Date: 1/19/21 6:27 am From: Esa Jarvi <esajarvibirding...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
OK, thanks. I read (most of) a Johnsgard book on great plains birds on line (Four Decades of Christmas Bird Counts in the Great Plains: Ornithological Evidence of a Changing Climate) and he had a Kansas ornithologist/grad student helping him looking at eBird data. It seemed to rely on birds per hour birded to make any sense of bird trends. The book is quite detailed in listing trends for each species.
I was a Nebraska master naturalist several years and we had to "train" some 8 hours each year, and it was hard to attend any lectures last year. So on line training is what people did. I take care of bird boxes (and bluebird nest counts) at Pioneer's Park as my volunteer job.
Date: 1/18/21 2:44 pm From: Jorgensen, Joel <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
Esa:
I'm not really the best one to answer your question, but I doubt it affects data or anything in a consequential way. eBird data is messy and noisy and I think the real value is the overall amount/volume of it.
-Joel
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402.471.5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of Esa Jarvi via groups.io <esajarvibirding...>
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 7:53 AM
To: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
Joel, since you brought it up, the sharing in a normal sense, I have a question. If I am indeed birding with someone, and we could share a bird list, but don't, and send in the lists separately, does this change the statistics for Cornell in any way? I do lead some small groups locally, and I may start a list an hour before the other people show up. I don't really want to start a separate list, if there is nothing much new. So I may have a list for 2 hours and the person with me has a list for one hour. There is not really any point sharing those lists. We may have the same notable bird in our lists, but mine may be longer.
Date: 1/18/21 11:24 am From: Walker, thomas <thomas.walker...> Subject: [NEBirds] Possible Golden-crowned Sparrow
At about 12:10 PM I was at the lakeside parking lot at Diamond Lake WMA in far SW Gage County. A plump looking bird atop a shrub initially had me thinking shrike as I passed by it north to south facing into the sun.
Once I turned around in the parking lot, I got a good look at the bird, grayish rump, no real noticeable stripes on the head, no white or rufous on the head, faint eyeline, wing bars typical of White-crowned. At this point I was thinking White-crowned. Then I started hearing call notes more suggestive of White-throated, and thought there was one of them in the thicket below the bird I was looking at.
Then I noticed the bill moving with the call notes, the bird flew off to the NE, still calling in flight. The bird did not have throat pattern suggestive of White-throated. At this point....confused...I played call notes of Golden-crowned and they sounded perfect for what I heard.
I did not notice yellow in lore area or forecrown but angle wasn’t good.
I attempted to relocate it for another 30 minutes with no luck.
T. J. Walker
Milford (currently working on Gage County list)
Date: 1/18/21 5:53 am From: Esa Jarvi <esajarvibirding...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
Joel, since you brought it up, the sharing in a normal sense, I have a question. If I am indeed birding with someone, and we could share a bird list, but don't, and send in the lists separately, does this change the statistics for Cornell in any way? I do lead some small groups locally, and I may start a list an hour before the other people show up. I don't really want to start a separate list, if there is nothing much new. So I may have a list for 2 hours and the person with me has a list for one hour. There is not really any point sharing those lists. We may have the same notable bird in our lists, but mine may be longer.
Date: 1/17/21 4:02 pm From: Jorgensen, Joel <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402.471.5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
________________________________
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> on behalf of John W. Hall via groups.io <jwhall2...>
Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2021 1:32 PM
To: <nebirds...> <nebirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
To accept this checklist into your eBird account, click on the link below:
Date: 1/17/21 11:32 am From: John W. Hall <jwhall2...> Subject: [NEBirds] John Hall has shared an eBird checklist with you from Home on Jan 17, 2021 - 1:11 PM
To accept this checklist into your eBird account, click on the link below:
Date: 1/14/21 2:51 pm From: Jan Johnson <janbirder...> Subject: [NEBirds] Looking for Mark Peyton
If you’re on this list would you email me off list please? Evidently I have your snail mail address incorrect for receiving The Bird Review and other mailings from the NOU. Thanks!
> On Jan 14, 2021, at 6:37 AM, William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> wrote:
>
> I've just entered an eBird hotspot for the Snowy Owl east of Schuyler (Colfax Co). Per eBird's naming conventions for rarities at otherwise uninteresting locations, I've named it "stakeout Snowy Owl (Colfax Co) 2021".
>
> I'm not sure when the hotspot will appear for eBird users; it might not be until tomorrow.
>
> Yesterday afternoon (Jan 13), I saw the owl at the location that Paul Roisen described the day before: about 100 yards south of US30, between county roads 13 and 14. There were two other cars there when I arrived, and another showed up shortly after, so I suspect that lots of people got to see it. Alas, with the pandemic raging, i couldn't go from car to car and say hello to my birding friends...
>
> William Flack
> Kearney
>
Date: 1/14/21 4:37 am From: William Flack via groups.io <sparvophile...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird hotspot for Colfax Co Snowy Owl
I've just entered an eBird hotspot for the Snowy Owl east of Schuyler (Colfax Co). Per eBird's naming conventions for rarities at otherwise uninteresting locations, I've named it "stakeout Snowy Owl (Colfax Co) 2021".
I'm not sure when the hotspot will appear for eBird users; it might not be until tomorrow.
Yesterday afternoon (Jan 13), I saw the owl at the location that Paul Roisen described the day before: about 100 yards south of US30, between county roads 13 and 14. There were two other cars there when I arrived, and another showed up shortly after, so I suspect that lots of people got to see it. Alas, with the pandemic raging, i couldn't go from car to car and say hello to my birding friends...
Date: 1/12/21 11:05 am From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl
For those of you looking for the snowy owl it’s basically in the same location Just east of Road 13 on Highway 30 by Schuyler it is on the south side of the road about 100 yards out into the field backlit by the sun is not real good looking as of 1 PM this afternoon
Date: 1/12/21 10:33 am From: Clem and Bette Klaphake <ckavian...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Purple finches
Sorry I'm so slow in responding. We could make it Wed. at about 10:30 Or Thursday (weather will be changing) at 9:00. Clem
On 1/10/2021 1:20 PM, DuaneS wrote: > > Purple finches have been showing up in good numbers since the latest > snowfall. There were 6 of them at our black oil sunflower feeders on > that day and since then we usually see 3 or 4. > > Kathy Schwery > Buccaneer Bay > Cass County,NE > >
Date: 1/12/21 10:32 am From: John W. Hall <jwhall2...> Subject: [NEBirds] Orange-crowned Warbler
NeBirders,
Rachel and I had an unexpected visitor to our feeders today. An Orange-crowned Warbler has been visiting and feeding most of the morning.
2 Red-bellied Woodpecker2 Downy Woodpecker2 Red-breasted Nuthatch -- Male and female2 White-breasted Nuthatch2 European Starling1 House Sparrow7 House Finch11 American Goldfinch3 Dark-eyed Junco1 Orange-crowned Warbler -- Arrived about 10:00 am. Yellow chest and belly, slight streaking.Number of Taxa: 10
submitted to ebirds.
Date: 1/11/21 6:21 pm From: Jorgensen, Joel <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: [NEBirds] NOU membership renewals w/ prize
Just one more reminder that it is time for those who are so inclined to renew their membership to the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. A reminder about the reminder is that this can now all be done conveniently online - you no longer have to deal with filling out pesky paper forms, writing troublesome checks or finding those elusive stamps (although this renewal method is still acceptable). Information about conveniently renewing or joining the NOU can be found here: https://noubirds.org/NOU/PayMembership.aspx As an added incentive, rising artist Jan Johnson has agreed to donate an original bird-related painting to the cause. To those individuals who renew or join by 15 February, one name will be randomly drawn and that person will win the original artwork. People who have already renewed their membership this year will be included in the drawing. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!
-Joel
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402.471.5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
This nesting site is not well known because of its location, but it has been around for several years (see BONO for more info: https://birds.outdoornebraska.gov/osprey/ ).
Great to see OPPD putting up an alternative nest site and also for planning to provide a livestream.
-Joel
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402.471.5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
Date: 1/10/21 9:03 pm From: Mark Brogie <mabrogie...> Subject: [NEBirds] One more Time: END OF YEAR NEBRASKA LISTS NEEDED
> > SEE IF THIS ONE WORKS BETTER! > > > >> > > > > Mark > > > > MARK A. BROGIE > 508 SEELEY ST. > CREIGHTON, NE. 68729 > <mabrogie...> <mailto:<mabrogie...> >
From: Jan Johnson<mailto:<janbirder...> Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2021 2:36 PM
To: <NEBirds...><mailto:<NEBirds...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl and Tundra Swan
That’s right Janis! We found the owl about 9:00 a.m. very cooperative and nice to have others find it for us.
From the owl we went to the southwest corner of Schuyler and along So. Park Rd. Found several passerines in about a one block stretch:
WB Nuthatch
Junco
Cardinals
BC Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglets - 3
Jays
Snow Goose
Bald Eagle
A couple miles west of town we found:
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk - 2
Rough-legged Hawk - 2
Western Meadowlark - a flock of about 100!!!
On Jan 10, 2021, at 2:29 PM, Don & Janis Paseka <paseka76...> wrote:

NEBirders,
The Snowy Owl that was reported in Colfax Co on eBird was still present this morning (1/10/21) at the same location: on highway 30 east of Schuyler between Road 13 and Road 14. It was sitting on a power pole on the south side of the highway at about 10:30 am.
Likewise the Tundra Swan reported in Platte Co on eBird was still present this morning at about 11:15. It was mixed in with at least 14 Trumpeter Swans, some adults and some youngsters. It was northwest of the corner of 63rd Ave and 53rd St., northwest of Columbus.
Chasing birds proved to be easy today, as long as they were large and white and somebody else had already told us where to look!
> On Jan 10, 2021, at 2:29 PM, Don & Janis Paseka <paseka76...> wrote:
>
> 
> NEBirders,
>
> The Snowy Owl that was reported in Colfax Co on eBird was still present this morning (1/10/21) at the same location: on highway 30 east of Schuyler between Road 13 and Road 14. It was sitting on a power pole on the south side of the highway at about 10:30 am.
>
> Likewise the Tundra Swan reported in Platte Co on eBird was still present this morning at about 11:15. It was mixed in with at least 14 Trumpeter Swans, some adults and some youngsters. It was northwest of the corner of 63rd Ave and 53rd St., northwest of Columbus.
>
> Chasing birds proved to be easy today, as long as they were large and white and somebody else had already told us where to look!
>
> Janis & Don Paseka
> Ames NE
>
>
>
Date: 1/10/21 12:29 pm From: Don & Janis Paseka <paseka76...> Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl and Tundra Swan
NEBirders,
The Snowy Owl that was reported in Colfax Co on eBird was still present this morning (1/10/21) at the same location: on highway 30 east of Schuyler between Road 13 and Road 14. It was sitting on a power pole on the south side of the highway at about 10:30 am.
Likewise the Tundra Swan reported in Platte Co on eBird was still present this morning at about 11:15. It was mixed in with at least 14 Trumpeter Swans, some adults and some youngsters. It was northwest of the corner of 63rd Ave and 53rd St., northwest of Columbus.
Chasing birds proved to be easy today, as long as they were large and white and somebody else had already told us where to look!
Date: 1/10/21 11:37 am From: Clem and Bette Klaphake <ckavian...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Purple finches
Kathy, I may have to see if there would be a possibility of stopping by sometime when it is convenient for you. We would both be sure to wear masks. Haven't had a chance to do much birding yet this winter - now all the lakes are frozen. We stopped at Platte River SP last week but very little activity there (a couple of Tufted Titmice were coming to a feeder - I don't get them in my neighborhood). Clem
On 1/10/2021 1:20 PM, DuaneS wrote: > > Purple finches have been showing up in good numbers since the latest > snowfall. There were 6 of them at our black oil sunflower feeders on > that day and since then we usually see 3 or 4. > > Kathy Schwery > Buccaneer Bay > Cass County,NE > >
Purple finches have been showing up in good numbers since the latest snowfall. There were 6 of them at our black oil sunflower feeders on that day and since then we usually see 3 or 4.
Date: 1/9/21 6:51 pm From: allenreyer via groups.io <allenreyer...> Subject: [NEBirds] Cass and Sarpy County
My apologies for the earlier post on this same subject. I'm having trouble with my ipad. Anyway, went down to the Plattsmouth cemetery today to look for the Red Crossbills that we found during the 2019 CBC. NO LUCK. Very quiet, with only a flock of about 60 DE Juncos, 2 Harris's Sparrows and a BC Chickadee. At the intersection of Harlan Lewis and Laplatte Rd, had a very nice male Northern Harrier giving us great looks. At Hayworth Park, had 5 Bald Eagles in trees along the river and 13 Common Mergansers on the river. All are in ebird. Al ReyerBellevue, NE
Date: 1/9/21 12:26 pm From: <decarchivist...> Subject: [NEBirds] Hawk at State Capitol (Jan 5) - ID help needed
I am hoping someone in the Lincoln area can help with this. I was walking out of the State Capitol, east side, when I heard what sounded to me like a Red-shouldered Hawk: short "kee-ah" repeated 7-8 times. I looked up and saw directly overhead a hawk being chased by a several smaller birds, and the hawk was a couple blocks away pretty quickly. From my angle, I saw a dark body, dark underwing coverts, pale/white secondaries/primaries. Tail was not fanned.
Any thoughts? I am a bit rusty, and it bugs me that I can't figure this out.
Date: 1/8/21 10:22 am From: Christoph Randler <christoph.randler...> Subject: [NEBirds] Covid - birding
Happy New Year
Dear Birders,
Hope you all are fine; we are doing a short study how COVID-19 has changed birding. Please help us and answer a few questions, that take some minutes. You can also forward the link to others.
The study is in several languages and we would be happy for your participation. The study is hosted by the University of Tübingen, and run by a team of people, also being birders.
Stay healthy and good birding,
Christoph
Date: 1/7/21 1:35 pm From: Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird -- Zorinsky Lake -- Jan 07, 2021
Elliot Bedows and I walked around east Zorinsky Lake this afternoon and had the following observations.
2 Mallard 2 Bald Eagle 1 Red-shouldered Hawk -- Continuing bird from 2020. Observed on east lake north west portion, sitting on top of broken off tree right next to the walking path. We walked within 15 feet of this bird before it flew. Juvenile bird with teardrop shaped brown markings on breast, a light supercilium, and a barred tail. When it flew, pale crescents were visible on end of wings. 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 American Kestrel 2 Blue Jay 5 American Crow 7 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 European Starling 3 American Robin 4 House Finch 4 American Tree Sparrow 1 Dark-eyed Junco 6 Northern Cardinal
Date: 1/6/21 4:18 pm From: Jorgensen, Joel <Joel.Jorgensen...> Subject: [NEBirds] Lower Platte River CBC - preliminary results
The 4th Lower Platte River CBC took place on 4 January. Weather was very nice with sunny skies, light winds and highs in the low 40s. Fifteen individuals in eleven parties tallied 72 species (+ 4 count week birds). This total is consistent with previous sums of 71, 72, and 78. Unlike last year when a number of notable species (Lewis's Woodpecker, Surf Scoter, Am. Black Duck) were tallied, no unexpected or wildly unusual species were discovered this year. Best bird was arguably a Townsend's Solitaire at Schramm Park SRA.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the CBC was reports of low number of several passerines. Case in point, only a single Eastern Bluebird was found. Similarly, Yellow-rumped Warblers (1), American Robins (21), Cedar Waxwings (21) and most finches were also in short supply. Red-breasted Nuthatches also ended up with low numbers (4) even though they seemed to be all over just a few weeks ago. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Fox Sparrow were misses previously found on all three previous CBCs. Perhaps dry weather during the summer and fall led to a poor crop of juniper (red cedar) berries and shortages of other food resources, forcing birds to move on. On the flip side, a handful of resident passerines showed well, with Black-cappped Chickadees, Blue Jay and White-breasted Nuthatches being encountered in record numbers. For the chickadee, I am going to speculate that their bump is a result of it being a year where prevalence/incidence of West Nile Virus was low. It's taken 20 years, but maybe chickadees are close to their pre-WNV levels?
Most water bodies were frozen, but the few patches of open water allowed us to do fairly well with lingering waterbirds. Pied-billed Grebe (2), American Coot (6) and 11 species of ducks were found. The exception was geese, with only two species (Cackling and Canada) found count day. A few Greater White-fronted and Snow geese were still present in the circle as late as Friday, but they apparently moved on. Only 24 Bald Eagles were found and raptor misses for the day include Eastern Screech-Owl, Northern Harrier and Merlin.
The Lower Platte River CBC was the last CBC for the season in Nebraska. So, until next year, good birding and stay safe.
-Joel
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402.471.5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
Date: 1/5/21 6:21 pm From: Larry Einemann via groups.io <larryeinemannl...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] 2020 - END OF YEAR NEBRASKA LISTS NEEDED
Larry Einemann
<larryeinemannl...>
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Brogie <mabrogie...>
To: <NEBirds...>
Sent: Wed, Dec 23, 2020 1:25 pm
Subject: [NEBirds] 2020 - END OF YEAR NEBRASKA LISTS NEEDED
TIME TO REPORT YOUR END OF THE YEAR LISTS FOR THOSE OF YOU WANTING TO PARTICIPATE!
1. Report those counties you have a life-list over 1252. Your life-list number for Nebraska.3. Number of species observed in Nebraska in 2020.4 Number of species that you have seen in all 93 counties.
  5. Number of species photographed in Nebraska. (All time)  6. Number of species photographed in Nebraska in 2020.
 Mark:
Here is an earlier posting. 381 instead of 380 in ebirds; does include the
Bean goose observation.Â
Date: 1/5/21 1:39 pm From: Bill Kaempfer <William.Kaempfer...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Adams Co Birds
Paul,
Rick is pointing you an a great direction—read what eBird has to say. Let me also add that a quick check shows that Adams County already has 10 established hot spots ranging from Roseland Lake where 102 species have been recorded over 30 checklists (mainly by Bill Flack—you will run into his efforts a lot) to Juanita WTP where there have been 31 species recorded on 6 checklists. Using these same hotspots as a starting point is a terrific way to proceed as it gets you in line with other birding efforts and provides a point of reference for other birders.
I will confess to being a diehard hotspot farmer. I love to make them grow; adding to the species list for a hotspot and trying to fill in the calendar with visits over the years. Look at the Roseland Lake hotspot site, for instance. Select “View Details†which will give you the overall picture for the site like the first and last sighting for all species observed at the spot. But on the left you will see a menu with “Bar Charts†on it. That is one of my favorite eBird tools as the bar chart will show you when different species have been seen, and perhaps more interestingly, the weeks when no one has visited the site. So, I can see that there are no reports for the first three weeks of January or of any owl species other than Great Horned. Looks like your Short-eared Owl observations were at what you can probably use as the Kenesaw WPA hot spot, and when the data gets put into spot, you will have the first observation. (Actually it looks like you have a new eBird County bird with the SEOW.)
While eBird does require some effort to input data (the mobile apps work terrifically if you have phone coverage), it will quickly become an indispensable way to record data. In addition, you are adding to a massive data base that runs on large amounts of data entry. It is a real service to current and future birders as well as ornithological science as a whole. Finally it becomes a source of real fun. Enjoy it.
Bill Kaempfer
Safety Harbor, FL
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Rick Wright
Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 4:02 PM
To: <NEBirds...>
Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Adams Co Birds
On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 3:55 PM Don and Shirley Maas <snowbirds2012...><mailto:<snowbirds2012...>> wrote:
My experience in to keep the locations as few as possible.
Divide county in quarters, township etc. Too many locations makes for
too much data entry.
Keep it simpler
Don Maas
On Jan 5, 2021 at 2:42 PM, <Mike Ellis<mailto:<mike.ellis0124...>> wrote:
You can enter the data as a traveling count(including county, time and distance). Although, that would be fairly long and not give very specific information as to the location of sightings. It might make sense to go for a "happy medium" and split the loop into 5 or 6 traveling counts. Just a thought!
Mike E
Bennington, NE
On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 2:02 PM pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io<http://groups.io> <pastorpaultdunbar...><mailto:<yahoo.com...>> wrote:
So, just for kicks, I've decided to do most of my birding this year just in Adams Co, see what I can come up with.
Adams Co is 23 miles E-W and 24 miles N-S, so I never have to get too far from home.
Thus far, just 4 1/2 days in, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm up to 54 species, which includes:
4 separate Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins and 2 Prairie Falcons and 1 Rough-legged Hawk (no partridge in any pear trees, though)
2 Short-eared Owls over Kenesaw WPA at dusk
1 White-winged Dove in Ayr
2 separate Spotted Towhees
several flocks of Bobwhite, one with 19 birds, one with 17
Sandhill Cranes -- a flock of at least 600 birds in the far NW corner, on the Hall Co line
1 Red Crossbill at Prairie Lake, where there were also 7 Red-breasted Nuthatches in the row of tall pines
Wood Duck pair at Heartwell Park in Hastings
And, I counted 168 Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning -- the flock's been growing each day for the past week or so (and tearing through my thistle seed), but still no redpolls mixed in. Maybe tomorrow.
I just started a blog about my Adams Co big year, as well, where I'll also post photos I've taken. It's nebraskabirder.weebly.com<http://nebraskabirder.weebly.com>, if anyone's curious.
Something new for me, and something that I thought people around Hastings might find interesting (or distracting from less cheery news, at least) especially if they don't really know much about birds.
I've got my running list up already, with comments, and I will make my first post on the site tonight.
Oh, by the way, I'm also finally posting on E-birds. Another new project.
And I have a question about sharing locations. These last few days I've just been meandering around, north a mile here, then east a mile, then south, stopping to "pish" at a creek, scanning the tops of pivots, etc.,
so if I've made a 30 mile loop all around, say, the SE corner of Adams Co, what's the best way to map and report that? I suppose the most accurate way would be to make dozens of separate pins and reports, but that sounds like too much of a pain. Thoughts?
Date: 1/5/21 1:05 pm From: Clem and Bette Klaphake <ckavian...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Adams Co Birds
Paul, Something else you will find out by sticking closer to home is that you will be leaving a lot fewer Carbon Footprints. Something we birders do a lot of is talk out of two sides of our mouth. We are very quick to jump on all this carbon emission talk and a need to cut down on pollution, but don't hesitate to drive 1200 - 1500 miles round trip to 'tick' another bird species for our own personal life, year or county lists. I have often justified it with the more recent term 'citizen science'. However, when I look at that argument I find a lot of holes in it. Whether we send our sightings to e-bird or elsewhere, it is not done in a scientific way or approach. The focus is still always on 'my' life, year or county list. So Paul, whatever your motives are for sticking to one county: )1. you can still keep your own lists, )2. report your sightings to 'official' keepers of stats and )3. cut waaaaay down on your carbon footprints )4. and still enjoy birding I hope you get some Common Redpolls at your feeders this winter. Clem Klaphake Bellevue, NE
On 1/5/2021 2:02 PM, pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io wrote: > So, just for kicks, I've decided to do most of my birding this year > just in Adams Co, see what I can come up with. > Adams Co is 23 miles E-W and 24 miles N-S, so I never have to get too > far from home. > Thus far, just 4 1/2 days in, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm up > to 54 species, which includes: > > 4 separate Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins and 2 Prairie Falcons and 1 > Rough-legged Hawk (no partridge in any pear trees, though) > 2 Short-eared Owls over Kenesaw WPA at dusk > 1 White-winged Dove in Ayr > 2 separate Spotted Towhees > several flocks of Bobwhite, one with 19 birds, one with 17 > Sandhill Cranes -- a flock of at least 600 birds in the far NW corner, > on the Hall Co line > 1 Red Crossbill at Prairie Lake, where there were also 7 Red-breasted > Nuthatches in the row of tall pines > Wood Duck pair at Heartwell Park in Hastings > And, I counted 168 Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning -- the > flock's been growing each day for the past week or so (and tearing > through my thistle seed), but still no redpolls mixed in. Maybe tomorrow. > > I just started a blog about my Adams Co big year, as well, where I'll > also post photos I've taken. It's nebraskabirder.weebly.com, if > anyone's curious. > Something new for me, and something that I thought people around > Hastings might find interesting (or distracting from less cheery news, > at least) especially if they don't really know much about birds. > I've got my running list up already, with comments, and I will make my > first post on the site tonight. > > Oh, by the way, I'm also finally posting on E-birds. Another new project. > And I have a question about sharing locations. These last few days > I've just been meandering around, north a mile here, then east a mile, > then south, stopping to "pish" at a creek, scanning the tops of > pivots, etc., > so if I've made a 30 mile loop all around, say, the SE corner of Adams > Co, what's the best way to map and report that? I suppose the most > accurate way would be to make dozens of separate pins and reports, but > that sounds like too much of a pain. Thoughts? > > Paul Dunbar > Hastings (Adams Co.) > > >
On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 3:55 PM Don and Shirley Maas <snowbirds2012...> wrote:
> My experience in to keep the locations as few as possible. > Divide county in quarters, township etc. Too many locations makes for > too much data entry. > > Keep it simpler > > Don Maas > > > > On Jan 5, 2021 at 2:42 PM, <Mike Ellis <mike.ellis0124...>> wrote: > > You can enter the data as a traveling count(including county, time and > distance). Although, that would be fairly long and not give very specific > information as to the location of sightings. It might make sense to go for > a "happy medium" and split the loop into 5 or 6 traveling counts. Just a > thought! > > Mike E > Bennington, NE > > On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 2:02 PM pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io > <pastorpaultdunbar...> wrote: > >> So, just for kicks, I've decided to do most of my birding this year just >> in Adams Co, see what I can come up with. >> Adams Co is 23 miles E-W and 24 miles N-S, so I never have to get too far >> from home. >> Thus far, just 4 1/2 days in, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm up to >> 54 species, which includes: >> >> 4 separate Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins and 2 Prairie Falcons and 1 >> Rough-legged Hawk (no partridge in any pear trees, though) >> 2 Short-eared Owls over Kenesaw WPA at dusk >> 1 White-winged Dove in Ayr >> 2 separate Spotted Towhees >> several flocks of Bobwhite, one with 19 birds, one with 17 >> Sandhill Cranes -- a flock of at least 600 birds in the far NW corner, on >> the Hall Co line >> 1 Red Crossbill at Prairie Lake, where there were also 7 Red-breasted >> Nuthatches in the row of tall pines >> Wood Duck pair at Heartwell Park in Hastings >> And, I counted 168 Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning -- the flock's >> been growing each day for the past week or so (and tearing through my >> thistle seed), but still no redpolls mixed in. Maybe tomorrow. >> >> I just started a blog about my Adams Co big year, as well, where I'll >> also post photos I've taken. It's nebraskabirder.weebly.com, if >> anyone's curious. >> Something new for me, and something that I thought people around Hastings >> might find interesting (or distracting from less cheery news, at least) >> especially if they don't really know much about birds. >> I've got my running list up already, with comments, and I will make my >> first post on the site tonight. >> >> Oh, by the way, I'm also finally posting on E-birds. Another new project. >> And I have a question about sharing locations. These last few days I've >> just been meandering around, north a mile here, then east a mile, then >> south, stopping to "pish" at a creek, scanning the tops of pivots, etc., >> so if I've made a 30 mile loop all around, say, the SE corner of Adams >> Co, what's the best way to map and report that? I suppose the most accurate >> way would be to make dozens of separate pins and reports, but that sounds >> like too much of a pain. Thoughts? >> >> Paul Dunbar >> Hastings (Adams Co.) >> >> >> > >
Date: 1/5/21 12:55 pm From: Don and Shirley Maas <snowbirds2012...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Adams Co Birds
My experience in to keep the locations as few as possible.
Divide county in quarters, township etc. Too many locations makes for
too much data entry.
Keep it simpler
Don Maas
> > On Jan 5, 2021 at 2:42 PM, <Mike Ellis (mailto:<mike.ellis0124...>)> wrote: > > > > You can enter the data as a traveling count(including county, time and distance). Although, that would be fairly long and not give very specific information as to the location of sightings. It might make sense to go for a "happy medium" and split the loop into 5 or 6 traveling counts. Just a thought! > > > Mike E > > Bennington, NE > > > > > On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 2:02 PM pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io (http://groups.io) <pastorpaultdunbar...> (mailto:<yahoo.com...>)> wrote: > > > > > > > > > So, just for kicks, I've decided to do most of my birding this year just in Adams Co, see what I can come up with. > > > > Adams Co is 23 miles E-W and 24 miles N-S, so I never have to get too far from home. > > > > Thus far, just 4 1/2 days in, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm up to 54 species, which includes: > > > > > > > > 4 separate Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins and 2 Prairie Falcons and 1 Rough-legged Hawk (no partridge in any pear trees, though) > > > > 2 Short-eared Owls over Kenesaw WPA at dusk > > > > 1 White-winged Dove in Ayr > > > > 2 separate Spotted Towhees > > > > several flocks of Bobwhite, one with 19 birds, one with 17 > > > > Sandhill Cranes -- a flock of at least 600 birds in the far NW corner, on the Hall Co line > > > > 1 Red Crossbill at Prairie Lake, where there were also 7 Red-breasted Nuthatches in the row of tall pines > > > > Wood Duck pair at Heartwell Park in Hastings > > > > And, I counted 168 Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning -- the flock's been growing each day for the past week or so (and tearing through my thistle seed), but still no redpolls mixed in. Maybe tomorrow. > > > > > > > > I just started a blog about my Adams Co big year, as well, where I'll also post photos I've taken. It's nebraskabirder.weebly.com (http://nebraskabirder.weebly.com), if anyone's curious. > > > > Something new for me, and something that I thought people around Hastings might find interesting (or distracting from less cheery news, at least) especially if they don't really know much about birds. > > > > I've got my running list up already, with comments, and I will make my first post on the site tonight. > > > > > > > > Oh, by the way, I'm also finally posting on E-birds. Another new project. > > > > And I have a question about sharing locations. These last few days I've just been meandering around, north a mile here, then east a mile, then south, stopping to "pish" at a creek, scanning the tops of pivots, etc., > > > > so if I've made a 30 mile loop all around, say, the SE corner of Adams Co, what's the best way to map and report that? I suppose the most accurate way would be to make dozens of separate pins and reports, but that sounds like too much of a pain. Thoughts? > > > > > > > > Paul Dunbar > > > > Hastings (Adams Co.) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Date: 1/5/21 12:42 pm From: Mike Ellis <Mike.ellis0124...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Adams Co Birds
You can enter the data as a traveling count(including county, time and distance). Although, that would be fairly long and not give very specific information as to the location of sightings. It might make sense to go for a "happy medium" and split the loop into 5 or 6 traveling counts. Just a thought!
Mike E Bennington, NE
On Tue, Jan 5, 2021 at 2:02 PM pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io <pastorpaultdunbar...> wrote:
> So, just for kicks, I've decided to do most of my birding this year just > in Adams Co, see what I can come up with. > Adams Co is 23 miles E-W and 24 miles N-S, so I never have to get too far > from home. > Thus far, just 4 1/2 days in, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm up to 54 > species, which includes: > > 4 separate Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins and 2 Prairie Falcons and 1 Rough-legged > Hawk (no partridge in any pear trees, though) > 2 Short-eared Owls over Kenesaw WPA at dusk > 1 White-winged Dove in Ayr > 2 separate Spotted Towhees > several flocks of Bobwhite, one with 19 birds, one with 17 > Sandhill Cranes -- a flock of at least 600 birds in the far NW corner, on > the Hall Co line > 1 Red Crossbill at Prairie Lake, where there were also 7 Red-breasted > Nuthatches in the row of tall pines > Wood Duck pair at Heartwell Park in Hastings > And, I counted 168 Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning -- the flock's > been growing each day for the past week or so (and tearing through my > thistle seed), but still no redpolls mixed in. Maybe tomorrow. > > I just started a blog about my Adams Co big year, as well, where I'll also > post photos I've taken. It's nebraskabirder.weebly.com, if anyone's > curious. > Something new for me, and something that I thought people around Hastings > might find interesting (or distracting from less cheery news, at least) > especially if they don't really know much about birds. > I've got my running list up already, with comments, and I will make my > first post on the site tonight. > > Oh, by the way, I'm also finally posting on E-birds. Another new project. > And I have a question about sharing locations. These last few days I've > just been meandering around, north a mile here, then east a mile, then > south, stopping to "pish" at a creek, scanning the tops of pivots, etc., > so if I've made a 30 mile loop all around, say, the SE corner of Adams Co, > what's the best way to map and report that? I suppose the most accurate way > would be to make dozens of separate pins and reports, but that sounds like > too much of a pain. Thoughts? > > Paul Dunbar > Hastings (Adams Co.) > > > > >
Date: 1/5/21 12:02 pm From: pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io <pastorpaultdunbar...> Subject: [NEBirds] Adams Co Birds
So, just for kicks, I've decided to do most of my birding this year just in Adams Co, see what I can come up with. Adams Co is 23 miles E-W and 24 miles N-S, so I never have to get too far from home.Thus far, just 4 1/2 days in, I've been pleasantly surprised. I'm up to 54 species, which includes:
4 separate Bald Eagles, 3 Merlins and 2 Prairie Falcons and 1 Rough-legged Hawk (no partridge in any pear trees, though)2 Short-eared Owls over Kenesaw WPA at dusk1 White-winged Dove in Ayr2 separate Spotted Towheesseveral flocks of Bobwhite, one with 19 birds, one with 17Sandhill Cranes -- a flock of at least 600 birds in the far NW corner, on the Hall Co line1 Red Crossbill at Prairie Lake, where there were also 7 Red-breasted Nuthatches in the row of tall pinesWood Duck pair at Heartwell Park in HastingsAnd, I counted 168 Pine Siskins at my feeders this morning -- the flock's been growing each day for the past week or so (and tearing through my thistle seed), but still no redpolls mixed in. Maybe tomorrow.
I just started a blog about my Adams Co big year, as well, where I'll also post photos I've taken. It's  nebraskabirder.weebly.com, if anyone's curious. Something new for me, and something that I thought people around Hastings might find interesting (or distracting from less cheery news, at least) especially if they don't really know much about birds. I've got my running list up already, with comments, and I will make my first post on the site tonight.
Oh, by the way, I'm also finally posting on E-birds. Another new project.And I have a question about sharing locations. These last few days I've just been meandering around, north a mile here, then east a mile, then south, stopping to "pish" at a creek, scanning the tops of pivots, etc.,so if I've made a 30 mile loop all around, say, the SE corner of Adams Co, what's the best way to map and report that? I suppose the most accurate way would be to make dozens of separate pins and reports, but that sounds like too much of a pain. Thoughts?
Paul DunbarHastings (Adams Co.)
Date: 1/4/21 8:17 am From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> Subject: [NEBirds] Common Raven
Scene same location as yesterday roughly mile marker 63 watched it harass what looked like a Goldeneagle drive it to ground and then force at the perch on a windmill
Call Roisen Woodbury County Sioux City Iowa with Jerry Probst Bill Huser read and Lee Brogie
Date: 1/3/21 2:38 pm From: Matthew Van Den Broeke <matthew.vandenbroeke...> Subject: [NEBirds] Call for Identification
Hello NEBirds,
On the Lincoln CBC day we were out in the pre-dawn (~6 AM) and heard a call that has not yet been identified. A very quiet recording was obtained ( https://unl.box.com/s/asobzrko0db23qlhwomovom4230tdiip); a longer recording is available if it might be helpful. It continued for several minutes at a time, for multiple times. Our CBC coordinator has suggested we pass this along to NEBirds for your help. If you have ID suggestions, please email me offline (matthew dot vandenbroeke at gmail dot com). Thank you,
Date: 1/3/21 6:33 am From: allenreyer via groups.io <allenreyer...> Subject: [NEBirds] Sarpy County
We checked out the base lake and Laplatte bottoms yesterday afternoon. Pretty slow, with the best birds being a Northern Shrike and Rough-legged Hawk on Laplatte Road.. On Hwy 34 just east of Hwy 75, we had a Northern Harrier fly across the road.Â
In ebird.
Al Reyer Bellevue, NE
Date: 1/2/21 5:57 pm From: Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird -- N. P. Dodge Park -- Jan 02, 2021
N. P. Dodge Park Jan 02, 2021 9:06 AM
X Canada Goose 2 Lesser Scaup 2 Bald Eagle 3 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Rough-legged Hawk -- Dark morph. 2 Downy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker -- In tree just south of first parking lot where you turn in. 2 Blue Jay 1 Black-capped Chickadee X European Starling X American Goldfinch X American Tree Sparrow X Dark-eyed Junco X Harris's Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 1 Northern Cardinal
A new bird for us, a Lesser Finch, has been at our feeder for a few days.
Was uncertain, so sent a photo to Mark Brogie who confirmed the Lesser.
Today, we have two Lesser Finches at our feeder for our CBC feeder watch.
Date: 1/2/21 1:53 pm From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Common Raven
Congratulations, Kathy. That is a bird of great note! What an
incredible New Year's bird--incredible anytime bird really.
Keep it on a string for those who might wish to take a chance at it, LOL
God Bless and wish all of you the best year ever!
*Paul O. Roisen*
*Woodbury County, IA*
*Mobile 712-301-2817*
On Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 8:56 AM Kathy DeLara <renosmom...> wrote:
> Yesterday I found a Common Raven north of Mitchell, NE on Hiway 29 at mile
> marker 63. It has been reported on eBird but I thought I’d get this out to
> any of you that might be in the area and don’t see the eBird alerts. I did
> upload some pictures and video, though not great, do confirm the id. The
> eBird committee has reviewed, and confirmed that it is a Common Raven.
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S78428295 >
>
>
> Hope you are all having a Happy Birding New Year
>
>
>
> Kathy DeLara
>
> Mitchell, NE
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 1/2/21 7:04 am From: Wendy Becker <wendybecker34...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Common Raven
Awesome! I always wondered if they could be found in Western NE. :-)
On Sat, Jan 2, 2021 at 8:56 AM Kathy DeLara <renosmom...> wrote:
> Yesterday I found a Common Raven north of Mitchell, NE on Hiway 29 at mile
> marker 63. It has been reported on eBird but I thought I’d get this out to
> any of you that might be in the area and don’t see the eBird alerts. I did
> upload some pictures and video, though not great, do confirm the id. The
> eBird committee has reviewed, and confirmed that it is a Common Raven.
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S78428295 >
>
>
> Hope you are all having a Happy Birding New Year
>
>
>
> Kathy DeLara
>
> Mitchell, NE
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 1/2/21 6:56 am From: Kathy DeLara <renosmom...> Subject: [NEBirds] Common Raven
Yesterday I found a Common Raven north of Mitchell, NE on Hiway 29 at mile marker 63. It has been reported on eBird but I thought I'd get this out to any of you that might be in the area and don't see the eBird alerts. I did upload some pictures and video, though not great, do confirm the id. The eBird committee has reviewed, and confirmed that it is a Common Raven.
Date: 12/31/20 2:35 pm From: Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird -- County Road P49, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, US (41.429, -95.965) -- Dec 31, 2020
County Road P49, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, US (41.429, -95.965) Dec 31, 2020 12:43 PM Traveling 0.59 miles 20 minutes All birds reported? Yes Comments: This is just north of Nathan's lake on road to Boyer Chute.
2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1 Mourning Dove 1 Red-tailed Hawk 12 Lapland Longspur
Date: 12/31/20 2:33 pm From: Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird -- Road 49, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, US (41.448, -95.983) -- Dec 31, 2020
Road 49, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, US (41.448, -95.983) Dec 31, 2020 1:35 PM Traveling 1.26 miles 45 minutes All birds reported? Yes Comments: You must approach this area from Fort Calhoun driving toward Boyer Chute. The bridge is still out so you can't get to Boyer Chute. P49 is at the west side of the bridge that is out. Drive P49 south.
2 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Rough-legged Hawk -- Soaring over Fish and Wildife property to East. Observed kiting for a few minutes. 2 American Kestrel X American Tree Sparrow 1 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Harris's Sparrow 1 Spotted Towhee X Western/Eastern Meadowlark X Red-winged Blackbird
Date: 12/31/20 1:41 pm From: Jan Johnson <janbirder...> Subject: [NEBirds] Last Species
My last counted species for 2020 today was an Eastern Screech Owl. Until this year I’ve had one regularly roosting/nesting in the Wood Duck box but this year it’s been very sporadic. I was surprised to see him pop out this afternoon after a two week hiatus. Every year since I don’t remember when I’ve gotten one on my January 1st list. Sure hoping this one shows up tomorrow again.
Date: 12/31/20 1:20 pm From: Phil Swanson <pswanson19...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] 2020 - END OF YEAR NEBRASKA LISTS NEEDED
Hi Mark,
I only have two numbers to submit.
My Nebraska life list is 352.
My Nebraska birds photographed is 345.
Good birding,
Phil Swanson
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Mark Brogie Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 1:25 PM To: <NEBirds...> Subject: [NEBirds] 2020 - END OF YEAR NEBRASKA LISTS NEEDED
TIME TO REPORT YOUR END OF THE YEAR LISTS FOR THOSE OF YOU WANTING TO PARTICIPATE!
1. Report those counties you have a life-list over 125
2. Your life-list number for Nebraska.
3. Number of species observed in Nebraska in 2020.
4 Number of species that you have seen in all 93 counties.
5. Number of species photographed in Nebraska. (All time)
6. Number of species photographed in Nebraska in 2020.
COUNTY
Number
COUNTY
Number
COUNTY
Number
Adams
0
Frontier
0
Nance
0
Antelope
0
Furnas
0
Nemaha
0
Arthur
0
Gage
0
Nuckolls
0
Banner
0
Garden
0
Otoe
0
Blaine
0
Garfield
0
Pawnee
0
Boone
0
Gosper
0
Perkins
0
Box Butte
0
Grant
0
Phelps
0
Boyd
0
Greeley
0
Pierce
0
Brown
0
Hall
0
Platte
0
Buffalo
0
Hamilton
0
Polk
0
Burt
0
Harlan
0
Red Willow
0
Butler
0
Hayes
0
Richardson
0
Cass
0
Hitchcock
0
Rock
0
Cedar
0
Holt
0
Saline
0
Chase
0
Hooker
0
Sarpy
0
Cherry
0
Howard
0
Saunders
0
Cheyenne
0
Jefferson
0
Scotts Bluff
0
Clay
0
Johnson
0
Seward
0
Colfax
0
Kearney
0
Sheridan
0
Cuming
0
Keith
0
Sherman
0
Custer
0
Keya Paha
0
Sioux
0
Dakota
0
Kimball
0
Stanton
0
Dawes
0
Knox
0
Thayer
0
Dawson
0
Lancaster
0
Thomas
0
Deuel
0
Lincoln
0
Thurston
0
Dixon
0
Logan
0
Valley
0
Dodge
0
Loup
0
Washington
0
Douglas
0
Madison
0
Wayne
0
Dundy
0
McPherson
0
Webster
0
Fillmore
0
Merrick
0
Wheeler
0
Franklin
0
Morrill
0
York
0
County totals
Number
%
TOTAL:
0
0 to 25
0
0.00
26 to 50
0
0.00
Nebraska Life-List Total =
51 to 75
0
0.00
76 to 99
0
0.00
Nebraska Annual 2020 Total
100 to 124
0
0.00
125 or OVER
0
0.00
Species in all 93 counties =
Total
0
0.00
200 or over
0
0.00
225 or over
0
0.00
250 or over
0
0.00
*** I WILL SEND LAST YEARS REPORT IF YOU REQUEST ONE!!!
Date: 12/30/20 3:48 pm From: allenreyer via groups.io <allenreyer...> Subject: [NEBirds] eBird -- Base Lake & LaPlatte Bottoms -- Dec 30, 2020
Went out to the base lake area this afternoon. Very quiet. Best birds were a Merlin on Harlan Lewis Rd, and 3 Northern Harriers. Complete ebird list below.
Al Reyer
Bellevue, NE
> Subject: eBird -- Base Lake & LaPlatte Bottoms -- Dec 30, 2020
>
> Base Lake & LaPlatte Bottoms
> Dec 30, 2020
> 3:33 PM
> Traveling
> 9.84 miles
> 47 Minutes
> All birds reported? Yes
> Comments: Submitted from eBird for iOS, version 2.3.1 Build 2.3.8
>
> 7 Canada Goose
> 2 Eurasian Collared-Dove
> 5 Mourning Dove
> 3 Northern Harrier
> 3 Red-tailed Hawk
> 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
> 3 American Kestrel
> 1 Merlin
> X European Starling
> 3 American Tree Sparrow
> 1 Dark-eyed Junco
> 5 Western/Eastern Meadowlark
>
> Number of Taxa: 12
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 12/29/20 5:39 pm From: Jason Thiele <jasonthiele...> Subject: [NEBirds] Beaver Valley CBC results
The Beaver Valley CBC (near Petersburg, mostly in Boone County) was held on December 28, a pleasant day with low winds and (eventually) sunny skies. Six birders participated. The day's total was 49 species, including two new species for the circle (Snow Goose and Mountain Bluebird) and a couple of others that are recorded very infrequently. This was just short of the record of 50 species that was set in 1987. A list of all species recorded this year along with notes of interest is below. Notable misses included Wilson's Snipe (fairly regular in this circle), Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Bluebird (actually rare on this count, but I sort of expected it this year - definitely never expected to get Mountain but not Eastern), Cedar Waxwing, Purple Finch (also infrequent, but I figured we would get one considering other finches were fairly abundant), Brown-headed Cowbird, and Common Grackle. Thanks to those who helped me out with the count. Have a happy near year, everyone!
Snow Goose 120 (new species for the circle)
Canada Goose 2
Trumpeter Swan 39 (recorded for the third year in a row; new high count)
Mallard 1536
Green-winged Teal 9
Northern Bobwhite 6
Ring-necked Pheasant 2
Greater Prairie-Chicken 146 (among the higher counts)
Wild Turkey 9
Rock Pigeon 51
Eurasian Collared-Dove 70 (second-highest count)
Northern Harrier 4
Cooper's Hawk 2
Bald Eagle 25 (new high count)
Red-tailed Hawk 19
Rough-legged Hawk 4
Eastern Screech-Owl 1 (first time recorded since 2006)
Great Horned Owl 6
Red-bellied Woodpecker 8 (second-highest count)
Downy Woodpecker 7
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
American Kestrel 2
Prairie Falcon 1 (only the fourth time reported, but the second year in a row)
Northern Shrike 3 (second-highest count; also one shrike sp.)
Blue Jay 40 (new high count, beating last year's previous record of 27)
American Crow 87
Black-capped Chickadee 2 (we missed these on the last two counts, but numbers obviously remain down in this area)
Horned Lark 189
Red-breasted Nuthatch 7 (new high count)
White-breasted Nuthatch 14
Brown Creeper 2
European Starling 273
American Robin 115
Mountain Bluebird 40 (new species for the count and the best bird of the day, in my opinion)
House Sparrow 328 (second-highest count)
House Finch 49 (second-highest count)
Red Crossbill 1 (only the third time reported; last time was in 1998)
Pine Siskin 12 (new high count; last time reported was in 2006)
American Goldfinch 62 (highest count in recent years)
Lapland Longspur 97 (new high count)
American Tree Sparrow 163
Dark-eyed Junco 97 (including 4 "Oregon" juncos)
Harris's Sparrow 4 (first time recorded since 2007)
Song Sparrow 1
Western Meadowlark 45 (new high count)
Red-winged Blackbird 120
Great-tailed Grackle 1 (only the third time reported; last time was in 2006)
Northern Cardinal 7 (tied for high count)
Date: 12/29/20 4:35 pm From: Ross Silcock <silcock...> Subject: [NEBirds] Lake McConaughy CBC
Hello birders-
The annual Lake McConaughy CBC will occur this Saturday, January 2, 2021. The count will be run differently than usual with no gatherings before or after and all area assignments made ahead of time. If you are interested in counting, please email me (<cootjr...><mailto:<cootjr...>) no later than December 31st and I will make area assignments on January 1. This is typically a fun count and offers a good opportunity to get your 2021 list off to a great start.
Cheers,
Steve
**********
Stephen J. Dinsmore
Interim Chair
Departments of Natural Resource Ecology & Management and Entomology
Iowa State University
209 Science II
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: 515-294-1348
E-mail: <cootjr...><mailto:<cootjr...> Web: https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/research/dinsmore/
Again this quarter we have a small number of copies of the Nebraska Bird Review (journal of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union) that we are offering for free. The rules to receive your free copy are 1) you are currently not a member of the NOU, 2) you have not received a complimentary issue the last two times it was offered, and 3) you send me a name and mailing address off-list to this email address: <nebraska.ornithologists.union...><mailto:<nebraska.ornithologists.union...> .
We are at the end of the year so this is also a reminder to current Nebraska Ornithologists' Union members to renew their membership soon. Also, it is a suggestion for non-members to consider joining the organization.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
-Joel
Joel Jorgensen | Nongame Bird Program Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd 68503 | 402.471.5440
<joel.jorgensen...><mailto:<joel.jorgensen...>
Smith's Longspur (probable pending submission and acceptance by NOU Records Committee).
28 Dec 2020, approximately 1100h CST.
Pawnee Prairie WMA, Pawnee County, Nebraska.
Specific Location: 40.03083, -96.32623.
Or, approximately 0.5 miles NNW of the SW parking lot on grazed hilltop.
Single bird flushed, observed, and watched land several times in the same area over about a 45 minute period. Fourteen mediocre photos taken. I'll try to attach a few.
Otherwise American Crows, American Tree Sparrows and one Song Sparrow seen on the area.
Not on ebird.
Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
This morning I headed to Toadstool Park to look for rosy-finches and Snowy Owls. At the intersection of Toadstool Road and Hat Creek Rd (near the north entrance to Toadstool Rd) I saw a large flock of birds on the road that flew up into the trees. There was at least 120 rosy-finches. All I could see was Gray-crowned Rosy-finches. The lighting was awful, so there could have been Black in there somewhere. I'm not sure if this is the same place where they have been seen for several weeks or not.
In between Crawford and Harrison on Hiway 20, at mm14, I found a Snowy Owl. I have attached a picture of it.
I drove north of Scottsbluff on Hiway 71 up to Toadstool and came back via Hiway 20, Crawford to Harrison and south on 29 to Mitchell. I saw 25-30 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 Golden Eagles, a Ferruginous Hawk, several Kestrels and Northern Harriers. Not a single Red-tailed Hawk anywhere. I did see a couple of flocks of Horned Larks and some starling but very few small birds along the highways.
The -rosy-finches and Snowy Owl are on eBird, nothing else.
One Golden Eagle was near Agate Ranch on Hiway 29, the other on Hiway 71 near Wind Springs Ranch.
Date: 12/26/20 4:00 pm From: allenreyer via groups.io <allenreyer...> Subject: [NEBirds] Sarpy County
Went south of Bellevue birding this afternoon. The base lake is completely frozen over, but there were 13 Trumpeter Swans sitting on the ice. Most unusual was a Belted Kingfisher sitting on a wire right at the intersection of Ft. Crook and Fairview Rd. Not only is there no open water there, there is no water at all.
Earlier today, I had 2 Carolina Wrens and 2 Tufted Titmouse's at my feeders.
Date: 12/26/20 11:53 am From: Linda Sullivan <linda.sullivan831...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
There were at least six cars of birders this morning driving around a
several mile area where the snowy was cited yesterday and I don't think
anyone saw it.
Linda S
On Sat, Dec 26, 2020, 1:25 PM Matt Shurtliff <mmscornhusker...>
wrote:
> Anyone know if owl is out today??
>
> On Fri, Dec 25, 2020 at 3:31 PM Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> wrote:
>
>> If you saw an ebird record for snowy owl from me near Valley, that was
>> incorrect. I saw the same owl everyone else is reporting in Saunders
>> County. My phone GPS gave me an incorrect location. Sorry for any
>> confusion.
>>
>> Mary Clausen
>> La Vista
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 25, 2020, 2:58 PM Jerry Toll <geritol48...> wrote:
>>
>>> Update: The snowy owl was present about 11:00 flying between poles and a
>>> center pivot in the southeast corner of 18th and Q roads.
>>> Jerry Toll
>>> Not on ebird
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of paulahoppe18
>>> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 9:20 AM
>>> To: <NEbirds...>
>>> Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
>>>
>>> Great gift from my neighbor this morning. He told me about a Snowy Owl,
>>> less than a 1/2 mile from our house. It’s sitting on a pole, west of Colon
>>> on County Rd Q just east of 18.
>>> Paula Hoppe
>>> Saunders County
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus >>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
> Matt Shurtliff
> <mmscornhusker...>
>
>
Date: 12/26/20 11:25 am From: Matt Shurtliff <mmscornhusker...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
Anyone know if owl is out today??
On Fri, Dec 25, 2020 at 3:31 PM Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> wrote:
> If you saw an ebird record for snowy owl from me near Valley, that was
> incorrect. I saw the same owl everyone else is reporting in Saunders
> County. My phone GPS gave me an incorrect location. Sorry for any
> confusion.
>
> Mary Clausen
> La Vista
>
> On Fri, Dec 25, 2020, 2:58 PM Jerry Toll <geritol48...> wrote:
>
>> Update: The snowy owl was present about 11:00 flying between poles and a
>> center pivot in the southeast corner of 18th and Q roads.
>> Jerry Toll
>> Not on ebird
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of paulahoppe18
>> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 9:20 AM
>> To: <NEbirds...>
>> Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
>>
>> Great gift from my neighbor this morning. He told me about a Snowy Owl,
>> less than a 1/2 mile from our house. It’s sitting on a pole, west of Colon
>> on County Rd Q just east of 18.
>> Paula Hoppe
>> Saunders County
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus >>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
Matt Shurtliff
<mmscornhusker...>
Date: 12/25/20 1:31 pm From: Mary Clausen <mkclausen...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
If you saw an ebird record for snowy owl from me near Valley, that was
incorrect. I saw the same owl everyone else is reporting in Saunders
County. My phone GPS gave me an incorrect location. Sorry for any
confusion.
Mary Clausen
La Vista
On Fri, Dec 25, 2020, 2:58 PM Jerry Toll <geritol48...> wrote:
> Update: The snowy owl was present about 11:00 flying between poles and a
> center pivot in the southeast corner of 18th and Q roads.
> Jerry Toll
> Not on ebird
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of paulahoppe18
> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 9:20 AM
> To: <NEbirds...>
> Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
>
> Great gift from my neighbor this morning. He told me about a Snowy Owl,
> less than a 1/2 mile from our house. It’s sitting on a pole, west of Colon
> on County Rd Q just east of 18.
> Paula Hoppe
> Saunders County
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 12/25/20 12:58 pm From: Jerry Toll <geritol48...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
Update: The snowy owl was present about 11:00 flying between poles and a center pivot in the southeast corner of 18th and Q roads.
Jerry Toll
Not on ebird
-----Original Message-----
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of paulahoppe18
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 9:20 AM
To: <NEbirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
Great gift from my neighbor this morning. He told me about a Snowy Owl, less than a 1/2 mile from our house. It’s sitting on a pole, west of Colon on County Rd Q just east of 18.
Paula Hoppe
Saunders County
Date: 12/25/20 7:19 am From: paulahoppe18 <pao.hoppe...> Subject: [NEBirds] Snowy Owl In Saunders County
Great gift from my neighbor this morning. He told me about a Snowy Owl, less than a 1/2 mile from our house. It’s sitting on a pole, west of Colon on County Rd Q just east of 18.
Paula Hoppe
Saunders County
Date: 12/24/20 8:56 am From: Jerry Toll <geritol48...> Subject: [NEBirds] DeSoto CBC results
The DeSoto CBC was held December 19th under favorable weather conditions. 69 species and 24,176 individuals were counted. In the last ten years, 3 counts had lower or the same species tally and the number of individuals is ranked in the middle. There we 23 counters in 16 parties. Swamp Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Shrike, Fox Sparrow, and Sandhill Crane were count-week sightings. The Sandhill Crane was new to the count. A record high of 2,972 White-fronted Geese were found at DeSoto NWR and at a flooded quarry south of Blair. The previous record high was 750. Six species of ducks including Northern Pintail and Hooded Merganser were seen. 8 Northern Bobwhite was the third record in the last 10 years. 12 American Kestrels have been seen in each of the last 3 Counts. Also seen were 3 Merlins and a Prairie Falcon. 3 Ring-billed Gulls and 2 of unknown gull species were the first gulls counted since 2011. A high count of 241 Black-capped Chickadees were more in line with the early half of the history of the CBC than the last 10 years. 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches and a Winter Wren seem to be fairly regularly seen now but in low numbers. A single Brown Thrasher was only the 3rd record for the CBC. The flooding that occurred in the Missouri River floodplain last year scoured the plant community favoring the growth of pioneer species like smartweeds and black-eyed susans on the DeSoto and Boyer Wildlife Refuges. This in turn had a dramatic positive effect on sparrows and finches. Record high numbers were set for both Song Sparrows and American Goldfinches. At Boyer Chute, where I surveyed, there is hundreds of acres of this habitat that I was only able to survey from the roadsides. Only one Red-winged Blackbird and 70 meadowlark sp. Were the only icterids seen. A big thank you goes out to all who were willing to survey under the Covid-19 restrictions.
Hi all,
8 participants completed the Calamus CBC yesterday. The creeks, rivers, and most of the reservoir was open, most ponds were frozen-over. Tentatively, we had 64 species.
Highlights were:
White-winged Crossbill (first for the count)
Short-eared Owl
Purple Finch
Golden- crowned Kinglet
American White Pelican
new high number for Green-winged Teal thanks to one huge migrating group (new total 200)
Date: 12/22/20 5:24 pm From: Walker, thomas <thomas.walker...> Subject: [NEBirds] North Platte CBC
The North Platte CBC was held on Saturday, December 19th. For the first year since 2009, the count did not involve me - I decided to keep things safe at home instead of traveling overnight. Despite me not being there, 9 field participants and one feeder watcher did an outstanding job and found 74 species plus 2 count week species.
There were two species detected for the first time for the CBC which included Ruddy Duck (2 on the North Platte Water Treatment Pond) and Mountain Chickadee (1 that has been present for a while at Cody Park). This brings the cumulative species list for the North Platte CBC across years to 130 species.
Record high counts included:
* Ross's Goose - 1 (tied record high, one of these years we will find 2....)
* Trumpeter Swan - 34 (previous high was 16 last year)
* Bald Eagle - 34 (tied record high)
* Prairie Falcon - 3
* White-breasted Nuthatch - 37 (previous high was 19)
* Northern Cardinal - 31 (tied record high)
Surprising misses:
* American Coot - found 8 of 10 years
* Wilson's Sniper - found 9 of last 10 years
* Horned Lark - First miss since 2009 and only second miss in history of the count
* Golden-crowned Kinglet - found last 10 out of 10
* Cedar Waxwing - found 9 of last 10
* Sparrows were few and far between - missed Harris's, White-crowned, Song (count week)
74 species tied last year, but was 12 species shy of our record. Our ten year average is 75 species though, so they did very well without me.
Thanks a bunch to Jonathan Nikkila for doing some owling (got Eastern Screech-, Great Horned and Long-eared) and to Julie Geiser and Boni Edwards for taking the lead on the field side, and to all others that participated.
I hope to be back out there next winter...
T. J. Walker
Assistant Division Administrator
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Wildlife Division - Partners Section
2200 N 33rd St., Lincoln, NE 68503
Office - (402) 471-5439
Cell - (308) 530-7659
<thomas.walker...><mailto:<thomas.walker...>
Jen Fruend, a Nebraska Raptor Recovery volunteer, picked up a Northern Saw-whet Owl that was hit by a car on Hillcrest in Seward today (December 22). Had she picked it up one day earlier, it would have been yet another count week bird AND new species for the count for the Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC. I checked the cbc website and even specimens can be counted on cbc counts. I have been trying for years to find a saw-whet owl in Seward Co and on the Christmas bird count with no luck. This is apparently the year for northern saw-whets in Seward Co. Joel Jorgensen banded 3 in November at Oak Glen WMA and now this bird shows up in Seward.
Joe Gubanyi
Denton
________________________________
From: Gubanyi,Joe <Joe.Gubanyi...>
Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2020 2:45 PM
To: Gubanyi,Joe <Joe.Gubanyi...>
Subject: Ghggg
Date: 12/22/20 7:49 am From: Thomas Labedz <tlabedz1...> Subject: [NEBirds] Updated Missouri bird book
FYI, my friend and colleague Mark Robbins has just updated his book The Status and Distribution of Birds in Missouri. The download is free if you're interested in the avifauna of our neighboring state.
Thomas Labedz, Lincoln
A revision of The Status and Distribution of Birds in Missouri by Mark B. Robbins is now available. It is a comprehensive, up-to-date compilation of 437 species that have been reported in Missouri. An overview is provided of the nearly 3 billion net loss of birds in North America during the past 50 years and how people can help stem the decline. Primarily as a result of climate change many species' status and distribution have changed in Missouri during the past twenty-five years; these changes are highlighted in tables and species accounts. There are four maps, six tables, and 37 photographs of unusual birds recorded in the state, all in color; 347 pages.
The book is online as a free download through KU ScholarWorks, the online institutional repository of the University of Kansas: http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30959 A printed copy (called Perfect Paperback) is available for $29.25 + shipping and handling ($6.95) through the KU Bookstore at the following website:
https://www.kubookstore.com/The-Status-and-Distribution-of-Birds-in-Missouri For those in the Lawrence/Kansas City area, the book can be picked up (no shipping and handling costs) at three KU bookstore locations: main KU campus in Lawrence, the 6th and Wakarusa location in Lawrence, and at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City.
Also, the printed version can be purchased from Amazon, here:
Hi all,
tentative results are 66 species.
Highlights
White-winged Crossbills (12)
Common Redpolls (4)
Lapland Longspurs (13)
Black-bill Magpie
Carolina Wren
Ross's Goose (1st for Norfolk CBC)
count-week Great-tailed Grackle (would have been 1st for Norfolk CBC)
Notable misses
Northern Bobwhite
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Harris's Sparrow (did get it for count-week)
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
thanks to the eight folks who helped Duane Wolff (compiler) and I run the count we appreciate your time and effort.
Date: 12/21/20 10:16 am From: Bob and Kathi <bkgr10...> Subject: [NEBirds] White Wiinged Crossbill
We were amazed to find a White Winged Crossbill at our feeder this morning. We noticed only the one bird but are keeping an eye out for others. There's a picture of the bird here:https://groups.io/g/NEBirds/album?id=175292
--
Bob and Kathi Gerten, Garfield County
Date: 12/20/20 7:30 pm From: pastorpaultdunbar via groups.io <pastorpaultdunbar...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC preliminary results
Nice count! I too was surprised by a pair of Carolina Wrens at my feeders yesterday — may be the only time I’ve had 2 simultaneously. Today had a juv Coopers Hawk in my birdbath
Paul Dunbar
Hastings
> On Dec 20, 2020, at 3:04 PM, Gubanyi,Joe <Joe.Gubanyi...> wrote:
>
> 
> The 27th Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC was held Friday, December 18. It turned out to be an interesting count. Multiple observers (self included) noted that passerines were hard to find. One observer commented after walking a trail looking for passerines that it was the worst Christmas count ever. In spite of that, the species total is currently at 76 plus 5 count week birds not seen on the day of the count. There were several exceptional sightings including the following:
> White-winged scoter – only the second time seen on the count
> White-winged dove – first time seen (visiting a feeder in Seward)
> Red crossbill – fifth time seen
> Two count week species seen within 3 days of the count but not on the count day are worth noting:
> LeConte’s sparrow – would be a new species for the count; it joins Bohemian waxwing as a species recorded only as a count week species
> Swamp sparrow – seen the day before; would have been the fourth record for the count
> Two wren species were exceptions to the hard-to-find passerines:
> Carolina wren – currently at 13 reported, breaking the old high count of 6 (has only been greater than 3 once)
> Winter wren - currently at 6 reported, breaking the old high count of 5 (has only been greater than 2 twice)
> Notable misses (unless reported by the few people who have not submitted data)
> Great horned owl – would be first time missed in 27-year history of count
> Cooper’s hawk – has not been missed in 15 years; seems consistent with low numbers of passerines
> Thanks to all who helped this year.
> Joe Gubanyi
> Denton
>
> White-winged dove seen on count and photographed Dec 20 by Linda Gierke
>
> <image.png>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 12/20/20 1:04 pm From: Gubanyi,Joe <Joe.Gubanyi...> Subject: [NEBirds] Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC preliminary results
The 27th Seward-Branched Oak Lake CBC was held Friday, December 18. It turned out to be an interesting count. Multiple observers (self included) noted that passerines were hard to find. One observer commented after walking a trail looking for passerines that it was the worst Christmas count ever. In spite of that, the species total is currently at 76 plus 5 count week birds not seen on the day of the count. There were several exceptional sightings including the following:
White-winged scoter – only the second time seen on the count
White-winged dove – first time seen (visiting a feeder in Seward)
Red crossbill – fifth time seen
Two count week species seen within 3 days of the count but not on the count day are worth noting:
LeConte’s sparrow – would be a new species for the count; it joins Bohemian waxwing as a species recorded only as a count week species
Swamp sparrow – seen the day before; would have been the fourth record for the count
Two wren species were exceptions to the hard-to-find passerines:
Carolina wren – currently at 13 reported, breaking the old high count of 6 (has only been greater than 3 once)
Winter wren - currently at 6 reported, breaking the old high count of 5 (has only been greater than 2 twice)
Notable misses (unless reported by the few people who have not submitted data)
Great horned owl – would be first time missed in 27-year history of count
Cooper’s hawk – has not been missed in 15 years; seems consistent with low numbers of passerines
Thanks to all who helped this year.
Joe Gubanyi
Denton
White-winged dove seen on count and photographed Dec 20 by Linda Gierke
[cid:576afb6b-b5a0-4fbd-854a-253428fb7e0f]
> On Dec 20, 2020, at 9:37 AM, William Huser <billfhuser...> wrote:
>
> 
> We broke the record of 59!
> Katie will be doing the compilation when she returns Monday. My unofficial tally was at 59 but I didn't know of your solitaire and owl. There are others I have yet to talk to, so more to come, perhaps.
> You did turn in a paper list at the park?
>
> Other good finds included Fox Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Hermit Thrush, Cackling And Ross's Geese, Spotted Towhee, Prairie Chicken, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Pine Siskin.
>
> I'll send a summary when done.
>
>
>> On Sat, Dec 19, 2020, 3:08 PM Jan Johnson <janbirder...> wrote:
>> Oops! Thought I’d proof read better. Didn’t see any parrots but did see sparrows!
>>
>>> On Sat, Dec 19, 2020 at 3:04 PM Jan Johnson via groups.io <janbirder...> wrote:
>>> Yesterday Richard and I drove our usual route for the Ponca CBC. Cloudy conditions early morning meant one really had to look closely at first for an id. We weren’t looking for a great day since there just don’t seem to be many species around. We did end with 30 species for the day, down from previous years. The lack of raptors and parrots was unbelievable. We only had two Red-tailed Hawks and six Bald Eagles.
>>>
>>> This year since we weren’t meeting first we began our route at the opposite end than usual since it was closer to home. It started slow but our third species of the day was a very cooperative Townsend’s Solitaire. A private grove off the Newcastle Cemetery produced a Long-eared Owl and then nothing for quite aways. Then, Within a three mile stretch we had a large flock of Robins, more Cedar Waxwings in four groups than I've seen (no Bohemians that I could find in poor light), Eastern Bluebirds - 13, and the surprise of the day, a flock of at least 14 Purple Finches. They kept moving around amongst the Bluebirds eating Box Elder seeds making them difficult to count. Sparrows were Tree - 28, Song - 1, and White-crowned -1.
>>>
>>> Sometime this week I’m anxious to hear what the other parties found.
>>>
>>> Jan Johnson
>>> Dixon County
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Jan
>
>
Date: 12/20/20 7:37 am From: William Huser <billfhuser...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Ponca CBC
We broke the record of 59!
Katie will be doing the compilation when she returns Monday. My unofficial
tally was at 59 but I didn't know of your solitaire and owl. There are
others I have yet to talk to, so more to come, perhaps.
You did turn in a paper list at the park?
Other good finds included Fox Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Hermit Thrush,
Cackling And Ross's Geese, Spotted Towhee, Prairie Chicken, Sharp-shinned
Hawk, Pine Siskin.
I'll send a summary when done.
On Sat, Dec 19, 2020, 3:08 PM Jan Johnson <janbirder...> wrote:
> Oops! Thought I’d proof read better. Didn’t see any parrots but did see
> sparrows!
>
> On Sat, Dec 19, 2020 at 3:04 PM Jan Johnson via groups.io <janbirder=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Yesterday Richard and I drove our usual route for the Ponca CBC. Cloudy
>> conditions early morning meant one really had to look closely at first for
>> an id. We weren’t looking for a great day since there just don’t seem to
>> be many species around. We did end with 30 species for the day, down from
>> previous years. The lack of raptors and parrots was unbelievable. We only
>> had two Red-tailed Hawks and six Bald Eagles.
>>
>> This year since we weren’t meeting first we began our route at the
>> opposite end than usual since it was closer to home. It started slow but
>> our third species of the day was a very cooperative Townsend’s Solitaire.
>> A private grove off the Newcastle Cemetery produced a Long-eared Owl and
>> then nothing for quite aways. Then, Within a three mile stretch we had a
>> large flock of Robins, more Cedar Waxwings in four groups than I've seen
>> (no Bohemians that I could find in poor light), Eastern Bluebirds - 13, and
>> the surprise of the day, a flock of at least 14 Purple Finches. They kept
>> moving around amongst the Bluebirds eating Box Elder seeds making them
>> difficult to count. Sparrows were Tree - 28, Song - 1, and White-crowned
>> -1.
>>
>> Sometime this week I’m anxious to hear what the other parties found.
>>
>> Jan Johnson
>> Dixon County
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
> Jan
>
>
![https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/48005696461/logo/1KcOTJtKWPLi8rEJgjFpcfZSTyZvntl6TA.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAS6FNSMY2WD6T3JNC%2F20210109%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20210109T010338Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=28778e1f9dd361a01a0195e38d3b5674ca9c5e0f79400d4cdb520f44b2025d7e]<https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000625567-editing-and-sharing-checklists>](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/48005696461/logo/1KcOTJtKWPLi8rEJgjFpcfZSTyZvntl6TA.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAS6FNSMY2WD6T3JNC%2F20210109%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20210109T010338Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=28778e1f9dd361a01a0195e38d3b5674ca9c5e0f79400d4cdb520f44b2025d7e]<https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000625567-editing-and-sharing-checklists>){kind=link}