Custer County Farm the Site for First-ever Big Sit in Nebraska

A farmstead in Custer County was the locale for the first Big Sit done in Nebraska.

Common Name	10/8-9	10/10	10/11
American Crow	24	28	3
American Goldfinch	-	-	1
American Pipit	-	5	5
American Robin	-	-	2
Barn Swallow	-	1	-
Blue Jay	-	-	2
Brewer's Blackbird	-	7	7
Chipping Sparrow	7	0	1
Clay-colored Sparrow	4	0	-
Common Grackle	3	-	-
Dark-eyed Junco	1	-	-
Dickcissel	-	2	-
Eastern Bluebird	1	-	-
European Starling	-	-	65
Field Sparrow	15	0	-
Fox Sparrow	-	-	1
Grasshopper Sparrow	3	0	-
Great Blue Heron	-	1	-
Great Horned Owl	-	-	2
Greater Prairie-Chicken	-	25	0
Harris's Sparrow	1	0	1
House Sparrow	-	-	1
House Wren	1	1	-
Killdeer	-	-	1
Le Conte's Sparrow	-	2	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	8	0	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	5
Northern Bobwhite	-	-	1
Northern Flicker	-	1	1
Northern Harrier	-	-	1
Orange-crowned Warbler	10	-	1
Prairie Falcon	-	-	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	55	-	-
Ring-necked Pheasant	-	-	10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	-	-
Sandhill Crane	0	200	0
Savannah Sparrow	6	0	5
Sharp-tailed Grouse	-	1	-
Song Sparrow	4	0	2
Spotted Towhee	1	-	1
Vesper Sparrow	6	0	3
Western Meadowlark	-	-	50
White-crowned Sparrow	24	0	12
White-throated Sparrow	2	1	1
Yellow-rumped Warbler	20	-	8

Tim Hajda contributed the results for Team Merlin, based on observations made from a circle in the yard of the family farm a few miles southeast of Broken Bow, on October 11th.

Though "bad weather made it downright miserable for most of the time," Hajda noted, 30 different species were seen from his vantage point.

It was windy and cloudy on the Sunday, with temperatures in the 30s.

Each species seen was appreciated, he said.

"The weather caused me to have some doubts that birds would be active and present in their normal numbers. It did turn out that there was a marked difference in bird activity, so I especially appreciated seeing the birds that were out and about, despite the weather."

Hajda did not keep watch during the entire day, but spent many hours outside scanning the nearby rural landscape — "mostly half-melted snow blanketing cane and corn fields across the rolling hills" — to see what species were visible.

"In true 'big day' fashion, what seemed to be the easiest species to find suddenly disappeared," Hajda noted in a contributed posting to the NEBirds forum. "There were no Horned Larks, Field, Lincoln's or Clay-colored sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-tailed Hawks, etc. It was made up by some pretty neat birds, though."

A particular highlight on Sunday was a "beautiful 'red'" Fox Sparrow, especially appreciated. The most prevalent native species were the Western Meadowlark, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Greater Prairie-Chicken, and migratory Yellow-rumped Warblers.

In anticipation of the Big Sit, an international birding event held on the second Sunday of October, Hajda had been closely watching bird activity in the area to determine what species were present. His observations for the two previous days were submitted for other Nebraska birders to read, and obviously indicated that he was spending time afield each day of a three-day weekend.

The passage of a cold weather front on Friday and Saturday "really stirred the birds up," he noted. There was a fresh "7 inches of snow" on the flatlands of central Custer County. Among the 23 species seen during a Saturday hike within two miles on his house, were 2 adult Le Conte's Sparrows, as well as a possible juvenile.

"I was sorting through sparrows in a weedy ditch down the road when I came across them," Hajda said. "I got incredible looks from just a few yards away." This is the first record he has of the species in Custer County, as he has for several months been working to compile a list of known species. Pictures of these sparrows were posted online.

Le Conte's Sparrow noted during the weekend of the Big Sit in Custer County. Image courtesy of Tim Hajda.

There were a dozen sparrows noted in the vicinity during his foray. Other species were noted on Friday, but not during any other time of the weekend.

An overall tally of 47 species during the weekend readily indicates the different avifauna tht can be seen on a particular day ... during a short hike or noted from the limited perspective that is the primary criteria of any Big Sit, wherever it may occur.

"Birding becomes habitual, so I always feel a desire to get out and see what birds are around. On top of that, area bird activity was high and unusual stuff was showing up, possibly due to the fluctuating weather conditions. It was nice out and there were a lot of birds — good enough reasons for me to spend time outdoors!"

The Big Sit has taken place for more than a decade, but the closest point of participation was at DeSoto NWR — along the Missouri River — in an event sponsored by the refuge, and with multiple observers present during the day.

Team Merlin was comprised solely of Hajda, with support provided by his family.

"My family was very supportive. My Dad brought out some hot soup mid-morning and got the latest report on what I had seen. Even my 'non-birding' siblings were very interested in what I was doing and what birds I saw."

"The Big Sit! puts a fun spin on encouraging birders to get out and look for birds at a less-popular time of year. As was proved during my Sit, unusual birds can and do show up at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Going out and doing an intensive count like The Big Sit! opens up a wider opportunity for these birds to be detected, documented and reported, which ultimately increases our overall knowledge of the Nebraska avifauna. The Big Sit! is also a tool in ornithological public education, drawing people in with the social atmosphere and then increasing their awareness of the birds. Now that I have experienced The Big Sit! myself, I hope to further popularize it throughout the area and throughout the state."

Hajda had first first read about The Big Sit! two years ago and thought that it would be a fun excuse to get out and do some birding. He wasn't able to take part in the last two Sits because of other planned activities, but made it a priority to participate this year.

Greater Prairie-Chicken on a center pivot. Image courtesy of Tim Hajda, who has taken additional pictures of birds at the Hajda farm and elsewhere in Nebraska.