Tim, thanks for always sharing the latest goodies at Fontenelle on NEBirds!FYI, the typical average precipitation amount in Iowa is significantly greater than in Nebraska, thus, many plants, insects, and breeding birds differ greatly, and it would be a dereliction of duty for a Neb. eBird reviewer to set their filters based on what an eBird reviewer in Des Moines does. It's not personal, they're just trying to keep the record credible.
-Shari Schwartz, Lincoln
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 6:36:14 PM CDT, Tim Houghton via groups.io <timhoughton...> wrote:
FYI, another Cerulean Warbler was found in Des Moines ( and confirmed without a photo or recording being required, I might add) on May 5. Since eBird here eliminated my Cerulean report (from yesterday) immediately from the NE rarity page, I will put my checklist from yesterday here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S234003464 It contains my report of the Cerulean. Tim Houghton
On 05/06/2025 10:43 AM CDT Tim Houghton via groups.io <timhoughton...> wrote: No pic. Font forest. Cottonwood tr around where prothonotary singing. High up. Tim Houghton
View/Reply Online (#42444) | Reply to Group | Reply to Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [<lists...>] _._,_._,_
Date: 5/7/25 6:45 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] Registration for Tri-State Meeting due 5/8/2025!!!
Nebraska Birders,
The Tri-State Ornithologists' Union Spring meeting is coming up next weekend in South Sioux City Iowa!
If you wish to reserve meals, you will need to register by 10PM Thursday 5/8/25 as that is the cutoff. There are PayPal (preferred) and pay by check options. Kevin Murphy of IOU says he would prefer that if you plan to pay by check at this late date, pay when you sign in at the venue on Friday PM.
We have a light dinner, social and Scientific Poster presentation on Friday evening featuring posters from researchers in Nebraska and South Dakota, field trips to birding locations in all three states on Saturday (and Sunday), our business meeting on Saturday, and then dinner and our keynote speaker Michael Forsberg, photographer and author of " Into Whooperland – A Photographer's Journey with Whooping Cranes ", which promises to be a fantastic presentation. He will also be selling his book and conducting a book signing after the presentation.
There are over 160 registrants thus far, so this is a great opportunity to meet other birders from NE, SD and IA.
Here is the link to the info for the meeting (including lodging, etc)
Date: 5/7/25 4:36 pm From: Tim Houghton via groups.io <timhoughton...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Female cerulean
FYI, another Cerulean Warbler was found in Des Moines ( and confirmed without a photo or recording being required, I might add) on May 5. Since eBird here eliminated my Cerulean report (from yesterday) immediately from the NE rarity page, I will put my checklist from yesterday here:
> On 05/06/2025 10:43 AM CDT Tim Houghton via groups.io <timhoughton...> wrote:
>
>
> No pic. Font forest. Cottonwood tr around where prothonotary singing. High up.
>
> Tim Houghton
>
>
View/Reply Online (#42440) | Reply to Group | Reply to Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [<lists...>] _._,_._,_
Date: 5/5/25 6:09 pm From: ogalbirder via groups.io <jim.ochsner...> Subject: [NEBirds] FOY and FOE
Finally had the FOY Baltimore Oriole this evening and also had the FOE (First of Ever) Lucistic or Albino Eurasion Collared Dove.
(Sorry for the distant pic.)
Date: 5/5/25 9:48 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
Appreciate your input on reporting on EBird, just remember many of us bird for the enjoyment and not as scientists.
Will try to be more specific in my locations butsome time just Lake or National Wildlife Refuge is all your going to get. I’m not telling you what tree and branch I found the bird on .Off record I saw fifteenth Desert Bighorn Sheep on a Pelagic Trip on Canyon yesterday. This is like doing a Pelagic Trip on Lake Mac.
Don MaasMaricopa County, 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, May 5, 2025, 6:23 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Rita and all: Thank you for using eBird. Very useful and important for bird research, Your response was not out of line at all as this is how learning takes place. I do not have time to follow this up properly today. I will try to do this later in the week. I did notice a response from Wendy VanDeWalle following your post to me which explains further some good practises. Please read that post as well. That said: ALL the major locations are in fact already listed HotSpots. eBird is extremely well organized, but to use it correctly does take a little time to learn.
God Bless. Paul O. RoisenWoodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817
On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM Rita Cunha via groups.io <rita23cunha...> wrote:
Paul,
I know the person who made this checklist you mention. I was birding with them, and I have to say, this confusion or conflict is a big reason why more people don’t use ebird.
For starters, it is not an intuitive app that a beginner will know how to use “properly” as the developers probably intended. Second, this birding outing was a traveling one, and the only reason it was logged on eBird at all was because this person is doing the Nebraska Birding Bowl, which requires checklists. We started birding at the trout pond, but continued driving making stops wherever we felt like it.
In my opinion, it is hard enough getting folks who bird recreationally — folks who may not have much of an interest in the more complex methods of research — to use eBird at all. The same applies to other community science apps, like iNaturalist. As someone who lives in rural central Nebraska, I am often the only one (or part of a handful of people) making observations in my county (and sometimes surrounding counties). I understand the need for accurate reporting — but does it not make sense to make the eBird process simpler and less fiddly? Noticing habitat changes, knowing to stop, close a checklist, and start up a new one I fear will drive casual users and casual birders away… and then we won’t have any data, period.
I hope this isn’t coming across the wrong way. I would like to see maybe a new hotspot for each “big” pullout at Calamus SRA. Bill, do you think this is a good idea? Maybe:- Valley View Flats- Gracie Creek — trout pond- Hannaman Bayou- Ash Grove fishing access- Dry Creek fishing access- etc
I bird the Calamus very regularly. And i will be sure to start following these best practices you outlined, Paul. But wanted to share my concerns and desire in seeing eBird become more user-friendly, beginner-friendly, and casual birder-friendly in order to be MORE USED.
Thank you for touching on this issue, Paul and Bill.
Rita CunhaValley County
On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Bill, Thank you for your response on this one, Bill. Calamus Outfitters Birding Tours, unfortunately, did a great disservice to eBird and ebirders. Hope I did not overstep with my comments, but ran into another list out of Calamus a couple of days ago which they named "Calamus State Recreation Area" but it was not a hot spot. The GPS coordinates matched "Calamus Reservoir--Gracie Creek trout pond", but the name suggests the entirety of the Calamus Reservoir. I would suspect that this person was not familiar with eBird hotspots.
Have a great birding year. Maybe I will see you at the Tri-State Ornithological meeting in South Sioux City May 16-18.
God Bless,
Paul O. RoisenWoodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817
On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
As the eBird hotspot editor for Nebraska, I think I can de-hotspot Calamus Outfitters. That wouldn't eliminate the data associated with the site; it'd just transform it into a private location, which wouldn't show up on the hotspot map or for anyone who hadn't already entered a list there. Is this something I should do? I'll ask not just Paul, but anyone else who's done significant amounts of Calamus Reservoir birding. In particular, does anyone have strong arguments against doing so? William FlackKearney
Date: 5/5/25 6:23 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
Rita and all:
Thank you for using eBird. Very useful and important for bird research,
Your response was not out of line at all as this is how
learning takes place.
I do not have time to follow this up properly today. I will try to do
this later in the week.
I did notice a response from Wendy VanDeWalle following your post to me
which explains further some good practises. Please read that post as well.
That said: ALL the major locations are in fact already listed
HotSpots. eBird is extremely well organized, but to use it correctly does
take a little time to learn.
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM Rita Cunha via groups.io <rita23cunha=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Paul,
>
> I know the person who made this checklist you mention. I was birding with
> them, and I have to say, this confusion or conflict is a big reason why
> more people don’t use ebird.
>
> For starters, it is not an intuitive app that a beginner will know how to
> use “properly” as the developers probably intended. Second, this birding
> outing was a traveling one, and the only reason it was logged on eBird at
> all was because this person is doing the Nebraska Birding Bowl, which
> requires checklists. We started birding at the trout pond, but continued
> driving making stops wherever we felt like it.
>
> In my opinion, it is hard enough getting folks who bird recreationally —
> folks who may not have much of an interest in the more complex methods of
> research — to use eBird at all. The same applies to other community science
> apps, like iNaturalist. As someone who lives in rural central Nebraska, I
> am often the only one (or part of a handful of people) making observations
> in my county (and sometimes surrounding counties). I understand the need
> for accurate reporting — but does it not make sense to make the eBird
> process simpler and less fiddly? Noticing habitat changes, knowing to stop,
> close a checklist, and start up a new one I fear will drive casual users
> and casual birders away… and then we won’t have any data, period.
>
> I hope this isn’t coming across the wrong way. I would like to see maybe a
> new hotspot for each “big” pullout at Calamus SRA. Bill, do you think this
> is a good idea? Maybe:
> - Valley View Flats
> - Gracie Creek — trout pond
> - Hannaman Bayou
> - Ash Grove fishing access
> - Dry Creek fishing access
> - etc
>
> I bird the Calamus very regularly. And i will be sure to start following
> these best practices you outlined, Paul. But wanted to share my concerns
> and desire in seeing eBird become more user-friendly, beginner-friendly,
> and casual birder-friendly in order to be MORE USED.
>
> Thank you for touching on this issue, Paul and Bill.
>
> Rita Cunha
> Valley County
>
> On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Bill,
>> Thank you for your response on this one, Bill. Calamus Outfitters
>> Birding Tours, unfortunately, did a great disservice to eBird and
>> ebirders. Hope I did not overstep with my comments, but ran into another
>> list out of Calamus a couple of days ago which they named "Calamus State
>> Recreation Area" but it was not a hot spot. The GPS coordinates matched
>> "Calamus Reservoir--Gracie Creek trout pond", but the name suggests the
>> entirety of the Calamus Reservoir. I would suspect that this person was
>> not familiar with eBird hotspots.
>>
>> Have a great birding year. Maybe I will see you at the Tri-State
>> Ornithological meeting in South Sioux City May 16-18.
>>
>> God Bless,
>>
>>
>> *Paul O. Roisen*
>> *Woodbury County, IA*
>> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>>
>>
>> On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
>> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>>
>>> As the eBird hotspot editor for Nebraska, I think I can de-hotspot
>>> Calamus Outfitters. That wouldn't eliminate the data associated with the
>>> site; it'd just transform it into a private location, which wouldn't show
>>> up on the hotspot map or for anyone who hadn't already entered a list there.
>>>
>>> Is this something I should do? I'll ask not just Paul, but anyone else
>>> who's done significant amounts of Calamus Reservoir birding. In
>>> particular, does anyone have strong arguments against doing so?
>>>
>>> William Flack
>>> Kearney
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
Date: 5/5/25 5:26 am From: Wendy VanDeWalle via groups.io <wtvandewalle...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
I’ve been watching this discussion and even though I’m from Iowa, choosing
a hotspot for your location is a universal problem.
Even experienced eBird users are often too quick to choose the name of the
park as a location instead of the hotspot. The name of the park often comes
up first before the hotspot location comes up. If eBird truly wants us to
use hotspots then somehow they need something that pops up first that says
“please choose the nearest hotspot if you are within x amount of miles” or
whatever. The name of the park should not be an option. ( If you are not
familiar with what this looks like, I think it might just have a little
plus sign instead of the hotspot icon).
I guess it falls on reviewers to ask someone to use a hotspot but that’s a
lot of added work.
Wendy VanDeWalle
Buchanan Co. Iowa
On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM Rita Cunha via groups.io <rita23cunha=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Paul,
>
> I know the person who made this checklist you mention. I was birding with
> them, and I have to say, this confusion or conflict is a big reason why
> more people don’t use ebird.
>
> For starters, it is not an intuitive app that a beginner will know how to
> use “properly” as the developers probably intended. Second, this birding
> outing was a traveling one, and the only reason it was logged on eBird at
> all was because this person is doing the Nebraska Birding Bowl, which
> requires checklists. We started birding at the trout pond, but continued
> driving making stops wherever we felt like it.
>
> In my opinion, it is hard enough getting folks who bird recreationally —
> folks who may not have much of an interest in the more complex methods of
> research — to use eBird at all. The same applies to other community science
> apps, like iNaturalist. As someone who lives in rural central Nebraska, I
> am often the only one (or part of a handful of people) making observations
> in my county (and sometimes surrounding counties). I understand the need
> for accurate reporting — but does it not make sense to make the eBird
> process simpler and less fiddly? Noticing habitat changes, knowing to stop,
> close a checklist, and start up a new one I fear will drive casual users
> and casual birders away… and then we won’t have any data, period.
>
> I hope this isn’t coming across the wrong way. I would like to see maybe a
> new hotspot for each “big” pullout at Calamus SRA. Bill, do you think this
> is a good idea? Maybe:
> - Valley View Flats
> - Gracie Creek — trout pond
> - Hannaman Bayou
> - Ash Grove fishing access
> - Dry Creek fishing access
> - etc
>
> I bird the Calamus very regularly. And i will be sure to start following
> these best practices you outlined, Paul. But wanted to share my concerns
> and desire in seeing eBird become more user-friendly, beginner-friendly,
> and casual birder-friendly in order to be MORE USED.
>
> Thank you for touching on this issue, Paul and Bill.
>
> Rita Cunha
> Valley County
>
> On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Bill,
>> Thank you for your response on this one, Bill. Calamus Outfitters
>> Birding Tours, unfortunately, did a great disservice to eBird and
>> ebirders. Hope I did not overstep with my comments, but ran into another
>> list out of Calamus a couple of days ago which they named "Calamus State
>> Recreation Area" but it was not a hot spot. The GPS coordinates matched
>> "Calamus Reservoir--Gracie Creek trout pond", but the name suggests the
>> entirety of the Calamus Reservoir. I would suspect that this person was
>> not familiar with eBird hotspots.
>>
>> Have a great birding year. Maybe I will see you at the Tri-State
>> Ornithological meeting in South Sioux City May 16-18.
>>
>> God Bless,
>>
>>
>> *Paul O. Roisen*
>> *Woodbury County, IA*
>> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>>
>>
>> On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
>> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>>
>>> As the eBird hotspot editor for Nebraska, I think I can de-hotspot
>>> Calamus Outfitters. That wouldn't eliminate the data associated with the
>>> site; it'd just transform it into a private location, which wouldn't show
>>> up on the hotspot map or for anyone who hadn't already entered a list there.
>>>
>>> Is this something I should do? I'll ask not just Paul, but anyone else
>>> who's done significant amounts of Calamus Reservoir birding. In
>>> particular, does anyone have strong arguments against doing so?
>>>
>>> William Flack
>>> Kearney
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
Date: 5/5/25 5:01 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] white-winged dove frustration
As I sat in the recliner sipping coffee at my house near Valentine, I heard a familiar call. Eventually I considered it was different from a mourning dove (I had just spent the last 3 months in West Texas and white-winged doves were common). I started to move to get a look at the bird, but did not want to disturb the cat on my lap. Then the dove fly across the window and I could catch a glimpse of white in the wings. I then listened to the dove call on the internet - perfect match. I am sure it was a white-winged. At least give me credit for a probable white-winged!
Date: 5/5/25 2:11 am From: Rita Cunha via groups.io <rita23cunha...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
Paul,
I know the person who made this checklist you mention. I was birding with
them, and I have to say, this confusion or conflict is a big reason why
more people don’t use ebird.
For starters, it is not an intuitive app that a beginner will know how to
use “properly” as the developers probably intended. Second, this birding
outing was a traveling one, and the only reason it was logged on eBird at
all was because this person is doing the Nebraska Birding Bowl, which
requires checklists. We started birding at the trout pond, but continued
driving making stops wherever we felt like it.
In my opinion, it is hard enough getting folks who bird recreationally —
folks who may not have much of an interest in the more complex methods of
research — to use eBird at all. The same applies to other community science
apps, like iNaturalist. As someone who lives in rural central Nebraska, I
am often the only one (or part of a handful of people) making observations
in my county (and sometimes surrounding counties). I understand the need
for accurate reporting — but does it not make sense to make the eBird
process simpler and less fiddly? Noticing habitat changes, knowing to stop,
close a checklist, and start up a new one I fear will drive casual users
and casual birders away… and then we won’t have any data, period.
I hope this isn’t coming across the wrong way. I would like to see maybe a
new hotspot for each “big” pullout at Calamus SRA. Bill, do you think this
is a good idea? Maybe:
- Valley View Flats
- Gracie Creek — trout pond
- Hannaman Bayou
- Ash Grove fishing access
- Dry Creek fishing access
- etc
I bird the Calamus very regularly. And i will be sure to start following
these best practices you outlined, Paul. But wanted to share my concerns
and desire in seeing eBird become more user-friendly, beginner-friendly,
and casual birder-friendly in order to be MORE USED.
Thank you for touching on this issue, Paul and Bill.
Rita Cunha
Valley County
On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 9:22 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Bill,
> Thank you for your response on this one, Bill. Calamus Outfitters
> Birding Tours, unfortunately, did a great disservice to eBird and
> ebirders. Hope I did not overstep with my comments, but ran into another
> list out of Calamus a couple of days ago which they named "Calamus State
> Recreation Area" but it was not a hot spot. The GPS coordinates matched
> "Calamus Reservoir--Gracie Creek trout pond", but the name suggests the
> entirety of the Calamus Reservoir. I would suspect that this person was
> not familiar with eBird hotspots.
>
> Have a great birding year. Maybe I will see you at the Tri-State
> Ornithological meeting in South Sioux City May 16-18.
>
> God Bless,
>
>
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>
>
> On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
> <yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
>> As the eBird hotspot editor for Nebraska, I think I can de-hotspot
>> Calamus Outfitters. That wouldn't eliminate the data associated with the
>> site; it'd just transform it into a private location, which wouldn't show
>> up on the hotspot map or for anyone who hadn't already entered a list there.
>>
>> Is this something I should do? I'll ask not just Paul, but anyone else
>> who's done significant amounts of Calamus Reservoir birding. In
>> particular, does anyone have strong arguments against doing so?
>>
>> William Flack
>> Kearney
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Date: 5/4/25 7:22 pm From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
Bill,
Thank you for your response on this one, Bill. Calamus Outfitters
Birding Tours, unfortunately, did a great disservice to eBird and
ebirders. Hope I did not overstep with my comments, but ran into another
list out of Calamus a couple of days ago which they named "Calamus State
Recreation Area" but it was not a hot spot. The GPS coordinates matched
"Calamus Reservoir--Gracie Creek trout pond", but the name suggests the
entirety of the Calamus Reservoir. I would suspect that this person was
not familiar with eBird hotspots.
Have a great birding year. Maybe I will see you at the Tri-State
Ornithological meeting in South Sioux City May 16-18.
God Bless,
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 6:59 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> As the eBird hotspot editor for Nebraska, I think I can de-hotspot Calamus
> Outfitters. That wouldn't eliminate the data associated with the site;
> it'd just transform it into a private location, which wouldn't show up on
> the hotspot map or for anyone who hadn't already entered a list there.
>
> Is this something I should do? I'll ask not just Paul, but anyone else
> who's done significant amounts of Calamus Reservoir birding. In
> particular, does anyone have strong arguments against doing so?
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 5/4/25 6:26 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in Chase County
Pleased to report a sighting of 15 Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks at Imperial this afternoon (May 4).
At about 5 p.m. MDT, I found the birds in the shallow ponds behind (east of) the Frenchman Valley Produce facility at the southeastern edge of Imperial. They were on the far shore, which put them too far away for good photos with my camera; but one doesn't need a terribly good photo to identify a bird that distinctive. My eBird report, with a couple of those sub-excellent photos, is at https://ebird.org/checklist/S233274120.
I'm spending the night in Imperial, so will check the pond again tomorrow morning, and will report whether the birds are still present; but that report probably won't be posted until late afternoon or evening.
Date: 5/4/25 4:59 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
As the eBird hotspot editor for Nebraska, I think I can de-hotspot Calamus Outfitters. That wouldn't eliminate the data associated with the site; it'd just transform it into a private location, which wouldn't show up on the hotspot map or for anyone who hadn't already entered a list there.
Is this something I should do? I'll ask not just Paul, but anyone else who's done significant amounts of Calamus Reservoir birding. In particular, does anyone have strong arguments against doing so?
Date: 5/4/25 12:29 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: [NEBirds] *** Calamus Reservoir*** eBird locations
Good morning Nebraska eBirders. This post is specifically regarding posting to eBird when in the Calamus Reservoir area. A posting listing Calamus Reservoir needs to be specific in nature. Calamus Reservoir covers a lot of territory, many miles of roads, trails, wetlands, forest, open fields, grassland, privately owned locations, campground, a dam, a large fish hatchery, and lots of open water and in some cases considerable human activity. Some areas refer to SRA (State Recreation area), Waterfowl Management Areas (WMA), and reservoir management areas. Additionally, some of it is in Garfield county while most of it is in Loup county.
Garfield County: 12 eBird Hotspots, FIVE of which are directly listed with Calamus in their names. Loup County: 20 eBird Hotspots, 12 of which have Calamus in their names.
eBird was designed to gather scientific data from the public (Citizen Science) to track bird species locations and numbers both during nesting and migration, as well as other metrics. You do not have to be a scientist to be helpful to the gathering of information regarding the avian species. More specifically it is vitally important to properly include a reasonably accurate location where you saw specific species.
That said, Calamus Reservoir is an example of an area where it is extremely important to be as accurate as possible when listing the location. Since there is quite a diversity of habitat in the Calamus Reservoir area there are some things to take into consideration when providing a "location" for your checklist:
1. Use Hotspots (HS) when you are selecting a location IF there is within reasonable proximity (I use the nearest one if it is within 2-3 miles of my location (if using your phone app you can scroll down and find the nearest HS and it will give you an approx distance so you can chose to use a HS or create your own location). I try to not exceed 4-6 miles on any one traveling checklist. **If you go down a road or trail and then cover that same road or trail, (cut your mileage down for any portion you covered twice).
2. If you are going to be traveling around a large lake or reservoir, do NOT use just onlyONE Hotspot for obvious reasons (as you travel, the habitat will and thus bird species will change, so you may wish to consider if you should end one checklist and begin another.
3. Specific to Calamus Reservoir: a. *Please do NOT use Calamus Outfitters (#1 Hotspot-currently 401 species)* which is totally misleading and useless a Hotspot since the property is private, the business is not closed and WORST of all, when they were providing birding tours around the reservoir and other nearby locations, the lists were ALL listed under Calamus Outfitters even if the birds may have been clear at the other end of reservoir and possibly even into Garfield county. b. Similarly, do not start a checklist, HS or your own location) and travel too far before closing that checklist out and beginning a new checklist. c. Keep tabs on your habitat, if the habitat changes too much, start a new checklist OR at least make note of in your "Checklist Comments".
The above reflects the kinds of errors I made often earlier in my eBird days. I was blessed with friends and helpful people who helped me sharpen my birding skills and also my recording of species etc. to eBird skills.
Hope this was helpful. Some of you may consider my suggestions as being "over the top" and this is OK (to each his own) as we say, but little things like this make the research, data gathered, etc. much more scientifically useful.
God Bless. Birding "rocks" and it is good for our souls. *Paul O. Roisen* *Woodbury County, IA* *Mobile 712-301-2817*
Date: 5/2/25 11:28 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] Fw: rock wren now
I should have said the bluebirds using boxes are at Fort Niobrara NWR, not Valentine NWR.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Gordon Warrick <prubinus...>To: NEBirds <nebirds...>Sent: Friday, May 2, 2025, 01:26:38 PM CDTSubject: rock wren now
along the rocky perimeter of my yard just SE of Valentine, Cherry, Co. I get about 1 or two occurrences per year, but I don't have the habitat to hold them for long. WEKI on April 29 seemed kinda early. No EABL around my boxes, but the Valentine refuge boxes have 4 or 5 used out of 13.
Date: 5/2/25 11:26 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] rock wren now
along the rocky perimeter of my yard just SE of Valentine, Cherry, Co. I get about 1 or two occurrences per year, but I don't have the habitat to hold them for long. WEKI on April 29 seemed kinda early. No EABL around my boxes, but the Valentine refuge boxes have 4 or 5 used out of 13.
For anyone going to look for it, It was working the southeast section
between the trail and 1st street. It tended to stay lower in the canopy,
anywhere from 5-20 feet. It was singing quite frequently and hanging out,
oddly enough, with quite a few Clay-colored Sparrows, which made me doubt
what I was hearing! Lots of Swainson's thrushes and a flock of
Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers were also in the area.
Note: the parking area by the arches is currently closed due to
construction.
Date: 4/30/25 3:58 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Black-Throated Green Warbler
Tim,
In your checklist notes you mentioned you found a “good loop”. Can you elaborate based on a location in the park or a trail map?
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhD
Omaha, NE
Date: 4/30/25 3:31 pm From: Tim Houghton via groups.io <timhoughton...> Subject: [NEBirds] Black-Throated Green Warbler
At Hummel Park. Helpful if you know the 2 main songs. Merlin may not pick it up or get it right, unless it's nice and loud, etc. Other nice birds, too. Blackpoll, for instance--and all I can say is good hearing helps, and don't expect merlin to snatch it in most cases. A Palm Warbler. Great-Crested Flycatcher. At least 2 Kentucky Warblers. Scarlet Tanager. Least Flycatcher.
Date: 4/29/25 4:57 pm From: Mary Jo Rome via groups.io <mjrome46...> Subject: [NEBirds] Sora Rail Papillion, NE
Hello, an unexpected Sora Rail was a treat to see today in the little wooded area close to Prairie Queen Lake. Approximately 130th and Pintail. There is a stream that runs through it.
I also enjoyed a Sparrow fallout.
White Crowned Sparrows
White throated Sparrows
Harris Sparrows
Lincoln Sparrows
Clay Colored Sparrows
Song Sparrows
Lark Sparrows
I feel like I am forgetting a few.
Eastern Meadowlarks
Brown Thrashers
Ruby Crowned Kinglets
More complete listing on eBird
Nice to have a sunny day with no wind.
Mary Jo Rome
Date: 4/29/25 11:44 am From: Jerry Toll via groups.io <carolnhattie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] White-Throated Sparrows
We got some also plus 3 warbling videos and a Baltimore oriole Jerry Toll
On Tue, Apr 29, 2025, 1:26 PM Kathleen J Crawford-Rose via groups.io <katcr= <cox.net...> wrote:
> This morning a loud chorus of Poor Sam Peabody alerted me to a small > fall out of White Throated Sparrows in our yard busily searching through > the old leaves. Probablly 20 or more. > Kathleen Crawford-Rose > Bellevue, Sarpy Cnty > >
Date: 4/29/25 11:26 am From: Kathleen J Crawford-Rose via groups.io <katcr...> Subject: [NEBirds] White-Throated Sparrows
This morning a loud chorus of Poor Sam Peabody alerted me to a small fall out of White Throated Sparrows in our yard busily searching through the old leaves. Probablly 20 or more.Kathleen Crawford-RoseBellevue, Sarpy Cnty
I have found that if I do quick check of my list. before if leave a site and make adjustments. Yes I did see more that one Cardinal and two House Sparrows
Happy Birding
Don MaasMaricopa County, 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, April 28, 2025, 11:39 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Thanks, Don. We all have our little quirks and this is a reminder to myself as well to do the best we can without spending excessive time or time we do not have and move forward.
God Bless.Paul O. RoisenWoodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817
On Sun, Apr 27, 2025 at 10:06 AM Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> wrote:
Well said.
I enjoy making an estimate of how many I see.
Another Biasis I discovered is I tend to undercount common species and count uncommon species more accurately
Don Màas
“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 Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:06 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Greeting to everyone from Sioux City, Iowa. The location of a crazy birder who is as far away from the birding locations in IOWA and in NEBRASKA and in SOUTH DAKOTA.
I have recently started seeing a good number of check list from the three states that have ALL the species that the were listed marked as "1". Having ask a number people I know why they have started using only the number 1 for birds seen: the response was that sometimes they could not ever estimate the numbers so they put down a "1". Others told me that X was not very precise and others said it was just easier than county so "1" was the number they put in. Several indicated that X seemed wrong so "1" seemed better.
eBird was established to scientifically record numbers of birds and patterns of migration and many other important details to provide data regarding endangered species. changes in migration and ranges where species are found. That said, eBird has a firm protocol for completing checklists so that the number of birds of each species you list on your checklist have value to researchers. While you are not required to follow protocol it would be very helpful to Cornell/eBird research. If you do not follow protocols your ebird checklist will NOT be of any help to the scientific study!
Protocols: #1 "1" means 1 bird and 2 means two birds etc. #2 If you are unsure about whether you sad 16 or 19 of something, PUT DOWN your best guess such as "18" that is close enough #3 If there were large numbers of the species but you give your best "estimate" as "200" or "5000" or .... reasonable estimates are better than 1 or X #4 X Use the X for large numbers of birds which you do not believe you can make any kind of a reasonable estimate.
The ebird reviewers would very much appreciate your help by using the proper protocols regarding this portion of your checklist.
Checklists that contain all "1's" or all "X's" will show up on your personal list but will not be included for reporting purposes.
We realize that using only "1s" is easier but most people and the ebird review will likely discount your checklist "out of hand".
Thanks.
God Bless you in your birding endeavors.
Paul O. RoisenWoodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817
Date: 4/28/25 11:39 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] eBird Checklist protocols!!!
Thanks, Don. We all have our little quirks and this is a reminder to
myself as well to do the best we can without spending excessive time or
time we do not have and move forward.
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Sun, Apr 27, 2025 at 10:06 AM Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Well said.
>
> I enjoy making an estimate of how many I see.
>
> Another Biasis I discovered is I tend to undercount common species and
> count uncommon species more accurately
>
> Don Màas
>
>
> “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 Maas
> The Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from
> Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
>
> On Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:06 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io
> <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
> Greeting to everyone from Sioux City, Iowa. The location of a crazy
> birder who is as far away from the birding locations in IOWA and in
> NEBRASKA and in SOUTH DAKOTA.
>
> I have recently started seeing a good number of check list from the three
> states that have ALL the species that the were listed marked as "1".
> Having ask a number people I know why they have started using only the
> number 1 for birds seen: the response was that sometimes they could not
> ever estimate the numbers so they put down a "1". Others told me that X
> was not very precise and others said it was just easier than county so "1"
> was the number they put in. Several indicated that X seemed wrong so "1"
> seemed better.
>
> eBird was established to scientifically record numbers of birds and
> patterns of migration and many other important details to provide data
> regarding endangered species. changes in migration and ranges where species
> are found.
> That said, eBird has a firm protocol for completing checklists so that
> the number of birds of each species you list on your checklist have value
> to researchers. While you are not required to follow protocol it would be
> very helpful to Cornell/eBird research.
> If you do not follow protocols your ebird checklist will NOT be of any
> help to the scientific study!
>
> Protocols:
> #1 "1" means 1 bird and 2 means two birds etc.
> #2 If you are unsure about whether you sad 16 or 19 of something,
> PUT DOWN your best guess such as "18" that is close enough
> #3 If there were large numbers of the species but you give your best
> "estimate" as "200" or "5000" or ....
> reasonable estimates are better than 1 or X
> #4 X Use the X for large numbers of birds which you do not believe
> you can make any kind of a reasonable estimate.
>
> The ebird reviewers would very much appreciate *your help* by using the
> proper protocols regarding this portion of your checklist.
>
> Checklists that contain all "1's" or all "X's" will show up on your
> personal list but will not be included for reporting purposes.
>
> We realize that using only "1s" is easier but most people and the ebird
> review will likely discount your checklist "out of hand".
>
> Thanks.
>
> God Bless you in your birding endeavors.
>
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>
>
>
>
View/Reply Online (#42412) | Reply to Group | Reply to Sender | Mute This Topic | New Topic Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [<lists...>] _._,_._,_
Date: 4/28/25 8:19 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo was NOT found this morning. Keegan and I spent an hour and
a half in the area with no luck. First of year Baltimore oriole and Summer
Tanager were our consolation prizes.
Tobin Brown
Lancaster
On Sun, Apr 27, 2025, 12:08 PM Phil Swanson via groups.io <pswanson19=
<cox.net...> wrote:
> Mike Schilmoeller just called me to say that he saw a calling White-eyed
> vireo at the top of Handsome Hollow in Fontenelle Forest.
>
> Phil Swanson
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/28/25 7:49 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Lolawakohtito
Thanks Robin
Don MaasMaricopa County, 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, April 28, 2025, 4:45 AM, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
I met Don and Janis Paseka at Buckley Park in Stromsburg on Sunday, April 27. The weather was foggy and misty at first, then the fog lifted but the sky remained cloudy. There are many trees and bushes in the park, however, there is a good deal of storm damage. We walked around the park for about an hour and 45 minutes. We saw a few first of the year species, including House Wrens, Clay-colored Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Purple Martin, and Warbling Vireo. There were some lingering Harris Sparrows. We saw a Great Horned Owl flying through the park a few different times. The last time we saw the owl, it was being chased by an accipiter.
After lunch, we drove to the highway 66 parking area for the Dark Island Trail south of Central City. The trail starts in Hamilton County and goes into Merrick County. As we were walking north on the Hamilton side, we saw many Yellow-rumped Warblers, mostly males, moving through the trees to the south. As we got closer to the river, we saw many Yellow-rumped Warblers moving north through the trees. Were they the same individuals or not? On our way back through the same part of the trail later in the day, we saw a large group of Yellow-rumped Warblers including many females. We weren’t sure how to estimate the total number. At least thirty, probably forty, maybe more.
Also along our walk on the Dark Island Trail, we saw a Swainson’s Thrush, many Forster’s Terns, a Broad-winged Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow and Orange-crowned Warbler. All of this is on ebird. It was a very pleasant walk.
There was a sign that gave the original name of the Dark Island Trail. It is Lolawakohtito.
The Broad-winged Hawk was the only new county bird for me, bringing my total in Merrick County to 168.
Date: 4/28/25 4:46 am From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Lolawakohtito
Nebraska birders,
I met Don and Janis Paseka at Buckley Park in Stromsburg on Sunday, April
27. The weather was foggy and misty at first, then the fog lifted but the
sky remained cloudy. There are many trees and bushes in the park, however,
there is a good deal of storm damage. We walked around the park for about
an hour and 45 minutes. We saw a few first of the year species, including
House Wrens, Clay-colored Sparrows, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Phoebe, Purple
Martin, and Warbling Vireo. There were some lingering Harris Sparrows. We
saw a Great Horned Owl flying through the park a few different times. The
last time we saw the owl, it was being chased by an accipiter.
After lunch, we drove to the highway 66 parking area for the Dark Island
Trail south of Central City. The trail starts in Hamilton County and goes
into Merrick County. As we were walking north on the Hamilton side, we saw
many Yellow-rumped Warblers, mostly males, moving through the trees to the
south. As we got closer to the river, we saw many Yellow-rumped Warblers
moving north through the trees. Were they the same individuals or not? On
our way back through the same part of the trail later in the day, we saw a
large group of Yellow-rumped Warblers including many females. We weren’t
sure how to estimate the total number. At least thirty, probably forty,
maybe more.
Also along our walk on the Dark Island Trail, we saw a Swainson’s Thrush,
many Forster’s Terns, a Broad-winged Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
White-throated Sparrow and Orange-crowned Warbler. All of this is on
ebird. It was a very pleasant walk.
There was a sign that gave the original name of the Dark Island Trail. It
is Lolawakohtito.
The Broad-winged Hawk was the only new county bird for me, bringing my
total in Merrick County to 168.
Date: 4/27/25 2:08 pm From: dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> Subject: [NEBirds] Search for tricolored blackbird in Pawnee County at Burchard Lake
At Buchard Lake in Pawnee County this afternoon, i saw a dead ringer for a tricolored Blackbird, but I understand how highly unlikely it would be. However, this blackbird had a thin red epaulet above, bordered by a BRIGHT WHITE narrow band below. I only saw the right side of the bird, as it was perched. Is it possible it is a RWBL that is aberrant/leucistic just in the yellow band? I could not have seen the white- below-red-above clearer, but the bird flew as I tried to grab my camera. It was perched in a tree between a small parked tractor and the lake edge (40.1668644,-96.3024057), approximately 35 m from me, and I viewed it with 10x50 Swarovski binoculars. I have isolated the ebird record for review purposes. The bird did not reappear in the time I had available, and I had to move on, but I would LOVE for other birders to search for it. I expect the ebird reviewer will reject it without a photo, and I understand, but I wanted to flag it so someone local can look for it. Odder things have happened. I had a red-flanked bluetail show up in Laramie a half mile from my house several years ago, so anything is possible! Please post if you refind this bird, or if you have any ide3as! Thanks.
Diane T from Laramie, WY
Date: 4/27/25 8:06 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] eBird Checklist protocols!!!
Well said.
I enjoy making an estimate of how many I see.
Another Biasis I discovered is I tend to undercount common species and count uncommon species more accurately
Don Màas
“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 Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:06 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Greeting to everyone from Sioux City, Iowa. The location of a crazy birder who is as far away from the birding locations in IOWA and in NEBRASKA and in SOUTH DAKOTA.
I have recently started seeing a good number of check list from the three states that have ALL the species that the were listed marked as "1". Having ask a number people I know why they have started using only the number 1 for birds seen: the response was that sometimes they could not ever estimate the numbers so they put down a "1". Others told me that X was not very precise and others said it was just easier than county so "1" was the number they put in. Several indicated that X seemed wrong so "1" seemed better.
eBird was established to scientifically record numbers of birds and patterns of migration and many other important details to provide data regarding endangered species. changes in migration and ranges where species are found. That said, eBird has a firm protocol for completing checklists so that the number of birds of each species you list on your checklist have value to researchers. While you are not required to follow protocol it would be very helpful to Cornell/eBird research. If you do not follow protocols your ebird checklist will NOT be of any help to the scientific study!
Protocols: #1 "1" means 1 bird and 2 means two birds etc. #2 If you are unsure about whether you sad 16 or 19 of something, PUT DOWN your best guess such as "18" that is close enough #3 If there were large numbers of the species but you give your best "estimate" as "200" or "5000" or .... reasonable estimates are better than 1 or X #4 X Use the X for large numbers of birds which you do not believe you can make any kind of a reasonable estimate.
The ebird reviewers would very much appreciate your help by using the proper protocols regarding this portion of your checklist.
Checklists that contain all "1's" or all "X's" will show up on your personal list but will not be included for reporting purposes.
We realize that using only "1s" is easier but most people and the ebird review will likely discount your checklist "out of hand".
Thanks.
God Bless you in your birding endeavors.
Paul O. RoisenWoodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817
Date: 4/26/25 1:28 pm From: flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Barn Swallow Omaha
That's is indeed heartbreaking those Barn Swallows returned to your workplace nesting spot, it's telling they still haven't found anything as suitable as atop the surveillance camera.
A similar homeless situation is happening to Louisiana Waterthrushes that return to fewer and fewer streams in much of southeast Neb. with each passing year of this relentless drought that first started drying up our streams and ponds in the latter part of 2022 and is unprecedented in living memory. It's hard to see the idyllic tributaries all dry up completely and watch LOWA dads singing on remaining puddles that won't endure for nestlings without rain. We recently birded Wagon Train SRA south of Lincoln and it was shocking to see it's maybe half the size it was just a few years ago after the big renovation. The inflow streams have all dried up. So our lake habitat might be next to go if this drought continues.
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, 11:02:03 AM CDT, Paul Hubert via groups.io <paulhubert123...> wrote:
FOY Barn Swallow pair just arrived where I work. I have been here 7 years, and for the first 5 years a pair of Barn Swallows built a nest on top of a surveillance camera at the entryway.
But some of the employees complained about the birds diving on them to protect their nest. The boss said to take the camera down. I would have told the employees to use the back door, but I was not consulted.
For the last 2 years, a pair of Barn Swallows has flown up into the cranny where the camera used to be.
It breaks my heart to see them hovering around their old nest site.
Chip Hubert
Omaha
Date: 4/26/25 10:06 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird Checklist protocols!!!
Greeting to everyone from Sioux City, Iowa. The location of a crazy birder who is as far away from the birding locations in IOWA and in NEBRASKA and in SOUTH DAKOTA.
I have recently started seeing a good number of check list from the three states that have ALL the species that the were listed marked as "1". Having ask a number people I know why they have started using only the number 1 for birds seen: the response was that sometimes they could not ever estimate the numbers so they put down a "1". Others told me that X was not very precise and others said it was just easier than county so "1" was the number they put in. Several indicated that X seemed wrong so "1" seemed better.
eBird was established to scientifically record numbers of birds and patterns of migration and many other important details to provide data regarding endangered species. changes in migration and ranges where species are found. That said, eBird has a firm protocol for completing checklists so that the number of birds of each species you list on your checklist have value to researchers. While you are not required to follow protocol it would be very helpful to Cornell/eBird research. If you do not follow protocols your ebird checklist will NOT be of any help to the scientific study!
Protocols: #1 "1" means 1 bird and 2 means two birds etc. #2 If you are unsure about whether you sad 16 or 19 of something, PUT DOWN your best guess such as "18" that is close enough #3 If there were large numbers of the species but you give your best "estimate" as "200" or "5000" or .... reasonable estimates are better than 1 or X #4 X Use the X for large numbers of birds which you do not believe you can make any kind of a reasonable estimate.
The ebird reviewers would very much appreciate *your help* by using the proper protocols regarding this portion of your checklist.
Checklists that contain all "1's" or all "X's" will show up on your personal list but will not be included for reporting purposes.
We realize that using only "1s" is easier but most people and the ebird review will likely discount your checklist "out of hand".
Thanks.
God Bless you in your birding endeavors.
*Paul O. Roisen* *Woodbury County, IA* *Mobile 712-301-2817*
Date: 4/26/25 9:02 am From: Paul Hubert via groups.io <paulhubert123...> Subject: [NEBirds] Barn Swallow Omaha
FOY Barn Swallow pair just arrived where I work. I have been here 7 years, and for the first 5 years a pair of Barn Swallows built a nest on top of a surveillance camera at the entryway.
But some of the employees complained about the birds diving on them to protect their nest. The boss said to take the camera down. I would have told the employees to use the back door, but I was not consulted.
For the last 2 years, a pair of Barn Swallows has flown up into the cranny where the camera used to be.
It breaks my heart to see them hovering around their old nest site.
Chip Hubert
Omaha
Date: 4/24/25 5:18 pm From: Jerry Toll via groups.io <carolnhattie...> Subject: [NEBirds] Douglas and Washington Counties today
After the nice rain last night, I checked some of my close birding areas. I started at N. P. Dodge Park in the marina area. mudflats! 40 willets, 6 semi sandpipers, 1 baird's sandpiper , 3 semi plovers, and 6 Gr. yellowlegs. Hummel Park near the day camp. heard a red-eyed vireo then saw 3 orange-crowned warbler and a ruby-crowned kinglet. Next stopped at Nathan's Lake where there were 5 more willets and 3 Gr. yellowlegs. Continued on to county rd 51 where an ephemeral wetland had 6 wilson's phalaropes and 2 dowitcher sp., likely lessers by their size and slightly marked breasts. At the "T" intersection before the entrance to Boyer Chute, there was a flock of about 100 blackbirds feeding along the road. Most were female redwings but mixed in were about 10 Yellow-headed blackbirds. NOt on ebird.
Date: 4/24/25 9:15 am From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: [NEBirds] Fw: Using eBird to document breeding activity
Below is a post to KSBIRD, the Kansas listserv regarding reporting breeding activity of less common Kansas birds via eBird. I'm posting it here as a reminder to Nebraska eBirders.
I've suggested previously that submissions to eBird that include breeding activity of less common species requiring documentation, ie species flagged by eBird reviewers, use the breeding codes protocol that can be found separately under "details" for each species entered into a checklist. This is a standardized way of tracking breeding activity rather than using the simple "details" notes.
________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas on behalf of Delisle, Jennifer
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2025 10:47 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Using eBird to document breeding activity
Hello birders;
A couple of weeks ago Malcolm Gold posted some recommendations for documenting "Rare" birds in eBird. I would like to add another way to make your eBird posts more useful to the scientific community.
The Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory documents breeding sites for a select group of birds that are either rare in the state or of particular conservation concern. Using the breeding code in eBird is a quick and easy way to document breeding activity for these birds. The list of species we're interested in can be found at
https://www.ksbirds.org/Birds_of_interest_Heritage_Program_2025.pdf
If you observe breeding behavior for one of these species during your birding trips this year, just pop in the breeding code and add a few notes about what you saw.
If you don't use eBird you can just send me an email at <jdelisle...><mailto:<jdelisle...>.
We appreciate your help!
Jennifer
Jennifer M. Delisle, Information Manager
Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory
Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research
Takeru Higuchi Bldg., 2101 Constant Ave.
Lawrence, KS 66047
785-864-1538
Date: 4/23/25 8:49 am From: Dppeaslee via groups.io <Dppeaslee...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Wagon Train Whimbrel?
Thank you Tobin,
Reviewing both long billed curlew and whimbrel in sibly guide, I believe the bird i documented as Long billed curlew was a whimbrel. I am basing this primarily on the initial in flight viewing field marks I observed which were the most memorable for me and noted afterward. These notes were that in the group of reddish cinnamon colored godwits, there was one bird that was brown. It had a long downward curved bill. I did not note a size difference from the godwits (marbled based on consistent cinnamon coloring visible under wings and across back). When landed and viewed through scope vs binoculars, I noted that the large bird with down curved bill with a group of godwits did appear taller than the godwits. But not significantly larger.
From others with documented pictures there was definitely a long billed curlew around and maybe it was also there at the same time but it would have been significantly larger than godwits and with similar color to marbled godwits which does not fit my notes as described above. I would still be interested to hear from someone else on this who was viewing these birds at the same time. Fun new learning experience on this for me.
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I hoping to get some info on the whimbrel and long billed curlew seen at wagon train lake this last week.
On the morning of the 18th, having been unsuccessful at finding the curlew seen in the previous couple of days, a group of godwits flew in. Flying back and forth across the lake. I spied one bird in that group with a drooping bill and i thought a more brown appearance. At this point i was already certain that bird was the curlew. I believe this was around 8:15-8:20 am.
The birds landed at the north end of the lake mud flat after another flyby. Another birder who had also been about to leave prior to the new group of large birds flying in, had a large scope set up at the west picnic area. After scoping the bird with the long down curved bill. He let me view through the scope. I still thought this bird was a long billed curlew but only very briefly looked through the scope. There were two other birders arriving and setting up scopes at this same time.
With the recent addition of a whimbrel posted from a checklist by Jenny Jo Johnson from that same time I am concerned that I have mis ID’d a whimbrel for a curlew. If that is the case, I am going to blame that on excitement and haste ( I was late to be back across Lincoln). Regardless I am hoping to hear back from the two birders who had arrived as I was leaving and hopefully spent more time on a ID of the bird in question. Thank you all,
Date: 4/21/25 6:22 pm From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: [NEBirds] Whimbrel update
I spent almost 2 full hours here But unfortunately, the Whimbrel Was not
seen. I did have Alots of birds as the evening wore on. Great late
afternoon and evening. Heading home.
I’m not saying the Whimbrel is not here. I’m simply saying he didn’t
come out to play with me just for those who are thinking about coming down
tomorrow maybe.
God Bless
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
Date: 4/21/25 10:05 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Mostly Blaine County
Thanks for your report. Really enjoy you reports
Off topic. I have Bewick Wrens nesting on my porch in Choctaw, OK and I checked out My nesting Bald Eagles 🦅 in Tempe. No birds of note along the Salt River last night but did pick up Javelins. Gone Wild Burrro’s Saturday at Lake Pleasant.
Don MaasMaricopa County, 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, April 20, 2025, 3:27 PM, William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
Fellow NEBirders—Yesterday, April 19, Robin Harding and I spent most of the day birding Blaine County, with stops in Buffalo and Custer counties on the way there. The day couldn't have been nicer: mostly clear, temperatures in the 40s and 50s, with only gentle breezes. We were targeting diving ducks, and were disappointed there; however, other birds more than compensated for our failure to get them. We began with a quick stop at the Kearney dam to look for the Rock Wren that Eugene Huryn et al. had reported the previous day. No luck with that, and nothing unusual to report there. On the way north, we stopped at Victoria Springs in northern Custer County. No surprises there, but we had a nice look at a colorful Myrtle Warbler—the eastern form of Yellow-rumped Warbler—in full alternate plumage, showing its bright white throat. That's the first Yellow-rump I've seen in Nebraska this year. Our first Blaine County stop was at Milburn Dam, where we drove part of the way to the dam, scoped the pool above it, and then walked downstream to the end of the property. The dam was open and the pool seemed rather low: in particular, there was lots of dry mudflat showing in the shallow marsh east of the dam. We found something like 20 Greater Yellowlegs, a handful of Lessers, and some Killdeer. Waterfowl were scarce: 2 Canadas, 2 Blue-winged Teal, and 7 Green-wings, with none of the divers that we'd hoped to add to our county lists. There were about 70 American White Pelicans on two separate bars above the dam. Some of them took to the air and circled overhead, where they were joined by a single light goose. Robin was able to identify it as a Snow, but I, with weaker eyes or a stronger conscience, had to call it a spuh. That was a new county bird for Robin, as was a Red-bellied Woodpecker that we heard calling. Not ornithological but enjoyable was a mink working its way along the edge of the cattails. We hit the North Loup crossing at Brewster, but found nothing remarkable. We then drove east on North Loup Road, which runs more or less parallel to and north of Hwy 91. We stopped at the first North Loup River crossing, about two miles east of Brewster. There's an extensive marsh on either side of the river at that point. As we looked and listened there, we heard a short stretch of what sounded like they might be Virginia Rail's "kiddick" calls. We continued to listen, but they weren't repeated; so Robin got out her phone and started playing Virginia calls, beginning with "kiddicks". She hadn't yet played the grunting-series call when the live bird anticipated it, uttering one series of grunts and then clamming up again. We didn't play any more calls: the series that we'd heard was sufficient to identify the rail, and we didn't want to pester it unnecessarily. That was a new Blaine County bird for both of us. North Loup Road T-junctions into Pleasant Valley Road, which we took south over another river crossing and down to Hwy 91. Along Pleasant Valley, we found cattle with two or three blackbirds on the ground around their feet, which blackbirds turned out to be male Brewer's. We initially took them for cowbirds, but then saw the light eyes; we decided they were Brewer's rather than Rusty because they seemed quite glossy, but also in no small part because of the dry dusty habitat—if there were Rusties around, they should've been in those nice wet marshes by the river. That was another new county bird for Robin. Upon getting back to Hwy 91, we ran west toward Dunning. The small private pond on the north side of the road between mileposts 9 and 10 was low and diminished, dashing our hopes for diving ducks there. We stopped for lunch at the gas station in Dunning. As we arrived, we saw a female Great-tailed Grackle walking around by the gas pumps. That was a new county bird for both of us. After lunch, the Dunning cemetery yielded nothing of great interest, despite what looked like it might be nice sparrow habitat along the railroad tracks. We then ran west to Halsey and thence north to Purdum, where we hoped we might find Rock Pigeon for Robin's county list. No luck there—only Eurasian Collared-Doves, and not many of those. We took county roads east and then south from Purdum; not far east of that town, we passed a corrugated-metal grain bin with a conical top, on which several dozen Yellow-headed Blackbirds were perched. It was almost like a Christmas tree, with all those bright yellow heads in the sunlight on that shiny metal top. Nothing else of particular interest along that road, including two more crossings of the North Loup. Upon reaching Hwy 91 again, we headed back to Dunning and thence homeward to Kearney and Shelton. Robin got five new Blaine County birds out of the trip—Snow Goose, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Virginia Rail, Brewer's Blackbird, and Great-tailed Grackle; her new total for the county is 139 species. The rail and the grackle were new for me, bringing my total up to 143. For birders working Blaine County, we'd recommend the stretch of North Loup Road east of Brewster, and in particular the marshy area around the first river crossing. There're also some ponds along that stretch of road that might yield waterfowl of interest. Everything in this account has been or will soon be reported on eBird. William Flack
Kearney
Date: 4/21/25 6:40 am From: Thomas Labedz via groups.io <telabedz...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Planning a Dakotas Prairie Pothole Visit
Rita
In 2012 I was privileged to work on birds the last half of June at the
Clark Salyer NWR in northcentral North Dakota. It is a huge refuge with all
sorts of habitats, from short-grass prairie with longspurs to deep marshes
with diving ducks. And many other potholes are nearby. We recorded 134
species of birds. Also, Salyer is near the Turtle Mountains with entirely
different habitat, dense forests. We stayed on the refuge, but you could
stay in Bottineau, Towner, Rugby, or even Minot.
Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 10:10 PM Rita Cunha via groups.io <rita23cunha=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hey all. With summer right around the corner, I'm looking for birding
> recommendations in the Dakotas. I know the region is part of the Prairie
> Potholes ("Duck Factory of America") — so *where should I go* to watch
> waterfowl, shorebirds, and grassland birds? I do not know the area, so
> specific directions/instructions/recommendations are much appreciated!
>
> The plan is to visit Wind Cave NP and Theodore Roosevelt NP sometime in
> early- to mid-June.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Rita
> Valley County
>
>
>
Date: 4/21/25 5:52 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Planning a Dakotas Prairie Pothole Visit
I don't know much about North Dakota but I have birded through the Badlands and the Black Hills before!
Badlands National Park is amazing if you're going through that way. I would recommend taking Rim Road and Sage Creek Road. There are tons of burrowing owls on Rim road <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/620260053> by the prairie dog town and other grassland birds just north of the park on Sage Creek, like Upland Sandpiper. Violet-green swallows are all over the ridge, and there's always a chance for Prairie Falcon. Definitely a park I will be visiting again.
It's on the other side of the Black Hills from Wind Caves, but Roughlock Falls just south of Spearfish is a great spot. I had American Dipper, Western Flycatcher, MacGillivray's Warbler and others in that area last June. Not exactly grassland, but still cool birds. I suspect Wind Caves NP will have a similar selection of birds.
Here are the trip reports from the 2 times I was up there last year (including a bit of Nebraska birding along the way). On the second trip I went up through the Oglala National Grassland: lots of gravel roads, but excellent shortgrass habitat.
Date: 4/20/25 8:11 pm From: Rita Cunha via groups.io <rita23cunha...> Subject: [NEBirds] Planning a Dakotas Prairie Pothole Visit
Hey all. With summer right around the corner, I'm looking for birding recommendations in the Dakotas. I know the region is part of the Prairie Potholes ("Duck Factory of America") — so *where should I go* to watch waterfowl, shorebirds, and grassland birds? I do not know the area, so specific directions/instructions/recommendations are much appreciated!
The plan is to visit Wind Cave NP and Theodore Roosevelt NP sometime in early- to mid-June.
Date: 4/20/25 3:27 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Mostly Blaine County
Fellow NEBirders—
Yesterday, April 19, Robin Harding and I spent most of the day birding Blaine County, with stops in Buffalo and Custer counties on the way there. The day couldn't have been nicer: mostly clear, temperatures in the 40s and 50s, with only gentle breezes. We were targeting diving ducks, and were disappointed there; however, other birds more than compensated for our failure to get them.
We began with a quick stop at the Kearney dam to look for the Rock Wren that Eugene Huryn et al. had reported the previous day. No luck with that, and nothing unusual to report there.
On the way north, we stopped at Victoria Springs in northern Custer County. No surprises there, but we had a nice look at a colorful Myrtle Warbler—the eastern form of Yellow-rumped Warbler—in full alternate plumage, showing its bright white throat. That's the first Yellow-rump I've seen in Nebraska this year.
Our first Blaine County stop was at Milburn Dam, where we drove part of the way to the dam, scoped the pool above it, and then walked downstream to the end of the property. The dam was open and the pool seemed rather low: in particular, there was lots of dry mudflat showing in the shallow marsh east of the dam. We found something like 20 Greater Yellowlegs, a handful of Lessers, and some Killdeer. Waterfowl were scarce: 2 Canadas, 2 Blue-winged Teal, and 7 Green-wings, with none of the divers that we'd hoped to add to our county lists. There were about 70 American White Pelicans on two separate bars above the dam. Some of them took to the air and circled overhead, where they were joined by a single light goose. Robin was able to identify it as a Snow, but I, with weaker eyes or a stronger conscience, had to call it a spuh. That was a new county bird for Robin, as was a Red-bellied Woodpecker that we heard calling. Not ornithological but enjoyable was a mink working its way along the edge of the cattails.
We hit the North Loup crossing at Brewster, but found nothing remarkable. We then drove east on North Loup Road, which runs more or less parallel to and north of Hwy 91. We stopped at the first North Loup River crossing, about two miles east of Brewster. There's an extensive marsh on either side of the river at that point. As we looked and listened there, we heard a short stretch of what sounded like they might be Virginia Rail's "kiddick" calls. We continued to listen, but they weren't repeated; so Robin got out her phone and started playing Virginia calls, beginning with "kiddicks". She hadn't yet played the grunting-series call when the live bird anticipated it, uttering one series of grunts and then clamming up again. We didn't play any more calls: the series that we'd heard was sufficient to identify the rail, and we didn't want to pester it unnecessarily. That was a new Blaine County bird for both of us.
North Loup Road T-junctions into Pleasant Valley Road, which we took south over another river crossing and down to Hwy 91. Along Pleasant Valley, we found cattle with two or three blackbirds on the ground around their feet, which blackbirds turned out to be male Brewer's. We initially took them for cowbirds, but then saw the light eyes; we decided they were Brewer's rather than Rusty because they seemed quite glossy, but also in no small part because of the dry dusty habitat—if there were Rusties around, they should've been in those nice wet marshes by the river. That was another new county bird for Robin.
Upon getting back to Hwy 91, we ran west toward Dunning. The small private pond on the north side of the road between mileposts 9 and 10 was low and diminished, dashing our hopes for diving ducks there.
We stopped for lunch at the gas station in Dunning. As we arrived, we saw a female Great-tailed Grackle walking around by the gas pumps. That was a new county bird for both of us.
After lunch, the Dunning cemetery yielded nothing of great interest, despite what looked like it might be nice sparrow habitat along the railroad tracks. We then ran west to Halsey and thence north to Purdum, where we hoped we might find Rock Pigeon for Robin's county list. No luck there—only Eurasian Collared-Doves, and not many of those.
We took county roads east and then south from Purdum; not far east of that town, we passed a corrugated-metal grain bin with a conical top, on which several dozen Yellow-headed Blackbirds were perched. It was almost like a Christmas tree, with all those bright yellow heads in the sunlight on that shiny metal top. Nothing else of particular interest along that road, including two more crossings of the North Loup. Upon reaching Hwy 91 again, we headed back to Dunning and thence homeward to Kearney and Shelton.
Robin got five new Blaine County birds out of the trip—Snow Goose, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Virginia Rail, Brewer's Blackbird, and Great-tailed Grackle; her new total for the county is 139 species. The rail and the grackle were new for me, bringing my total up to 143.
For birders working Blaine County, we'd recommend the stretch of North Loup Road east of Brewster, and in particular the marshy area around the first river crossing. There're also some ponds along that stretch of road that might yield waterfowl of interest.
Everything in this account has been or will soon be reported on eBird.
Date: 4/20/25 12:14 pm From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Nebraska
Thank you, Tobin.
I know that the Fish Crows have been seen and heard along the Platte
awhile back (several years). They are nesting along Saylorville Lake
(north of Des Moines, IA.). They used to be seen regularly on the
Mississippi, south of Davenport, IA (many years ago.)
I have been super busy with non-birding activities so I did not wish to
"chase" a bird posted by someone I am not familiar with, especially based
on vocalization only.
Anyway, thanks for responding. I really appreciate it.
BTW how is April going with your Big Year effort?
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Paul,
>
> I went down later that same day with no luck. Mark Brogie and Caleb Strand
> also made an attempt the next day to no avail.
>
> It's definitely plausible a Fish Crow was in the area with the strong
> south winds the day before, but I suspect the strong south winds took it
> back.
>
> Tobin Brown
> Lancaster county
>
> On Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 1:58 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> I have a question about the eBird posting (see below from eBird checklist
>> by Don Merz).
>>
>> Has anyone followed up on this. Would be a State bird but would like a
>> little more info on this. Has it been looked for, does it seem to be a an
>> unusual bird for only a "voice" ID
>>
>> God Bless.
>> *Paul O. Roisen*
>> *Woodbury County, IA*
>> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: <ebird-alert...>
>> Date: Fri, Apr 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
>> Subject: [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Nebraska <hourly>
>> To: <roisenp1950...>
>>
>>
>> *** Species Summary:
>>
>> Fish Crow (1 Richardson)
>>
>> ---------------------------------------------
>> Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Needs Alert for Nebraska. The
>> report below shows observations of species you have not seen in Nebraska,
>> based on your eBird observations. View or unsubscribe to this alert at
>> https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN10373 >> NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
>>
>> eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully.
>> Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and
>> respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information
>> visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully >>
>> Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) (1)
>> - Reported Apr 18, 2025 09:55 by Don Merz
>> - Richardson County Listing, Nebraska, US, Richardson, Nebraska
>> - Map:
>> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-95.5958603&<ll...>,-95.5958603 >> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S226650557 >> - Comments: "Heard the distinct nasal call. South of Falls City east side
>> of bridge over the Big Nemaha River"
>>
>> ***********
>>
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Needs
>> Alert for Nebraska
>>
>> Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
>> https://ebird.org/alerts >>
>> eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare
>> species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs
>> Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed
>> observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or
>> inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every
>> eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more
>> information, see our Terms of Use:
>> https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/ >>
>
>
>
Date: 4/20/25 12:02 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Nebraska
Paul,
I went down later that same day with no luck. Mark Brogie and Caleb Strand
also made an attempt the next day to no avail.
It's definitely plausible a Fish Crow was in the area with the strong south
winds the day before, but I suspect the strong south winds took it back.
Tobin Brown
Lancaster county
On Sun, Apr 20, 2025, 1:58 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I have a question about the eBird posting (see below from eBird checklist
> by Don Merz).
>
> Has anyone followed up on this. Would be a State bird but would like a
> little more info on this. Has it been looked for, does it seem to be a an
> unusual bird for only a "voice" ID
>
> God Bless.
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: <ebird-alert...>
> Date: Fri, Apr 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
> Subject: [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Nebraska <hourly>
> To: <roisenp1950...>
>
>
> *** Species Summary:
>
> Fish Crow (1 Richardson)
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Needs Alert for Nebraska. The
> report below shows observations of species you have not seen in Nebraska,
> based on your eBird observations. View or unsubscribe to this alert at
> https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN10373 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
>
> eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully.
> Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and
> respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information
> visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully >
> Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) (1)
> - Reported Apr 18, 2025 09:55 by Don Merz
> - Richardson County Listing, Nebraska, US, Richardson, Nebraska
> - Map:
> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-95.5958603&<ll...>,-95.5958603 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S226650557 > - Comments: "Heard the distinct nasal call. South of Falls City east side
> of bridge over the Big Nemaha River"
>
> ***********
>
> You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Needs
> Alert for Nebraska
>
> Manage your eBird alert subscriptions:
> https://ebird.org/alerts >
> eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare
> species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs
> Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed
> observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or
> inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every
> eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more
> information, see our Terms of Use:
> https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/ >
>
Date: 4/20/25 11:58 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: [NEBirds] [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Nebraska
I have a question about the eBird posting (see below from eBird checklist
by Don Merz).
Has anyone followed up on this. Would be a State bird but would like a
little more info on this. Has it been looked for, does it seem to be a an
unusual bird for only a "voice" ID
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <ebird-alert...>
Date: Fri, Apr 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Subject: [eBird Alert] Needs Alert for Nebraska <hourly>
To: <roisenp1950...>
*** Species Summary:
Fish Crow (1 Richardson)
---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the <hourly> Needs Alert for Nebraska. The
report below shows observations of species you have not seen in Nebraska,
based on your eBird observations. View or unsubscribe to this alert at
https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN10373 NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully.
Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and
respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information
visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully
eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare
species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs
Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed
observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or
inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every
eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more
information, see our Terms of Use:
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/
Date: 4/19/25 4:16 pm From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] Hooded Warbler at Towl Park Omaha
Zach McMullen found the earliest spring Hooded Warbler yesterday at Towl Park in Omaha=Douglas Co. Several of us were looking this morning and didnt find it, until Zach showed up and refound it. West of main sidewalk working mainly the slope from the old Martin house north to the creek where we last saw it around 11am or so. Others are on the way to look for it at 1pm.
Please join the Nebraska Birding Discord server or up to date info and real-time updates! (It's fun and easy!)
Date: 4/16/25 11:56 am From: Steve McIlree via groups.io <steve...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] White-winged Dove, Lincoln
Every time I see a report of a White-winged Dove here, it reminds me just how different the birds common here are from those back there. Yesterday evening I was looking at a White-winged Dove sitting about 3 feet in front of me while I filled the horses water trough. We seem to have a great variety of doves here. I commonly see in the yard Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, Inca Doves, White-winged Doves, Common Ground Doves, and of course Pigeons.
-- Steve McIlree Owner NEBirds Organ, New Mexico
The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. - Arabian proverb
On Wed, Apr 16, 2025, 09:03 Thomas Labedz via groups.io <telabedz= <gmail.com...> wrote:
> This morning (16 April 2025, 7:50 a.m.) I was able to finally locate the > white-winged dove which has been repeatedly reported on ebird in south > Lincoln, Lancaster County. Location was near S. 36th Street and San Mateo > Lane, approximately 150 yards north of San Mateo on the Tierra/Williamsburg > Trail. It was vocalizing. I think it might be my number 286 for Lancaster > County. > Good luck. > Thomas Labedz, Lincoln > >
Date: 4/16/25 8:04 am From: Thomas Labedz via groups.io <telabedz...> Subject: [NEBirds] White-winged Dove, Lincoln
This morning (16 April 2025, 7:50 a.m.) I was able to finally locate the white-winged dove which has been repeatedly reported on ebird in south Lincoln, Lancaster County. Location was near S. 36th Street and San Mateo Lane, approximately 150 yards north of San Mateo on the Tierra/Williamsburg Trail. It was vocalizing. I think it might be my number 286 for Lancaster County. Good luck. Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
Date: 4/15/25 3:31 pm From: Theresa Pella via groups.io <pella_t...> Subject: [NEBirds] State of the Birds Report for the U.S.
The 2025 North American Bird Conservation Initiative, which includes work with National Audubon Society and other conservation groups (listed on the last page) was recently released. The link below will take you to a short summary for different ecosystems, many found in Nebraska. One takeaway message for me is the importance of entering data into EBird and the use of Motus towers and other data gathering systems.
Date: 4/15/25 8:58 am From: Colleen Childers via groups.io <cchilders64...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Kramper Lake Migrants
Nice migrants!
On Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM William Huser via groups.io <billfhuser=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> *Monday, Apr. 14, 2025*
> *Kramper Lake, Dakota County, NE HIGHLIGHTS*
>
> *Long-tailed Duck, 1 * FOY Molting from basic to alternate plumage.
> White-faced Ibis, 10 FOY
> *Glossy Ibis, 1 *With WFIB for direct comparison, Dark facial skin and
> eye, blue-white line above facial skin not extending behind eye. FOY
> Forster's Tern, 1 FOY
> *California Gull, 1 2nd cycle* FOY Gray back contrasting with
> gray/brown wing coverts and tertials, white head, light bill with dark tip,
> white tail with black terminal band, black primaries. Larger than adjacent
> Ring-billed Gull with larger bill.
>
> Jerry Probst, South Sioux City, NE
> Bill Huser, South Sioux City, NE
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/14/25 3:54 pm From: Neal Ratzlaff via groups.io <nratzlaff28...> Subject: [NEBirds] Birds at 255th & Pflug Rd
This afternoon there were 28 American Avocets
and 3 Ibis (one was definitely White-faced - couldn't
get a good look at the other two) on the small peninsula
in the pond on the west side of Pflug Road.
Date: 4/14/25 11:58 am From: William Huser via groups.io <billfhuser...> Subject: [NEBirds] Kramper Lake Migrants
*Monday, Apr. 14, 2025* *Kramper Lake, Dakota County, NE HIGHLIGHTS*
*Long-tailed Duck, 1 * FOY Molting from basic to alternate plumage. White-faced Ibis, 10 FOY *Glossy Ibis, 1 *With WFIB for direct comparison, Dark facial skin and eye, blue-white line above facial skin not extending behind eye. FOY Forster's Tern, 1 FOY *California Gull, 1 2nd cycle* FOY Gray back contrasting with gray/brown wing coverts and tertials, white head, light bill with dark tip, white tail with black terminal band, black primaries. Larger than adjacent Ring-billed Gull with larger bill.
Jerry Probst, South Sioux City, NE Bill Huser, South Sioux City, NE
Date: 4/13/25 7:02 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Phelps County
Nebraska birders,
My good friend, Paul Dunbar, called me on Friday (April 11) to tell me what
he had just seen at Funk WPA (Phelps County). He saw Avocets, Black-necked
Stilts, a Bonapart’s Gull and many ducks. Steve Morris and I were planning
on going birding this weekend. We changed our destination with hopes of
finding these birds.
At Funk WPA, the Fish and Wildlife Service is pumping water into a part of
the marsh north and west of the 736 and V Road intersection. The weather
was cool but a strong north wind made it feel cold. Steve and I saw many
ducks, maybe a thousand total. Nothing unusual though. Our lists will be
on ebird soon.
At one point, while at Funk WPA, I thought I heard a Willet but wasn’t sure
until we saw a large shorebird the right size and shape standing in
belly-high water with its back to us. We watched it for several minutes.
It moved a little but it did not show us its wing pattern. We felt
certain, however, that’s what it was. We could not find the avocets,
stilts nor the Bonapart’s Gull. We did see a Vesper Sparrow, Savannah
Sparrows, an immature Bald Eagle and an accipiter that was probably a
Cooper’s.
We drove down to Sacramento/Wilcox WMA (Phelps County) to see what we could
find. We stayed in the car for the most part because it was so damn
windy. Highlights include Vesper Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Field
Sparrow, Harris Sparrow, Northern Harriers, and another accipiter. Steve
got a quick but convincing look at a Mockingbird hiding in thick bushes.
We drove through Atlanta WPA (Phelps County) without finding much. We
tried to spot a Burrowing Owl in the Prairie Dog town but could not. We
went back to Funk WPA and added a flock of thirty cormorants to our lists.
Our last stop was at Bassway Strip (Buffalo County), where we saw Baird’s
Sandpipers, a Lesser Yellowlegs and Cody McGregor. It’s always a pleasure
bumping into a fellow birder while you’re out looking.
Date: 4/13/25 11:23 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Louisiana Waterthrush pair at Platte River SP
We saw a pair today, one singing and another calling from the creek about 100 yards north of the parking lot to the falls. I was worried the trail/culvert construction would hinder them, but they moved just a little further up the creek from where I had them last year.
Date: 4/12/25 5:25 pm From: Rick Wright via groups.io <birdaz...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Harrier and harried
From Funk Lagoon three springs ago:
A big adult Peregrine Falcon, almost certainly a female, passed
into our field of view, flying low and slow over the water and struggling
under the
obvious burden of its breakfast. The breakfast itself, of course, was
struggling even
2
more. The peregrine was almost to shore when the teal managed to shake
itself free
and fall into the water, where it flailed and floundered for a moment. The
falcon circled
back—but too late, it seemed, as an adult female Northern Harrier slipped
in to hover
awkwardly over the moribund duck, reaching its long, slender feet into the
water again
and again, only to drop the bird each time it proved too heavy to recover.
All the while,
the peregrine circled low over the drama, watching but not interfering with
the harrier’s
efforts. Finally, seeing its chance, the falcon slipped in beneath the
harrier and plucked
the sodden and now apparently dead duck from the water. It landed on the
mud of the
shore, where it plucked and ate daintily from the prey that had caused so
much trouble.
Kleptoparasitism—food theft—is not unusual among raptors, but this episode
was the
first any of us had seen involving a peregrine and a harrier; its novelty
was only
reinforced by the fact that the entire incident took place over open water
and that it was
the harrier that attempted to take
advantage of the peregrine’s difficulties
rather than the other way around. What
may sound on paper like a mere
“interesting observation” had us on the
edge of our seats for minutes, in
suspense about which of the big and
agile raptors would prevail. I have seen
dramatic sights in 45 years of birding,
but few have made me catch my breath
the way this encounter did.
Le peuple, un jour désabusé, se réjouira d’être délivré d'un tyran.
On Sat, Apr 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM Bill Kaempfer via groups.io
<William.Kaempfer...> wrote:
> I've read that coot are a favorite prey, but I've never seen a harrier
> take one.
>
> Bill Kaempfer
> Safety Harbor, FL
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of William Flack
> via groups.io <sparvophile...>
> *Sent:* Saturday, April 12, 2025 8:15 PM
> *To:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* [NEBirds] Harrier and harried
>
> [External email - use caution]
>
> This morning (April 12), I birded the sewage ponds at Grant (Perkins
> County). Lots of waterfowl on the ponds, and shorebirds starting to show
> up: among others, American Avocet (also saw some at Rock Creek Reservoir
> yesterday) and Wilson's Snipe (also seen at Imperial today).
>
> As I watched the ponds, a Northern Harrier flew in. It spent some time
> over the ponds, seeming to follow the shoreline at times, generally at a
> height that I'd estimate in the 10–20-foot range. The ducks, both on the
> ponds and on the shore, didn't seem bothered by the presence of the
> harrier. I saw one Northern Shoveler hop from the bank into the water as
> the harrier flew over, but otherwise, even the small Green-winged Teal
> didn't appear to respond to it.
>
> Shorebirds, however, seemed to react. I'd seen six avocet swimming
> placidly on the water, and they took to the air. Two snipe, which I hadn't
> seen before they flew, also headed skyward; and five unidentified
> yellowlegs, also not previously seen, circled over the pond, calling.
>
> The "Birds of the World" account for Northern Harrier notes "Can capture
> swimming rails", so it's apparently not out of the question for them to
> pick prey off the water. Later, it says "In the breeding season, females
> may capture heavier prey than males, including virtually all large,
> nonpasserine bird prey", which latter might perhaps include waterfowl. I
> think that my bird was in immature plumage, though I culpably failed to
> make a note of that, so can't be sure. It wasn't a gray-and-white adult
> male, though.
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
>
>
Date: 4/12/25 5:22 pm From: Bill Kaempfer via groups.io <William.Kaempfer...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Harrier and harried
I've read that coot are a favorite prey, but I've never seen a harrier take one.
Bill Kaempfer
Safety Harbor, FL
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...>
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2025 8:15 PM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Harrier and harried
[External email - use caution]
This morning (April 12), I birded the sewage ponds at Grant (Perkins County). Lots of waterfowl on the ponds, and shorebirds starting to show up: among others, American Avocet (also saw some at Rock Creek Reservoir yesterday) and Wilson's Snipe (also seen at Imperial today).
As I watched the ponds, a Northern Harrier flew in. It spent some time over the ponds, seeming to follow the shoreline at times, generally at a height that I'd estimate in the 1020-foot range. The ducks, both on the ponds and on the shore, didn't seem bothered by the presence of the harrier. I saw one Northern Shoveler hop from the bank into the water as the harrier flew over, but otherwise, even the small Green-winged Teal didn't appear to respond to it.
Shorebirds, however, seemed to react. I'd seen six avocet swimming placidly on the water, and they took to the air. Two snipe, which I hadn't seen before they flew, also headed skyward; and five unidentified yellowlegs, also not previously seen, circled over the pond, calling.
The "Birds of the World" account for Northern Harrier notes "Can capture swimming rails", so it's apparently not out of the question for them to pick prey off the water. Later, it says "In the breeding season, females may capture heavier prey than males, including virtually all large, nonpasserine bird prey", which latter might perhaps include waterfowl. I think that my bird was in immature plumage, though I culpably failed to make a note of that, so can't be sure. It wasn't a gray-and-white adult male, though.
Date: 4/12/25 5:15 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Harrier and harried
This morning (April 12), I birded the sewage ponds at Grant (Perkins County). Lots of waterfowl on the ponds, and shorebirds starting to show up: among others, American Avocet (also saw some at Rock Creek Reservoir yesterday) and Wilson's Snipe (also seen at Imperial today).
As I watched the ponds, a Northern Harrier flew in. It spent some time over the ponds, seeming to follow the shoreline at times, generally at a height that I'd estimate in the 10–20-foot range. The ducks, both on the ponds and on the shore, didn't seem bothered by the presence of the harrier. I saw one Northern Shoveler hop from the bank into the water as the harrier flew over, but otherwise, even the small Green-winged Teal didn't appear to respond to it.
Shorebirds, however, seemed to react. I'd seen six avocet swimming placidly on the water, and they took to the air. Two snipe, which I hadn't seen before they flew, also headed skyward; and five unidentified yellowlegs, also not previously seen, circled over the pond, calling.
The "Birds of the World" account for Northern Harrier notes "Can capture swimming rails", so it's apparently not out of the question for them to pick prey off the water. Later, it says "In the breeding season, females may capture heavier prey than males, including virtually all large, nonpasserine bird prey", which latter might perhaps include waterfowl. I think that my bird was in immature plumage, though I culpably failed to make a note of that, so can't be sure. It wasn't a gray-and-white adult male, though.
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Thanks for sharing.
Really enjoyed you and Robin’s reports.
Off subject.
On Tuesday Shirley had a successful corena transplant. Was able to show my visiting daughter a nesting pair of Bald Eagle 🦅 in Temple.
Don MaasNE Birding in 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 Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 9:49 PM, Jon Strong via groups.io <jon.strong...> wrote:
Hi Bill, excellent report from you and Robin. Hope you are both doing well.Jon S.Omaha
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 10:53:56 PM CDT, William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
Robin Harding and I spent Sunday, April 6, birding in Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, Fillmore, and Clay counties. We had a pleasant day for it; in particular, we had only light breezes the whole day. Robin needed Greater Prairie-Chicken for her Webster County list, so we set off well before dawn, arriving at Willa Cather Memorial Prairie, south of Red Cloud on the Kansas line, not long after sunrise. As soon as we got out of the car, we heard booming off to the west. We couldn't see birds from the parking lot, so we walked westward, crossing the small dam and getting to the property's western edge. Along the way, we saw four prairie-chickens in flight; three of them landed in a tree. However, they apparently weren't coming from the lek, since we continued to hear booming far off to the west. Even from the property's western edge, we couldn't see the lekking birds. The addition of GRPC brought Robin's Webster County list up to 164 species. At the prairie, we also heard both Eastern and Western Meadowlark singing. We stopped at the Red Cloud sewage ponds, where our sightings included five Ruddy Ducks and an Eared Grebe. The grebe had its head tucked, so we had a hard time making out the head pattern, and couldn't see the foreneck; but we saw enough of the wispy yellow auriculars to identify it as Eared. A stop at the crossing of Pawnee Lake, west of Guide Rock, didn't yield any surprises. In Nuckolls County, a pond on the north side of county road D between 3100 and 3200 gave us a decent collection of waterfowl, and a Greater Yellowlegs. The latter has us hoping that we'll see more shorebirds soon. We had an early lunch in Superior, arriving at the buffet minutes before the after-church crowd arrived and filled up the place. We then ran up to the tree dump and sewage ponds in Nelson. On the way there, we saw several Purple Martins at a place in town with a martin house. The sewage ponds were dry, but we had several Dark-eyed Juncos, a Lincoln's Sparrow, and an adult-plumage Red-headed Woodpecker at the tree dump. We've seen the woodpeckers at the park in Nelson in the winter, so this might've been one of those birds rather than a recent arrival. On to Thayer County! We found a couple of nice birding spots in Deshler that we hadn't known about. At the western edge of town, south of the highway, is a shallow-looking pond called Gabby's Pond. We found a Greater Yellowlegs there, and two Harris's Sparrows at a feeder in a nearby yard. The yellowlegs was a new addition to my Thayer list, bringing it up to 164 species. About a mile east of Deshler are the tree dump and the sewage ponds. The ponds are gated, but they're not behind a berm; the westernmost of the three is clearly visible from the tree dump, and the middle pond can also be seen, albeit poorly. Thayer County doesn't offer a lot of accessible places to look for waterfowl, especially divers, so this could be a good site to check. I've entered Gabby's Pond and the sewage ponds as eBird hotspots. We hit an abandoned-looking sandpit along Hwy 136 east of Hebron, then the Gilead sewage ponds. After that, we turned north into Fillmore County. As we drove northward toward Lone Star RA, we found a Loggerhead Shrike and a Cooper's Hawk; these were both new birds for my Fillmore list. We spent some time scoping the lake at Lone Star. There're lots of dead trees standing in the water of the lake, making for excellent Tree Swallow habitat; and Tree Swallows had arrived and were taking advantage of it—I counted 13 at one point. At the water's edge at and just above the dam, we saw Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, and two or three American Pipit. The last of those was a new county bird for both of us. Robin's Fillmore list is now up to 166 species; mine, with three new birds, is at 157. Bruning Dam was a little disappointing. The last time I'd been there, there'd been lots of waterfowl at the upper end. The numbers were considerably reduced this time; mostly, Green-winged Teal. With the day drawing close to its end, we had enough time to hit the Harvard sewage ponds. No surprises there: lots of Northern Shovelers, with a scattering of Canada Geese, Wood Duck, and Blue-winged Teal. We ended our birding there and headed back west. We arrived at our respective homes thoroughly tuckered out from the long day of birding, but pleased with the birds we'd seen, particularly our new county birds and the new spring arrivals. William FlackKearney
Hi Bill, excellent report from you and Robin. Hope you are both doing well.Jon S.Omaha
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 10:53:56 PM CDT, William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
Robin Harding and I spent Sunday, April 6, birding in Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, Fillmore, and Clay counties. We had a pleasant day for it; in particular, we had only light breezes the whole day. Robin needed Greater Prairie-Chicken for her Webster County list, so we set off well before dawn, arriving at Willa Cather Memorial Prairie, south of Red Cloud on the Kansas line, not long after sunrise. As soon as we got out of the car, we heard booming off to the west. We couldn't see birds from the parking lot, so we walked westward, crossing the small dam and getting to the property's western edge. Along the way, we saw four prairie-chickens in flight; three of them landed in a tree. However, they apparently weren't coming from the lek, since we continued to hear booming far off to the west. Even from the property's western edge, we couldn't see the lekking birds. The addition of GRPC brought Robin's Webster County list up to 164 species. At the prairie, we also heard both Eastern and Western Meadowlark singing. We stopped at the Red Cloud sewage ponds, where our sightings included five Ruddy Ducks and an Eared Grebe. The grebe had its head tucked, so we had a hard time making out the head pattern, and couldn't see the foreneck; but we saw enough of the wispy yellow auriculars to identify it as Eared. A stop at the crossing of Pawnee Lake, west of Guide Rock, didn't yield any surprises. In Nuckolls County, a pond on the north side of county road D between 3100 and 3200 gave us a decent collection of waterfowl, and a Greater Yellowlegs. The latter has us hoping that we'll see more shorebirds soon. We had an early lunch in Superior, arriving at the buffet minutes before the after-church crowd arrived and filled up the place. We then ran up to the tree dump and sewage ponds in Nelson. On the way there, we saw several Purple Martins at a place in town with a martin house. The sewage ponds were dry, but we had several Dark-eyed Juncos, a Lincoln's Sparrow, and an adult-plumage Red-headed Woodpecker at the tree dump. We've seen the woodpeckers at the park in Nelson in the winter, so this might've been one of those birds rather than a recent arrival. On to Thayer County! We found a couple of nice birding spots in Deshler that we hadn't known about. At the western edge of town, south of the highway, is a shallow-looking pond called Gabby's Pond. We found a Greater Yellowlegs there, and two Harris's Sparrows at a feeder in a nearby yard. The yellowlegs was a new addition to my Thayer list, bringing it up to 164 species. About a mile east of Deshler are the tree dump and the sewage ponds. The ponds are gated, but they're not behind a berm; the westernmost of the three is clearly visible from the tree dump, and the middle pond can also be seen, albeit poorly. Thayer County doesn't offer a lot of accessible places to look for waterfowl, especially divers, so this could be a good site to check. I've entered Gabby's Pond and the sewage ponds as eBird hotspots. We hit an abandoned-looking sandpit along Hwy 136 east of Hebron, then the Gilead sewage ponds. After that, we turned north into Fillmore County. As we drove northward toward Lone Star RA, we found a Loggerhead Shrike and a Cooper's Hawk; these were both new birds for my Fillmore list. We spent some time scoping the lake at Lone Star. There're lots of dead trees standing in the water of the lake, making for excellent Tree Swallow habitat; and Tree Swallows had arrived and were taking advantage of it—I counted 13 at one point. At the water's edge at and just above the dam, we saw Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, and two or three American Pipit. The last of those was a new county bird for both of us. Robin's Fillmore list is now up to 166 species; mine, with three new birds, is at 157. Bruning Dam was a little disappointing. The last time I'd been there, there'd been lots of waterfowl at the upper end. The numbers were considerably reduced this time; mostly, Green-winged Teal. With the day drawing close to its end, we had enough time to hit the Harvard sewage ponds. No surprises there: lots of Northern Shovelers, with a scattering of Canada Geese, Wood Duck, and Blue-winged Teal. We ended our birding there and headed back west. We arrived at our respective homes thoroughly tuckered out from the long day of birding, but pleased with the birds we'd seen, particularly our new county birds and the new spring arrivals. William FlackKearney
Robin Harding and I spent Sunday, April 6, birding in Webster, Nuckolls, Thayer, Fillmore, and Clay counties. We had a pleasant day for it; in particular, we had only light breezes the whole day.
Robin needed Greater Prairie-Chicken for her Webster County list, so we set off well before dawn, arriving at Willa Cather Memorial Prairie, south of Red Cloud on the Kansas line, not long after sunrise. As soon as we got out of the car, we heard booming off to the west. We couldn't see birds from the parking lot, so we walked westward, crossing the small dam and getting to the property's western edge. Along the way, we saw four prairie-chickens in flight; three of them landed in a tree. However, they apparently weren't coming from the lek, since we continued to hear booming far off to the west. Even from the property's western edge, we couldn't see the lekking birds. The addition of GRPC brought Robin's Webster County list up to 164 species. At the prairie, we also heard both Eastern and Western Meadowlark singing.
We stopped at the Red Cloud sewage ponds, where our sightings included five Ruddy Ducks and an Eared Grebe. The grebe had its head tucked, so we had a hard time making out the head pattern, and couldn't see the foreneck; but we saw enough of the wispy yellow auriculars to identify it as Eared.
A stop at the crossing of Pawnee Lake, west of Guide Rock, didn't yield any surprises. In Nuckolls County, a pond on the north side of county road D between 3100 and 3200 gave us a decent collection of waterfowl, and a Greater Yellowlegs. The latter has us hoping that we'll see more shorebirds soon.
We had an early lunch in Superior, arriving at the buffet minutes before the after-church crowd arrived and filled up the place. We then ran up to the tree dump and sewage ponds in Nelson. On the way there, we saw several Purple Martins at a place in town with a martin house. The sewage ponds were dry, but we had several Dark-eyed Juncos, a Lincoln's Sparrow, and an adult-plumage Red-headed Woodpecker at the tree dump. We've seen the woodpeckers at the park in Nelson in the winter, so this might've been one of those birds rather than a recent arrival.
On to Thayer County! We found a couple of nice birding spots in Deshler that we hadn't known about. At the western edge of town, south of the highway, is a shallow-looking pond called Gabby's Pond. We found a Greater Yellowlegs there, and two Harris's Sparrows at a feeder in a nearby yard. The yellowlegs was a new addition to my Thayer list, bringing it up to 164 species.
About a mile east of Deshler are the tree dump and the sewage ponds. The ponds are gated, but they're not behind a berm; the westernmost of the three is clearly visible from the tree dump, and the middle pond can also be seen, albeit poorly. Thayer County doesn't offer a lot of accessible places to look for waterfowl, especially divers, so this could be a good site to check. I've entered Gabby's Pond and the sewage ponds as eBird hotspots.
We hit an abandoned-looking sandpit along Hwy 136 east of Hebron, then the Gilead sewage ponds. After that, we turned north into Fillmore County. As we drove northward toward Lone Star RA, we found a Loggerhead Shrike and a Cooper's Hawk; these were both new birds for my Fillmore list.
We spent some time scoping the lake at Lone Star. There're lots of dead trees standing in the water of the lake, making for excellent Tree Swallow habitat; and Tree Swallows had arrived and were taking advantage of it—I counted 13 at one point. At the water's edge at and just above the dam, we saw Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, and two or three American Pipit. The last of those was a new county bird for both of us. Robin's Fillmore list is now up to 166 species; mine, with three new birds, is at 157.
Bruning Dam was a little disappointing. The last time I'd been there, there'd been lots of waterfowl at the upper end. The numbers were considerably reduced this time; mostly, Green-winged Teal.
With the day drawing close to its end, we had enough time to hit the Harvard sewage ponds. No surprises there: lots of Northern Shovelers, with a scattering of Canada Geese, Wood Duck, and Blue-winged Teal.
We ended our birding there and headed back west. We arrived at our respective homes thoroughly tuckered out from the long day of birding, but pleased with the birds we'd seen, particularly our new county birds and the new spring arrivals.
Date: 4/9/25 6:19 am From: Thomas Labedz via groups.io <telabedz...> Subject: [NEBirds] Lost parrot
I am attaching a photograph sent to me yesterday of what appears to be a dead parrot (Amazon sp.) that was found near Kooser Elementary School in north Lincoln, Lancaster County. If any bird watchers know of anyone in the area searching for such a lost pet, unfortunately, they need search no longer. Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
