It not the bird 🦅 it’s the experience.
It’s why I bird not for just the tick mark.
Don MaasMesa, AZMaricopa County
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Monday, December 15, 2025, 4:28 PM, Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> wrote:
I didn’t even bring it. Partner had one.
The hawk … was most likely Swainson’s. But not 100% sure.
Matt Shurtliff
<mmscornhusker...>
On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM greg hartel via groups.io <gregjhartel...> wrote:
Where was your camera?
On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> wrote:
I had the incredible thrill of having my 300th Nebraska birdbe the Crested caracara. I think many of us like listing, and memorableexperiences, and good birding partners, and milestones. I had all of that tiedtogether in this one sighting.
So ... Tobin hooks me up with the Discord chat to follow thelatest on the Caracara. I can't go until Saturday work wise. In the chat Em islooking to hitchhike along if anyone is passing through Lancaster County. So,we connect. We agree if there's a sighting Friday it's on. There is, so I pickEm up at 6 am in Lincoln.
The conversation along the drive was wide, varied, and epic.I'll just tell you, Em does a great Richard Burton from Who's Afraid ofVirginia Woolf.
It's getting icy on this drive. There's a time where we'reconsidering bailing. At a gas station we talk to a group of farmers on theirmorning "solve the world's problems" coffee meeting. I ask about theroads. One assured me the route would be ok. I took that as a sign. :)
Eventually we get to Keith County, cross the dam, and headdown 92. At 20 miles out, we lock in. No more wide and variedconversation. All we're talking about is how we find this bird. We havethe "your eyes on the road, mine on the birds" conversation.
We get lucky. We see the bird immediately. But ... it'sflying about 300 yards away, just in front of the beige building on the NWcorner of 92 and 207. We get a 20-ish second view as it crosses 92 to theNorth, with trees impeding view.
So, there we sit, and ID a silhouette of a large flying raptorwhere we can't see the famous face/head characteristics. We can see a flash of light/darkcolor, and we can see wing shape, wing style, tail angle, and flight characteristics.We start ruling out possibles. Buteos were out. Bald eagle - out. Thelast DQ was Harrier. We asked each other if we were certain, and we agreed.
You wouldn't know this about me, but the thing Ienjoy the most is what I call "good birding" - when you need to go deep into your toollbox to ID a bird. You don't have the visual you need for thefull set of field marks. You don't have vocalization. You have things likesilhouette, posture, wing appearance, etc. I'm not as good as many here in that process, but it's my favorite thing about birding.
So, I got Nebraska #300, collaborating with a fine youngbirder who's going to become better than me if they haven't already, by ID-ingmy favorite way. The only way it could be better is if JRR Tolkien and TomOsborne were with us. I don't know if Em caught this or not, but I had tearswell up at the whole thing.
Less than 5 minutes after we agree, there's a flash fromEbird, Mark Brogie reported it. So we get the Appeal to Authority :).
Em is on the phone telling their mother, who is justlearning birding, and is chasing a Prothonotary warbler in California atthe same time. I told Em to tell their mother that their partner says that theyare a great birder.
We try and relocate the CC. We eventually end up with a30-minute spotting scope view about 200 yards out in the same field, as it toreapart and ate a Canada goose. You could see blood on the goose'sfeather, and pieces of flesh. That's how good the scope view was. The bestpicture we have is old school digiscoping - Em shooting a phone picture throughthe scope eyepiece. That's in the checklist.
Em later shares that picture to the Discord chat. With acaption that says "A digiscopic observation of rapid caracarogenicmetamorphosis in Branta canadensis." We worked on thata bit on the drive home. Em provided "rapid." I served up"caracara-induced," then Em improved it. You get the idea.
Other cool things happened. In addition to 300, we sawKestrel, Merlin, and Prairie falcon. So, we're in the club of those who havehad a Nebraska 4-falcon day without a Peregrine. Em wanted to see a Townsend'ssolitaire while we were there. Tobin recommended Lake Ogallala, and I went straight toa tree grove where I'd seen one years before. Tick. At the Caracara field, a Merlinblasted over a mass of Starlings on the ground, causing Starling Mayhem. It wasjust that kind of day.
And ... a mysterious Buteo that flew directly overhead at 20feet. We watched through binoculars as it approached, flew straight over our heads, andflew away. Neither of us had a camera. We couldn't tell what it was. And wetried hard, went through Sibleys. We left it at the genus level on the checklist.
There's even more to the story, but that's probably enough.
Date: 12/15/25 3:28 pm From: Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] My Nebraska #300 experience - Caracara road trip (long)
I didn’t even bring it. Partner had one.
The hawk … was most likely Swainson’s. But not 100% sure.
Matt Shurtliff
<mmscornhusker...>
On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM greg hartel via groups.io <gregjhartel=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Where was your camera?
>
> On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM Matt Shurtliff via groups.io
> <mmscornhusker...> wrote:
>
>> Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288423016 >>
>> I had the incredible thrill of having my 300th Nebraska bird be the
>> Crested caracara. I think many of us like listing, and memorable
>> experiences, and good birding partners, and milestones. I had all of that
>> tied together in this one sighting.
>>
>> So ... Tobin hooks me up with the Discord chat to follow the latest on
>> the Caracara. I can't go until Saturday work wise. In the chat Em is
>> looking to hitchhike along if anyone is passing through Lancaster County.
>> So, we connect. We agree if there's a sighting Friday it's on. There is, so
>> I pick Em up at 6 am in Lincoln.
>>
>> The conversation along the drive was wide, varied, and epic. I'll just
>> tell you, Em does a great Richard Burton from Who's Afraid of Virginia
>> Woolf.
>>
>> It's getting icy on this drive. There's a time where we're considering
>> bailing. At a gas station we talk to a group of farmers on their morning
>> "solve the world's problems" coffee meeting. I ask about the roads. One
>> assured me the route would be ok. I took that as a sign. :)
>>
>> Eventually we get to Keith County, cross the dam, and head down 92. At 20
>> miles out, we lock in. No more wide and varied conversation. All we're
>> talking about is how we find this bird. We have the "your eyes on the road,
>> mine on the birds" conversation.
>>
>> We get lucky. We see the bird immediately. But ... it's flying about 300
>> yards away, just in front of the beige building on the NW corner of 92 and
>> 207. We get a 20-ish second view as it crosses 92 to the North, with trees
>> impeding view.
>>
>> So, there we sit, and ID a silhouette of a large flying raptor where we
>> can't see the famous face/head characteristics. We can see a flash of
>> light/dark color, and we can see wing shape, wing style, tail angle, and
>> flight characteristics. We start ruling out possibles. Buteos were out.
>> Bald eagle - out. The last DQ was Harrier. We asked each other if we were
>> certain, and we agreed.
>>
>> You wouldn't know this about me, but the thing I enjoy the most is what I
>> call "good birding" - when you need to go deep into your toollbox to ID a
>> bird. You don't have the visual you need for the full set of field marks.
>> You don't have vocalization. You have things like silhouette, posture, wing
>> appearance, etc. I'm not as good as many here in that process, but it's
>> my favorite thing about birding.
>>
>> So, I got Nebraska #300, collaborating with a fine young birder who's
>> going to become better than me if they haven't already, by ID-ing my
>> favorite way. The only way it could be better is if JRR Tolkien and Tom
>> Osborne were with us. I don't know if Em caught this or not, but I had
>> tears well up at the whole thing.
>>
>> Less than 5 minutes after we agree, there's a flash from Ebird, Mark
>> Brogie reported it. So we get the Appeal to Authority :).
>>
>> Em is on the phone telling their mother, who is just learning birding,
>> and is chasing a Prothonotary warbler in California at the same time. I
>> told Em to tell their mother that their partner says that they are a
>> great birder.
>>
>> We try and relocate the CC. We eventually end up with a 30-minute
>> spotting scope view about 200 yards out in the same field, as it tore apart
>> and ate a Canada goose. You could see blood on the goose's feather, and
>> pieces of flesh. That's how good the scope view was. The best picture we
>> have is old school digiscoping - Em shooting a phone picture through the
>> scope eyepiece. That's in the checklist.
>>
>> Em later shares that picture to the Discord chat. With a caption that
>> says "A digiscopic observation of rapid caracarogenic metamorphosis in *Branta
>> canadensis*." We worked on that a bit on the drive home. Em provided
>> "rapid." I served up "caracara-induced," then Em improved it. You get the
>> idea.
>>
>> Other cool things happened. In addition to 300, we saw Kestrel, Merlin,
>> and Prairie falcon. So, we're in the club of those who have had a Nebraska
>> 4-falcon day without a Peregrine. Em wanted to see a Townsend's
>> solitaire while we were there. Tobin recommended Lake Ogallala, and I went
>> straight to a tree grove where I'd seen one years before. Tick. At the
>> Caracara field, a Merlin blasted over a mass of Starlings on the ground,
>> causing Starling Mayhem. It was just that kind of day.
>>
>> And ... a mysterious Buteo that flew directly overhead at 20 feet. We
>> watched through binoculars as it approached, flew straight over our heads,
>> and flew away. Neither of us had a camera. We couldn't tell what it was.
>> And we tried hard, went through Sibleys. We left it at the genus level on
>> the checklist.
>>
>> There's even more to the story, but that's probably enough.
>>
>> --
>> Matt Shurtliff
>> Sarpy County
>> <mmscornhusker...>
>>
>>
>
>
On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 12:56 PM Matt Shurtliff via groups.io
<mmscornhusker...> wrote:
> Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S288423016 >
> I had the incredible thrill of having my 300th Nebraska bird be the
> Crested caracara. I think many of us like listing, and memorable
> experiences, and good birding partners, and milestones. I had all of that
> tied together in this one sighting.
>
> So ... Tobin hooks me up with the Discord chat to follow the latest on the
> Caracara. I can't go until Saturday work wise. In the chat Em is looking to
> hitchhike along if anyone is passing through Lancaster County. So, we
> connect. We agree if there's a sighting Friday it's on. There is, so I pick
> Em up at 6 am in Lincoln.
>
> The conversation along the drive was wide, varied, and epic. I'll just
> tell you, Em does a great Richard Burton from Who's Afraid of Virginia
> Woolf.
>
> It's getting icy on this drive. There's a time where we're considering
> bailing. At a gas station we talk to a group of farmers on their morning
> "solve the world's problems" coffee meeting. I ask about the roads. One
> assured me the route would be ok. I took that as a sign. :)
>
> Eventually we get to Keith County, cross the dam, and head down 92. At 20
> miles out, we lock in. No more wide and varied conversation. All we're
> talking about is how we find this bird. We have the "your eyes on the road,
> mine on the birds" conversation.
>
> We get lucky. We see the bird immediately. But ... it's flying about 300
> yards away, just in front of the beige building on the NW corner of 92 and
> 207. We get a 20-ish second view as it crosses 92 to the North, with trees
> impeding view.
>
> So, there we sit, and ID a silhouette of a large flying raptor where we
> can't see the famous face/head characteristics. We can see a flash of
> light/dark color, and we can see wing shape, wing style, tail angle, and
> flight characteristics. We start ruling out possibles. Buteos were out.
> Bald eagle - out. The last DQ was Harrier. We asked each other if we were
> certain, and we agreed.
>
> You wouldn't know this about me, but the thing I enjoy the most is what I
> call "good birding" - when you need to go deep into your toollbox to ID a
> bird. You don't have the visual you need for the full set of field marks.
> You don't have vocalization. You have things like silhouette, posture, wing
> appearance, etc. I'm not as good as many here in that process, but it's
> my favorite thing about birding.
>
> So, I got Nebraska #300, collaborating with a fine young birder who's
> going to become better than me if they haven't already, by ID-ing my
> favorite way. The only way it could be better is if JRR Tolkien and Tom
> Osborne were with us. I don't know if Em caught this or not, but I had
> tears well up at the whole thing.
>
> Less than 5 minutes after we agree, there's a flash from Ebird, Mark
> Brogie reported it. So we get the Appeal to Authority :).
>
> Em is on the phone telling their mother, who is just learning birding, and
> is chasing a Prothonotary warbler in California at the same time. I told Em
> to tell their mother that their partner says that they are a great birder.
>
>
> We try and relocate the CC. We eventually end up with a 30-minute spotting
> scope view about 200 yards out in the same field, as it tore apart and ate
> a Canada goose. You could see blood on the goose's feather, and pieces of
> flesh. That's how good the scope view was. The best picture we have is old
> school digiscoping - Em shooting a phone picture through the scope
> eyepiece. That's in the checklist.
>
> Em later shares that picture to the Discord chat. With a caption that says
> "A digiscopic observation of rapid caracarogenic metamorphosis in *Branta
> canadensis*." We worked on that a bit on the drive home. Em provided
> "rapid." I served up "caracara-induced," then Em improved it. You get the
> idea.
>
> Other cool things happened. In addition to 300, we saw Kestrel, Merlin,
> and Prairie falcon. So, we're in the club of those who have had a Nebraska
> 4-falcon day without a Peregrine. Em wanted to see a Townsend's solitaire
> while we were there. Tobin recommended Lake Ogallala, and I went straight
> to a tree grove where I'd seen one years before. Tick. At the Caracara
> field, a Merlin blasted over a mass of Starlings on the ground, causing
> Starling Mayhem. It was just that kind of day.
>
> And ... a mysterious Buteo that flew directly overhead at 20 feet. We
> watched through binoculars as it approached, flew straight over our heads,
> and flew away. Neither of us had a camera. We couldn't tell what it was.
> And we tried hard, went through Sibleys. We left it at the genus level on
> the checklist.
>
> There's even more to the story, but that's probably enough.
>
> --
> Matt Shurtliff
> Sarpy County
> <mmscornhusker...>
>
>
>
Date: 12/15/25 1:29 pm From: Gubanyi,Joe via groups.io <Joe.Gubanyi...> Subject: [NEBirds] Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC preliminary results
The Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC which was held yesterday, Sunday, December 14. I have heard from most of the observers but still need to hear from a few more field observers and feeder watchers. In spite of the cold weather (it was 0 degrees F when we started), we had a reasonably good day. We are currently at 78 species for the count which would rank 5th in the 32-year history of the count. Some highlights are listed below.
Gray catbird – only the second time observed
11 trumpeter swans – only the 6th time observed
Swamp sparrow – only the 6th time observed
American white pelican - 8th time observed
Hermit thrush – 11th time observed
American coot – 13th time observed
Lapland longspurs – 14th time observed
Red-headed Woodpecker – one reported after last year’s record 15
Townsend’s solitaire – even though it has been seen on 20 previous counts, it is always a surprise to see it on the count; interestingly, most of the time they have been found in the same area in the northwest of Garland
Joe Gubanyi
I had the incredible thrill of having my 300th Nebraska bird be the Crested caracara. I think many of us like listing, and memorable experiences, and good birding partners, and milestones. I had all of that tied together in this one sighting.
So ... Tobin hooks me up with the Discord chat to follow the latest on the Caracara. I can't go until Saturday work wise. In the chat Em is looking to hitchhike along if anyone is passing through Lancaster County. So, we connect. We agree if there's a sighting Friday it's on. There is, so I pick Em up at 6 am in Lincoln.
The conversation along the drive was wide, varied, and epic. I'll just tell you, Em does a great Richard Burton from Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
It's getting icy on this drive. There's a time where we're considering bailing. At a gas station we talk to a group of farmers on their morning "solve the world's problems" coffee meeting. I ask about the roads. One assured me the route would be ok. I took that as a sign. :)
Eventually we get to Keith County, cross the dam, and head down 92. At 20 miles out, we lock in. No more wide and varied conversation. All we're talking about is how we find this bird. We have the "your eyes on the road, mine on the birds" conversation.
We get lucky. We see the bird immediately. But ... it's flying about 300 yards away, just in front of the beige building on the NW corner of 92 and 207. We get a 20-ish second view as it crosses 92 to the North, with trees impeding view.
So, there we sit, and ID a silhouette of a large flying raptor where we can't see the famous face/head characteristics. We can see a flash of light/dark color, and we can see wing shape, wing style, tail angle, and flight characteristics. We start ruling out possibles. Buteos were out. Bald eagle - out. The last DQ was Harrier. We asked each other if we were certain, and we agreed.
You wouldn't know this about me, but the thing I enjoy the most is what I call "good birding" - when you need to go deep into your toollbox to ID a bird. You don't have the visual you need for the full set of field marks. You don't have vocalization. You have things like silhouette, posture, wing appearance, etc. I'm not as good as many here in that process, but it's my favorite thing about birding.
So, I got Nebraska #300, collaborating with a fine young birder who's going to become better than me if they haven't already, by ID-ing my favorite way. The only way it could be better is if JRR Tolkien and Tom Osborne were with us. I don't know if Em caught this or not, but I had tears well up at the whole thing.
Less than 5 minutes after we agree, there's a flash from Ebird, Mark Brogie reported it. So we get the Appeal to Authority :).
Em is on the phone telling their mother, who is just learning birding, and is chasing a Prothonotary warbler in California at the same time. I told Em to tell their mother that their partner says that they are a great birder.
We try and relocate the CC. We eventually end up with a 30-minute spotting scope view about 200 yards out in the same field, as it tore apart and ate a Canada goose. You could see blood on the goose's feather, and pieces of flesh. That's how good the scope view was. The best picture we have is old school digiscoping - Em shooting a phone picture through the scope eyepiece. That's in the checklist.
Em later shares that picture to the Discord chat. With a caption that says "A digiscopic observation of rapid caracarogenic metamorphosis in *Branta canadensis*." We worked on that a bit on the drive home. Em provided "rapid." I served up "caracara-induced," then Em improved it. You get the idea.
Other cool things happened. In addition to 300, we saw Kestrel, Merlin, and Prairie falcon. So, we're in the club of those who have had a Nebraska 4-falcon day without a Peregrine. Em wanted to see a Townsend's solitaire while we were there. Tobin recommended Lake Ogallala, and I went straight to a tree grove where I'd seen one years before. Tick. At the Caracara field, a Merlin blasted over a mass of Starlings on the ground, causing Starling Mayhem. It was just that kind of day.
And ... a mysterious Buteo that flew directly overhead at 20 feet. We watched through binoculars as it approached, flew straight over our heads, and flew away. Neither of us had a camera. We couldn't tell what it was. And we tried hard, went through Sibleys. We left it at the genus level on the checklist.
There's even more to the story, but that's probably enough.
Date: 12/11/25 6:01 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Bill Flack
NEBirders,
Our good friend, Bill Flack, has suffered a great loss. His mother, Mary Ann, passed away at the age of 93. Here is the link to the obituary that Bill and his sister, Julia, wrote:
Date: 12/9/25 8:41 am From: Esa Jarvi via groups.io <esajarvibirding...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Scope for sale
I will be posting this on line in a week as it really gets no use. Selling to someone locally would be simpler, for me. If interested, I can get to some place like in a mall in Lincoln or in Omaha at the REI outlet parking lot to do the sale. I can do Paypal there. Once a again...email to esajarvi-at-hotmail dot com. Thanks.
Date: 12/9/25 6:28 am From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Caracara chat ... best source?
Matt,
I recommend joining Discord. From Keegan Brown,
Nebraska Birders,
As many of you have probably heard, Tobin and I have started a Discord server
to facilitate communication between birders. We introduced the server to
those who attended the Fall NOU Meeting and I wanted to make sure that
information goes out to this group as well!
For those of you not familiar with Discord, it is an online messaging
platform that has some great features for communities. Overall, it is very
customizable which has allowed us to create channels for birding
discussions, photo/audio sharing, rare bird alerts, and more! If you would
like to join, please see the information below.
*Getting Discord Setup*
Discord is available on mobile or desktop.
Once you have it downloaded, be sure to create an account. This will
require a phone number or email address.
*Joining the Nebraska Birding Discord Server*
The following link will allow you to join the server: https://discord .gg/HZYfv7fRu6
This link will open the application, and display the invite for the server
(example below). After a quick questionnaire and agreeing to the rules,
you'll have access to the server! We ask that you use at least a first name
so everyone knows who you are. If you would like to add you home
county/counties, that can be helpful as well. For example, my display name
is "Keegan | Douglas/Sarpy".
*Customizing Your Roles*Once you are in the server, you can change your
roles at any time by following the steps shown below. Most of these roles
are just informational, but the rare bird related roles do grant access to
specific rare bird alert channels.
*Customizing Notifications*
You can also customize notifications by channel to decide which
notifications you want to receive. For example, you might want
notifications for #rba-nebraska, but not #bird-media. This can be done by
following the steps shown below.
*Discord Help*
Once you are in the Discord Server, there is also a #discord-help channel
with some tips and tricks for those new to the platform. Additionally, feel
free to reach out to Tobin or me with any questions! I am not sure how the
screenshots will look embedded in the email so I will also attach our
presentation slides from the NOU meeting. Hope to see you all on Discord
soon!
Happy Birding!
On Tue, Dec 9, 2025, 8:14 AM Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I can't get away until Friday at earliest - what's the best way to plug
> into current sightings? Here or somewhere else? Or some chat?
>
>
> --
> Matt Shurtliff
> <mmscornhusker...>
>
>
Date: 12/9/25 6:19 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Caracara chat ... best source?
Hi Matt,
I tagged you in the thread on discord
On Tue, Dec 9, 2025 at 8:14 AM Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I can't get away until Friday at earliest - what's the best way to plug
> into current sightings? Here or somewhere else? Or some chat?
>
>
> --
> Matt Shurtliff
> <mmscornhusker...>
>
>
>
Date: 12/8/25 7:50 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Crested Caracara
Thanks Robin.
I’ve been following the Grested Caracara sagaIn NE here in AZ.
Added Fulvous Whistling Duck to my AZ list Saturday. Same saga here. Brought Biirds out of the woodwork.
Don MaasMesa,AZMaricopa County
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Sunday, December 7, 2025, 10:13 PM, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Thanks for posting, Robin. We were all totally blessed with so many people seeing the Crested Caracara and also the Mexican Duck. What a beautiful day it was to be out birding. Very excited that you ran into Glenda. She generally birds Grant county and it was awesome that she showed up for this great bird. Especially pleased to see the number of birders out and communicating back and forth passing on information on these to special birds both yesterday and today.
Way to go NE birders.
God Bless.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
Call me DAMN lucky. I don’t usually chase rare birds, especially long distances. I just couldn’t resist this time. I drove from Shelton to the west end of Lake McConaughy on Sunday, December 07 to look for the Crested Caracara. When I arrived at Road 207 and highway 92, I saw a Jeep parked on the road and a gal walking. This looked like a good place to start.
I didn’t recognize the gal at first but soon realized that we had met at the NOU meeting in Ogallala just a few months ago. She and her husband ranch in Grant County. Glenda had seen the Caracara fly over more than an hour before but didn’t get a good look. We scanned the sky and the fields. We drove south across the railroad tracks. We saw Bald Eagles, swans, geese, ducks, Rock Pigeons and blackbirds.
We walked back to the railroad tracks and saw a dark blob out in the mowed field to the east of the road and north of the tracks. I’m not really good at estimating distances but the blob appeared to be about 1/3 of a mile away. With our binoculars, we could see a bird with a dark brown back and white tail. It looked like it was eating carrion. When it lifted its head, we saw its black cap and white neck. I ran back to the car to get the scope, thinking all the way that the bird would certainly fly away before I got back.
As luck would have it, the bird stayed, continuing to eat the carrion. With the scope, we could positively identify the bird as the Crested Caracara. Its legs were long and yellow. Its beak was bluish-gray and large. Its face was pink. The white on its neck went all the way up to the bottom of its cap. The white blended in with the brown on its back and belly. We watched it for almost thirty minutes. I went back to the car to get my phone and send an email. Glenda watched the bird and then started an ebird list on her phone. When she looked up again, the bird was gone. Which way did it go?
We stayed for an hour, hoping the bird would come back. While we were waiting, other people who were looking for the bird stopped to visit. A friend called me to report that he had seen the bird just before us, about two miles to the west along Road 205. Apparently, this bird has been moving around in this area. It’s a magnificent bird! I hope you get to see it.
Date: 12/7/25 9:13 pm From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Crested Caracara
Thanks for posting, Robin. We were all totally blessed with so many people
seeing the Crested Caracara and also the Mexican Duck. What a beautiful
day it was to be out birding.
Very excited that you ran into Glenda. She generally birds Grant county
and it was awesome that she showed up for this great bird.
Especially pleased to see the number of birders out and communicating
back and forth passing on information on these to special birds both
yesterday and today.
Way to go NE birders.
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Sun, Dec 7, 2025 at 9:30 PM Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> Nebraska birders,
>
> Call me DAMN lucky. I don’t usually chase rare birds, especially long
> distances. I just couldn’t resist this time. I drove from Shelton to the
> west end of Lake McConaughy on Sunday, December 07 to look for the Crested
> Caracara. When I arrived at Road 207 and highway 92, I saw a Jeep parked
> on the road and a gal walking. This looked like a good place to start.
>
> I didn’t recognize the gal at first but soon realized that we had met at
> the NOU meeting in Ogallala just a few months ago. She and her husband
> ranch in Grant County. Glenda had seen the Caracara fly over more than an
> hour before but didn’t get a good look. We scanned the sky and the
> fields. We drove south across the railroad tracks. We saw Bald Eagles,
> swans, geese, ducks, Rock Pigeons and blackbirds.
>
> We walked back to the railroad tracks and saw a dark blob out in the mowed
> field to the east of the road and north of the tracks. I’m not really good
> at estimating distances but the blob appeared to be about 1/3 of a mile
> away. With our binoculars, we could see a bird with a dark brown back and
> white tail. It looked like it was eating carrion. When it lifted its
> head, we saw its black cap and white neck. I ran back to the car to get
> the scope, thinking all the way that the bird would certainly fly away
> before I got back.
>
> As luck would have it, the bird stayed, continuing to eat the carrion.
> With the scope, we could positively identify the bird as the Crested
> Caracara. Its legs were long and yellow. Its beak was bluish-gray and
> large. Its face was pink. The white on its neck went all the way up to
> the bottom of its cap. The white blended in with the brown on its back and
> belly. We watched it for almost thirty minutes. I went back to the car to
> get my phone and send an email. Glenda watched the bird and then started
> an ebird list on her phone. When she looked up again, the bird was gone.
> Which way did it go?
>
> We stayed for an hour, hoping the bird would come back. While we were
> waiting, other people who were looking for the bird stopped to visit. A
> friend called me to report that he had seen the bird just before us, about
> two miles to the west along Road 205. Apparently, this bird has been
> moving around in this area. It’s a magnificent bird! I hope you get to
> see it.
>
> Robin Harding
> Shelton, Nebraska
>
>
>
Date: 12/7/25 7:30 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Crested Caracara
Nebraska birders,
Call me DAMN lucky. I don’t usually chase rare birds, especially long
distances. I just couldn’t resist this time. I drove from Shelton to the
west end of Lake McConaughy on Sunday, December 07 to look for the Crested
Caracara. When I arrived at Road 207 and highway 92, I saw a Jeep parked
on the road and a gal walking. This looked like a good place to start.
I didn’t recognize the gal at first but soon realized that we had met at
the NOU meeting in Ogallala just a few months ago. She and her husband
ranch in Grant County. Glenda had seen the Caracara fly over more than an
hour before but didn’t get a good look. We scanned the sky and the
fields. We drove south across the railroad tracks. We saw Bald Eagles,
swans, geese, ducks, Rock Pigeons and blackbirds.
We walked back to the railroad tracks and saw a dark blob out in the mowed
field to the east of the road and north of the tracks. I’m not really good
at estimating distances but the blob appeared to be about 1/3 of a mile
away. With our binoculars, we could see a bird with a dark brown back and
white tail. It looked like it was eating carrion. When it lifted its
head, we saw its black cap and white neck. I ran back to the car to get
the scope, thinking all the way that the bird would certainly fly away
before I got back.
As luck would have it, the bird stayed, continuing to eat the carrion.
With the scope, we could positively identify the bird as the Crested
Caracara. Its legs were long and yellow. Its beak was bluish-gray and
large. Its face was pink. The white on its neck went all the way up to
the bottom of its cap. The white blended in with the brown on its back and
belly. We watched it for almost thirty minutes. I went back to the car to
get my phone and send an email. Glenda watched the bird and then started
an ebird list on her phone. When she looked up again, the bird was gone.
Which way did it go?
We stayed for an hour, hoping the bird would come back. While we were
waiting, other people who were looking for the bird stopped to visit. A
friend called me to report that he had seen the bird just before us, about
two miles to the west along Road 205. Apparently, this bird has been
moving around in this area. It’s a magnificent bird! I hope you get to
see it.
Date: 12/7/25 10:00 am From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] 400 Club-Bill Huser
Congrats to Bill Huser who becomes the 9th birder to hit 400 in NE with the Mexican Duck in Scotts Bluff County (with Ed Brogie and Paul Roisen)!!
--
Paul L. Pearson, PhD
President-Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union
Omaha, NE
Date: 12/7/25 6:47 am From: Esa Jarvi via groups.io <esajarvibirding...> Subject: [NEBirds] Scope for sale
I did not see any text about "spam" on this forum. I hope this is not against the rules. I have an angled scope to sell. It just never came to be used much. I use a straight scope.
So, yes it is angled. And you need a tripod with a plate that slides to balance it well. I can normally sell items on a bird forum that allows it, but the shipping will be 30-50 if I mail it. The scope is 7 years old but the same model is still made and sells for 500 new. Asking 300 and we would need to meet in Lincoln. Cash or paypal. Reply to email at <esajarvi...> ( <esajarvi...> ) Esa Jarvi.
Date: 12/6/25 7:44 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] CRESTED CARACARA in Garden County
A little more info for anyone looking to chase, I know a few are already
making plans.
We first saw the bird over hwy 92 flying south with some Rock Pigeons. We
quickly flipped a U-turn and got on the bird as it flew southwest towards
the river. It perched on some hay bales on private property south of the
highway on county road 206. We drove down to the railroad tracks
(41.318404,-102.092729) to view it. It was acting a lot like a Harrier,
flying low over the river and grasslands, occasionally perching back up in
the fields or on hay bales. Mike and Mike spent an additional 90 minutes
watching and it appeared over the horizon for a few minutes at a time,
presumably landing in the field (private property) nearer the river between
flights.
- Tobin
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 10:42 AM Keegan Brown via groups.io <keegqbrown=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Nebraska birders,
>
> Tobin, Eugene, and I spotted a Crested Caracara in Garden County.
> https://maps.app.goo.gl/xgZLq4YMSFrrFByq6?g_st=ac >
> Last seen flying southwest from the pin above. We still cannot believe it!
>
>
>
> Keegan Brown
> <keegqbrown...>
>
>
Date: 12/6/25 5:08 pm From: Linda Sullivan via groups.io <linda.sullivan831...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] 400 Club for Michael Willison
"What a day" is right! So much fun! Congratulations, Michael!
Linda S
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 6:33 PM Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Congrats, Michael! Followed up shortly by #401: Mexican Duck! What a day.
>
> - Tobin Brown
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 1:48 PM Thane Dinsdale via groups.io <tdinsdale.dog=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Congrats to Michael Willison who got his 400th Nebraska bird with Crested
>> Caracara. Seen with Mike Nelson in Garden Co. east of Lewellen, right
>> after it was first spotted by the Brown brothers and Eugene Huryn.
>>
>> This makes Michael the 8th birder to get to 400 in NE.
>>
>> https://www.noubirds.org/Birds/Listing.aspx >>
>> Thanks,
>> Thane Dinsdale
>> Omaha
>>
>>
>
Date: 12/6/25 4:33 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] 400 Club for Michael Willison
Congrats, Michael! Followed up shortly by #401: Mexican Duck! What a day.
- Tobin Brown
On Sat, Dec 6, 2025, 1:48 PM Thane Dinsdale via groups.io <tdinsdale.dog=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Congrats to Michael Willison who got his 400th Nebraska bird with Crested
> Caracara. Seen with Mike Nelson in Garden Co. east of Lewellen, right
> after it was first spotted by the Brown brothers and Eugene Huryn.
>
> This makes Michael the 8th birder to get to 400 in NE.
>
> https://www.noubirds.org/Birds/Listing.aspx >
> Thanks,
> Thane Dinsdale
> Omaha
>
>
>
Date: 12/6/25 12:48 pm From: Thane Dinsdale via groups.io <tdinsdale.dog...> Subject: [NEBirds] 400 Club for Michael Willison
Congrats to Michael Willison who got his 400th Nebraska bird with Crested Caracara. Seen with Mike Nelson in Garden Co. east of Lewellen, right after it was first spotted by the Brown brothers and Eugene Huryn.
This makes Michael the 8th birder to get to 400 in NE.
Date: 12/5/25 10:52 am From: Paul L. Pearson via groups.io <Propearson...> Subject: [NEBirds] Omaha CBC Dec 14-Fontenelle Forest
CBC season! I know there are a number of counts on Dec 14 and many will be busy, but I wanted to put in a plug for some volunteers for the count at Fontenelle Forest. I'll be doing a section, probably Camp Wakonda area, and could use a couple people to help me or split up the trails in that area. You can sign up at the link. Thanks!
Date: 12/4/25 10:51 am From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: [NEBirds] Fw: Brant in KS
Interesting info on Brant from KS Discord.
Ross
________________________________
From KS Discord, "Joseph M" 4 Dec 2025
I've heard (and seen) a photo of a Brant shot yesterday in South Hutchinson, crazily in the same field that one was shot last year. ... Band recovery from Cackling Geese in that immediate area show (some) of them to be from a colony on Southampton Isand that has breeding Brant, so I guess we should expect them to make it own occasionally.
Date: 12/4/25 7:15 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird Hotspot updates!
Nebraska birders,
For those of you that use eBird: There are some eBird hotspot features coming through the pipeline, and I was added as a hotspot editor in order to help out with them as they are released. One big thing they are focusing on, along with accessibility, is *data quality*.
To that end I have begun to add some "sub-hotspots" to some popular birding locations. If you've birded Lake McConaughy or Lewis and Clark Lake, you may already be familiar with the concept. The biggest ones are *Branched Oak SRA*, and *Pawnee Lake SRA*. Next time you go birding there, you may see options like "Branched Oak SRA--Lieber's Point <https://ebird.org/hotspot/L54673426>" or "Pawnee Lake SRA--West Shore <https://ebird.org/hotspot/L55619005>". By using these smaller hotspots, we will have fewer long traveling checklists that end up getting excluded from scientific data (15+ miles). Shorter "point count" style checklists are much more useful to science than mega 60+species, 5 hour checklists. So please use these new hotspots whenever possible, thanks!
Also, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any comments on any hotspots that are wrong, or bothering you (wrong name, location etc.) and I can help to get those fixed!
Finally, if you are interested in becoming a hotspot editor, please let me know and I can forward your info along. There are new hotspot features coming soon, and it will take a *lot *of effort and knowledge to get data entered for the *hundreds *of hotspots around the state. Even if you don't want to become an editor, you can improve hotspots by adding habitat photos that show what the birding location is like.
Date: 12/1/25 4:18 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Nebraska Big Year - November Recap
Nebraska birders,
One month to go! I'm tired, but still excited to see what the next month has in store (hopefully a lifer Redpoll). Here's a quick recap of what I got up to in November:
Date: 12/1/25 9:19 am From: greg hartel via groups.io <gregjhartel...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Not Nebraska - Loess HIlls NWR, NW Missouri
One and the migration changes. Iwonder what will happen this week?
On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> OK this isn't Nebraska but it's just across the river from Rulo and a lot
> of Nebraskans bird there. I've been the last two Saturdays and have been
> watching checklists for the last month -- I've had a couple of friends who
> wanted to "see swans" and I wanted to make sure I could give them a show.
>
> Swan migration is on right now. Checklists say 3 three weeks ago, 130 two
> weeks ago, 400 (mine) one week ago, and 500 (also mine) on Saturday. A few
> Tundras in there. This number will grow to at least 2K in my experience.
>
> Snow/Ross Goose migration is on, from literally zero white geese a week
> ago to 20K-ish on Saturday. Ducks are also on, a week ago it was
> Mallard-Pintail-Ring Necked-Shoveler. This week add in Redhead, Scaup,
> Bufflehead, Gadwall, Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser,
> Green-Winged Teal, and some late Blue-Winged Teal.
>
> One small group of Sandhill Cranes. No white ones :)
>
> Eagles just starting to accumulate, if you've never been there they'll go
> well over 200 during December-January.
>
> Last week I saw a very large mixed blackbird accumulation, I had it at 50K
> on my checklist - multiple migrating flocks were converging at sunset.
> Huge but nothing compared to the massive one I caught once at Cheyenne
> Bottoms in Kansas that was in the millions.
>
> 46 species checklist on Saturday 11/22, pretty good for a mid to late
> November, and the only wintering songbirds seen were Fox Sparrow and Tree
> Sparrow. So we left a few easy ones on the table. I'm sure they were
> there; we only checked the woodland areas from the road and didn't spend
> much time doing it.
>
> Ebird checklists:
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S285632309 - Nov 22
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S284649341 - Nov 15
>
> --
> Matt Shurtliff
> Sarpy County
> <mmscornhusker...>
>
>
>
Date: 11/28/25 12:28 pm From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Maybe a downy if that small. Odd that it is that close to the ground.
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Nest hole ...
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this nest hole?
Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
Date: 11/28/25 7:59 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Great research there Bill. Just finished speaking with Jan Johnson and she
suggested the same thing although she did not have the research you have
done. I will put that down as a likely black cap Chickadee nest hole.
Great to hear from you. I have been housebound due to many things that
need to be done around the house and paperwork for some family issues.
Unfortunately, I have not been out Birdwatching since September 9 And I am
beginning to go stir crazy. I hope you had a very productive Thanksgiving
day whatever you were doing. We’re over in Davenport to celebrate
Thanksgiving, which will not happen till Sunday due to some delays of
people getting in here on time. Anyway, God bless you have a great rest of
the weekend and a blessed Christmas and happy new year to you if I don’t
see you before then.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> According to the account at "Birds of the World", Black-capped Chickadee
> nest sites "range from ground level to more than 20 m high; most commonly
> between 1.5 and 7 m".
>
> BotW cites two studies for Downy Woodpecker: in Virginia, nest height
> averaged 4.7–4.9 m (forested vs. nonforested areas) with no standard
> deviation given; in Iowa, nest height averaged 6.1m ±3.1m. I couldn't find
> nest-height figures for Red-bellied Woodpecker. For Red-headed Woodpecker,
> they give a figure of "2–24.5 m above ground, typically 7–12.4 m". For
> Northern Flicker, nest-cavity heights in Iowa are reported as 8.1m ±3.2m.
> Given these numbers, it seems unlikely that this is a woodpecker nest.
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 11/28/25 7:53 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Thanks, Jan that makes sense . Thanks for the response and I hope you had a
good Thanksgiving. I’m over in Davenport at my sons and we enjoyed watching
some football yesterday but we’re not actually doing our Thanksgiving until
Sunday due to some delays by a couple of people trying to get here so
anyway you have a fantastic rest of the month and blessed day to you. God
bless thanks again. Take care bye-bye
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 7:10 AM Jan Johnson via groups.io <janbirder=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Many years ago I had a chickadee in a hole about that size in an old stump
> About three feet off the ground.
> Jan
>
>
> On Nov 27, 2025, at 10:15 PM, 't via groups.io <wmollhoff=
> <netscape.net...> wrote:
>
>
> Paul
> That looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a
> downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that
> low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered
> a bit?
> Wayne
>
> On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via
> groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
>
> Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
> *Nest hole ...*
> <FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg>
>
> Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the
> ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created
> this nest hole?
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
> <FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg>
>
>
>
>
Date: 11/28/25 7:44 am From: dt via groups.io <dtandelsie...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
My sister had a downy woodpecker nest in a hole about 2.5 ft off the ground in a broken crabapple tree trunk in Fremont. And it excavated the hole there, so didn't just use an existing hole because it was expedient. Diane T in Laramie
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 7:53 AM, Paul Roisen via groups.io<roisenp1950...> wrote: Wayne, It was what was left of a piece of tree that had been cut down. It looked slightly weathered but could not tell if this stump had been there awhile or if it was just a piece of cut down tree that was left standing on end but buried. As low as it was I considered a wren but the markings around the hole appeared to me to be similar to smaller woodpeckers. Not sure if that is helpful or not. God Bless.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM 't via groups.io <wmollhoff...> wrote:
PaulThat looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered a bit?Wayne
On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Nest hole ...
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this nest hole?
Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
Date: 11/28/25 7:16 am From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
According to the account at "Birds of the World", Black-capped Chickadee nest sites "range from ground level to more than 20 m high; most commonly between 1.5 and 7 m".
BotW cites two studies for Downy Woodpecker: in Virginia, nest height averaged 4.7–4.9 m (forested vs. nonforested areas) with no standard deviation given; in Iowa, nest height averaged 6.1m ±3.1m. I couldn't find nest-height figures for Red-bellied Woodpecker. For Red-headed Woodpecker, they give a figure of "2–24.5 m above ground, typically 7–12.4 m". For Northern Flicker, nest-cavity heights in Iowa are reported as 8.1m ±3.2m. Given these numbers, it seems unlikely that this is a woodpecker nest.
Date: 11/28/25 6:53 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Wayne,
It was what was left of a piece of tree that had been cut down. It
looked slightly weathered but could not tell if this stump had been there
awhile or if it was just a piece of cut down tree that was left standing on
end but buried. As low as it was I considered a wren but the markings
around the hole appeared to me to be similar to smaller woodpeckers.
Not sure if that is helpful or not. God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen**Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 10:15 PM 't via groups.io <wmollhoff=
<netscape.net...> wrote:
> Paul
> That looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a
> downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that
> low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered
> a bit?
> Wayne
>
> On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via
> groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
>
> Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
>
> *Nest hole ...*
> [image: FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg]
>
> Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the
> ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created
> this nest hole?
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
>
>
>
PaulThat looks like a siberian elm. The size of the hole could indicate a downy or maybe red-headed woodpecker, but I've never seen such a hole that low to the ground. Does it look like newly worked wood, or is it weathered a bit?Wayne
On Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 06:02:15 PM CST, Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
Nest hole ...
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this nest hole?
Paul O. RoisenSioux City, IA 51106 Woodbury County, IAMobile 712-301-2817 <roisenp1950...>
Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the ground
on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created this
nest hole?
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
Date: 11/27/25 4:02 pm From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Apparent nest hole....
Adding a little info. The nest hole was a max of 1 inch.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> wrote:
> *Nest hole ...*
> [image: FA02CC24-8333-4DE1-BD38-94CD5636552B.jpeg]
>
> Gearing Cemetery 8.3.25. This apparent nest was about 3 feet off the
> ground on the edge of a gully. Any idea what bird or… might have created
> this nest hole?
> *Paul O. Roisen*
> *Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
> *Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
>
Date: 11/24/25 5:06 pm From: Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> Subject: [NEBirds] Not Nebraska - Loess HIlls NWR, NW Missouri
OK this isn't Nebraska but it's just across the river from Rulo and a lot of Nebraskans bird there. I've been the last two Saturdays and have been watching checklists for the last month -- I've had a couple of friends who wanted to "see swans" and I wanted to make sure I could give them a show.
Swan migration is on right now. Checklists say 3 three weeks ago, 130 two weeks ago, 400 (mine) one week ago, and 500 (also mine) on Saturday. A few Tundras in there. This number will grow to at least 2K in my experience.
Snow/Ross Goose migration is on, from literally zero white geese a week ago to 20K-ish on Saturday. Ducks are also on, a week ago it was Mallard-Pintail-Ring Necked-Shoveler. This week add in Redhead, Scaup, Bufflehead, Gadwall, Wigeon, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Green-Winged Teal, and some late Blue-Winged Teal.
One small group of Sandhill Cranes. No white ones :)
Eagles just starting to accumulate, if you've never been there they'll go well over 200 during December-January.
Last week I saw a very large mixed blackbird accumulation, I had it at 50K on my checklist - multiple migrating flocks were converging at sunset. Huge but nothing compared to the massive one I caught once at Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas that was in the millions.
46 species checklist on Saturday 11/22, pretty good for a mid to late November, and the only wintering songbirds seen were Fox Sparrow and Tree Sparrow. So we left a few easy ones on the table. I'm sure they were there; we only checked the woodland areas from the road and didn't spend much time doing it.
Date: 11/24/25 1:33 pm From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: [NEBirds] Reminder for Upcoming Renewals Due for 2026
Reminder for Upcoming Renewals Due for 2026
NOU membership dues are on a calendar year and yours will expire at the end
of this year. Why not take this opportunity to renew right now? Simply go
to the NOU website (https://noubirds.org/NOU/PayMembership.aspx), login,
and update your membership. Payment may be completed either electronically
(very much preferred) or by check. If you have difficulties with your
login, please use our contact form on the home page and someone will assist.
Thank you for your continued support of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union,
one of the oldest organizations in Nebraska devoted to the natural sciences.
It simplifies the process by providing an automated recording of
transactions. It also avoids the cost of a stamp. The treasurer does not
have to make a special trip to the bank. Most of all, it provides
electronic evidence for accountability and auditing.
Why PayPal?
Using PayPal is better than a check because it's faster, more convenient,
and offers greater security. PayPal allows for quick online transactions,
simplifies peer-to-peer payments, and provides layers of protection against
fraud without requiring you to share your bank account or credit card
details with NOU.
What if I don’t have a PayPal account?
You can use a credit card with PayPal without having an account by clicking
the button at the bottom of the PayPal screen.
What if I’m a Life Member?
Thanks for being a life member of NOU and you don’t owe anything.
What if I think I paid for 2026 yet I am receiving an email requesting to
renew my membership?
I apologize for the confusion. Please notify the NOU Treasurer and let’s
work together to figure it out. Thanks
Date: 11/23/25 11:04 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Archway bird walk
Love your reports. Doubt the professor could teach you much.
Look forward to showing the Ratzaff’s AZ birdsWednesday here in the Mesa Area.
Don MaasMaricopa CountyMesa, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, 10:37 AM, David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> wrote:
Robin,Sounds like a wonderful time and certainly a delightful report.
Dave
On Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:32 AM Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
NEbirders,
I eagerly joined the UNK Ornithology monthly bird walk Saturday morning, November 22. Dr. Jacob Cooper and Peggy Huss (one of his most enthusiastic students) have been leading these bird walks this semester. On that morning we met at the Archway Monument and walked the Pioneer’s Path Trail. We were joined by Cody McGregor, five other UNK students and Amy, a UNK staff member. We walked a half mile east then turned around, retraced our steps and continued west for a half mile.
It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and the wind was calm. The trail follows Turkey Creek and there are small lakes between the creek and Interstate 80. One of the first birds that we heard was a Belted Kingfisher. Off to a good start. As we walked the trail, we encountered a flock of Slate-colored Juncos with one Oregon Junco. This gave Dr. Cooper the opportunity to teach us about juncos. He told us about one of the many junco species that lives in a remote mountainous region.
When we saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Lapland Longspurs, Dr. Cooper taught us about winter irruptions. This winter is looking promising. There have already been several species reported that would indicate a ‘good’ winter. Be on the lookout for Redpolls.
We saw three or four small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Usually, I’m lucky if I see one flock. Some of the waxwings remained perched in a tree, giving us a good look. This gave Dr. Cooper another opportunity to teach us about waxwings. He said that there are only three species of waxwings. If this will be a ‘good’ winter, maybe we’ll see Bohemian Waxwings.
A covey of Northern Bobwhite flushed near Peggy, nearly giving her a heart attack. Dr. Cooper was surprised to see them at this location. He said that the species is becoming more rare and we were in a city park. Years ago, my late husband Lanny called them magic birds because they would appear out of nowhere and just as quickly disappear into thin air.
One of the last species that we saw on this day was Harris’s Sparrow. Dr. Cooper taught us about their limited range. They breed in north central Canada and winter in the southern Great Plains including Nebraska. This brought another memory to my mind. Many years ago during ‘March Madness’ Lanny and I met a couple ladies from the east coast who traveled to Nebraska for the Sandhill Crane spectacle. Also on their bucket list was Harris’s Sparrow. When we found one, the ladies did a little life bird dance.
Date: 11/23/25 9:38 am From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Archway bird walk
Robin,
Sounds like a wonderful time and certainly a delightful report.
Dave
On Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:32 AM Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> NEbirders,
>
> I eagerly joined the UNK Ornithology monthly bird walk Saturday morning,
> November 22. Dr. Jacob Cooper and Peggy Huss (one of his most enthusiastic
> students) have been leading these bird walks this semester. On that
> morning we met at the Archway Monument and walked the Pioneer’s Path
> Trail. We were joined by Cody McGregor, five other UNK students and Amy, a
> UNK staff member. We walked a half mile east then turned around, retraced
> our steps and continued west for a half mile.
>
> It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and the wind was calm.
> The trail follows Turkey Creek and there are small lakes between the creek
> and Interstate 80. One of the first birds that we heard was a Belted
> Kingfisher. Off to a good start. As we walked the trail, we encountered a
> flock of Slate-colored Juncos with one Oregon Junco. This gave Dr. Cooper
> the opportunity to teach us about juncos. He told us about one of the many
> junco species that lives in a remote mountainous region.
>
> When we saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Lapland Longspurs, Dr. Cooper
> taught us about winter irruptions. This winter is looking promising.
> There have already been several species reported that would indicate a
> ‘good’ winter. Be on the lookout for Redpolls.
>
> We saw three or four small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Usually, I’m lucky
> if I see one flock. Some of the waxwings remained perched in a tree,
> giving us a good look. This gave Dr. Cooper another opportunity to teach
> us about waxwings. He said that there are only three species of waxwings.
> If this will be a ‘good’ winter, maybe we’ll see Bohemian Waxwings.
>
> A covey of Northern Bobwhite flushed near Peggy, nearly giving her a heart
> attack. Dr. Cooper was surprised to see them at this location. He said
> that the species is becoming more rare and we were in a city park. Years
> ago, my late husband Lanny called them magic birds because they would
> appear out of nowhere and just as quickly disappear into thin air.
>
> One of the last species that we saw on this day was Harris’s Sparrow. Dr.
> Cooper taught us about their limited range. They breed in north central
> Canada and winter in the southern Great Plains including Nebraska. This
> brought another memory to my mind. Many years ago during ‘March Madness’
> Lanny and I met a couple ladies from the east coast who traveled to
> Nebraska for the Sandhill Crane spectacle. Also on their bucket list was
> Harris’s Sparrow. When we found one, the ladies did a little life bird
> dance.
>
> Robin Harding
> Shelton, Nebraska
>
>
Date: 11/23/25 9:32 am From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Archway bird walk
NEbirders,
I eagerly joined the UNK Ornithology monthly bird walk Saturday morning,
November 22. Dr. Jacob Cooper and Peggy Huss (one of his most enthusiastic
students) have been leading these bird walks this semester. On that
morning we met at the Archway Monument and walked the Pioneer’s Path
Trail. We were joined by Cody McGregor, five other UNK students and Amy, a
UNK staff member. We walked a half mile east then turned around, retraced
our steps and continued west for a half mile.
It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and the wind was calm. The
trail follows Turkey Creek and there are small lakes between the creek and
Interstate 80. One of the first birds that we heard was a Belted
Kingfisher. Off to a good start. As we walked the trail, we encountered a
flock of Slate-colored Juncos with one Oregon Junco. This gave Dr. Cooper
the opportunity to teach us about juncos. He told us about one of the many
junco species that lives in a remote mountainous region.
When we saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch and Lapland Longspurs, Dr. Cooper
taught us about winter irruptions. This winter is looking promising.
There have already been several species reported that would indicate a
‘good’ winter. Be on the lookout for Redpolls.
We saw three or four small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Usually, I’m lucky if
I see one flock. Some of the waxwings remained perched in a tree, giving
us a good look. This gave Dr. Cooper another opportunity to teach us about
waxwings. He said that there are only three species of waxwings. If this
will be a ‘good’ winter, maybe we’ll see Bohemian Waxwings.
A covey of Northern Bobwhite flushed near Peggy, nearly giving her a heart
attack. Dr. Cooper was surprised to see them at this location. He said
that the species is becoming more rare and we were in a city park. Years
ago, my late husband Lanny called them magic birds because they would
appear out of nowhere and just as quickly disappear into thin air.
One of the last species that we saw on this day was Harris’s Sparrow. Dr.
Cooper taught us about their limited range. They breed in north central
Canada and winter in the southern Great Plains including Nebraska. This
brought another memory to my mind. Many years ago during ‘March Madness’
Lanny and I met a couple ladies from the east coast who traveled to
Nebraska for the Sandhill Crane spectacle. Also on their bucket list was
Harris’s Sparrow. When we found one, the ladies did a little life bird
dance.
Date: 11/19/25 8:11 am From: Rita Flohr via groups.io <motherhen2k...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Warbling Vireo identification
thank you, Joel! I will have to look back at my Merlin captures and see if
I might have any of the recordings
On Tue, Nov 18, 2025 at 3:05 PM Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io
<Joel.Jorgensen...> wrote:
> Sharing this link for a David Sibley article on identifying Eastern and
> Western Warbling-Vireos:
> https://www.sibleyguides.com/2025/11/identification-of-eastern-and-western-warbling-vireos/ >
>
>
> The article provides a large dose of caution about current limitations and
> hopefully Nebraska birders will have their phones handy next spring and
> summer to record as much audio as possible of singing warbling vireos,
> especially in the panhandle.
>
>
>
> *Joel*
>
> *___________________________________________________*
>
> *Joel Jorgensen **| Nongame Bird Program Manager*
>
> *Nebraska Game and Parks Commission*
>
> *2200 N 33rd St. | Lincoln, NE 68503*
>
> *<joel.jorgensen...> <joel.jorgensen...> | 402-471-5440*
>
>
>
>
>
The article provides a large dose of caution about current limitations and hopefully Nebraska birders will have their phones handy next spring and summer to record as much audio as possible of singing warbling vireos, especially in the panhandle.
Joel
___________________________________________________
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N 33rd St. | Lincoln, NE 68503
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...> | 402-471-5440
Thanks Robin and Bill.
The Ratzlaff dropped in today and we had lunch together.
They are here in AZ to see Deb’s daughter run the Scottsdale Marathon (yesterday) and her grandson play baseball on Thanksgiving weekend.
They leave tomorrow for SE AZ. We are planning a day trip with them the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Their first bird of the trip was the Costa Hummingbird in Lincoln
Don MaasMaricopa CountyMesa, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rules of fools. Plato“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.”
Don & Shirley MaasThe Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
On Monday, November 17, 2025, 8:08 PM, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,
Bill Flack and I birded together on Sunday, November 16. Bill submitted his lists to ebird and shared them with me. We started shortly after sunrise at the Shelton sewage lagoon in Hall County. Unfortunately, the sun was shining brightly so we couldn’t see the surface of the water very well at all. The only place to view the lagoon is from the northwest corner, looking directly toward the rising sun. There was just a light breeze and the temperature was a chilly 35 degrees. We couldn’t see much there so we moved on to the Shelton cemetery and walked a loop around it. There are many evergreen trees so we hoped for Red-breasted Nuthatches. We saw ten species but no nuthatches.
We moved on to Cody McGregor’s longspur spot just north of Coal Chute Road along Navaho Road south of Gibbon. We looked and listened for about half an hour but heard only one Horned Lark. Just the day before, I stopped by the spot early in the afternoon and saw a flock of about fifty Smith’s Longspurs.
Bill and I went to the Bassway Strip lakes near the Minden I-80 exit. We drove on the public access roads along the north side and then the south side. There was a nice variety of waterbirds including geese, ducks and cormorants. My firsts for this winter were White-fronted Geese, Cackling Geese and Ring-necked Ducks. Our total was a little more than twenty species.
Thanks to Cody for submitting an ebird list for the dog town with a Ferruginous Hawk north of Gibbon. We had just gotten out of the car, when I saw a hawk flying over the town. When it landed in a tree, I saw its white tail. Bill scoped the bird and saw completely unmarked white underparts. It spread a wing briefly and he saw no patagial mark. When the bird scratched itself, Bill saw brown thighs. Cody told me he saw a Ferruginous Hawk at the dog town many times last winter and wonders if the same bird has returned .
We walked the hiking trail that goes by the Ravenna sewage ponds and through woods beside the South Loup River in northern Buffalo County. We studied a small group of mergansers that had ragged crests. We scoped them for several minutes and identified them as Red-breasted Mergansers, five female and one male. New county birds for both of us. Then a female Hooded Merganser showed up nearby, allowing for a good comparison. As we were walking the trail through the woods, we found a Brown Creeper going very high up on the branches.
Bill’s Buffalo County list is up to 213 and mine is a little higher.
Date: 11/17/25 7:08 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Sunday birding
Nebraska birders,
Bill Flack and I birded together on Sunday, November 16. Bill submitted
his lists to ebird and shared them with me. We started shortly after
sunrise at the Shelton sewage lagoon in Hall County. Unfortunately, the
sun was shining brightly so we couldn’t see the surface of the water very
well at all. The only place to view the lagoon is from the northwest
corner, looking directly toward the rising sun. There was just a light
breeze and the temperature was a chilly 35 degrees. We couldn’t see much
there so we moved on to the Shelton cemetery and walked a loop around it.
There are many evergreen trees so we hoped for Red-breasted Nuthatches. We
saw ten species but no nuthatches.
We moved on to Cody McGregor’s longspur spot just north of Coal Chute Road
along Navaho Road south of Gibbon. We looked and listened for about half
an hour but heard only one Horned Lark. Just the day before, I stopped by
the spot early in the afternoon and saw a flock of about fifty Smith’s
Longspurs.
Bill and I went to the Bassway Strip lakes near the Minden I-80 exit. We
drove on the public access roads along the north side and then the south
side. There was a nice variety of waterbirds including geese, ducks and
cormorants. My firsts for this winter were White-fronted Geese, Cackling
Geese and Ring-necked Ducks. Our total was a little more than twenty
species.
Thanks to Cody for submitting an ebird list for the dog town with a
Ferruginous Hawk north of Gibbon. We had just gotten out of the car, when
I saw a hawk flying over the town. When it landed in a tree, I saw its
white tail. Bill scoped the bird and saw completely unmarked white
underparts. It spread a wing briefly and he saw no patagial mark. When
the bird scratched itself, Bill saw brown thighs. Cody told me he saw a
Ferruginous Hawk at the dog town many times last winter and wonders if
the same bird has returned .
We walked the hiking trail that goes by the Ravenna sewage ponds and
through woods beside the South Loup River in northern Buffalo County. We
studied a small group of mergansers that had ragged crests. We scoped them
for several minutes and identified them as Red-breasted Mergansers, five
female and one male. New county birds for both of us. Then a female
Hooded Merganser showed up nearby, allowing for a good comparison. As we
were walking the trail through the woods, we found a Brown Creeper going
very high up on the branches.
Bill’s Buffalo County list is up to 213 and mine is a little higher.
