Date: 6/16/25 1:41 pm From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Hay Springs USGS BBS Summary
Thanks Ross!!!
On Mon, Jun 16, 2025, 3:39 PM Ross Silcock via groups.io <silcock=
<rosssilcock.com...> wrote:
> Interesting discussion. I defer to Joel, but a couple thoughts.
>
> I think since it's a Breeding Bird Survey, any birds seen and heard that
> are within their known breeding ranges (see BONO) should be reported as
> part of the BBS, as Tobin assumed. I don't think BBS is designed to
> delineate breeding ranges, but rather to estimate numbers.
>
> Where it gets murky, and I think this is why BBS wants "non-breeding"
> birds noted, is to keep migrants or vagrants outside their presumed/known
> breeding ranges separate, like a Philadelphia Vireo in Dundy County.
>
> And, of course, occasionally a BBS route might find a species meeting
> criteria for breeding outside its previously known range, for example a
> range expansion or isolated breeding event. I'm not sure how BBS wants this
> handled, but I suspect it would be reported during the survey as a
> "non-breeder" but noted as a possible breeder and subsequently
> investigated. Joel?
>
> Ross
>
> Ross Silcock
> Co-editor Birds of Nebraska Online
> Editor Seasonal Reports, Nebraska Bird Review.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of David
> Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...>
> *Sent:* Monday, June 16, 2025 3:06 PM
> *To:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [NEBirds] Hay Springs USGS BBS Summary
>
> Joel,
>
> Thanks for the corrective instruction to my approach. I will fix in the
> online input.
>
> Paul- it was a great question. Thanks
>
> Dc
>
> On Mon, Jun 16, 2025, 2:56 PM Jorgensen, Joel via groups.io
> <Joel.Jorgensen...> wrote:
>
> From the BBS instructions:
>
>
>
> No one will detect all birds present at a stop. Hundreds of birds will be
> present but not active during each 3-minute count, and you must not try to
> guess how many you are missing. Report only those birds actually seen or
> heard during the prescribed 3-minute stops. Be careful not to count any
> individuals known or strongly suspected to have been counted at a previous
> stop. Any bird suspected to be a representative of another breeding
> population (i.e., a late migrant, a summer vagrant, etc.) should be
> included in the count but marked as a ‘non-breeder’ on the data sheet.
>
>
>
> So, yes, I think it is reasonable to include Common Yellowthroat and Blue
> Jay as breeders even though I understand David’s logic. The BBS staff
> probably does some data tweaking as well for what are and what are not
> non-breeders, so I would not be too worried about how these were
> classified.
>
>
>
> Appreciate everyone tackling BBS routes and sharing results. I’ve done
> the Benkelman and Liberty BBS routes so far this year. Benkelman is
> usually reliable for a few Cassin’s Sparrows but I had none this year on
> the route. I know a small number have been reported elsewhere in the state
> this summer, but it certainly does not appear to be a banner year for the
> species. I also had more Swainson’s Hawks (mostly first year birds) and
> Burrowing Owls (4, thanks to a prairie dog colony that has grown over the
> years) on this route than ever before, but the Ferruginous Hawk nest that
> was active for a few years was again inactive this year. Another highlight
> was having both a male Baltimore and a male Bullock’s Oriole in the same
> cottonwood trees on one of the few stops where there are a grove of large
> trees. The Liberty route didn’t have a ton of highlights but a lot of
> birds. American Crows seemed omnipresent, which hasn’t always been the
> case in the post-WNV world. Yellow-throated Vireo was a new addition to
> the route.
>
>
>
> Cheers.
>
>
>
> *Joel*
>
> *___________________________________________________________________*
>
> Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager | Nebraska Game and Parks
> Commission
>
> 2200 N 33
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/2200+N+33?entry=gmail&source=g>rd St.
> | Lincoln, NE 68503 | <joel.jorgensen...> | 402-471-5440
>
>
>
> *From:* <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> *On Behalf Of *Tobin Brown
> via groups.io
> *Sent:* Monday, June 16, 2025 2:41 PM
> *To:* <NEBirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [NEBirds] Hay Springs USGS BBS Summary
>
>
>
> Dave,
>
> I went the other way with my assumption. When I encountered Yellow
> Warbler, Greater Prairie Chicken, Black-necked Stilt, and Cinnamon Teal at
> Crescent Lake, I labeled them as breeders. If the Common Yellowthroat was
> singing, that could be considered evidence of breeding? The blue jay makes
> sense though, it could just be passing through from a nearby area not on
> the count.
>
> Curious to hear others thoughts!
>
>
>
> - Tobin
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 2:15 PM David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> Paul,
>
>
>
> Great question. I used the term "non-breeder" in this case as used by
> USGS where it is not listed in their breeder list. USGS permits me to
> select between the breeder and non- breeder for "additional" species. This
> is the first year that these species were identified for this survey.
> There was no evidence of breeding. Therefore, I used the USGS default of
> non-breeding.
>
>
>
> All that said, I hope the expert orinithologists can confirm or correct my
> interpretation and selection.
>
>
>
> Thanks again for the question. I'm still learning.
>
>
>
> Dave Cunningham
>
> Sarpy County
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 16, 2025, 2:04 PM Paul Roisen via groups.io <roisenp1950=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> David,
>
> Thanks for the update on Hay Springs. It has been a while since I have
> been in Sheridan County. Sorry for the silly question, but I was confused
> by your comment that the Blue Jay and the Common Yellowthroat were the only
> NON-breeders on the list. I jumped to the conclusion that this meant that
> there was no evidence of breeding?
>
>
>
> God Bless and have a great day.
>
>
>
> *Paul O. Roisen*
>
> *Woodbury County, IA*
>
> *Mobile 712-301-2817*
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> I completed the Hay Springs BBS on 7 Jun 2025. The biggest missing
> species was Bobolink. I paused on 3 stops to use the binoculars and
> specifically listen for them, but none heard or seen. This is the fastest
> I completed the route, mostly due to the good weather. This year's counts
> are consistent with past years going back to 2018 (first year). The
> average number of species is approximately 42 with about 985 for the
> individuals count. The lone Blue Jay and Common Yellowthroat were the only
> non-breeders observed.
>
>
>
> *Species*
>
> *1-10*
>
> *11-20*
>
> *21-30*
>
> *31-40*
>
> *41-50*
>
> *Total ind.*
>
> *Total Stops*
>
> Blue-winged Teal
>
> 2
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 1
>
> Sharp-tailed Grouse
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 2
>
> Ring-necked Pheasant
>
> 16
>
> 14
>
> 14
>
> 18
>
> 1
>
> 63
>
> 33
>
> Eurasian Collared-Dove
>
> 2
>
> 1
>
> 9
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 12
>
> 7
>
> Mourning Dove
>
> 42
>
> 34
>
> 56
>
> 28
>
> 19
>
> 179
>
> 46
>
> Killdeer
>
> 2
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 4
>
> 4
>
> Long-billed Curlew
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 2
>
> Turkey Vulture
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> Red-tailed Hawk
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 3
>
> 4
>
> 4
>
> Great Horned Owl
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> Burrowing Owl
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 4
>
> 4
>
> 3
>
> Red-headed Woodpecker
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> Western Kingbird
>
> 3
>
> 2
>
> 1
>
> 2
>
> 10
>
> 18
>
> 12
>
> Eastern Kingbird
>
> 1
>
> 3
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 3
>
> 8
>
> 8
>
> Western Wood-Pewee
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> 2
>
> 2
>
> Say's Phoebe
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 2
>
> Bell's Vireo
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> Loggerhead Shrike
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 2
>
> American Crow
>
> 0
>
> 7
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 7
>
> 7
>
> Horned Lark
>
> 42
>
> 26
>
> 25
>
> 23
>
> 14
>
> 130
>
> 39
>
> Barn Swallow
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 7
>
> 1
>
> 9
>
> 17
>
> 8
>
> Northern House Wren
>
> 0
>
> 1
>
> 0
>
> 0
>
> 2
>
> 3
>
> 2
>
> Brown Thrasher
>
> 0
>
> 3
>
> 1
>
> 2
>
> 0
>
> 6
>
> 5
>
> European Starling
>
>
