I checked eBird and the red-shouldered hawk was seen by Larry Einemann along NW 126th St which is on the west end of Pawnee Lake and in the Seward-BOL CBC circle (thanks Larry for including the location in your post). Hopefully, it will stay around until Monday Dec 18, the day of the Seward-BOL CBC. In the 30-year history of the count, we have only had one red-shouldered hawk, a count week bird in 2008.
Joe Gubanyi
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...>
Sent: Saturday, December 9, 2023 9:23 AM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Red-shouldered Hawk expansion
You don't often get email from <flyingcarlini...> Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> External Email
Hello birders,
Yesterday Dec. 8 there were Red-shouldered Hawks reported at 3 separate spots locally! Wagon Train RA, Pioneers Park, and Pawnee Lake SRA - wow, just a few years ago we had to drive to the east edge of Neb. to encounter that fetching species. Tufted Titmouse is another species that seemed to have an uptick of locally reported locations this year.
Date: 12/9/23 7:23 am From: flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> Subject: [NEBirds] Red-shouldered Hawk expansion
Hello birders,
Yesterday Dec. 8 there were Red-shouldered Hawks reported at 3 separate spots locally! Wagon Train RA, Pioneers Park, and Pawnee Lake SRA - wow, just a few years ago we had to drive to the east edge of Neb. to encounter that fetching species. Tufted Titmouse is another species that seemed to have an uptick of locally reported locations this year.
Date: 12/4/23 7:08 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: [NEBirds] Buffalo County Birds (Saturday Dec 2)
Hi all,
This past Saturday, Tommy Childers, Nate Eidem, Cody MacGregor, Carter Moss, and I did a peripheral loop of Buffalo County to see what grassland birds we could find. Highlights included:
Things were very clustered yesterday there was at least one place we stopped where we didnt have a single bird of any kind. Almost everything we saw was between Pleasanton and Ravenna, near or north of the South Loup River. Everything is in eBird.
Date: 12/4/23 4:52 am From: Ruth Stearns via groups.io <ruthstearns...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] eBird map cells
Bill that sounds like a fine project and before next week's spate of CBC's, we will go over there this week one day.
Ruthie Stearns Lincoln, NE
On Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 09:41:24 PM CST, William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
Fellow NEBirders—
I'm currently embarked on an expedition through the Panhandle and the Sandhills, trying to catch eBird map cells with no December reports. The weather's been good, though there was an inch or two of snow in Scotts Bluff County this morning. I've been to some fairly boring habitat, but on the other hand have added Lapland Longspur to my Deuel and Morrill county lists, and picked up a Merlin for Box Butte.
I notice that there's one map cell in southeastern Nebraska that hasn't been visited in December. Could some public-spirited individual in that part of the state try to bird it and submit a complete report (time, distance, and numbers for all species)? The cell includes the towns of Talmage, Brock, and Johnson, and Coryell Park about three miles south of Brock.
We've currently got complete coverage of the state for 7 months: April, May, July, August, September, October, and November. Hopefully, we can add December to that list this year—
Date: 12/3/23 7:41 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird map cells
Fellow NEBirders—
I'm currently embarked on an expedition through the Panhandle and the Sandhills, trying to catch eBird map cells with no December reports. The weather's been good, though there was an inch or two of snow in Scotts Bluff County this morning. I've been to some fairly boring habitat, but on the other hand have added Lapland Longspur to my Deuel and Morrill county lists, and picked up a Merlin for Box Butte.
I notice that there's one map cell in southeastern Nebraska that hasn't been visited in December. Could some public-spirited individual in that part of the state try to bird it and submit a complete report (time, distance, and numbers for all species)? The cell includes the towns of Talmage, Brock, and Johnson, and Coryell Park about three miles south of Brock.
We've currently got complete coverage of the state for 7 months: April, May, July, August, September, October, and November. Hopefully, we can add December to that list this year—
Date: 12/3/23 5:54 pm From: Robin Harding <pine2siskin4...> Subject: [NEBirds] Howard and Hall
Nebraska birders,
Sunday, December 03, Steve Morris and I birded in Howard and
Hall Counties. Our first stop was Eagle Scout Lake in
Grand Island. There was a flock of roughly 500 geese, 80% of
which were Cackling Geese. Steve said that for some reason,
Cackling Geese really like this lake. There were also ten
Snow Geese, one Ross’s Goose and one Greater White-fronted
Goose. There were also a couple of Northern Pintails.
There was one goose at Eagle Scout Lake that, at first glance,
looked like a blue morph Snow Goose but there was a straight
line between its dark body and white neck. It also had a very
tiny bill. I assume it is some sort of hybrid or domestic.
In Howard County, at North Loup SRA, we walked the trail to
its end and back. We saw a few Bald Eagles, a Red-winged
Blackbird, a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a male Wood Duck.
At the Lake of the Woods, we saw two female or immature
Hooded Mergansers. It is a new county bird for me. I'm up
to 180 in Howard County. We also saw another male Wood
Duck.
We walked at Marsh Wren WMA from the parking lot to the
north and west until we reached the end of the trail and
then walked back. We saw another Yellow-rumped Warbler
and a few more Bald Eagles.
We also birded Dannebrog’s park and hike/bike trail. We
saw a Brown Creeper, four Ruby-crowned Kinglets and a
Black-capped Chickadee.
We birded a few other places and along county roads but
the wind was blowing hard from the north and we did not
see much more. ebird yes.
Date: 12/2/23 10:44 am From: quercusvelutina2002 via groups.io <quercusvelutina2002...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] ID help: Red-shouldered Hawk? Lancaster County on Dec 1
Hello, I feel confident of my ID now, because today I saw the white crescent on upper wings as it flew, and I caught a bit of rust on shoulders. It has caught 2 mouse/vole-sized rodents today. It's hanging around the northern edge of park in the line of honey locusts between the old columns and Forestview Circle. Thank you to Tom L and Joel J for the helpful offline replies confirming this id was possible.
Cheers,
Rachel Simpson
Lincoln, NE
Date: 12/1/23 1:17 pm From: quercusvelutina2002 via groups.io <quercusvelutina2002...> Subject: [NEBirds] ID help: Red-shouldered Hawk? Lancaster County on Dec 1
Hello! Today in Lancaster County, north edge of Pioneer Park, Lincoln, I saw what I think is an adult Red-shouldered Hawk, but I wondered if there's something else it could have been since I am not sure if it would be usual to see here now. It had fine barring of an intense rust color on chest that reminded me most of an adult Cooper's or Sharp-shinned but many differences: much stockier bird, the tail was shorter relative to body, it had a black and white striped tail, black and white stripes on the primaries (maybe other parts of wing too), black and white scalloping on coverts/mantle (?). I can not say that I picked up on rust/red on the shoulders though. And I didn't get a close look at the bird in flight unfortunately. Size: We see a lot of Red-tailed Hawks here the same distance away and this was definitely smaller, and it was larger than a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I am not seeing anything else in the pages of Sibley that it could be other than Red-Shouldered Hawk, but wondered if there is an alternative I should look at. Thank you for your expertise!
Date: 12/1/23 6:28 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: [NEBirds] really late lark sparrow with abnormal bill
I mentioned what I thought might be a late lark sparrow about a month ago. This one was really late, at my place SE of Valentine. Unfortunately my cat got it on November 29. Its lower mandible is noticeable longer than the upper. I imagine it had difficulty feeding. Perhaps it had not the energy to migrate.
Date: 11/29/23 8:02 pm From: William Huser <billfhuser...> Subject: [NEBirds] Kramper Lake, Dakota County, birding highlights
Wed. Nov. 29, 2023
White-winged Scoter, 1 continuing female/immature Red-tailed Hawk, 1 immature dark phase western (B.j. calurus) Note in the 2nd photo the bird is interacting with another immature Red-tailed hawk, This one is a light phase that approached, perched upside down and displayed spread wings and tail. This pose was maintained for about 1 minute. It is reminiscent of Bald Eagle courtship when mates lock talons in freefall flight. If anyone knows of this behavior in Red-tailed Hawks, please reply offline.
Jerry Probst, South Sioux City Bill Huser, South Sioux City
Date: 11/27/23 2:57 pm From: Jeanne Miller <jeanneno...> Subject: [NEBirds] NY Times article on birding in urban areas
The title is "Why Warblers Flock to Wealthier Neighborhoods" and discusses distributions of birds and their intersection with the historic practice of redlining. I found some of the points interesting and thought that other birders may find it so, as well, especially our fantastic urban birders.
Date: 11/26/23 8:31 am From: Ross Silcock <silcock...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Pine Siskins
Thanks Mary!
Ross
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Mary Clausen via groups.io <mkclausen...>
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2023 10:20:01 AM
To: Nebirds <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Pine Siskins
Date: 11/26/23 8:20 am From: Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Pine Siskins
Ross this info was added to eBird.
Mary Clausen Sarpy County
On Sun, Nov 26, 2023, 10:04 AM Mary Clausen via groups.io <mkclausen= <gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi All, > > Late yesterday afternoon, I had at least 40 American Goldfinches and 7 > Pine Siskins in my yard. > > This morning I just counted 20 Pine Siskins and 10 American Goldfinches at > my feeders. Last year I only saw one Pine Siskin for one day. > > Earlier I had a Cooper's Hawk with a bird it caught, that I was unable to > Identify. > > Seems the front and snow brought in a lot of birds. > > Mary Clausen > Sarpy County > >
Date: 11/26/23 5:23 am From: Shirley Maas via groups.io <dtmsem2006...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Pine Siskins
This morning at my feeders I had Anna’s Hummingbird, Cayuses Wren, and Gila Woodpecker. Hops. Forgot where I was.
Don Maas Maricopa County Mesa, 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 Saturday, November 25, 2023, 11:35 AM, Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> wrote:
Hi All,
This morning at my feeders, I had 4 Pine Siskins and 9 American Goldfinches. Hope this is a sign of more winter birds to come.
Mary ClausenLa Vista, Sarpy County
A mid-morning stroll through Boyer Chute (Washington county) yielded the following:
On the road just outside the chute I saw two meadowlarks (not sure if Eastern or Western) and a Kestrel perched on the power line.
A Mourning dove in the weeds by the river on North River trail. I guess this one will stick around all Winter?
A very large flock of American goldfinches. Way more than 20 birds, maybe 50. They were also on North River trail, in the trees on both sides of the trail.
A Belted kingfisher at the mouth of the side channel.
A large falcon, I think a Peregrine. Definitely bigger than a Kestrel. It was on the East-West trail, about in the middle. I saw it quite a ways off, on a tree out in the middle of the prairie on the South side of the trail. Then it flew towards me and put on an areal show right in front of me, turning tight circles with flared tail, swooping down and climbing back up as if it wanted something in the grass. Then it briefly perched nearby on a tree on the North side of the trail. Then it flew to another tree further away as I finally got a couple of poor photos of it with my phone. Amazing how an encounter like that lifts your spirits.
Date: 11/21/23 3:44 am From: Bill Kaempfer <William.Kaempfer...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Southeast corner
A delightful post, Robin; thank you for sharing it. I remember visiting those counties when the NOU meetings were down there in Auburn, as I recall. And I cant hear those Golden-crowned Kinglets anymore either.
Bill Kaempfer
Safety Harbor, FL
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Robin Harding via groups.io <pine2siskin4...>
Sent: Monday, November 20, 2023 7:13 PM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Southeast corner
Nebraska birders,
Enjoyed a very nice weekend birding with Bill Flack in the
southeast corner of our State. Bill showed me some of his
birding hot spots in the area. I had not birded there much
in the past so my county numbers were pathetic.
On November 18, we birded Burchard Lake in Pawnee County.
The area was closed to hunting so we had the place to ourselves,
except for the birds, and there were lots of them. The
waterfowl were abundant. I added a bunch to my county list.
A Northern Shrike posed for us atop a bush. A Merlin also
stayed put for quite a while. We decided that it was a
Taiga.
We walked at Iron Horse Lake Recreation Area in Pawnee County.
I added several more species to my county list including Rusty
Blackbirds. I heard an unfamiliar scolding sound which turned
out to be a Tufted Titmouse.
In Richardson County near Kirkmans Cove, we saw a Harlans
Red-tailed Hawk. As we were driving north along the Johnson
and Nemaha County line, Bill was looking at my county lists
and said You need a Red-tail in Nemaha County. Just a moment
later, a Red-tail took off from a power pole and flew across
the road in front of us. Bill wondered, well, how about an
Elegant Trogon?
We stopped at the Tecumseh sewage pond and walked at Wirth
Brothers Recreation Area. At the later, a local gentleman
stopped to talk. As we were chatting, he said hey, look,
Bobwhite. as a small covey scurried from a field into a
shelter belt.
On November 19, we birded Coryell Park in Nemaha County. I
heard Golden-crowned Kinglets but could not see them. Bill
could not hear them but he could see them. We birded a few
more places in Nemaha County and then traveled to Richardson
County. At Indian Cave State Park, we saw a Pileated
Woodpecker.
Thanks to Bill, I added 29 species to my Pawnee County list,
16 to Nemaha, 14 to Johnson and 12 to Richardson.
Bill has entered his ebird lists and shared them with me.
Enjoyed a very nice weekend birding with Bill Flack in the
southeast corner of our State. Bill showed me some of his
birding hot spots in the area. I had not birded there much
in the past so my county numbers were pathetic.
On November 18, we birded Burchard Lake in Pawnee County.
The area was closed to hunting so we had the place to ourselves,
except for the birds, and there were lots of them. The
waterfowl were abundant. I added a bunch to my county list.
A Northern Shrike posed for us atop a bush. A Merlin also
stayed put for quite a while. We decided that it was a
Taiga.
We walked at Iron Horse Lake Recreation Area in Pawnee County.
I added several more species to my county list including Rusty
Blackbirds. I heard an unfamiliar scolding sound which turned
out to be a Tufted Titmouse.
In Richardson County near Kirkman’s Cove, we saw a Harlan’s
Red-tailed Hawk. As we were driving north along the Johnson
and Nemaha County line, Bill was looking at my county lists
and said “You need a Red-tail in Nemaha County.” Just a moment
later, a Red-tail took off from a power pole and flew across
the road in front of us. Bill wondered, well, how about an
Elegant Trogon?
We stopped at the Tecumseh sewage pond and walked at Wirth
Brothers Recreation Area. At the later, a local gentleman
stopped to talk. As we were chatting, he said “hey, look,
Bobwhite.” as a small covey scurried from a field into a
shelter belt.
On November 19, we birded Coryell Park in Nemaha County. I
heard Golden-crowned Kinglets but could not see them. Bill
could not hear them but he could see them. We birded a few
more places in Nemaha County and then traveled to Richardson
County. At Indian Cave State Park, we saw a Pileated
Woodpecker.
Thanks to Bill, I added 29 species to my Pawnee County list,
16 to Nemaha, 14 to Johnson and 12 to Richardson.
Bill has entered his ebird lists and shared them with me.
------ Original Message ------
From "William Huser" <billfhuser...>
To <NEBirds...>
Date 11/17/2023 9:30:04 PM
Subject Re: [NEBirds] Goose
>Yes, a Swan Goose, I believe. A pair of them showed up in early
>summer, probably dumped off since they appeared incapable of flight.
>The presumed female disappeared in Sept.
>
>On Fri, Nov 17, 2023 at 7:40 PM Jan Johnson <janbirder...>
>wrote:
>>Assuming this is a tame goose species? Today at Kramper Lake in
>>Dakota Co.
>>
>>I was looking at the Horned Grebe and managed to get both in this
>>shot.
>>
>>
>>
>>Jan Johnson
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
Yes, a Swan Goose, I believe. A pair of them showed up in early summer,
probably dumped off since they appeared incapable of flight. The presumed
female disappeared in Sept.
On Fri, Nov 17, 2023 at 7:40 PM Jan Johnson <janbirder...> wrote:
> Assuming this is a tame goose species? Today at Kramper Lake in Dakota Co.
>
> I was looking at the Horned Grebe and managed to get both in this shot.
>
>
>
> Jan Johnson
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 11/14/23 7:38 am From: Jorgensen, Joel <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: [NEBirds] FW: Carter P. Johnson Lake and dam to be decommissioned
I'm forwarding this Press Release to the group since this action will affect future birding at Ft. Rob and Sioux County.
Joel
================================================
Joel Jorgensen
Wildlife Division Assistant Administrator - Research (Interim)
Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402-471-5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
================================================
From: NGPC Press Release <nebraskagameandparks...>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:13 AM
To: Jorgensen, Joel <Joel.Jorgensen...>
Subject: Carter P. Johnson Lake and dam to be decommissioned
Carter P. Johnson Lake and dam to be decommissioned
Nebraska Game and Parks will decommission and remove the dam at Carter P. Johnson Lake at Fort Robinson State Park for the safety of the public. Once the dam is removed, Soldier Creek will be restored to a natural flowing state.
The 480-foot-long earthen dam, built in 1935, was reclassified as a high-hazard-potential dam in February 2020 by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. It has since been found to be deficient in three areas that could lead to its sudden or complete failure. These include:
* a high probability of erosion and failure of the dam's auxiliary spillway during floods;
* concerns about potential leaks in the spillway conduit running through the dam; and
* the potential for excessive seepage and erosion through an open gravel layer just below the ground surface in the foundation of the dam.
Should the dam fail, the potential for loss of life at Soldier Creek Campground and across U.S. Highway 20, both about 4 miles downstream, is unacceptable to both Game and Parks and NeDNR.
Since 2020, Game and Parks has worked with engineering and environmental consultants to identify solutions that would avoid removing the dam. Consultants estimated it would cost at least $11 million to replace the dam with a structure that meets the more rigorous design and safety standards required of dams classified as high hazard.
In late 2023, Game and Parks developed plans to safely remove the dam and restore this section of Soldier Creek in a manner that would enhance the trout fishery and public access on portions of the creek above and below the current lake.
"Our goal is to mitigate the loss of Carter P. Johnson Lake with enhanced angling opportunities in Soldier Creek," said Jim Swenson, Game and Parks deputy director. "Soldier Creek is a popular destination in northwest Nebraska for anglers seeking trout fishing opportunities."
"We know the lake holds a special place in the hearts and minds of those living in northwest Nebraska, the guests who have visited there, as well as staff who have invested time and talent into maintaining the lake and providing fishing opportunities," he added. "This is a difficult but necessary decision. Fortunately, and thanks to our Fisheries team, we have recently worked to enhance angling opportunities at Fort Robinson and make stream enhancements in the region, each of which offer excellent and diverse fishing opportunities."
Recent renovations and angler access improvements have been made at the three Ice House Ponds, three Grable ponds and Cherry Creek Pond at Fort Robinson. These built upon already good fishing opportunities at Soldier Creek, Wood Reserve Ponds, White River and Cherry Creek Diversion Pond.
Game and Parks is committed to continuing to provide quality fisheries at lakes and streams throughout the region and will continue to improve access to those water bodies at Fort Robinson SP.
Staff will begin to drain the lake this fall to dry out the lakebed and surrounding soils so the dam can be removed.
-----Original Message-----
From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) <BIRDCHAT...> On Behalf Of Spector, David (Emeritus)
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2023 7:49 AM
To: <BIRDCHAT...>
Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] [NEBirds] bird name changes
In the past, changes have resulted in changed banding codes, even in species with unchanged names (e.g., YWAR to YEWA for Yellow Warbler because of changes with Yellow Wagtail). I'd guess that banding codes will change again with new AOS names.
*White-winged Scoter*, 1 female/immature (on main lake) Red-breasted Merganser, 6 females (on main lake) Ibis species (presumed White-faced), 1 (on south pond)
Jerry Probst, S. Sioux City, NE Bill Huser, S. Sioux City, NE
I am wondering how all of these name changes are going to affect BAND CODES.
Anyone have insight into this issue?
Elliott Bedows
Bellevue, Sarpy Co.
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Jacob C. Cooper via
groups.io
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2023 9:07 AM
To: <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] bird name changes
Hi y'all,
While AOS manages English names, there is an
<https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/> international group with an
international code for managing scientific (Latin) names; thus, changing the
scientific names is much harder than changing the vernacular English names.
Happened to catch a thoughtful discussion on tv last. Wright on Rick!
Thanks for so eloquently describing our sentiments. This year we observed a
Cooper's Hawk family for many weeks and never once wondered who they were
named after. And what a great suggestion you had to reach out and share
birding with new demographics instead of simply replacing bird names:
What's even more or a head scratcher is the American Ornithological
Society's plan to scrap all English names of people across the board to be
equitably non-offensive, but keep all the Latin names honoring people??
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Tobin Brown via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2023 5:46 PM
To: <NEbirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Pileated Woodpecker in Lancaster County
I'm pleased to report that I saw a Pileated Woodpecker this morning at Branched Oak lake!
I was birding near the area 2 equestrian camp when I saw a dark flash of wings accompanied by a pileated's calls. After a few minutes I was able to spot the bird again as it flew right over me, and got a few photos.
I believe this is only the 3rd sighting in the county (according to ebird), with all 3 being in the past 2 years. Perhaps their range is expanding West!
Date: 11/12/23 3:46 pm From: Tobin Brown <tobinjbrown...> Subject: [NEBirds] Pileated Woodpecker in Lancaster County
I'm pleased to report that I saw a Pileated Woodpecker this morning at Branched Oak lake!
I was birding near the area 2 equestrian camp when I saw a dark flash of wings accompanied by a pileated's calls. After a few minutes I was able to spot the bird again as it flew right over me, and got a few photos.
I believe this is only the 3rd sighting in the county (according to ebird), with all 3 being in the past 2 years. Perhaps their range is expanding West!
Date: 11/12/23 1:33 am From: Don and Shirley Maas <snowbirds2012...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in Banner County
Great spot. To see the birds 🦅 you have to be in the field looking. You
never know what might show up.
Don Maas
Maricopa County, AZ
“If you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools.”
Plato
“You can ignore reality, but you cannot ignore the consequences of reality.
Don & Shirley Maas
The Maas’s have returned to Mesa, AZ from Choctaw, OK for the winter.
😀🌪✝️🙏🦅🦌🦬
>
> On Nov 11, 2023 at 8:58 PM, <William Flack via groups.io (mailto:<sparvophile...>)> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> Pleased to report a sighting of a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch this morning (November 11) in Banner County.
>
>
>
> I found the bird along county road 14, about half a mile east of its junction with county road 53. I was watching Horned Larks and hoping to find a longspur among them when I saw the rosy-finch flying in from the east, with a very strongly undulating flight (perhaps because it was flying into the breeze). The flight was much bouncier than that of the larks, and I hoped it might be a longspur, so glassed it. As it flew generally toward me, I noted the yellow bill; my initial fleeting thought was "redpoll", but I almost immediately dismissed that, since the bill was much bigger than a redpoll's tiny yellow one. The bird landed in the top of a dry composite 50–100 ft from me, giving me something like a profile view, of its shaded side. I was immediately struck by the wide gray supercilium, sharply bounded below with the rest of the face dark, and a very clean gray, unlike the somewhat dingy gray-brown of a Song Sparrow. The upperparts were a very dark rufous; I couldn't see the underparts, and didn't note anything about the wing.
>
>
>
> I tried to get closer to the bird, but there were larks between me and it, and when they flushed, the rosy-finch flew as well. It didn't fly with the larks, but took off to the northwest and out of sight.
>
>
>
> This is my first sighting of the bird in Nebraska, and only the second sighting in my life. However, I'm confident in the ID: the bird resembled Sibley's illustration of the first-winter Interior Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (in Sibley, adult birds have dark bills), or the Nat'l Geographic illustration of the winter male bird (in the Geo, they've got yellow bills). I wish I'd had a better look, though, and been able to report on the wings and the underparts.
>
>
>
> The habitat in which I found the bird didn't seem quite right. From the account at Birds of Nebraska Online, I'd expect to find them in steep and rocky areas. My bird was nowhere near rocky bluffs or hills, though there were some small outcrops in the area.
>
>
>
> William Flack
>
> Kearney
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 11/11/23 7:58 pm From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch in Banner County
Pleased to report a sighting of a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch this morning (November 11) in Banner County.
I found the bird along county road 14, about half a mile east of its junction with county road 53. I was watching Horned Larks and hoping to find a longspur among them when I saw the rosy-finch flying in from the east, with a very strongly undulating flight (perhaps because it was flying into the breeze). The flight was much bouncier than that of the larks, and I hoped it might be a longspur, so glassed it. As it flew generally toward me, I noted the yellow bill; my initial fleeting thought was "redpoll", but I almost immediately dismissed that, since the bill was much bigger than a redpoll's tiny yellow one. The bird landed in the top of a dry composite 50–100 ft from me, giving me something like a profile view, of its shaded side. I was immediately struck by the wide gray supercilium, sharply bounded below with the rest of the face dark, and a very clean gray, unlike the somewhat dingy gray-brown of a Song Sparrow. The upperparts were a very dark rufous; I couldn't see the underparts, and didn't note anything about the wing.
I tried to get closer to the bird, but there were larks between me and it, and when they flushed, the rosy-finch flew as well. It didn't fly with the larks, but took off to the northwest and out of sight.
This is my first sighting of the bird in Nebraska, and only the second sighting in my life. However, I'm confident in the ID: the bird resembled Sibley's illustration of the first-winter Interior Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (in Sibley, adult birds have dark bills), or the Nat'l Geographic illustration of the winter male bird (in the Geo, they've got yellow bills). I wish I'd had a better look, though, and been able to report on the wings and the underparts.
The habitat in which I found the bird didn't seem quite right. From the account at Birds of Nebraska Online, I'd expect to find them in steep and rocky areas. My bird was nowhere near rocky bluffs or hills, though there were some small outcrops in the area.
Date: 11/10/23 7:06 am From: Jacob C. Cooper via groups.io <cooperj2...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] bird name changes
Hi yall,
While AOS manages English names, there is an international group with an international code<https://www.iczn.org/the-code/the-code-online/> for managing scientific (Latin) names; thus, changing the scientific names is much harder than changing the vernacular English names.
Assistant Professor, Biology
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Bruner Hall of Science
Kearney, NE 68849, United States
Research Associate, Birds
Field Museum Negaunee Integrative Research Center
1400 S DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605, United States
Citizen of the Cherokee Nation
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...>
Date: Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 9:01 AM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] bird name changes
Non-NU Email
________________________________
Hello birders,
Happened to catch a thoughtful discussion on tv last. Wright on Rick! Thanks for so eloquently describing our sentiments. This year we observed a Cooper's Hawk family for many weeks and never once wondered who they were named after. And what a great suggestion you had to reach out and share birding with new demographics instead of simply replacing bird names:
What's even more or a head scratcher is the American Ornithological Society's plan to scrap all English names of people across the board to be equitably non-offensive, but keep all the Latin names honoring people??
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
Date: 11/10/23 6:57 am From: Gordon Warrick via groups.io <prubinus...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] bird name changes
Hang on to your old bird books.
On Thursday, November 9, 2023, 09:01:11 AM CST, flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> wrote:
Hello birders,
Happened to catch a thoughtful discussion on tv last. Wright on Rick! Thanks for so eloquently describing our sentiments. This year we observed a Cooper's Hawk family for many weeks and never once wondered who they were named after. And what a great suggestion you had to reach out and share birding with new demographics instead of simply replacing bird names:
What's even more or a head scratcher is the American Ornithological Society's plan to scrap all English names of people across the board to be equitably non-offensive, but keep all the Latin names honoring people??
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
I for one am looking forward to seeing what name changes could entail. A
lot of the bird names could be more descriptive of the bird, and help out
newer birders (like myself) to learn them better. One that comes to mind
for me is Henslow's and LeConte's sparrows. Additionally, a number of birds
already have secondary common names that are pretty cool:
On Thu, Nov 9, 2023 at 9:03 AM flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hello birders,
>
> Happened to catch a thoughtful discussion on tv last. Wright on Rick!
> Thanks for so eloquently describing our sentiments. This year we observed
> a Cooper's Hawk family for many weeks and never once wondered who they were
> named after. And what a great suggestion you had to reach out and share
> birding with new demographics instead of simply replacing bird names:
>
>
> https://www.newsnationnow.com/video/100-bird-species-will-lose-their-names-dan-abrams-live/9156819/ >
> What's even more or a head scratcher is the American Ornithological
> Society's plan to scrap all English names of people across the board to be
> equitably non-offensive, but keep all the Latin names honoring people??
> -Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
>
>
>
Date: 11/9/23 7:01 am From: flyingcarlini via groups.io <flyingcarlini...> Subject: [NEBirds] bird name changes
Hello birders,
Happened to catch a thoughtful discussion on tv last. Wright on Rick! Thanks for so eloquently describing our sentiments. This year we observed a Cooper's Hawk family for many weeks and never once wondered who they were named after. And what a great suggestion you had to reach out and share birding with new demographics instead of simply replacing bird names:
What's even more or a head scratcher is the American Ornithological Society's plan to scrap all English names of people across the board to be equitably non-offensive, but keep all the Latin names honoring people??
-Shari Schwartz & John Carlini, Lincoln
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