Date: 3/16/26 4:11 pm From: Paul Hubert via groups.io <paulhubert123...> Subject: [NEBirds] Turkey vulture Omaha
Just had a turkey vulture fly over my house in Northern Omaha. With the single digit temperatures last night and tonight, not sure of being the early bird is all that’s cracked up to be this year.
Chip Hubert
Omaha.
Date: 3/16/26 1:40 pm From: Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Albino Sandhill Crane
Yeah, I’ll go along with Laurel. There were 2 single Whooping Cranes bopping around the Alda-Grand Island Area for a while in March with the first appearing on the early date of 25 February. Similar to most years, leucistic Sandhill Cranes have also been seen and reported as Whooping Cranes. Many leucistic Sandhill Cranes look a little dingy, but Tobin’s bird looks especially white (and pretty) and probably closer to pure albinism than most.
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
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Badura, Laurel via groups.io
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2026 3:26 PM
To: <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Albino Sandhill Crane
I think different birds. I have seen a WHCR in with sandhills in the Alda area and there were two WHCRs east of the Alda bridge (south side of river) last week. Not sure about a whooping crane at Rowe though.
This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding.
Tobin,
Great photo and thanks sharing. I have heard reports at the Crane Trust Center, Rowe, and others that they have seen a singleton WHCR. Seeing your photo I wonder if this is the bird they have seen.
Yesterday morning we observed a really cool bird from the Rowe Sanctuary "Sandbar" (far west) Blind.
The early rays of sunlight revealed a fully white crane. At first I was thinking Whooping Crane, but it wasn't tall enough. As the sun came out more, I in was able to notice the head pattern of a Sandhill. Eventually it made it's way to the front of the group where we could see pinkish yellow legs. The bill and facial skin also had this yellow color, lacking any dark pigment. In flight, the wingtips were pure white, not a hint of gray, and from a distance, the eye appeared completely dark (albinos have a dark red eye). This makes me think it's actually a true albino instead of the slightly more "common" leucistic bird.
[cid:<image001.png...>]
Let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for this bird if you're near Rowe! Another observer said they saw it earlier in a field southwest of the sanctuary. More photos are on my ebird checklist.
I think different birds. I have seen a WHCR in with sandhills in the Alda area and there were two WHCRs east of the Alda bridge (south side of river) last week. Not sure about a whooping crane at Rowe though.
Laurel
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...>
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2026 11:33 AM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [NEBirds] Albino Sandhill Crane
This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding.
Tobin,
Great photo and thanks sharing. I have heard reports at the Crane Trust Center, Rowe, and others that they have seen a singleton WHCR. Seeing your photo I wonder if this is the bird they have seen.
Yesterday morning we observed a really cool bird from the Rowe Sanctuary "Sandbar" (far west) Blind.
The early rays of sunlight revealed a fully white crane. At first I was thinking Whooping Crane, but it wasn't tall enough. As the sun came out more, I in was able to notice the head pattern of a Sandhill. Eventually it made it's way to the front of the group where we could see pinkish yellow legs. The bill and facial skin also had this yellow color, lacking any dark pigment. In flight, the wingtips were pure white, not a hint of gray, and from a distance, the eye appeared completely dark (albinos have a dark red eye). This makes me think it's actually a true albino instead of the slightly more "common" leucistic bird.
[cid:ii_19cf1b50b50254814211]
Let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for this bird if you're near Rowe! Another observer said they saw it earlier in a field southwest of the sanctuary. More photos are on my ebird checklist.
Date: 3/15/26 9:33 am From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Albino Sandhill Crane
Tobin,
Great photo and thanks sharing. I have heard reports at the Crane Trust
Center, Rowe, and others that they have seen a singleton WHCR. Seeing your
photo I wonder if this is the bird they have seen.
Dave Cunningham
Sarpy County
On Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 8:43 AM Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Nebraska birders,
>
> Yesterday morning we observed a really cool bird from the Rowe Sanctuary
> "Sandbar" (far west) Blind.
>
> The early rays of sunlight revealed a fully white crane. At first I was
> thinking Whooping Crane, but it wasn't tall enough. As the sun came out
> more, I in was able to notice the head pattern of a Sandhill. Eventually it
> made it's way to the front of the group where we could see pinkish yellow
> legs. The bill and facial skin also had this yellow color, lacking any dark
> pigment. In flight, the wingtips were pure white, not a hint of gray, and
> from a distance, the eye appeared completely dark (albinos have a dark red
> eye). This makes me think it's actually a true albino instead of the
> slightly more "common" leucistic bird.
>
>
>
> Let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for this bird if you're
> near Rowe! Another observer said they saw it earlier in a field southwest
> of the sanctuary. More photos are on my ebird checklist.
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S309025762 >
>
> Tobin Brown
> Lancaster county
>
>
Date: 3/15/26 6:43 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Albino Sandhill Crane
Nebraska birders,
Yesterday morning we observed a really cool bird from the Rowe Sanctuary "Sandbar" (far west) Blind.
The early rays of sunlight revealed a fully white crane. At first I was thinking Whooping Crane, but it wasn't tall enough. As the sun came out more, I in was able to notice the head pattern of a Sandhill. Eventually it made it's way to the front of the group where we could see pinkish yellow legs. The bill and facial skin also had this yellow color, lacking any dark pigment. In flight, the wingtips were pure white, not a hint of gray, and from a distance, the eye appeared completely dark (albinos have a dark red eye). This makes me think it's actually a true albino instead of the slightly more "common" leucistic bird.
Let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for this bird if you're near Rowe! Another observer said they saw it earlier in a field southwest of the sanctuary. More photos are on my ebird checklist.
Date: 3/15/26 4:38 am From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Wintering Rusty Blackbirds?
My attention's been called to a rather significant typo in my original message: in the first sentence, it should read "western Dodge County" rather than "eastern". I apologize to readers who've tried to find the site based on that flawed description.
Date: 3/14/26 5:19 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Rainwater Basin
Nebraska birders,
Steve Morris and I birded Clay and Hamilton Counties on Saturday, March 14. The weather left something to be desired. It was sunny, windy and cold. We started at Harvard WPA to look for Smith's Longspur. It didn't take too long for me to hear the rattle call of longspurs but I can't yet distinguish between Lapland and Smith's. Steve turned on the Merlin app and we walked more. After flushing several more birds, we got a decent look. The Merlin app also thought they were Smith's Longspurs. Other notable species were Blue-winged Teal and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
We drove around White Front WMA and found a couple Savannah Sparrows. We enjoyed some time at Massie WPA where we saw many ducks. We also saw a couple Lesser Yellowlegs and I heard an American Pipit fly over. Moger WPA also hosted many ducks (nine species). Not far from Moger, Steve spotted a small raptor flying. The bird perched atop a small tree so we were able to study it. We decided that it was an immature Merlin.
Our next stop was Smith WPA. As we reached the top of the hill on the south side, we saw an amazing number of Snow Geese. The flock was a couple hundred yards from front to back and a half mile wide. The geese appeared to be close to each other (a tightly packed flock). Neither of us are good at estimating large numbers but we guessed there were 10,000. We were able to see one Ross's Goose on the near edge of the flock. There were also eight species of ducks and one American White Pelican. We also birded at Hultine WPA and saw a couple hundred female Red-winged Blackbirds with only a few males.
The day warmed up but the wind continued to blow hard. We birded a few more wetlands but in mid to late afternoon we didn't see much.
I would add there's been some bad behavior at a couple of the public access blinds, people coming late or leaving early and scaring birds off the lek (and annoying other birders). A good rule of thumb is to be in the blind an hour before sunrise at minimum and leave after the birds have left.
Date: 3/13/26 8:50 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: [NEBirds] Prairie-Chicken Lek Etiquette
Hi all,
Eugene Huryn reported that he had people exiting their vehicles at a prairie-chicken lek south of Kearney while the birds were displaying. As a general reminder:
*
Please do not exit your vehicle at a prairie-chicken lek while birds are present
*
Please do not leave the right of way for public roads at leks on private property
We want to make sure we are doing whats best for the birds without also causing conflict with local landowners.
Date: 3/11/26 7:47 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Wintering Rusty Blackbirds?
Fellow NEBirders—
This afternoon, I birded a stretch of county road N in eastern Dodge County, including the Maple Creek crossing. Along the deep ditch just west of the creek, I found a male and two female Rusty Blackbirds.
I'd also seen three Rusties at that very location (in the same stretch of deep ditch) on December 5, 2025. Unfortunately, I didn't record the sexes of those three birds, so don't know if they matched today's birds. But it seems reasonable to speculate that they might've been the same, and spent the whole winter here.
I don't know if they'd have had open water, in the creek or from seeps, throughout the winter. From my limited knowledge of Rusties, I'd guess that they'd want shallow water, or at least wet ground, on which to forage, and that might've affected whether they stayed for the winter or not.
Anyone from the east end of the state care to weigh in on the subject of wintering Rusties?
Date: 3/10/26 10:19 am From: Badura, Laurel via groups.io <laurel_badura...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Contact for Kansas -- Crested Caracara
Thank you so much!
Laurel
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 11:17 AM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [NEBirds] Contact for Kansas -- Crested Caracara
This email has been received from outside of DOI - Use caution before clicking on links, opening attachments, or responding.
There is a channel in the Kansas Discord server that is posting updates.
Last update was yesterday afternoon, the landowner said it was not present.
Tobin Brown
Lancaster County
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 11:15 AM Badura, Laurel via groups.io<http://groups.io/> <laurel_badura...><mailto:<fws.gov...>> wrote:
Does anyone have a contact for Kansas that would be in the continuous know of the Crested Caracara location? I plan on heading to St. Louis Thursday, the 19th for the basketball tournaments and thought I would slip down to the Lawrence area to see it.
Thank you for any leads.
Laurel
Laurel Badura
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Last update was yesterday afternoon, the landowner said it was not present.
Tobin Brown
Lancaster County
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 11:15 AM Badura, Laurel via groups.io
<laurel_badura...> wrote:
> Does anyone have a contact for Kansas that would be in the continuous know
> of the Crested Caracara location? I plan on heading to St. Louis Thursday,
> the 19th for the basketball tournaments and thought I would slip down to
> the Lawrence area to see it.
>
> Thank you for any leads.
>
> Laurel
>
> Laurel Badura
> Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist
> US Fish and Wildlife Service
>
> 9325 South Alda Road
> Wood River, NE 68883
>
> Cell: 308-440-1388
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/10/26 9:15 am From: Badura, Laurel via groups.io <laurel_badura...> Subject: [NEBirds] Contact for Kansas -- Crested Caracara
Does anyone have a contact for Kansas that would be in the continuous know of the Crested Caracara location? I plan on heading to St. Louis Thursday, the 19th for the basketball tournaments and thought I would slip down to the Lawrence area to see it.
Thank you for any leads.
Laurel
Laurel Badura
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Date: 3/10/26 8:52 am From: bent6130 via groups.io <ericbents...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Carter Lake wintering waterfowl
Ross,
Regarding Carter Lake, I believe the timeframe you mentioned was when they began encouraging/enforcing lakeside house owners to clean up all dog waste, as it was creating water quality issues to include overgrowth of aquatic vegetation. According to my source, this enforcement did indeed improve water quality. Interestingly, as migrating waterfowl (both divers and dabblers) fuel up heavily on aquatic vegetation during migration, we might have a situation where less vegetation has resulted in less waterfowl.
An interesting convergence of timeframes but I could be wrong here.
Eric BentsOmaha, NE
On Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 09:51:25 AM CDT, Ross Silcock <silcock...> wrote:
#yiv4676919386 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Looking back at mid-winter (7 Jan-14 Feb) waterfowl records at Carter Lake, there were several important records in 2013-2013 and 2013-2014. Since then, however, reports have been few.
Has the lake been modified so that it is less attractive to wintering waterfowl? Were those two winters unusually mild? Have there been planned fish kills/renovations?
Any info is welcome!
Ross
Ross Silcock Co-editor Birds of Nebraska OnlineEditor Seasonal Reports, Nebraska Bird Review.
Date: 3/8/26 7:51 am From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: [NEBirds] Carter Lake wintering waterfowl
Looking back at mid-winter (7 Jan-14 Feb) waterfowl records at Carter Lake, there were several important records in 2013-2013 and 2013-2014. Since then, however, reports have been few.
Has the lake been modified so that it is less attractive to wintering waterfowl? Were those two winters unusually mild? Have there been planned fish kills/renovations?
Any info is welcome!
Ross
Ross Silcock
Co-editor Birds of Nebraska Online
Editor Seasonal Reports, Nebraska Bird Review.
Date: 3/6/26 3:48 am From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
I suspect that Ross's may tend to cluster in flight, as well. I've been trying to find them in flying flocks, looking for birds that're significantly smaller than their neighbors, and having little luck. If they clump together in those flocks, so that small Ross's are next to other small Ross's, I'm less likely to see that contrast.
Date: 3/4/26 4:40 pm From: Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
I see this too, they tend to segregate when present in numbers. You’ll see
an island of Ross’s.
Matt Shurtliff
<mmscornhusker...>
On Wed, Mar 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock=
<rosssilcock.com...> wrote:
> Interesting point re distribution of Ross's within Snow flocks. In my
> experience, if there are a large number of Ross's, they tend to sort into
> bunches of Ross's. If there are only a few, they tend to hang around the
> edges of the Snow flock, although that may be because a small number
> randomly dispersed inside the flock could be easily missed.
>
> I'll have to investigate the "tuckiness" tendencies of white geese!
>
> Ross
>
>
> Ross Silcock
>
> Co-editor Birds of Nebraska Online
> Editor Seasonal Reports, Nebraska Bird Review.
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of William Flack
> via groups.io <sparvophile...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:13 PM
> *To:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
>
> Thanks, Ross! 2% is consistent with the one attempt I made to figure the
> percentage: a medium-sized flock on Cochran Lake in Scotts Bluff County,
> where I went through carefully looking at bills. I figured that of the
> birds whose bills I could see well enough to identify species, about 1 in
> 40 were Ross's.
>
> However, I have to attach a caution to that. I was assuming that I was
> seeing a random sampling of the flock. If head-tucking behavior varies
> between the species, I might've undercounted the tuck-ier species. And if
> Ross's tend to stick together, rather than dispersing randomly among the
> Snows, then my sample might've been biased.
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/4/26 4:31 pm From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
Interesting point re distribution of Ross's within Snow flocks. In my experience, if there are a large number of Ross's, they tend to sort into bunches of Ross's. If there are only a few, they tend to hang around the edges of the Snow flock, although that may be because a small number randomly dispersed inside the flock could be easily missed.
I'll have to investigate the "tuckiness" tendencies of white geese!
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:13 PM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
Thanks, Ross! 2% is consistent with the one attempt I made to figure the percentage: a medium-sized flock on Cochran Lake in Scotts Bluff County, where I went through carefully looking at bills. I figured that of the birds whose bills I could see well enough to identify species, about 1 in 40 were Ross's.
However, I have to attach a caution to that. I was assuming that I was seeing a random sampling of the flock. If head-tucking behavior varies between the species, I might've undercounted the tuck-ier species. And if Ross's tend to stick together, rather than dispersing randomly among the Snows, then my sample might've been biased.
Date: 3/4/26 4:13 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
Thanks, Ross! 2% is consistent with the one attempt I made to figure the percentage: a medium-sized flock on Cochran Lake in Scotts Bluff County, where I went through carefully looking at bills. I figured that of the birds whose bills I could see well enough to identify species, about 1 in 40 were Ross's.
However, I have to attach a caution to that. I was assuming that I was seeing a random sampling of the flock. If head-tucking behavior varies between the species, I might've undercounted the tuck-ier species. And if Ross's tend to stick together, rather than dispersing randomly among the Snows, then my sample might've been biased.
Date: 3/3/26 7:33 pm From: Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
Bill,
From BONO Ross's account:
Johnsgard (2012) estimated that some 2% of white geese migrating through Nebraska are Rosss Geese; since the mid-continent flock of Snow Geese numbers some 4.9 million, Johnsgard (2012) estimated that some 90,000 Rosss Geese pass through Nebraska. More recent estimates indicate the number of Snow Geese in the mid-continent may be 2-4 times greater than 4.9 million (Mark Vrtiska, NGPC, personal communication). Thus, the estimated number of Rosss Geese migrating through Nebraska would be proportionally higher as well.
Hope this helps!
Ross
Ross Silcock
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 9:27 PM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
Thanks for adding Snow/Ross's, Joel!
Based on careful examination of individuals in flocks, any idea what the usual ratio of Snow to Ross's would be?
Date: 3/3/26 2:11 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Common Crane near Alda
Boni also forwarded a photo from Julie Geiser, there are TWO more Common
Cranes at Clear Creek WMA in Garden County. The same WMA which had one bird
for nearly 2 weeks last year.
[image: image.png]
I guess they really are becoming common!
Tobin Brown
Lancaster County
On Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 3:37 PM Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2=
<unk.edu...> wrote:
Date: 3/3/26 2:09 pm From: Ricky D Olson via groups.io <tatanka40...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Common Crane near Alda
Thanks
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 3:13 PM
To: Nebraska Birding <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Common Crane near Alda
Hi all,
Jeremiah Ourada just posted a photo of a Common Crane near Alda this afternoon. He said it was at this location:
Date: 3/2/26 10:24 pm From: Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
Bill:
Snow/Ross's Goose has been added. Unclear to me why it wasn't on the regular list. I think Snow/Ross's Goose is the preferred option for tallying white geese numbers with an "x" in both Snow Goose and Ross's Goose. Unless there is a precise accounting of all geese in the flock, Snow Goose numbers are usually over-estimated and Ross's Goose numbers are under-estimated as observers often assume they are all Snow Geese except for a small number of Ross's that get picked out.
Joel
================================================
Joel Jorgensen
Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402-471-5440
<joel.jorgensen...>
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...>
Sent: Monday, March 2, 2026 10:05 PM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
I'm trying to enter a list on eBird, for an observation in Red Willow County in which I saw several light geese. Some of them were clearly Snows (head shape and/or grinning patch), but some had their backs to me or their heads tucked, so I couldn't name them for sure. However, eBird isn't giving me a "Snow/Ross's Goose" option. Can the reviewer for that county get that option restored, please? Thanks.
Date: 3/2/26 8:05 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Snow/Ross's isn't on eBird
I'm trying to enter a list on eBird, for an observation in Red Willow County in which I saw several light geese. Some of them were clearly Snows (head shape and/or grinning patch), but some had their backs to me or their heads tucked, so I couldn't name them for sure. However, eBird isn't giving me a "Snow/Ross's Goose" option. Can the reviewer for that county get that option restored, please? Thanks.
Date: 3/1/26 2:31 pm From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] 2025 Big Year Recap
Nebraska Birders,
It's taken a while, but I've finally gathered all of my thoughts on last year. I go into more detail about my planning, as well as my top 10 birds, top 5 photos, other animals, and more: https://brobin.me/blog/2026/02/nebraska-big-year-recap
I am also giving a presentation 3 times this year, if you'd like to hear about my experience in person:
Date: 3/1/26 11:16 am From: pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io <pastorpaultdunbar...> Subject: [NEBirds] Smith's Longspurs
I stopped by Harvard WPA in Clay Co. yesterday (2/28/26), saw a few common ducks and geese -- not much water there, so my main target of big waterfowl numbers was disappointing -- but in the calf-high yellow grasses on the west-central side, north of the dike I flushed up so many Smith's Longspurs! I tallied 144 but it could have been more. It's early, and rather western for Smith's, and definitely a high count, but I stayed and watched them for over 2 hours. Of course, they're just the worst for trying to photograph if you're a digiscoper like me; they flush up only when you almost step on them and then fly way up, darting around, only to drop down in some other invisible grassy spot. At one point there was one flock of 48 in the air behind me another of 56 flying in front of me, with still others I could hear chattering in the grass around me, so I know I wasn't re-counting the same few birds. To be honest, I did not positively ID each of those 144 and I suppose there could have been Laplands mixed in but I don't think that's real common to have Laplands in a mixed flock using this grass habitat when there's plenty of more open ag fields around that they seem to prefer, and all the birds I got real good looks at were Smith's, and the habitat and behavior was spot-on for Smiths. In flight I could make out the white patch on the forward edge of the wings on some of the birds, and the 2 white outer tail feathers, and just general buffy colors, and of course they were constantly calling in flight a high, dry rattle. Got several recordings and a few photos. Nearer the water I also found 2 Am.Pipits and 6 Savannah Sparrows, both FOY for me.
Date: 3/1/26 10:16 am From: Matt Shurtliff via groups.io <mmscornhusker...> Subject: [NEBirds] Lucky day at Loess Bluffs NWR
Here's a few pics from Loess Bluffs NWR yesterday. The accumulation of Snow Geese was the biggest I've ever seen, my best guess is > 2 Million, but it could've been significantly higher. But then I got an even bigger treat.
At about 4:45 pm, birds began lifting from the mass. The geese weren't repositioning like we often see. They weren't scared up, circling, and returning to the ground. They were rising, gaining altitude, and heading north. It started with a trickle, then a steady stream, and then a MASSIVE flow. Over the next hour the exodus became spectacular as flight after flight of birds lifted off, some of the flights 50K or greater. Just a great sight to see.
If I had to guess, I'd say more than half of the geese present at the refuge left late yesterday afternoon. Maybe even 3/4.
In addition to those leaving from the refuge, I could see HUGE flights of Snows going north over the Missouri River. At this size I wouldn't even call them skeins, though multiple several-mile long vees were moving. It was just a huge mass of birds. They birds weren't coming to the refuge, they were heading north. I couldn't put a number to what was moving up the river. The Snow Goose Superhighway was open.
Bonus - as I was circling around the refuge to leave, there was a murmuration of blackbirds. I got to a spot where I could see, and the numbers were staggering. Birds from all around were accumulating at the refuge. They ended up in the trees and in the cattails. As light went away, as you focused binoculars on the cattails, it was an enormous frenzy of blackbirds. I've only seen one bigger in my life, years ago in January at Cheyenne Bottoms in KS.
No way to count the blackbirds, but it's entirely possible I had an 8-digit bird day, > 10 Million, between the two species.
What a joy to see. This is why I watch birds. I'm so lucky.
Date: 3/1/26 4:51 am From: Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Problem with eBird?
I just went in to eBird on the website, and I see what you mean. Looked at some forums on FB and perhaps it is a very recent bug, happening globally even. some are saying we have to wait it out, as if it's a known issue to be fixed. I haven't found anything from eBird on the subject.
Ruthie StearnsLincoln, NE
On Friday, February 27, 2026 at 03:03:50 PM CST, Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> wrote:
Nebraska birders,I have also noticed that my county life list totals are in reverse order than a few days ago. My year-to-date and month-to-date totals seem to be there. I don't know why it has changed. Robin HardingShelton, Nebraska
On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 2:49 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
In the past few days, when I've brought up the "My eBird" page, it's shown my life totals for the Nebraska counties, but not my year-to-date or month-to-date totals. It's also showing those life totals with the smallest at the top and the largest at the bottom, which is the reverse of the way it's done it in the past. Has anyone else seen this problem? If so, any idea why? William FlackKearney
Date: 2/27/26 1:03 pm From: Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Problem with eBird?
Nebraska birders,
I have also noticed that my county life list totals are in reverse order
than a few days ago. My year-to-date and month-to-date totals seem to be
there. I don't know why it has changed.
Robin Harding
Shelton, Nebraska
On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 2:49 PM William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> In the past few days, when I've brought up the "My eBird" page, it's shown
> my life totals for the Nebraska counties, but not my year-to-date or
> month-to-date totals. It's also showing those life totals with the
> smallest at the top and the largest at the bottom, which is the reverse of
> the way it's done it in the past. Has anyone else seen this problem? If
> so, any idea why?
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
Date: 2/27/26 12:49 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Problem with eBird?
In the past few days, when I've brought up the "My eBird" page, it's shown my life totals for the Nebraska counties, but not my year-to-date or month-to-date totals. It's also showing those life totals with the smallest at the top and the largest at the bottom, which is the reverse of the way it's done it in the past. Has anyone else seen this problem? If so, any idea why?
Date: 2/27/26 9:33 am From: Joe Freeborn via groups.io <jfreeborn58...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Conkaree!
[Edited Message Follows]
We’ve had quite a few of them in the yard now for several days. Along with the other usual blackbird suspects. Smaller flocks but still annoying on my feeders. Lol.
Date: 2/27/26 7:11 am From: Joe Freeborn via groups.io <jfreeborn58...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Conkaree!
We’ve had quite a few of them in the yard now for several days. Along with the other usual blackbird suspects. Smaller flocks but still annoying on my feeders. Lol.
Date: 2/24/26 7:05 am From: Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: [NEBirds] Breeding Bird Survey routes available in 2026
The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a long-term, volunteer-driven bird monitoring program conducted throughout North America. BBS data are used widely by wildlife agencies, researchers, birders and conservation planners. The program began in 1966 and more information about the BBS can be found HERE<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/about/__;!!PvXuogZ4sRB2p-tU!Du41XSSsr8S-rqg6zF-nWKwy_pRamTj4wVfMnd__7jw26ScgQB7V12Bukax_zymT2aUa8NxEDwXIgXrDUYvHk6RBa-bA257m$>. I am the state BBS coordinator and perhaps my principal duty is to identify and recruit individuals to fill vacant routes. Running a BBS requires only one morning in June to complete. Conducting a BBS route provides the opportunity to experience a back corner of Nebraska that you otherwise may not visit. Furthermore, it is a great way to contribute to a larger effort that helps everyone understand how bird populations and distributions are changing over time. Currently, there are several routes available in Nebraska. Open routes are shown in yellow on the attached map or at the following link: https://birds.outdoornebraska.gov/2019-breeding-bird-survey-routes-available/.
If you're interested, you have the opportunity to contribute to this program by adopting one of these routes. However, it is also important to ponder the following sideboards when considering taking on a BBS route.
1. Observers need access to suitable transportation - many routes include minimum maintenance roads.
2. Observers should possess good hearing and eyesight.
3. Observers need to be able to identify most breeding birds in the route's area by sight and sound. Knowledge of bird songs is extremely important because most birds detected on these surveys are singing males. HOWEVER - you don't need to be perfect or an expert - a decent skill set filling an empty route is better than a vacant route.
4. New BBS participants must also successfully complete the BBS Methodology Training Program before their data will be used in BBS analyses.
5. Observers should have the intention of running a BBS route for more than one year. This is important - one observer completing a route once has limited value.
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
Date: 2/17/26 2:59 pm From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] WAVI again
Hi Ruthie,
Thank you for reaching out. I wanted to contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding the use of the Merlin app, particularly in light of Tony Leukering's thoughtful comments.
As a birder who experiences hearing limitations and is somewhat tone-deaf, I've found Merlin to be an exceptionally beneficial tool. It has truly enhanced my ability to detect and identify species that I might otherwise miss, acting as a valuable aid in my birding pursuits.
However, I fully endorse the emphasis on caution and thorough verification. My personal protocol, which stems from a naturally skeptical approach, involves several steps to ensure the accuracy of any Merlin-assisted identification. Initially, when Merlin suggests a bird, I record it with a clear note indicating it's an "audio-detected" or "Merlin-assisted" observation. If I am subsequently able to achieve a visual confirmation of the bird, I then update my records accordingly.
Furthermore, I always cross-reference Merlin's suggestions with broader ecological and geographical data. This includes meticulously checking established range maps and considering whether the species is genuinely expected to be present in that specific area at that time of year. This multi-layered verification process helps to mitigate potential misidentifications and aligns with the principle of basing our understanding on verifiable facts rather than solely on technological output.
I hope this perspective is helpful to the discussion.
Best regards,
Shirley
Don MaasThe Maas's are currently wintering in the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ, from our home in Choctaw, OK.
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 12:01 PM, Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...> wrote:
Hi Ross. Thanks for these comments from Tony Leukering. Curious, do you have the comments from Ted Floyd as well?
Ruthie Stearns.
On Feb 16, 2026, at 5:11 PM, Ross Silcock <silcock...> wrote:
This from Tony Leukering in response to Ted Floyd.
Ross
Ross Silcock 6810 Tournament Drive,Houston, TX 77069
Co-editor Birds of Nebraska OnlineEditor Seasonal Reports, Nebraska Bird Review.
From: 'Tony Leukering' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2026 4:22 PM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds...>
Subject: [cobirds] Re: Documenting crossbills, warbling-vireos, etc.
All:
I cannot agree more thoroughly with Ted's cautions about Merlin, and, particularly, his cautions once we get into the warbling-vireo season. I, too, find many warbling vireo songs far from cut-and-dried enumerators of species, and please, please, please, don't take Merlin's word on it as gospel. Save the recording. Save the spectrogram. Both species have been detected during the breeding season at Barr Lake, and there's absolutely no guarantee against warbling-vireo hanky-panky. We want our understanding of the occurrence parameters in eastern Colorado to be based on provable facts, not intuition, supposition, or blind trust in technology.
Enjoy,
Tony LeukeringDenver
On Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 7:03:21 PM UTC-7 Ted Floyd wrote:
Date: 2/17/26 7:13 am From: Kellie H via groups.io <xxkhaydenxx...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] sick birds
Hi Moni, thank you for being responsible. I am a bird bander and sometimes
band at sites with bird feeders. I usually recommend 2-3 weeks, as that
allows time for diseased birds to either move on or pass away (sad to think
about, but then at least they will not be spreading disease at the feeder).
Make sure to scoop up and dispose of whatever feeder debris you can from
the ground, and wear gloves while doing so / wash hands after.
Kellie Hayden
On Tue, Feb 17, 2026, 9:03 AM Moni via groups.io <musasz=
<neb.rr.com...> wrote:
> Hey folks,
>
> We have found two dead birds and probably a sick bird in past few weeks.
> Since then we have disinfected feeders and discontinued feeding altogether.
>
> Google searches have not suggested how long we should not feed birds. Any
> knowledge out there?
>
> Moni Usasz
> Lincoln
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 2/17/26 5:59 am From: Badura, Laurel via groups.io <laurel_badura...> Subject: [NEBirds] Potential American Goshawk -- Dawson County
I was stopped at the Caseys (along the interstate) in Lexington, Nebraska (Dawson County) on Friday and noticed a raptor flying over the interstate. After a quick look through binoculars, I thought I saw a Cooper's hawk. However, I noticed the tail was long, the body tubular shaped, and the wings were very broad. In addition, the wing beat was different than a Cooper's. After talking through this with Joel, in which he mentioned "if it flies more like a buteo", it suddenly struck me that it did fly more like a buteo. So, I'm not verifying or saying I saw an American Goshawk, but I can't rule out I didn't. The bird definitely wasn't red-tailed or rough-legged hawk. If you're in the Lexington area, be on the lookout for one. I did do some searching on my way back through and didn't see the bird again.
Laurel
Laurel Badura
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist
US Fish and Wildlife Service
From: 'Tony Leukering' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2026 4:22 PM
To: Colorado Birds <cobirds...>
Subject: [cobirds] Re: Documenting crossbills, warbling-vireos, etc.
All:
I cannot agree more thoroughly with Ted's cautions about Merlin, and, particularly, his cautions once we get into the warbling-vireo season. I, too, find many warbling vireo songs far from cut-and-dried enumerators of species, and please, please, please, don't take Merlin's word on it as gospel. Save the recording. Save the spectrogram. Both species have been detected during the breeding season at Barr Lake, and there's absolutely no guarantee against warbling-vireo hanky-panky. We want our understanding of the occurrence parameters in eastern Colorado to be based on provable facts, not intuition, supposition, or blind trust in technology.
Enjoy,
Tony Leukering
Denver
On Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 7:03:21 PM UTC-7 Ted Floyd wrote:
Date: 2/16/26 9:30 am From: Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Big Day without a Blue Jay
Really great to hear about your wonderful day. I have not been out birding
in Nebraska since the Chase of the Mexican duck (hybrid) and Crested
Caracara. Fired me up to get out there but swamped with things I need to
get done so...... hope to be out there soon,
Congrats on a great day and country birding.
God Bless.
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Sioux City, IA 51106 **Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817 **<roisenp1950...> <roisenp1950...>*
On Mon, Feb 16, 2026 at 11:24 AM pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io
<pastorpaultdunbar...> wrote:
> Super cool, Tobin. Great list for February!
>
> On Monday, February 16, 2026 at 09:58:29 AM CST, Shirley Maas via
> groups.io <dtmsem2006...> wrote:
>
>
> Thanks for the report
>
> Don Maas
> Mesa, Az
> Maricopa 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 Maas
> The Maas’s have migrated to the Valley of the Sun in Mesa, AZ from
> Choctaw, Ok for the winter.
>
> On Monday, February 16, 2026, 7:48 AM, Tobin Brown via groups.io
> <tobinjbrown...> wrote:
>
> Nebraska Birders,
>
> On Saturday night, I headed west to Lake Ogallala with the plan of looking
> for gulls on Sunday. I camped overnight, where it got down to about 30
> degrees, and got up before dawn to look for gulls. On my way to the
> Kingsley Dam Outlet, I heard my first bird of the day, Great Horned Owl.
>
> The gulls were absolutely swarming, even before sunrise! In fact, most
> activity was before or just after sunrise. I lucked out and got a brief
> view of the continuing Short-billed Gull, but the star of the show was a
> first cycle Glaucous Gull <https://media.ebird.org/asset/651025604>. It
> was fun to observe it being the "bully" of the flock, chasing every nearby
> gull that got ahold of a fish. I continued picking through the flock, and
> after adding Lesser Black-backed, California, and Iceland Gull, I had a
> list of 7 gull species!
>
> I then drove around to the other side of the lake to scan through the
> flocks of waterfowl. Along the canal I added some passerines, including
> multiple Townsend's Solitaires. After picking through the ducks, which
> included a pair of Greater Scaup, my day list was nearing 50, and it was
> only 10am!
>
> At this point, I started thinking maybe I should turn it into a big day. I
> pulled up the latest issue of the Burrowing Owl, and saw that the record
> was 79 species. A difficult number, but perhaps doable with the good start
> that I had. I texted Boni and Eugene who were both out birding, and
> graciously started scouting out some areas on my route back east.
>
> At Sutherland Reservoir I added Cormorants, White-crowned, and Harris's
> Sparrows, and White-breasted Nuthatch. On my way to North Platte, I added
> Sandhill Cranes as a group of 58 kettled overhead. Boni sent me to a spot
> in North Platte where I was able to coax out a Marsh Wren and hear a
> Virginia Rail, 2 very good additions to the day list! Then in North Platte
> itself, I picked up Northern Shoveler, Great-tailed Grackle, and my last
> expected goose, Greater White-fronted. I checked a spot that typically has
> good blackbird flocks, but didn't find even a starling.
>
> Then I headed towards Elm Creek to meet up with Eugene in Dawson
> county. We got incredibly lucky in that area, finding a Ferruginous Hawk,
> Prairie Falcon, and 8 Greater Prairie Chickens! On our way to Ravenna,
> Eugene spotted a Northern Shrike far away on a power line which was a great
> pickup for the day.
>
> In Ravenna, the wind had picked up, but we hiked the hike/bike trail
> looking for a Spotted Towhee that had been seen previously. We struck out
> with the Towhee, but added a few species to the day list: Brown Creeper,
> Black-capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
>
> On the drive back to Rowe Sanctuary, we kept our eyes peeled for a Merlin,
> one of the last raptors I needed, but no luck. At Rowe we were treated to a
> spectacle of Northern Harriers, we counted 12 harriers in one field near
> sunset! The record-tying bird for the day was the Short-eared Owl
> <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/651047406>. A group of 3 came out to
> play about 10 minutes before sunset in the meadows. It was so cool to see
> these birds 2 nights in a row.
>
> As the sun set on the day, I had just a couple more birds to try for. With
> Eugene's guidance, we were able to hear a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls near
> Kearney, and then I headed back east. In Lincoln, I tried one of my typical
> spots for one last bird, Barred Owl, but they were unfortunately silent, so
> the day list stopped at 80.
>
> February is typically one of the most underbirded months it seems, so I
> really enjoyed getting out to see some new places, especially in the
> unseasonably warm weather we had. And I would encourage others to do the
> same. Setting silly goals also forced me to look for common birds like
> Chickadees and Blue Jays (I had no idea how difficult they were to find in
> Central Nebraska). I'm sure I'll do a proper May Big Day eventually, but
> this was fun too!
>
> Over the course of the day, I added 15 county birds to my lists, for the
> following totals.
> Keith: 194 (1)
> Lincoln: 145 (3)
> Dawson: 51 (2)
> Buffalo: 115 (6)
> Kearney: 31 (3)
>
> The full list can be found on my trip report
> https://ebird.org/tripreport/476976 >
>
> Happy birding!
>
> Tobin Brown
> Lancaster County
> https://ebird.org/profile/NDA1ODIzNg/US-NE >
>
>
>
Date: 2/16/26 9:24 am From: pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io <pastorpaultdunbar...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Big Day without a Blue Jay
Super cool, Tobin. Great list for February!
On Monday, February 16, 2026 at 09:58:29 AM CST, Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> wrote:
Thanks for the report
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, February 16, 2026, 7:48 AM, Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> wrote:
Nebraska Birders,
On Saturday night, I headed west to Lake Ogallala with the plan of looking for gulls on Sunday. I camped overnight, where it got down to about 30 degrees, and got up before dawn to look for gulls. On my way to the Kingsley Dam Outlet, I heard my first bird of the day, Great Horned Owl.
The gulls were absolutely swarming, even before sunrise! In fact, most activity was before or just after sunrise. I lucked out and got a brief view of the continuing Short-billed Gull, but the star of the show was a first cycle Glaucous Gull. It was fun to observe it being the "bully" of the flock, chasing every nearby gull that got ahold of a fish. I continued picking through the flock, and after adding Lesser Black-backed, California, and Iceland Gull, I had a list of 7 gull species!
I then drove around to the other side of the lake to scan through the flocks of waterfowl. Along the canal I added some passerines, including multiple Townsend's Solitaires. After picking through the ducks, which included a pair of Greater Scaup, my day list was nearing 50, and it was only 10am!
At this point, I started thinking maybe I should turn it into a big day. I pulled up the latest issue of the Burrowing Owl, and saw that the record was 79 species. A difficult number, but perhaps doable with the good start that I had. I texted Boni and Eugene who were both out birding, and graciously started scouting out some areas on my route back east.
At Sutherland Reservoir I added Cormorants, White-crowned, and Harris's Sparrows, and White-breasted Nuthatch. On my way to North Platte, I added Sandhill Cranes as a group of 58 kettled overhead. Boni sent me to a spot in North Platte where I was able to coax out a Marsh Wren and hear a Virginia Rail, 2 very good additions to the day list! Then in North Platte itself, I picked up Northern Shoveler, Great-tailed Grackle, and my last expected goose, Greater White-fronted. I checked a spot that typically has good blackbird flocks, but didn't find even a starling.
Then I headed towards Elm Creek to meet up with Eugene in Dawson county. We got incredibly lucky in that area, finding a Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and 8 Greater Prairie Chickens! On our way to Ravenna, Eugene spotted a Northern Shrike far away on a power line which was a great pickup for the day.
In Ravenna, the wind had picked up, but we hiked the hike/bike trail looking for a Spotted Towhee that had been seen previously. We struck out with the Towhee, but added a few species to the day list: Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
On the drive back to Rowe Sanctuary, we kept our eyes peeled for a Merlin, one of the last raptors I needed, but no luck. At Rowe we were treated to a spectacle of Northern Harriers, we counted 12 harriers in one field near sunset! The record-tying bird for the day was the Short-eared Owl. A group of 3 came out to play about 10 minutes before sunset in the meadows. It was so cool to see these birds 2 nights in a row.
As the sun set on the day, I had just a couple more birds to try for. With Eugene's guidance, we were able to hear a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls near Kearney, and then I headed back east. In Lincoln, I tried one of my typical spots for one last bird, Barred Owl, but they were unfortunately silent, so the day list stopped at 80.
February is typically one of the most underbirded months it seems, so I really enjoyed getting out to see some new places, especially in the unseasonably warm weather we had. And I would encourage others to do the same. Setting silly goals also forced me to look for common birds like Chickadees and Blue Jays (I had no idea how difficult they were to find in Central Nebraska). I'm sure I'll do a proper May Big Day eventually, but this was fun too!
Over the course of the day, I added 15 county birds to my lists, for the following totals.Keith: 194 (1)Lincoln: 145 (3)Dawson: 51 (2)Buffalo: 115 (6)Kearney: 31 (3)
Date: 2/16/26 7:58 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Big Day without a Blue Jay
Thanks for the report
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, February 16, 2026, 7:48 AM, Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> wrote:
Nebraska Birders,
On Saturday night, I headed west to Lake Ogallala with the plan of looking for gulls on Sunday. I camped overnight, where it got down to about 30 degrees, and got up before dawn to look for gulls. On my way to the Kingsley Dam Outlet, I heard my first bird of the day, Great Horned Owl.
The gulls were absolutely swarming, even before sunrise! In fact, most activity was before or just after sunrise. I lucked out and got a brief view of the continuing Short-billed Gull, but the star of the show was a first cycle Glaucous Gull. It was fun to observe it being the "bully" of the flock, chasing every nearby gull that got ahold of a fish. I continued picking through the flock, and after adding Lesser Black-backed, California, and Iceland Gull, I had a list of 7 gull species!
I then drove around to the other side of the lake to scan through the flocks of waterfowl. Along the canal I added some passerines, including multiple Townsend's Solitaires. After picking through the ducks, which included a pair of Greater Scaup, my day list was nearing 50, and it was only 10am!
At this point, I started thinking maybe I should turn it into a big day. I pulled up the latest issue of the Burrowing Owl, and saw that the record was 79 species. A difficult number, but perhaps doable with the good start that I had. I texted Boni and Eugene who were both out birding, and graciously started scouting out some areas on my route back east.
At Sutherland Reservoir I added Cormorants, White-crowned, and Harris's Sparrows, and White-breasted Nuthatch. On my way to North Platte, I added Sandhill Cranes as a group of 58 kettled overhead. Boni sent me to a spot in North Platte where I was able to coax out a Marsh Wren and hear a Virginia Rail, 2 very good additions to the day list! Then in North Platte itself, I picked up Northern Shoveler, Great-tailed Grackle, and my last expected goose, Greater White-fronted. I checked a spot that typically has good blackbird flocks, but didn't find even a starling.
Then I headed towards Elm Creek to meet up with Eugene in Dawson county. We got incredibly lucky in that area, finding a Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and 8 Greater Prairie Chickens! On our way to Ravenna, Eugene spotted a Northern Shrike far away on a power line which was a great pickup for the day.
In Ravenna, the wind had picked up, but we hiked the hike/bike trail looking for a Spotted Towhee that had been seen previously. We struck out with the Towhee, but added a few species to the day list: Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
On the drive back to Rowe Sanctuary, we kept our eyes peeled for a Merlin, one of the last raptors I needed, but no luck. At Rowe we were treated to a spectacle of Northern Harriers, we counted 12 harriers in one field near sunset! The record-tying bird for the day was the Short-eared Owl. A group of 3 came out to play about 10 minutes before sunset in the meadows. It was so cool to see these birds 2 nights in a row.
As the sun set on the day, I had just a couple more birds to try for. With Eugene's guidance, we were able to hear a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls near Kearney, and then I headed back east. In Lincoln, I tried one of my typical spots for one last bird, Barred Owl, but they were unfortunately silent, so the day list stopped at 80.
February is typically one of the most underbirded months it seems, so I really enjoyed getting out to see some new places, especially in the unseasonably warm weather we had. And I would encourage others to do the same. Setting silly goals also forced me to look for common birds like Chickadees and Blue Jays (I had no idea how difficult they were to find in Central Nebraska). I'm sure I'll do a proper May Big Day eventually, but this was fun too!
Over the course of the day, I added 15 county birds to my lists, for the following totals.Keith: 194 (1)Lincoln: 145 (3)Dawson: 51 (2)Buffalo: 115 (6)Kearney: 31 (3)
Date: 2/16/26 6:48 am From: Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Big Day without a Blue Jay
Nebraska Birders,
On Saturday night, I headed west to Lake Ogallala with the plan of looking for gulls on Sunday. I camped overnight, where it got down to about 30 degrees, and got up before dawn to look for gulls. On my way to the Kingsley Dam Outlet, I heard my first bird of the day, Great Horned Owl.
The gulls were absolutely swarming, even before sunrise! In fact, most activity was before or just after sunrise. I lucked out and got a brief view of the continuing Short-billed Gull, but the star of the show was a first cycle Glaucous Gull <https://media.ebird.org/asset/651025604>. It was fun to observe it being the "bully" of the flock, chasing every nearby gull that got ahold of a fish. I continued picking through the flock, and after adding Lesser Black-backed, California, and Iceland Gull, I had a list of 7 gull species!
I then drove around to the other side of the lake to scan through the flocks of waterfowl. Along the canal I added some passerines, including multiple Townsend's Solitaires. After picking through the ducks, which included a pair of Greater Scaup, my day list was nearing 50, and it was only 10am!
At this point, I started thinking maybe I should turn it into a big day. I pulled up the latest issue of the Burrowing Owl, and saw that the record was 79 species. A difficult number, but perhaps doable with the good start that I had. I texted Boni and Eugene who were both out birding, and graciously started scouting out some areas on my route back east.
At Sutherland Reservoir I added Cormorants, White-crowned, and Harris's Sparrows, and White-breasted Nuthatch. On my way to North Platte, I added Sandhill Cranes as a group of 58 kettled overhead. Boni sent me to a spot in North Platte where I was able to coax out a Marsh Wren and hear a Virginia Rail, 2 very good additions to the day list! Then in North Platte itself, I picked up Northern Shoveler, Great-tailed Grackle, and my last expected goose, Greater White-fronted. I checked a spot that typically has good blackbird flocks, but didn't find even a starling.
Then I headed towards Elm Creek to meet up with Eugene in Dawson county. We got incredibly lucky in that area, finding a Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and 8 Greater Prairie Chickens! On our way to Ravenna, Eugene spotted a Northern Shrike far away on a power line which was a great pickup for the day.
In Ravenna, the wind had picked up, but we hiked the hike/bike trail looking for a Spotted Towhee that had been seen previously. We struck out with the Towhee, but added a few species to the day list: Brown Creeper, Black-capped Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, and Red-headed Woodpecker.
On the drive back to Rowe Sanctuary, we kept our eyes peeled for a Merlin, one of the last raptors I needed, but no luck. At Rowe we were treated to a spectacle of Northern Harriers, we counted 12 harriers in one field near sunset! The record-tying bird for the day was the Short-eared Owl <https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/651047406>. A group of 3 came out to play about 10 minutes before sunset in the meadows. It was so cool to see these birds 2 nights in a row.
As the sun set on the day, I had just a couple more birds to try for. With Eugene's guidance, we were able to hear a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls near Kearney, and then I headed back east. In Lincoln, I tried one of my typical spots for one last bird, Barred Owl, but they were unfortunately silent, so the day list stopped at 80.
February is typically one of the most underbirded months it seems, so I really enjoyed getting out to see some new places, especially in the unseasonably warm weather we had. And I would encourage others to do the same. Setting silly goals also forced me to look for common birds like Chickadees and Blue Jays (I had no idea how difficult they were to find in Central Nebraska). I'm sure I'll do a proper May Big Day eventually, but this was fun too!
Over the course of the day, I added 15 county birds to my lists, for the following totals. Keith: 194 (1) Lincoln: 145 (3) Dawson: 51 (2) Buffalo: 115 (6) Kearney: 31 (3)
