Date: 11/28/25 12:28 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Maybe a downy if that small. Odd that it is that close to the ground.
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Nest hole ...
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this nest hole?
Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
Date: 11/28/25 7:59 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Great research there Bill. Just finished speaking with Jan Johnson and she
suggested the same thing although she did not have the research you have
done. I will put that down as a likely black cap Chickadee nest hole.
Great to hear from you. I have been housebound due to many things that
need to be done around the house and paperwork for some family issues.
Unfortunately, I have not been out Birdwatching since September 9 And I am
beginning to go stir crazy. I hope you had a very productive Thanksgiving
day whatever you were doing. We’re over in Davenport to celebrate
Thanksgiving, which will not happen till Sunday due to some delays of
people getting in here on time. Anyway, God bless you have a great rest of
the weekend and a blessed Christmas and happy new year to you if I don’t
see you before then.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> According to the account at "Birds of the World", Black-capped Chickadee
> nest sites "range from ground level to more than 20 m high; most commonly
> between 1.5 and 7 m".
>
> BotW cites two studies for Downy Woodpecker: in Virginia, nest height
> averaged 4.7–4.9 m (forested vs. nonforested areas) with no standard
> deviation given; in Iowa, nest height averaged 6.1m ±3.1m. I couldn't find
> nest-height figures for Red-bellied Woodpecker. For Red-headed Woodpecker,
> they give a figure of "2–24.5 m above ground, typically 7–12.4 m". For
> Northern Flicker, nest-cavity heights in Iowa are reported as 8.1m ±3.2m.
> Given these numbers, it seems unlikely that this is a woodpecker nest.
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 11/28/25 7:53 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Thanks, Jan that makes sense . Thanks for the response and I hope you had a
good Thanksgiving. I’m over in Davenport at my sons and we enjoyed watching
some football yesterday but we’re not actually doing our Thanksgiving until
Sunday due to some delays by a couple of people trying to get here so
anyway you have a fantastic rest of the month and blessed day to you. God
bless thanks again. Take care bye-bye
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 7:10 AM Jan Johnson via groups.io <janbirder=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Many years ago I had a chickadee in a hole about that size in an old stump
> About three feet off the ground.
> Jan
>
>
> On Nov 27, 2025, at 10:15 PM, 't via groups.io <wmollhoff=
> <netscape.net...> wrote:
>
>
> Paul
> That looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a
> downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that
> low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered
> a bit?
> Wayne
>
> On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via
> groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
>
> Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
> *Nest hole ...*
> <FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg>
>
> Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the
> ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created
> this nest hole?
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
> <FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg>
>
>
>
>
Date: 11/28/25 7:44 am From: dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
My sister had a downy woodpecker nest in a hole about 2.5 ft off the ground in a broken crabapple tree trunk in Fremont. And it excavated the hole there, so didn't just use an existing hole because it was expedient. Diane T in Laramie
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 7:53 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io<roisenp1950...> wrote: Wayne, It was what was left of a piece of tree that had been cut down. It looked slightly weathered but could not tell if this stump had been there awhile or if it was just a piece of cut down tree that was left standing on end but buried. As low as it was I considered a wren but the markings around the hole appeared to me to be similar to smaller woodpeckers. Not sure if that is helpful or not. God Bless.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM 't via groups.io <wmollhoff...> wrote:
PaulThat looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered a bit?Wayne
On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Nest hole ...
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this nest hole?
Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
Date: 11/28/25 7:16 am From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
According to the account at "Birds of the World", Black-capped Chickadee nest sites "range from ground level to more than 20 m high; most commonly between 1.5 and 7 m".
BotW cites two studies for Downy Woodpecker: in Virginia, nest height averaged 4.7–4.9 m (forested vs. nonforested areas) with no standard deviation given; in Iowa, nest height averaged 6.1m ±3.1m. I couldn't find nest-height figures for Red-bellied Woodpecker. For Red-headed Woodpecker, they give a figure of "2–24.5 m above ground, typically 7–12.4 m". For Northern Flicker, nest-cavity heights in Iowa are reported as 8.1m ±3.2m. Given these numbers, it seems unlikely that this is a woodpecker nest.
Date: 11/28/25 6:53 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Wayne,
It was what was left of a piece of tree that had been cut down. It
looked slightly weathered but could not tell if this stump had been there
awhile or if it was just a piece of cut down tree that was left standing on
end but buried. As low as it was I considered a wren but the markings
around the hole appeared to me to be similar to smaller woodpeckers.
Not sure if that is helpful or not. God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen**Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM 't via groups.io <wmollhoff=
<netscape.net...> wrote:
> Paul
> That looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a
> downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that
> low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered
> a bit?
> Wayne
>
> On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via
> groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
>
> Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
> *Nest hole ...*
> [image: FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg]
>
> Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the
> ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created
> this nest hole?
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
>
>
PaulThat looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered a bit?Wayne
On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Nest hole ...
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this nest hole?
Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground
on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this
nest hole?
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
Date: 11/27/25 4:02 pm From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
> *Nest hole ...*
> [image: FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg]
>
> Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the
> ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created
> this nest hole?
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
Date: 11/24/25 5:06 pm From: Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> Subject: [NEBirds] Not Nebraska - Loess HIlls NWR, NW Missouri
OK this isn't Nebraska but it's just across the river from Rulo and a lot of Nebraskans bird there. I've been the last two Saturdays and have been watching checklists for the last month -- I've had a couple of friends who wanted to "see swans" and I wanted to make sure I could give them a show.
Swan migration is on right now. Checklists say 3 three weeks ago, 130 two weeks ago, 400 (mine) one week ago, and 500 (also mine) on Saturday. A few Tundras in there. This number will grow to at least 2K in my experience.
Snow/Ross Goose migration is on, from literally zero white geese a week ago to 20K-ish on Saturday. Ducks are also on, a week ago it was Mallard-Pintail-Ring Necked-Shoveler. This week add in Redhead, Scaup, Bufflehead, Gadwall, Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Green-Winged Teal, and some late Blue-Winged Teal.
One small group of Sandhill Cranes. No white ones :)
Eagles just starting to accumulate, if you've never been there they'll go well over 200 during December-January.
Last week I saw a very large mixed blackbird accumulation, I had it at 50K on my checklist - multiple migrating flocks were converging at sunset. Huge but nothing compared to the massive one I caught once at Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas that was in the millions.
46 species checklist on Saturday 11/22, pretty good for a mid to late November, and the only wintering songbirds seen were Fox Sparrow and Tree Sparrow. So we left a few easy ones on the table. I'm sure they were there; we only checked the woodland areas from the road and didn't spend much time doing it.
Date: 11/24/25 1:33 pm From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: [NEBirds] Reminder for Upcoming Renewals Due for 2026
Reminder for Upcoming Renewals Due for 2026
NOU membership dues are on a calendar year and yours will expire at the end
of this year. Why not take this opportunity to renew right now? Simply go
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and update your membership. Payment may be completed either electronically
(very much preferred) or by check. If you have difficulties with your
login, please use our contact form on the home page and someone will assist.
Thank you for your continued support of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union,
one of the oldest organizations in Nebraska devoted to the natural sciences.
It simplifies the process by providing an automated recording of
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Why PayPal?
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What if I think I paid for 2026 yet I am receiving an email requesting to
renew my membership?
I apologize for the confusion. Please notify the NOU Treasurer and let’s
work together to figure it out. Thanks
Date: 11/23/25 11:04 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Archway bird walk
Love your reports. Doubt the professor could teach you much.
Look forward to showing the Ratzaff’s AZ birdsWednesday here in the Mesa Area.
Don MaasMaricopa CountyMesa, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, 10:37 AM, David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> wrote:
Robin,Sounds like a wonderful time and certainly a delightful report.
Dave
On Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:32 AM Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
NEbirders,
I eagerly joined the UNK Ornithology monthly bird walk Saturday morning, November 22. Dr. Jacob Cooper and Peggy Huss (one of his most enthusiastic students) have been leading these bird walks this semester. On that morning we met at the Archway Monument and walked the Pioneer’s Path Trail. We were joined by Cody McGregor, five other UNK students and Amy, a UNK staff member. We walked a half mile east then turned around, retraced our steps and continued west for a half mile.
It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and the wind was calm. The trail follows Turkey Creek and there are small lakes between the creek and Interstate 80. One of the first birds that we heard was a Belted Kingfisher. Off to a good start. As we walked the trail, we encountered a flock of Slate-colored Juncos with one Oregon Junco. This gave Dr. Cooper the opportunity to teach us about juncos. He told us about one of the many junco species that lives in a remote mountainous region.
When we saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Lapland Longspurs, Dr. Cooper taught us about winter irruptions. This winter is looking promising. There have already been several species reported that would indicate a ‘good’ winter. Be on the lookout for Redpolls.
We saw three or four small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Usually, I’m lucky if I see one flock. Some of the waxwings remained perched in a tree, giving us a good look. This gave Dr. Cooper another opportunity to teach us about waxwings. He said that there are only three species of waxwings. If this will be a ‘good’ winter, maybe we’ll see Bohemian Waxwings.
A covey of Northern Bobwhite flushed near Peggy, nearly giving her a heart attack. Dr. Cooper was surprised to see them at this location. He said that the species is becoming more rare and we were in a city park. Years ago, my late husband Lanny called them magic birds because they would appear out of nowhere and just as quickly disappear into thin air.
One of the last species that we saw on this day was Harris’s Sparrow. Dr. Cooper taught us about their limited range. They breed in north central Canada and winter in the southern Great Plains including Nebraska. This brought another memory to my mind. Many years ago during ‘March Madness’ Lanny and I met a couple ladies from the east coast who traveled to Nebraska for the Sandhill Crane spectacle. Also on their bucket list was Harris’s Sparrow. When we found one, the ladies did a little life bird dance.
Date: 11/23/25 9:38 am From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Archway bird walk
Robin,
Sounds like a wonderful time and certainly a delightful report.
Dave
On Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:32 AM Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> NEbirders,
>
> I eagerly joined the UNK Ornithology monthly bird walk Saturday morning,
> November 22. Dr. Jacob Cooper and Peggy Huss (one of his most enthusiastic
> students) have been leading these bird walks this semester. On that
> morning we met at the Archway Monument and walked the Pioneer’s Path
> Trail. We were joined by Cody McGregor, five other UNK students and Amy, a
> UNK staff member. We walked a half mile east then turned around, retraced
> our steps and continued west for a half mile.
>
> It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and the wind was calm.
> The trail follows Turkey Creek and there are small lakes between the creek
> and Interstate 80. One of the first birds that we heard was a Belted
> Kingfisher. Off to a good start. As we walked the trail, we encountered a
> flock of Slate-colored Juncos with one Oregon Junco. This gave Dr. Cooper
> the opportunity to teach us about juncos. He told us about one of the many
> junco species that lives in a remote mountainous region.
>
> When we saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Lapland Longspurs, Dr. Cooper
> taught us about winter irruptions. This winter is looking promising.
> There have already been several species reported that would indicate a
> ‘good’ winter. Be on the lookout for Redpolls.
>
> We saw three or four small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Usually, I’m lucky
> if I see one flock. Some of the waxwings remained perched in a tree,
> giving us a good look. This gave Dr. Cooper another opportunity to teach
> us about waxwings. He said that there are only three species of waxwings.
> If this will be a ‘good’ winter, maybe we’ll see Bohemian Waxwings.
>
> A covey of Northern Bobwhite flushed near Peggy, nearly giving her a heart
> attack. Dr. Cooper was surprised to see them at this location. He said
> that the species is becoming more rare and we were in a city park. Years
> ago, my late husband Lanny called them magic birds because they would
> appear out of nowhere and just as quickly disappear into thin air.
>
> One of the last species that we saw on this day was Harris’s Sparrow. Dr.
> Cooper taught us about their limited range. They breed in north central
> Canada and winter in the southern Great Plains including Nebraska. This
> brought another memory to my mind. Many years ago during ‘March Madness’
> Lanny and I met a couple ladies from the east coast who traveled to
> Nebraska for the Sandhill Crane spectacle. Also on their bucket list was
> Harris’s Sparrow. When we found one, the ladies did a little life bird
> dance.
>
> Robin Harding
> Shelton, Nebraska
>
>
Date: 11/23/25 9:32 am From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Archway bird walk
NEbirders,
I eagerly joined the UNK Ornithology monthly bird walk Saturday morning,
November 22. Dr. Jacob Cooper and Peggy Huss (one of his most enthusiastic
students) have been leading these bird walks this semester. On that
morning we met at the Archway Monument and walked the Pioneer’s Path
Trail. We were joined by Cody McGregor, five other UNK students and Amy, a
UNK staff member. We walked a half mile east then turned around, retraced
our steps and continued west for a half mile.
It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and the wind was calm. The
trail follows Turkey Creek and there are small lakes between the creek and
Interstate 80. One of the first birds that we heard was a Belted
Kingfisher. Off to a good start. As we walked the trail, we encountered a
flock of Slate-colored Juncos with one Oregon Junco. This gave Dr. Cooper
the opportunity to teach us about juncos. He told us about one of the many
junco species that lives in a remote mountainous region.
When we saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Lapland Longspurs, Dr. Cooper
taught us about winter irruptions. This winter is looking promising.
There have already been several species reported that would indicate a
‘good’ winter. Be on the lookout for Redpolls.
We saw three or four small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Usually, I’m lucky if
I see one flock. Some of the waxwings remained perched in a tree, giving
us a good look. This gave Dr. Cooper another opportunity to teach us about
waxwings. He said that there are only three species of waxwings. If this
will be a ‘good’ winter, maybe we’ll see Bohemian Waxwings.
A covey of Northern Bobwhite flushed near Peggy, nearly giving her a heart
attack. Dr. Cooper was surprised to see them at this location. He said
that the species is becoming more rare and we were in a city park. Years
ago, my late husband Lanny called them magic birds because they would
appear out of nowhere and just as quickly disappear into thin air.
One of the last species that we saw on this day was Harris’s Sparrow. Dr.
Cooper taught us about their limited range. They breed in north central
Canada and winter in the southern Great Plains including Nebraska. This
brought another memory to my mind. Many years ago during ‘March Madness’
Lanny and I met a couple ladies from the east coast who traveled to
Nebraska for the Sandhill Crane spectacle. Also on their bucket list was
Harris’s Sparrow. When we found one, the ladies did a little life bird
dance.
Date: 11/19/25 8:11 am From: Rita Flohr via groups.io <motherhen2k...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Warbling Vireo identification
thank you, Joel! I will have to look back at my Merlin captures and see if
I might have any of the recordings
On Tue, Nov 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io
<Joel.Jorgensen...> wrote:
> Sharing this link for a David Sibley article on identifying Eastern and
> Western Warbling-Vireos:
> https://www.sibleyguides.com/2025/11/identification-of-eastern-and-western-warbling-vireos/ >
>
>
> The article provides a large dose of caution about current limitations and
> hopefully Nebraska birders will have their phones handy next spring and
> summer to record as much audio as possible of singing warbling vireos,
> especially in the panhandle.
>
>
>
> *Joel*
>
> *___________________________________________________*
>
> *Joel Jorgensen **| Nongame Bird Program Manager*
>
> *Nebraska Game and Parks Commission*
>
> *2200 N 33rd St. | Lincoln, NE 68503*
>
> *<joel.jorgensen...> <joel.jorgensen...> | 402-471-5440*
>
>
>
>
>
The article provides a large dose of caution about current limitations and hopefully Nebraska birders will have their phones handy next spring and summer to record as much audio as possible of singing warbling vireos, especially in the panhandle.
Joel
___________________________________________________
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N 33rd St. | Lincoln, NE 68503
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...> | 402-471-5440
Thanks Robin and Bill.
The Ratzlaff dropped in today and we had lunch together.
They are here in AZ to see Deb’s daughter run the Scottsdale Marathon (yesterday) and her grandson play baseball on Thanksgiving weekend.
They leave tomorrow for SE AZ. We are planning a day trip with them the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Their first bird of the trip was the Costa Hummingbird in Lincoln
Don MaasMaricopa CountyMesa, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Monday, November 17, 2025, 8:08 PM, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
Bill Flack and I birded together on Sunday, November 16. Bill submitted his lists to ebird and shared them with me. We started shortly after sunrise at the Shelton sewage lagoon in Hall County. Unfortunately, the sun was shining brightly so we couldn’t see the surface of the water very well at all. The only place to view the lagoon is from the northwest corner, looking directly toward the rising sun. There was just a light breeze and the temperature was a chilly 35 degrees. We couldn’t see much there so we moved on to the Shelton cemetery and walked a loop around it. There are many evergreen trees so we hoped for Red-breasted Nuthatches. We saw ten species but no nuthatches.
We moved on to Cody McGregor’s longspur spot just north of Coal Chute Road along Navaho Road south of Gibbon. We looked and listened for about half an hour but heard only one Horned Lark. Just the day before, I stopped by the spot early in the afternoon and saw a flock of about fifty Smith’s Longspurs.
Bill and I went to the Bassway Strip lakes near the Minden I-80 exit. We drove on the public access roads along the north side and then the south side. There was a nice variety of waterbirds including geese, ducks and cormorants. My firsts for this winter were White-fronted Geese, Cackling Geese and Ring-necked Ducks. Our total was a little more than twenty species.
Thanks to Cody for submitting an ebird list for the dog town with a Ferruginous Hawk north of Gibbon. We had just gotten out of the car, when I saw a hawk flying over the town. When it landed in a tree, I saw its white tail. Bill scoped the bird and saw completely unmarked white underparts. It spread a wing briefly and he saw no patagial mark. When the bird scratched itself, Bill saw brown thighs. Cody told me he saw a Ferruginous Hawk at the dog town many times last winter and wonders if the same bird has returned .
We walked the hiking trail that goes by the Ravenna sewage ponds and through woods beside the South Loup River in northern Buffalo County. We studied a small group of mergansers that had ragged crests. We scoped them for several minutes and identified them as Red-breasted Mergansers, five female and one male. New county birds for both of us. Then a female Hooded Merganser showed up nearby, allowing for a good comparison. As we were walking the trail through the woods, we found a Brown Creeper going very high up on the branches.
Bill’s Buffalo County list is up to 213 and mine is a little higher.
Date: 11/17/25 7:08 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Sunday birding
Nebraska birders,
Bill Flack and I birded together on Sunday, November 16. Bill submitted
his lists to ebird and shared them with me. We started shortly after
sunrise at the Shelton sewage lagoon in Hall County. Unfortunately, the
sun was shining brightly so we couldn’t see the surface of the water very
well at all. The only place to view the lagoon is from the northwest
corner, looking directly toward the rising sun. There was just a light
breeze and the temperature was a chilly 35 degrees. We couldn’t see much
there so we moved on to the Shelton cemetery and walked a loop around it.
There are many evergreen trees so we hoped for Red-breasted Nuthatches. We
saw ten species but no nuthatches.
We moved on to Cody McGregor’s longspur spot just north of Coal Chute Road
along Navaho Road south of Gibbon. We looked and listened for about half
an hour but heard only one Horned Lark. Just the day before, I stopped by
the spot early in the afternoon and saw a flock of about fifty Smith’s
Longspurs.
Bill and I went to the Bassway Strip lakes near the Minden I-80 exit. We
drove on the public access roads along the north side and then the south
side. There was a nice variety of waterbirds including geese, ducks and
cormorants. My firsts for this winter were White-fronted Geese, Cackling
Geese and Ring-necked Ducks. Our total was a little more than twenty
species.
Thanks to Cody for submitting an ebird list for the dog town with a
Ferruginous Hawk north of Gibbon. We had just gotten out of the car, when
I saw a hawk flying over the town. When it landed in a tree, I saw its
white tail. Bill scoped the bird and saw completely unmarked white
underparts. It spread a wing briefly and he saw no patagial mark. When
the bird scratched itself, Bill saw brown thighs. Cody told me he saw a
Ferruginous Hawk at the dog town many times last winter and wonders if
the same bird has returned .
We walked the hiking trail that goes by the Ravenna sewage ponds and
through woods beside the South Loup River in northern Buffalo County. We
studied a small group of mergansers that had ragged crests. We scoped them
for several minutes and identified them as Red-breasted Mergansers, five
female and one male. New county birds for both of us. Then a female
Hooded Merganser showed up nearby, allowing for a good comparison. As we
were walking the trail through the woods, we found a Brown Creeper going
very high up on the branches.
Bill’s Buffalo County list is up to 213 and mine is a little higher.
Date: 11/15/25 7:32 pm From: Loren Padelford via groups.io <padelfordl...> Subject: [NEBirds] Red-throated Loon, Branched Oak Lake
Birders,
The Redt-throated Loon was still present on Branched Oak Lake today, Saturday. We observed it from the Homestead Campground (Area 2) about 2:30 this afternoon. Also present was a mixed flock of Red-breasted and Common Mergansers. Bonaparte’s Gulls were flying around the lake. At gull beach (swimming beach) there was a Lesser Black-backed Gull along with about 30 RB Gulls.
Loren and Babs Padelford
Bellevue, NE
<padelfordl...>
Date: 11/15/25 10:47 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] redpolls
Fort Niobrara NWR, Bur Oak/Fort Falls Trail, this morning. I was happy to see a golden-crowned kinglet, since I had not seen one in several years, then, shortly after, found these two common redpolls feeding on birch catkins. First of them I have seen in 20 years. Yesterday at my house near Valentine I heard a pine siskin.
Date: 11/14/25 9:49 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Red-throated Loons at Branched Oak Lake
Nebraska birders,
On Wednesday, Larry Einemann reported an interesting loon sp. at Branched Oak Lake. After following up the next day, we discovered that it was in fact 2 Red-throated Loons, one adult, and an immature.
They are currently being seen best from the South shore Campground or area 1 RV loop. Updates are being posted on Discord and eBird. They were seeing all day yesterday and spotted again this morning.
Date: 11/13/25 10:51 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] grasshopper sp and snow geese
A grasshopper sparrow at my house SE of Valentine an hour ago, seems kinda late. About 30 snow geese in formation headed east three days ago seem kinda early.
Date: 11/8/25 1:12 pm From: Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
A huge thank you to all for your feedback and replies. I truly appreciate the sightings of Doves and other birds.
We also have Red breasted nuthatches as well as Juncos, White Crown and Harris Sparrows, Cardinals, Bluejays and huge flocks of ROBINS passing through.
Nice list.
Thanks for sharing.
Don MaasMesa, AZMaricopa County
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Friday, November 7, 2025, 1:26 PM, rjensen via groups.io <rjensen...> wrote:
Hi, I participate in the Cornell Feederwatch project and thought I would
share my sightings from the past two days. We have a small yard pond and
also a large pan of water for them to enjoy and they love it!
Dark-Eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 2
American Robin 7
Harris's Sparrow 12
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 2
Cedar Waxwing 4
House finch 7
European Starling 1
House Sparrow 5
American Goldfinch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Hi, I participate in the Cornell Feederwatch project and thought I would
share my sightings from the past two days. We have a small yard pond and
also a large pan of water for them to enjoy and they love it!
Dark-Eyed Junco 15
Northern Cardinal 2
American Robin 7
Harris's Sparrow 12
Chipping Sparrow 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 2
Cedar Waxwing 4
House finch 7
European Starling 1
House Sparrow 5
American Goldfinch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Date: 11/7/25 7:32 am From: jmjohnson404 via groups.io <jmjohnson4047...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
I still have Mourning Doves here in Lincoln. I, too, have Red Breasted Nuthatches and just saw FOY Junco. The northern Goldfinches have returned—my feeders were mostly emptied in one day! Happy to see the new migrants.
Date: 11/7/25 7:31 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
And a mourning dove this morning at my home near Valentine. But with highs in the 30s on Sunday, it will probably not stick around.
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, 04:50:21 PM CST, Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> wrote:
I saw a mourning dove a couple of days ago near Blair. I would guess they will show up at least in SE Nebr. for a while yet. Two red-breasted nuthatches recently showed up at our (family farm) feeders near Blair too.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:55:50 AM CST, Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> wrote:
Greeting Nebraska Birders, A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round. Just curious, Linda Ollinger,Furnas County Nebraska
Date: 11/6/25 8:47 pm From: Steve Schmitt via groups.io <sschmitt1...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
I had two Mourning Doves in my backyard last week. This is in Omaha.
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, 2:50 PM, Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> wrote:
I saw a mourning dove a couple of days ago near Blair. I would guess they will show up at least in SE Nebr. for a while yet. Two red-breasted nuthatches recently showed up at our (family farm) feeders near Blair too.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:55:50 AM CST, Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> wrote:
Greeting Nebraska Birders, A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round. Just curious, Linda Ollinger,Furnas County Nebraska
Date: 11/6/25 2:50 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
I saw a mourning dove a couple of days ago near Blair. I would guess they will show up at least in SE Nebr. for a while yet. Two red-breasted nuthatches recently showed up at our (family farm) feeders near Blair too.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 11:55:50 AM CST, Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> wrote:
Greeting Nebraska Birders, A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round. Just curious, Linda Ollinger,Furnas County Nebraska
Date: 11/6/25 12:04 pm From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
Hi Linda,
At least in Kearney, it seems like the collared-doves move around a lot in town based on the time of year. My neighborhood is right next to a big silo, and while we have dozens of doves in the summertime, we have hundreds of collared-doves now. I think they just seem scarce in many of these areas because they are starting to really concentrate in the places they know there will be good amounts of food.
Incidentally, we also saw one being eaten by a Coopers Hawk yesterday as well!
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Bruner Hall of Sciences, Room 321
2401 11th Avenue
Kearney, NE 68849-1130
Research Associate, Field Museum, Chicago
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
[image.png]
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...>
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 13:03
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Doves
Caution: Non-NU Email
Update on Doves,
I spotted an EC Dove this A.M. Very silent but it was there.
We had a Coopers Hawk in the bird bath last week and I suspect many birds are laying low.
Date: 11/5/25 9:56 am From: Linda Ollinger via groups.io <prairysky...> Subject: [NEBirds] Doves
Greeting Nebraska Birders,
A quick question for you all across the state. I realized several days ago that ALL Doves have been absent here in my area and have been for several weeks. I know the mourning doves most likely migrated out of the area by now. But we always have Eurasian Collared Doves as well as a few White winged Doves all seasons year round.
Date: 11/2/25 8:33 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Nebraska Big Year - October Recap
Nebraska birders,
InOctober I added just 2 species to my year list, but one of them was a very rare and charismatic life bird! October was a less trip-heavy month, I traveled "only" 1300 miles (mostly locally) and spent 0 nights on the road. I did a bit of county birding in neighboring counties, and captured some of my favorite photos of the year. Read more below
