Natural Spaces at Midtown Omaha Parks Essential for Local Avifauna

During May, the value of natural habitat at Elmwood Park and Memorial Park was shown by their extensive use by a variety of resident and migratory wild birds.

These two parks have several fine green spaces - represented by these places names used to designate the occurrence of birds during a particular survey - including Wood Creek, Elmwood Park; Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park, Elmwood Park; Elmwood Park Ravine; Wood Creek, Memorial Park; Memorial Park; and Happy Hollow Creek, on its east side.

There were 66 species recorded on different days during the month, as shown by the following table listing them in standard taxonomic sequence. The numbers at the head of the columns is the particular Julian date, i.e., 123 corresponds to 2 May, 138 was 17 May, and 149 was 28 May. The value shown is the total number counted at the various places on the particular day; a zero indicates no count information is available. A thorough count was not made every day, so there can be no valid comparison of the total number of birds present.

Common Name	123	124	125	126	129	130	132	134	135	137	138	141	144	145	146	149	151
Canada Goose	-	-	2	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wood Duck	-	6	6	5	-	12	2	-	8	5	8	-	-	8	-	7	-
Mallard	-	-	-	2	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Turkey Vulture	-	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	1	-	-	1	-	-	-
Mourning Dove	-	0	3	-	-	1	-	-	2	-	5	1	-	2	-	-	2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Barred Owl	-	-	2	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Chimney Swift	-	-	6	3	-	-	2	-	2	-	2	-	-	-	6	-	3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-bellied Woodpecker	-	-	2	1	-	2	1	-	2	-	3	1	-	1	1	2	1
Downy Woodpecker	-	0	1	1	-	3	1	-	1	-	3	1	-	1	1	2	1
Hairy Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Northern Flicker	-	-	2	1	-	1	1	-	1	-	-	1	-	1	1	-	-
Olive-sided Flycatcher	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2	-	1
Least Flycatcher	-	0	2	2	-	3	1	-	6	-	5	3	-	3	8	6	5
Eastern Phoebe	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Great Crested Flycatcher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	1
Eastern Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Warbling Vireo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-	3	-
Red-eyed Vireo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	2	2	12	2
Blue Jay	-	0	3	2	-	2	1	-	1	-	3	1	-	1	1	2	-
Barn Swallow	-	-	2	2	-	3	5	-	2	-	7	-	-	-	2	-	2
Black-capped Chickadee	-	0	3	2	-	3	1	-	1	-	2	2	-	2	-	2	1
Red-breasted Nuthatch	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
White-breasted Nuthatch	-	-	1	1	-	1	-	-	1	-	1	1	-	1	-	2	-
House Wren	-	0	6	4	-	4	1	-	2	-	2	2	-	2	2	2	1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	0	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Veery	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Swainson's Thrush	-	0	2	4	-	4	7	-	3	-	7	1	-	3	2	1	1
American Robin	2	0	12	10	-	10	4	-	5	-	19	6	-	5	6	8	3
Gray Catbird	-	-	2	3	-	8	3	-	7	-	10	1	-	3	2	2	1
Brown Thrasher	-	0	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
European Starling	-	-	3	1	-	6	22	-	6	-	6	2	-	8	10	-	2
Orange-crowned Warbler	-	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Nashville Warbler	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Parula	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Yellow Warbler	1	0	-	-	-	2	-	-	1	-	4	2	-	-	1	1	-
Chestnut-sided Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	2	-	-
Magnolia Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler	15	0	14	15	-	22	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-
Blackpoll Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Black-and-white Warbler	-	0	1	2	-	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
American Redstart	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	2	-	1	1	1	2	1
Prothonotary Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ovenbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Louisiana Waterthrush	-	0	1	-	-	-	3	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mourning Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	2	1	1	2	1	-	-
Hooded Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2	-	1	-	-	-	-
Chipping Sparrow	-	15	3	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	3
White-throated Sparrow	-	0	-	2	-	13	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Harris's Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Cardinal	1	-	7	6	-	10	4	-	5	-	10	2	-	4	3	3	3
Indigo Bunting	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Grackle	-	0	4	10	-	15	12	-	3	-	28	6	-	8	6	9	8
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	-	2	1	-	-	2	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	2	4	-
Baltimore Oriole	-	0	1	2	-	3	1	-	4	-	4	1	-	1	2	-	1
House Finch	-	-	-	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	2	-	3	1
Pine Siskin	-	-	2	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Goldfinch	-	0	4	4	-	10	2	-	7	-	4	2	-	2	2	2	2
House Sparrow	-	-	4	2	-	7	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	3	-	-	-

This bird calendar shows the change in species composition during the month, especially denoting the shifts as migratory species moved through, going northward.

The most numerous species appear to be the American Robin and Common Grackle. Common other birds were the Chipping Sparrow and Northern Cardinal and European Starling.

The White-throated Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow were gone by mid-month. The Eastern Wood-Pewee, vireos and flycatchers showed up during the latter half of this May.

During the month, a few broods of Wood Ducks were present, although some groups seen once or twice were not noted again. Then another brood might be apparent. These birds, dwelling along the creek, are likely impacted by heavy rains which significantly raise the water levels of the creeks, flooding the banks and probably washing the little fledglings away.

A fine representation of 17 species of warblers were present, nearly always in the arboreal splendor along Wood Creek. Distinctive records were the Prothonotary Warbler and Hooded Warbler, this being this first known sighting of this species at Elmwood Park. The same applies to the Louisiana Waterthrush, lurking along the edge of the creeks. Several others were recorded after not having been noted for several years. Sunlit areas along Happy Hollow Creek were prime spots for seeing bunches of Yellow-rumped Warblers during the first half of the month.

Common Name	17 May 1914	17 May 2008
Wood Duck	-	8
Turkey Vulture	-	5
Red-tailed Hawk	-	1
Mourning Dove	0	6
Barred Owl	-	1
Chimney Swift	0	2
Red-headed Woodpecker	0	-
Red-bellied Woodpecker	-	3
Downy Woodpecker	-	3
Northern Flicker	0	1
Eastern Wood-Pewee	-	1
Least Flycatcher	-	5
Eastern Phoebe	0	1
Warbling Vireo	-	1
Red-eyed Vireo	0	1
Blue Jay	0	3
American Crow	0	-
Barn Swallow	0	7
Black-capped Chickadee	0	2
White-breasted Nuthatch	-	1
House Wren	0	2
Eastern Bluebird	0	-
Swainson's Thrush	-	7
Wood Thrush	0	-
American Robin	0	44
Gray Catbird	0	10
Brown Thrasher	0	-
European Starling	-	9
Orange-crowned Warbler	-	2
Yellow Warbler	0	4
Yellow-rumped Warbler	-	1
American Redstart	-	2
Common Yellowthroat	0	2
Wilson's Warbler	-	2
Scarlet Tanager	0	-
Eastern Towhee	0	-
Chipping Sparrow	-	10
Northern Cardinal	0	10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	0	-
Dickcissel	0	-
Red-winged Blackbird	0	-
Western Meadowlark	0	-
Common Grackle	0	43
Brown-headed Cowbird	0	7
Orchard Oriole	0	-
Baltimore Oriole	0	4
House Finch	-	2
American Goldfinch	0	4
House Sparrow	-	4
Total:	31	37

Indications of breeding activity increased as the month was ending, or into the first part of June. Especially notable were a Black-capped Chickadee carrying food, and two fledgling Red-tailed Hawks at their nest site.

There are a minimum of 1066 bird use days - a standard measure of the importance of a site for avifauna - represented by this tally. The number of use days would obviously increase dramatically if a detailed analysis was used to determine the daily presence of species that are known residents, or about half of the overall number recorded.

Comparing 2008 to 1914

Among the information available for Elmwood Park are some records from surveys conducted decades ago by Omaha birders. During May in particular, a survey was conducted on May 17, 1914, with the results published in June in the Sunday World-Herald, with three pictures of the men afield and three pictures of mounted birds. The wordy title of the article: "Hunting Wild Birds in Parks and Green Woods that Abound Near Omaha. The Boom of the Gun is No Longer Heard in the Woods Near Omaha, But in its Place Bird Hunters Search Diligently with Lead Pencil, Notebook and Camera, While About Flit the Feathered."

The author was Miles Greenleaf, and his field associates were sportsman Billy Marsh, and attorney Robert D. Neely tramping through Elmwood Park and onward to the Little Papillion Creek.

Overall in 1914, 31 valid species were sighted in the park area, with some type of hawk (likely a Red-tailed) also noted, and the Loggerhead Shrike along the creek.

A survey in 2008, limited to the Memorial Park and Elmwood Park environs had 37 species. The values in the table are the number counted during the survey jaunt.

A combined 50 species were noted on the two surveys. There are some obvious differences in the avifauna.

Notable additions include the Wood Duck, now nesting in the ancient, towering cottonwood trees along Wood Creek and Happy Hollow Creek. There likely was much less woodland in 1914, with an insufficient amount for these ducks, which proably also had a lesser range of distribution.

Barred Owls are also present because of the increase in arboreal habitat. The Red-bellied Woodpecker seems to have replaced the Red-headed Woodpecker, the latter now only an unusual visitor. Several other species, the flycatchers and vireos, are also more prevalent now because of more woodland.

The obvious lack of the American Crow, only occasionally seen, could be attributed to impacts on the species due to its lessening numbers as a result of West Nile virus.

Gone due to increased urbanization, are the Eastern Bluebird, Dickcissel, Orchard Oriole and Western Meadowlark, subject to the decline of habitat diversity, especially replacment of crop fields, grasslands and country shrubs with streets, buildings and yards. The latter places not suitable for country birdlife.

The European Starling did not occur anywhere in Nebraska in 1914. The House Sparrow had a much lesser range of occurrence, although this introduced species was already present in Omaha.

The comparison seems to indicate a slight increase in species present, but overall a decline in variety because of a loss of habitat diversity, the key element to have more kinds of birds.

Economic Value of Green Spaces for Birds

The economic value of the green spaces can be derived by taking the bird-use days and multiplying that by a standard figure. Whatever the result, the value of these natural spaces is priceless for the documented species, with the flora and habitat vital for birds to survive during migration or as a seasonal breeding place.

This value of the parkland to avifauna is an important consideration in evaluating the management of the park lands. For example, some areas which are now biologically barren mown grass, would have a greater value if converted to reforestation areas where native species of shrubs and trees could be planted to increase plant cover, and subsequently provide additional habitat for the fauna. This is especially apparent at a few places along the Elmwood Park Ravine.

An increased extent of flora would also be an important asset to improving the air polluted by high traffic volume along Dodge Street, and due to the vehicles associated with the adjacent University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. The cost of park maintenance would also be effectively reduced.

There was no motor fuel expended in reaching the parks green spaces in order to conduct a survey, following the BIGBY greenbirding concept. The surveys were accomplished by walking around and the parks were reached in the same manner or via bicycle transportation.