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.
