in its bill. The Grackle had difficulty flying, since the skink was somewhat heavy and struggling violently, The Grackle dropped to the ground about 7 m away and released the lizard. The skink lay on its back, twitching slightly. The distal half of its tail was missing. The …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (June 1985) 53(2)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December, by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc., as its official journal and sent to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on a calendar-year basis only) are $10.00 per year in the United States, $12.00 per year in Canada and Mexico, and $12.50 per year in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $3.00 each, postpaid, in the United States, $3.50 elsewhere.

Memberships (on a calendar-year basis only): Students, $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 …