Results of Tern and Plover Survey of Lower Niobrara River

A summer survey of Least Terns and Piping Plovers along the lower Niobrara River noted both species occurred commonly at a number of locations.

The count done on June 17, 2009 via airboat counted 127 terns (22 nests) at eighteen different locations, and 80 plover (28 nests) at ten locations within the 40-mile stretch of the river from Highway 137 to the Spencer Dam.

A followup survey was done on July 30th. Probable nesting success was noted during the second survey as a number of chicks or fledglings were observed.

The greater numbers noted, according to information provided by the Nebraska Public Power District, were:

Terns	Nests	Plovers	Nests	July Survey Notes
26	4	17	4	- 25 adult Least Terns, with 8 fledglings, 8 nests, and 4 chicks 12 days old
21	5	10	1	- 4 adult Least Tern with 4 fledglings - 1 Piping Plover
20	6	16	8	colony gone
18	5	10	5	- 2 adult Least Tern with 2 fledglings - 2 Piping Plover adults
10	1	4	0	colony gone
10	0	17	8	sandbar gone

During the late-July survey, at a site where there had been 3 adult terns and two adult plover in June, there were 8 Least Tern adults, with two fledglings and two nests, as well as three adult Piping Plover and one nest.

There was no apparent reason for the two colonies to be gone, according to summary report of the survey results.

Surveys in this area have only been done the past five years on a consistent basis, according to Jim Jenniges, an environmental specialist with NPPD. "This year’s June count of adults was very close to average, nests were down a little but not significant."

The survey is done each season as part of the statewide census to count adult birds in June and is not intended to document nesting.

Mark Peyton with the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, and Mark Czaplewski with the Central Platte Natural Resource District also helped to conduct the surveys.