Art Contest for Schools Promotes Interest in Bird-Study

Drawing of a Chestnut Collared Longspur by Halle Magid, a 7th grader at Kiewit Middle School, winner of the Best of Show for Middle School. Note the form which includes details of its natural history. Pictures taken by Bill Massengill and courtesy of the Audubon Society of Omaha.

An annual contest to promote student interest in the study of birds and natural history was another great success this year at Omaha. Students in grades kindergarten through 12th from a number of private, public, religious, and home schools in the greater Omaha metro area were involved in the contest sponsored by The Audubon Society of Omaha (ASO), a local chapter of the National Audubon Society.

"This contest is a wonderful way to have students study and draw different birds, and promotes education in their natural history," said Jackie Scholar, the ASO coordinator. "Some of the art teachers feel that birds are good subjects to teach children to be observant and to use detail in drawing and painting. Some of the art teachers also happen to like birds and are passing on their love of birds to their students.

"It was wonderful to see the children’s drawing of birds," Scholar said. "They were so beautiful. Each year we receive a very diverse selection of birds portrayed. This year we had bald eagles, goldfinches, blue jays, peregrine falcons, various hawks, red-headed  and red-bellied woodpeckers, great horned and barn owls, a piping plover, sandhill cranes, a yellow-rumped warbler, a chestnut-collared longspur, a pacific gull, a wood duck, an Eskimo curlew, a white throated sparrow, bluebirds, and red winged blackbirds."

"The students were judged for realism or graphic design or for cartooning," Scholar said. "The media used varied and included watercolor, pastels, oil paints, and colored pencils and collages.

All of the 110 entries were on display at the awards ceremony held April 4 at the gym of Bellevue University. This event "was a wonderful experience for the children and their families," Scholar said. "There was so much excitement."

Winners of the Best of Show awards were:

Emmie Doerr  - Elementary

Halle Magid – Middle School

Ashley L. Hauger – High School

Bald Eagle by Tiffany Griffith, Omaha North High Magnet School; Excellence-Realism award winner.

Oil painting of White-throated Sparrow by Ashley L. Hauger, a senior at Omaha North High Magnet School; winner of the category, Best of Show for High School.

There were several award categories for the grade levels: excellence-realism, merit-realism, merit-graphic design and excellence-cartoon.

Kristie Horn, holding an Eastern Screech-Owl, a special guest at the art contest awards event.

Prizes, according to Scholar, included stuffed birds which emit an accurate bird call when squeezed for the youngsters, books on birds, bird guides at various levels for children in the 10 – 15 yr old groups and for older students, art pads, color pencils, and gift certificates to a local art store. Each entrant receives a certificate of recognition.

Judges this year were local artists or birders, Don Wesling, Jo Bartikowski, Susan Anderson and Clark Pflanz. Loraine Blankenau, Nellie Falzgraf, and Jerry Toll of ASO, also volunteered to help with the contest.

Kristie Horn of Raptor Recovery Nebraska was present at the awards ceremony with an Eastern Screech-Owl that had been raised from a chick, and has not adapted to the wild so it cannot be released.

The Fontenelle Forest Association Gift shop was a source for many of the awards given to the students.

A complete list of winners is presented at the Audubon Society of Omaha website.

"It is a lot of work to have this contest," Scholar said, "but it is very rewarding." She has been coordinating the event for about four years. The number of entries varies each year, with 185 entries in 2008, about 44 in 2007, and 193 in earlier years.

Scholar "absolutely" looks forward to the event again in 2010.

Wood Duck Depicted by Winner of Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Wood Duck, by Lily Spang.

An acrylic painting of a Wood Duck by Lily Spang, age 16, of Toledo, Ohio is the winner of the 2009-2010 Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition. Her entry was chosen on April 22 by a panel of judges at contest held at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.

"The Junior Duck Stamp Program is a unique effort that for 17 years has celebrated and taught conservation through the arts," said Rowan Gould, Acting Director for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. "One of the fathers of the modern conservation movement, Aldo Leopold, put great emphasis on the value of nature observation to conservation efforts. All Junior Duck Stamp artists carry on this tradition by translating their observations to canvas."

Second place was awarded to Abraham Hunter, 15, of Vienna, Illinois with his acrylic painting of a hen and drake common goldeneyes.

Rebekah Nastav, age 18, of Amoret, Missouri took third place for a rendition of two male common goldeneyes.

Entrants were required to depict a "live portrayal of a native North American duck, swan or goose," according to contest entry rules. Entries had been received from each of the 50 states, and the District of Columbia.

"The National Postal Museum is always honored to be associated with the Junior Duck Stamp Program, as this is a vital tool in conserving our nation’s natural resources," said Allen Kane, Director of the National Postal Museum, which was the host for this years’ contest.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp is sold for $5 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stamp collectors, conservationists, and the general public, according to project sponsors. It will be released on June 26, 2009. Proceeds are used to support environmental education efforts and awards for contest winners.

"The first-place winner receives a $5,000 award. The second place winner receives $3,000, the third-place winner receives $2,000, and Conservation Message winner receives $500."

Christopher Voekel, age 8, from New Mexico, was the 2009 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Message Contest winner, with his entry: "Our environment, our responsibility, our future."

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Each of the entries in the 2009 Junior Duck Stamp can be viewed at a web gallery.

Wetland Funding Supports Continued Conservation of Dakota Habitats

A small portion of a 17,000 acre privately owned grassland/wetland complex in the project area that is perpetually protected via voluntary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grassland and wetland conservation easements. In addition, much of the grassland is enrolled in a managed grazing plan with the F.W.S. Partners for Fish and Program. F.W.S. photos.

As spring arrives on the northern plains, a myriad of waterbirds are winging their way northward to places they have considered home for endless generations.

A recent grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act - administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is helping to further conservation efforts to protect these unique and essential wildlife habitats.

The grant provides $770,109 for Phase III of the South Dakota Threatened Habitats project, with $1,635,531 in matching funds. Another $27,167,000 from the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (a.k.a. Duck Stamp) will be used to "voluntarily purchase perpetual wetland and grassland conservation easements from landowners in the project area," according to the information about the project.

"South Dakota continually leads the Nation in sodbusting of native prairie to tillage monoculture," said Kurt Forman, working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the South Dakota coordinator for the Partners for Fish and Wildlife. "We average 40,000-50,000 acres of native prairie/wetland complexes that are lost each year and this trend continues to expand westward into formerly secure bird production landscapes."

This project represents "a continued effort to accelerate protection of this threatened landscape by working primarily with family ranchers to ensure a sustainable future," according to the NAWCA grant summary. "A diverse coalition will address these challenges by developing an integrated suite of wetland and grassland conservation tools that will be implemented to benefit the grasslands needed by ranchers and the vital landscape attributes needed by prairie birds.

"Contributions will be combined with grant funds to restore 3,453 grassland acres and 250 wetland acres; enhance 42,062 grassland acres, establish 34 acres of wetlands and enhance and 2,685 wetland acres. This habitat will not only provide direct benefits to more than 7,000 breeding duck pairs, but will also afford critical conservation benefits to the full spectrum of native bird communities dependent on the rapidly disappearing native grasslands and wetlands of central South Dakota. For example, match and grant tracts will provide direct breeding habitat benefits to an estimated 475 willet pairs, 440 marbled godwit pairs, 210 pairs of Sprague’s pipits, 135 pairs of Baird’s sparrows and 2,730 pairs of chestnut-collared longspurs."

Twenty-eight prairie potholes (61 wetland acres) restored on private land by the U.S. F.W.S. Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program in the project area and perpetually protected via a voluntary U.S. F.W.S. wetland conservation easement.

"The project area encompasses the Missouri Coteau of South Dakota and adjacent grassland/wetland landscapes," Forman said. "Specific conservation practices including wetland restorations, native prairie restorations, rotational grazing systems and wetland enhancements will be focused towards the remaining grassland/wetland complexes of the project area.

"Projects are selected by F.W.S. wildlife biologists with an emphasis on those sites that directly contribute to the grassland and wetland habitat objectives defined in the 2005 Prairie Pothole Joint Venture implementation plan." An emphasis is placed on projects best addressing the joint venture habitat objectives and based on the seven evaluation factors:

• Risk of habitat conversion to tillage and/or drainage
• Grassland tract size
• Native prairie condition
• Breeding pair density
• Proximity to other protected tracts
• Cost-benefit relative to other tracts
• Association with existing or potential conservation easements

The goals of this project are being achieved only through a coopertative effort, Forman noted. "First and foremost I would like to acknowledge the landowners who are willing to share our vision of a sustainable grassland/wetland landscape in the project area.

Other cooperators for this particular grant are the Beadle Conservation District; Hyde County Conservation District: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks; Ducks Unlimited; 200 private landowners, and the Heartland Chapter of Pheasants Forever.

The remaining grassland ranchers in the project area are often under intense economic and social pressure to convert their prairie to the plow.

An example of sodbusting of native prairie in the project area.

Forman was an author, along with Kenneth F. Higgins and David E. Naugle, of a 2002 article in the scientific journal "Waterbirds" on how changing land use in the northern Great Plains is impacting the conservation of waterbirds: "Wetland and grassland habitats of the northern Great Plains are a primary breeding ground for waterbirds in North America. Native mixed grass prairies that were historically used for cattle grazing have met with changing social and economic pressures that put the remaining 40% of this resource at high risk of tillage."

The paper described:

1) the current state of waning rural societies,

2) characterized impacts of land use change on waterbird habitats, and

3) discussed conservation actions to benefit waterbirds.

"Recent population statistics indicate that a record number of farmers facing low commodity prices are selling their farms and moving to urban centers for employment. Other farmers are shifting from diversified agriculture to monoculture grain farming to take advantage of farm programs that provide incentives to bring marginal land into production. Additional data indicate that concurrent changes in crop types have decreased quality of farmland wildlife habitat while bigger and faster farm equipment and genetically modified crops continue to make farming marginal land less risky. Legislators and administrators should be advised that waterbird habitat loss continues to expand westward. The last chance to sustain the unique grassland-wetland character of the northern Great Plains is to accelerate grassland conservation with short- and long-term stewardship programs and incentives to family ranchers. This philosophy is of vital importance because it also protects wetland habitats that otherwise are vulnerable to drainage when native prairie is converted to cropland. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this would conserve our prairie heritage for future generations while preserving the private property rights of landowners."

Grassland protection priority areas for grassland birds. Images courtesy of the F.W.S.

Upland accessibility by breeding duck pairs in the Prairie Pothole region.

"Over 80,000 acres of native prairie have been converted to cropland in the project area from 2005-2007," according to information provided with the grant. "The degree of native prairie loss found within the South Dakota Threatened Habitats project area is by far the highest documented within the PPJV. These large-scale landuse changes continue to rapidly expand westward into formerly secure grassland tracts and prairie wetland complexes that represent much of the last of the best remaining breeding bird habitat."

"Many biologists believe that the ultimate landscape character of the project area will be defined within the next decade," Forman said. "Recent landscape modeling indicates that current rates of habitat loss will lead to a 50% reduction in native prairie acreage in some of the most biologically rich portions of the Threatened Habitats project area within just 34 years. Each acre of grassland and prairie loss will have direct negative impacts on the full spectrum of bird assemblages in the project area."

This project initially started in 2001. Currently, there are over 1.5 million acres of such conservation easements in the PPJV portion of eastern South Dakota.

Status of Hybrid Birds Currently Unknown for Niobrara River Valley

A primary aspect given for attributing unique values to the Niobrara River Valley is its recognition as a biological crossroads. This designation relies on a readily apparent setting of different habitats with distinct associations of flora and fauna.

One of the special features mentioned, is a zone of hybridization for a few species of birds with typically eastern and western distributions, according to statements given by conservation groups and a government website.

The Niobrara Valley is recognized as a biological crossroads for wildlife by the Nebraska Wildlife Federation.

The National Audubon Society and its local chapter in Nebraska, designates the Niobrara Valley Preserve - along the river north of Johnstown - as an Important Birding Area, giving pertinent details in an ornithological summary. Therein is mentioned that eastern and western forms of birds breed, referring to Baltimore and Bullock's orioles, lazuli and indigo buntings, rose-breasted and black-headed grosbeaks. The summary also says that eastern and western wood-pewee's may also hybridize.

The Northern Prairie Lands Trusts website, on their projects and news page, says the Valentine, NE area and the Middle Niobrara River Valley Biologically Unique Landscape, is a zone of hybridization for some eastern and western bird species.

The National Park Service, on a webpage with details about the Niobrara Scenic River, which it administers, says: "Hybridization of eastern and western associated species, such as indigo and lazuli buntings, yellow-shafted and red-shafted flickers, and Baltimore and Bullock's orioles are vivid testament of the biological uniqueness of the Scenic River."

Studies of Hybrid Birds

Hybrid birds have been documented as occurring along the profound Niobrara River, as well as elsewhere south to north on the central Plains, based upon several seminal studies that provide particulars for several species.

An initiative to study hybrid birds on the Great Plains started in 1955, according to comments made by Charles G. Sibley and David A. West in their 1959 article on towhees.

The following species have been known to hybridize, according to just a few articles issued by preeminent ornithological scientific journals. There are some additional details on post A.D. 2000 sightings, that should be presented with this consideration, as the more recent co-mingling of species should be considered along with the original studies.

Baltimore Oriole x Bullock's Oriole

The hybrid zone in the central Great Plains - spanning a 150-200 mile distance west to east - includes the Niobrara Valley from northwest of Bassett to at least the western edge of Cherry county, in the article by Charles G. Sibley and Lester L. Short, Jr., published in 1964, and based on more than 600 specimens collected between 1954-1957. William Youngworth noted both species at Fort Niobrara NWR in the mid-1950s. When Short published an additional paper on the distribution of species on the Great Plains in 1961, the Niobrara River in Keya Paha county was given as a region where these two species both occurred. He also included the eastern portion of the river valley in Cherry County.

Spotted Towhee x Eastern Towhee

Most of the 487 specimens evaluated for this research were obtained in Nebraska during 1954-1957. Determination of the "hybrid index" was based on a "back-spotting index" with Spencer, Bassett and Valentine particular places where birds were collected for eventual, focused evaluation. The article in the Auk, extensively discussed biotic features of the Niobrara Valley. The Spotted Towhee "influence" was said to extend eastward into Holt County.

There are no known modern records available for the Niobrara Valley that indicate where both species occur at the same locality, lending credence to species' hybrids.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak

"Pure" species - based mostly upon measurements of certain characteristics of specimens - were noted in Cherry county and eastward, with hybrids found in the Holt County area. This evaluation was conducted from 1955-1957 by researchers from Cornell University in Nebraska, as well as South Dakota and Colorado. A figure showing the zone where hybrid occurs, extends the furthest west along the Niobrara Valley, to a short distance west of Bassett.

William Youngworth noted both of these grosbeaks at Fort Niobrara in his 1955 paper on birds of the Quicourt valley, which is a historic name given for the Niobrara river. Lester Short, Jr., then noted them along the Niobrara River in Keya Paha county during the same year. Recent records indicate both species occur in the immediate vicinity of Valentine, at Anderson Bridge WMA in central cherry County, as well at private property along the river south of Nenzel.

Indigo Bunting x Lazuli Bunting

The first instance of hybrids of these two species was recorded by Youngworth, when a oddly marked male specimen was collected June 1, 1932. He noted in his brief article published in the Wilson Bulletin: "The country bordering the swift Niobrara River in Cherry County is ideal for the summer home of grosbeaks and buntings." These two bunting species were also noted as occurring at Fort Niobrara NWR in 1955, by the same bird watcher.

The article by Sibley and Short published in 1959, was based upon specimens gathered during 1955-1957. Valentine was recognized as an especially interesting locale, with "pure" species present at the same immediate locale as hybrids. Hybrids were also noted at Spencer.

There have been additional, recent concurrence elsewhere in the region, particularly the sandhills, but not in the confines of the river valley.

Northern Flicker - red-shafted and yellow-shafted forms

Extensive details have been published on hybridization among flickers with different colored featheration, but as the two forms - red-shafted and yellow-shafted - are now designated as a single species, the mingling of these two species which have different color characteristics is not a valid example of hybridization. This occurrence does, nonetheless, have its own distinctive biotic interest.

Two sets of additional species have also been included as having the potential for there being hybrids in the river valley.

Western Wood Pewee x Eastern Wood Pewee

There is no actual scientific research paper that gives any particulars that these two species actually hybridize in northern Nebraska. Particular locales where both have been known to occur is shown in recent years by sightings in Cherry County at Anderson Bridge WMA, the Valentine City Park, and at Fort Niobrara NWR.

Scarlet Tanager x Western Tanager

There is no known documentation of inter-specific breeding along the Niobrara by these two species. They both occurred at Fort Niobrara NWR in 1955, according to Youngworth in his article on species of the vicinity.

Current Status

It has been more than five decades years since rigorous and authoritative studies have been done on the occurrence and distribution of hybrid birds in the central Niobrara River Valley. There is no known source of current information on this topic, based upon contacts with several regional authorities familiar with bird occurrence in the Nebraska, as well as several detailed searches of web-based information.

There are no modern details on bird hybrids and also a readily apparent lack of knowledge of the current distribution of most birds - not only species which may hybridize - along the Niobrara River in northern Nebraska. Despite surveys such as the detailed work during the early 1980s for the Niobrara Valley Preserve, when The Nature Conservancy bought thousands of acres of what had been ranch property.

Numerous site surveys personally conducted in the valley since 2000 have been done at many privately and publicly owned land tracts to get some sense of bird species occurrence, and here are a few other occasional reports from easily accessible places such as Fort Niobrara NWR. None of this information discusses to any useful extent the essential aspects of bird hybridization, although it does indicate to a somewhat limited extent, places where species do co-mingle.

Considering the intense attention being given to how climate change is supposedly influencing the temporal occurrence of many bird species across their normal range of distribution, a "crossroads" where several species mix is a prime region where there should be a detailed evaluation of any flux or alteration in range. Yet, there is no known research being done to evaluate any changes in the occurrence and distribution of avian species along the unique Niobrara River valley where an obvious, and well known mix of several types of plant communities create a floristic crossroads of habitat.

There is a obvious and prevalent need for detailed research to determine the status of bird species recognized for their hybridization in the Niobrara Valley. Also essential is an understanding of the current occurrence and distribution of other species of concern which are changing due to changes in conditions suitable for their existence.

Until there is actual, record-based and current gathering of information on the inter-mingling of different bird species along the Niobrara River, there is no basis to define the valley as a biological crossroads for hybrid birds. Any statement about this needs to be given in the context as being based upon historical conditions. Any claims otherwise are erroneous.

Whoopers at Playa Wetland Amidst Potential Turbine Project

The occurrence of two adult Whooping Cranes has been confirmed at a playa wetland on the West Table, west of Broken Bow.

The two birds were first noted by Maxine and Ed Wehling on Saturday April 18, at 7:30 p.m. The wetland is just a few miles northwest of the Wehling place.

"Saturday night, Ed and I were driving the wetland playas, looking," Maxine Wehling wrote in an email. "We found the strikingly beautiful whoopers about 7:30 p.m., in the large wetland," that was featured in a story recently written about the central table playas.

"We were thrilled to see them. They are breath-taking to look upon. The one was slightly larger in the body, and would flap it's wings, pick it's feet off the ground, and do a dance of sorts!"

"We called the whooper watch number to report the siting, followed by calls to Ben Wheeler."

The presence of the cranes was confirmed by Wheeler on Sunday morning.

The wetland where the whoopers were noted is the third wetland pictured in the article, and located about five miles northwest of the Wehling place.

Winter Wren Season Wanes at River City Environs

With the fine warmth of spring spreading across the land, another season of cold times for the Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) will soon be gone again at Omaha, and at another really close place, just to the south along the Missouri River valley.

Graffiti at Shadow Lake, beneath the west end of the pedestrian bridge, indicating the midcity, urban character of the neighborhood park. April 2009. This picture has been digitally changed to enhance the view of the writing and graphics on the wall.

With some particular interest, it has been a season of midtown constants for this vibrant, warm and little wonder of feathered life.

On the first day of October, back in mid-autumn of 2008, there was an online report by someone about their having observed this little bit of avian splendor amongst the natural environs of Fontenelle Forest, east of Bellevue. With this information some particular attention was given to looking at another suitable locale. So, on the same day, there were three noted at the splendid Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park, a primary haven for this bird hereabouts in midtown River City, though 99.99% of the human residents are clueless about this important detail of the valuable natural habitats that are essential places where wild birds can survive.

Due to a particular interest in this species, going back five seasons when it was first seen - personally - in October 2003 at Tobacco Island, down south of Plattsmouth, watching endeavors with an intent to see such a bit of a exuberant bit of feathers, continued forthwith. Times with hearty hikes were needed in autumn 2004, to note that this wren could be found in the Niobrara Valley. This included hikes amongst the valley, down big slopes, and with attention to weather forecasts to avoid being stranded outside during severe winter conditions, for safety sake.

In January 2006, a particular attempt provided some more records of the species along the Northern border of Nebraska, once again at places associated with the Niobrara River. Some of this information was contributed to the Great Backyard Bird Count, though the places submitted were in no way anything similar to a backyard, but given in the manner that the effort to submit information required.

The current winter season, based upon observations influenced by personal mobility and only from an urban place, there were the regular windy gales. Winter snows blew and hefty flakes accumulated, with a result of some few minimal conditions due to by warm waters clear of ice due to subterranean spring-flows. There were frigid temperatures, again and again, where only multiple layers of clothing provided warmth for a watcher, while all the while, a little mite of a bird kept on with its daily routine of moving amongst a winter's place. Their existence was only occasionally noted by an intrepid watcher willing to deal with outdoor conditions.

These were the numbers counted on different dates during the season. Its possible that when they were noted at one of the "irregular" locales — i.e., Happy Hollow Creek and the South Grove — at a time early or late in the season, they may have been migratory wrens temporarily present.

Date	Happy Hollow Creek	Elmwood Park Ravine	Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park	Botany Spring, Wood Creek	Wood Creek, Elmwood Park	South Grove, Wood Creek
2008
10/01	-	1	2	-	-	-
11/09	-	-	-	-	5	-
11/16	-	-	2	-	-	-
11/27	1	-	-	-	-	-
12/11	-	1	2	-	1	-
12/31	-	-	1	1	-	-
2009
01/09	-	-	1	-	-	-
01/15	-	-	1	-	-	-
01/19	-	1	-	1	1	-
02/04	-	-	1	1	-	-
02/06	-	-	1	1	1	-
02/14	-	-	1	-	-	-
03/01	-	1	1	-	-	-
03/13	-	-	1	-	-	-
03/20	-	-	-	-	1	-
03/29	-	-	1	1	-	-
04/03	-	-	1	-	1	-
04/07	1	-	-	-	1	-
04/08	-	-	1	1	-	-
04/14	-	1	1	-	-	1
04/17	-	-	1	-	-	-
04/19	-	-	1	-	-	-

This diminutive wren endured where it found a suitable spot with deadfalls and permanent open water, irregardless of any human influences.

Wetland south of Shadow Lake, where the Winter Wren could often be seen foraging. The view is from on the pedestrian bridge. Picture taken 19 April 2009.

The stability of such an especial perspective of one species of the local avifauna, elicits many wonders to appreciate from some particular place, and unknowingly to other locales where this tiny bird obviously knows what situations are suitable for its survival.

As the 2008-2009 winter season wanes, the Winter Wren has been noted a bunch of times in the bird forum for Nebraska. Notations for the Fontenelle Forest environs, have been conveyed again and again this April. It was a particular focus that when another someone gave this species amongst their list of species of spring, to then go forth again to see a relative at Elmwood Park environs.

The final date of local occurrence is pending for the Winter Wren, as the time of their departure will be known only to their own avian memory. It will not be based on a some particular clock devised by a large primate.

Fly onward little wrens. Thanks for the memories of another winter season!

Ecotourism in South Africa is Helping to Conserve Birds in South Africa

Ecotourism and education on the value of wild birds is helping to ensure conservation of species and their habitats in South Africa.

"Ecotourism ensures the conservation of birds and their ecosystems because this 'product' is of importance to the owners and visitors to the lodge," said David Letsoalo, based at Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge, and recognized as the top local bird guide in South Africa and an expert on nature in the the Magoebaskloof area. He has been taking birders on outings since 2002 when he was accredited by Birdlife South Africa.

"A large percentage of the visitors to Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge and the Magoebaskloof area are coming specifically because of David's expertise in forest birding," said Lisa Martus, the owner and manager of the lodge. "David recently guided Stephen Moss, of the British Broadcasting Company, who is an experienced birder familiar with birds all over the world. They spent the whole day out birding in the area covering the Woodbush Forest, the Mamabolo Grasslands, Greatheads Mountains and Protea Belt, as well as Kurisa Moya's forst. By the end of the day, Stephen had seen 26 new species. The Guerney's Sugarbird was a big challenge because there were many males calling from inside the Protea bush, but they would not show themselves. Eventually, one came out and displayed itself beautifully. Stephen was thrilled.

"Another highlight recently has been a client who saw the first Flufftail in their life by seeing the Buff-spotted Flufftail on Woodbush Forest Drive. David heard the Flufftail calling, and followed the call for 20 minutes, eventually crawling on their knees in the undergrowth. When they finally saw it, it was a wonderful moment.

"The local people are very interested in David's bird tours and have got used to seeing him in strange places with South African or international guests. He has a Short-clawed Lark site near a village in a cattle-grazing field and young guys have actually stopped poaching the Queleas since he has been coming around more often (they used to use birdlime to catch them on a bush and then would roast them on a stick like small kebabs). David goes to the Turfloop Dam where local cattle herders know him and will update him on what they have seen lately. At Woodbush, Debengeni, Haenertsburg Grasslands etc, he is well known and residents will phone him if they have seen an interesting or unusual bird. David is also a Node Co-ordinator for the Grasslands Node of Eco-schools so he has influenced a lot of those kids to have a more positive attitude towards conservation. One of the kids wrote an essay about how David is his hero and when he grows up he wants to be a bird guide. David gave him a bird book and an old pair of binoculars to encourage him.

"The local black (village) community are mostly bemused but interested in David's profession (can't believe it makes him enough money to be a real job) and the local white community are extremely supportive of David and all want him on their committees (Friends of the Haenertsburg Grassland, Haenertsburg Rotary, Woodbush to Wolkberg, etc.) because he bridges the gap between the various communities as well as the needs of people vs environmental needs."

In their particular region, the "Cape Parrots are growing in numbers, and we also monitor raptors whose numbers have been picking up," Letsoalo said. "Education is an important aspect to improve conditions for birds and educating people about these values. "This is an ongoing process but it has shown results with some of our local learners who do not hunt birds like they used to," Letsoalo said.

The Magoebaskloof region and Limpopo Province areas have some stellar examples of places and habitats of essential importance to native species of birds. Examples, from the Limpopo Province website, include:

Woodbush Forest Drive: "This 14km dirt road is the best forest birding area in the Limpopo Province, if not the country. The Woodbush Forest Drive winds through pristine afro-montane forests, down into semi-deciduous mixed forest along the lower sections of the drive. Cape Parrot, Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Orange Ground-Thrush, Brown Scrub-Robin, Grey Cuckooshrike, Yellow-streaked Greenbul and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher are a few of the specials.

Kudu´s Valley: "This spectacular 30 km dirt road between Houtbosdorp and Mooketsi drops down over the escarpment through bushveld and riverine habitats. On this road, you will descend about 1000 metres and be treated to fantastic views and an interesting mix of habitats. Verreaux´s, Crowned and Long-crested Eagle, Lanner Falcon as well as Horus, Alpine and African Black Swift are often sighted soaring over the valley. The exposed granite boulders along the slopes near the top of the route are home to Cape Rock Thrush, Mocking Cliff Chat, Olive Bush-Shrike, Shelley´s Francolin and Lazy Cisticola. The lower end of the pass has more riverine and tropical bushveld areas in which African Green-Pigeon, Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike, Purple-crested Turaco, Green-capped Eremomela and White-throated Robin-Chat can be seen. Look out for African Fish Eagle, Great Egret, Purple Heron and various Indigobird and Firefinch species around the farm dams near the bottom of the route."

Debengeni Falls: "This spectacular waterfall is a popular picnic site for locals and visitors to the area. Grey Wagtail has been sighted here for three years running. … it is worth visiting to see Mountain Wagtail and other forest birds. After turning off onto the dirt road from the R71, keep a lookout for Red-backed Mannikin, African Firefinch and Swee Waxbill on the road verges. After about 100m you will cross a small stream; when the water levels are high this is a good spot for Half-collared Kingfisher and African Finfoot. On the 3km drive up to the falls look out for Tambourine and Lemon Dove, Chorister Robin-Chat, Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher and Yellow-streaked Greenbul in the forests. Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk breed in the vacinity of the falls and Buff-spotted Flufftail and Scaly-throated Honeyguide."

Louis Changuion Trail and Haenertsburg Grasslands: "The whole trail is 10 km but various parts of the trail can be done separately depending on your fitness level and enthusiasm. It is one of the most easily-accessible pieces of this rare habitat left in the area. Blue Swallows have been encountered here in the past. On the grasslands, you may find Wailing-, Lazy-, Croaking-, Cloud- and Wing-snapping Cisticola. Grass Owl, White-necked Raven, Red-winged Francolin, Yellow Bishop, Dark-capped Yellow and Broad-tailed Warbler and Drakensberg Prinia are present as well as Cape Grassbird. Jackal Buzzard, and Long-crested Eagle often hunt over the grassland. The patches of forest have Olive Bush-Shrike, African Olive-Pigeon, Cape Batis, Terrestrial Brownbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul and Forest Canary."

Polokwane Bird Sanctuary: "This small bird sanctuary, which consists of three large settling dams, dense reed beds and tall riverine thickets, is always likely to produce an interesting birding surprise or two. Apart from a good variety of waterfowl, waders and rallids, the Acacia thickets are very productive and accommodate Grey-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, Yellow-breasted Apalis and many warbler species in the summer months, including Common Whitethroat and Olive-tree, Icterine, Garden, Great Reed Warblers and Eurasian Marsh Warblers. The shallow ponds on the eastern side of the sanctuary attract a host of waders during middle to late summer with Wood, Marsh, Common and Curlew Sandpipers, Greenshank, Ruff and Little Stint. Look out for skulking African Snipe and Greater Painted-Snipe. There is a resident pair of African Fish Eagle along with other interesting raptors, including Ovambo Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk and African Harrier-Hawk."

Turfloop Dam: "It has now also become a protected breeding site for the northernmost population of the Southern Bald Ibis. It falls within the Mamabolo vegetation-type and has many granite outcrops, which are typical of this habitat. The dam itself has fluctuating water levels depending on local rainfall, so conditions change seasonally. The dam has an open shoreline with some exposed mudflats in the summer, a feature which has probably led to this site having provided the odd vagrant wader, with species such as Ruddy Turnstone, Pectoral, Green, Broad-billed and Terek Sandpiper having been seen here over the past few years. The more common wetland species to be found here include Great-crested Grebe, Southern Pochard, Fulvous Duck, Hottentot Teal, Cape Shoveler, and Maccoa Duck. The rocky island in the dam is an important breeding site for White-breasted Cormorant, Black-headed Heron, African Sacred Ibis, Yellow-billed Egret and African Spoonbill."

With the recognition of unique places, there has been further understanding of distinct birds which occur, and a recognition of where to visit to see the more unusual species.

This increased attention to local birdlife, has also brought about an increasing awareness of challenges.

"We still have problems due to lack of resources in policing these vast areas in order to prevent bird poaching and bird trade in valuable species but there are some very active conservationists in the area," Letsoalo said. "The plantations, building developments and mines threaten indigenous forests and grasslands. The Haenertsburg Grassland is threatened and it used to host Blue Swallows, Broad-tailed Warblers and other species."

"I hope that more of our Important Bird Areas can get listed as national heritage sites because they are still under threat of being destroyed," Letsoalo said. "I also hope to spend more time with the youth to explain the value of our environment and how people can make a living out of it without harming it."

"Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge http://www.krm.co.za/ provides several options to enjoy the endemic bird species of the region, as well as other natural wonders, in a setting of comfort and appreciation for the local communities," said Martus.

First-ever Rusty Blackbird Blitz a "Smashing Success"

The first-ever "blitz" to count wintering Rusty Blackbirds was a "smashing success," according to results indicated by information presented by the Smithsonian Institution.

The survey was carried out from February 7-15, 2009, and sponsored by the International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group associated with the Migratory Bird Center at the Smithsonian Institution, and Ebird, supported by the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology and National Audubon Society.

"One of the intangible, but important, outcomes was a heightened awareness of the plight of this species and the desperate need for more information on its distribution and abundance," according to details on the website with results of the blitz. And "173 birders submitted 453 rusty blackbird surveys under the E-bird Blitz protocol. Of these individual reports, 249 sightings totaling 19,243 individuals were recorded. 204 surveys did not record any rusty blackbirds (but negative data are very valuable as well). Some of these reports were repeats from the same site." Counts were provided from 27 states.

"The highest mean counts were found in the states of the Lower Mississippi alluvial valley including Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama averaging over 100 birds per site. The next tier (50 or more per site) includes two states along the South Atlantic Coastal Plain and adjacent Piedmont (North and South Carolina) and two more states in the greater Mississippi Valley (Missouri and Louisiana).

"The Rusty Blackbird has shown severe documented declines," according to Russell Greenberg, a member of the technical working group, and biologist at the Smithsonian. "We don't understand it, but it seems likely changes in the amount and quality of winter habitat is playing a big role. In order to proceed with research and conservation action to protect Rusties, we need a rapid assessment of the winter strongholds for the species as well as its overall distribution."

"Rusty blackbird populations have fallen steeply, with estimates of an 85-99% population drop over the past 40 years." – Rusty Blackbird blitz page provided at the Smithsonian Institution

The International Rusty Blackbird Technical Working Group saw a "tremendous opportunity to harness the knowledge and bird finding prowess of the birding community to locate wintering Rusties," Greenberg said in an email. "E-bird is the perfect vehicle to gather and collate the data from the birding community.

This blitz was viewed "as a way of enhancing birder awareness of the plight of the Rusties and to efficiently gather important winter distributional info. This information can be followed up with more focused regional research and population monitoring," he said

Further details are available on the webpage with summary information for this count, including an interactive map showing the locations where Rusty Blackbirds were counted.

According to the details on the webpage, the results "have much more to tell us and we are plowing through the comments fields to learn about specific flock size, sex ratios at different sites, and habitat conditions associated with hot spots. We also need to distinguish between foraging and roost or staging sites. As we complete these analyses, we will update you on what we have discovered."

Efforts Underway to Understand Rare Owl in Far-east Russia

Adult Blakiston's Fish Owl. Picture taken in 2007. All images courtesy of Jonathan Slaght.

Rare and elusive in a wintery lair, some few Blakiston’s Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni) exist in the remote Sikhote-Alin Mountains of far-east Russia. Here on the frontier, a team is working to document the distribution and discover how to conserve this endangered species with an estimated population of about 5,000 birds.

"Sergei Surmach, an energetic ornithologist with Vladivostok’s Institute of Biology and Soil Science, has chased these brown ghosts around Primorye’s rivers for more than ten years," Jonathan C. Slaght wrote in his article about the owl and his research, for Wildlife Conservation Magazine, March-April issue. "In 2005, Sergei and I began collaborating on a telemetry project to collect ecological information that will be the basis for the conservation plan."

Seven pairs have been monitored thus far during the 2009 survey underway in recent weeks for the Amgu portion of the owl survey, in the Amgu river drainage, including the Leonovka, Granatnaya, and Saiyon Rivers.

The party consisted of Slaght, Andrei Katkov, Shurik Popov and Kolya Gorlach. They started west of Amgu, a town on the frontier, arriving on March 9th.

Andrei Katkov, Jonathan Slaght and Shurik Popov in the kitchen of the GAZ-66, during recent field work. Picture taken by S. Avdeyuk.

"The excitement at finding the Leonovka nest," Slaght wrote in the first update sent after returning from the field in early April, "was muted by the realization that our tagged female was sitting firm, and we will not be able to attempt recapturing her until May or June, when her young chick has fledged and a capture attempt is safe. So, we refocused our efforts on her mate. He found our prey enclosure quite quickly, and we set our trap the next day. After scaring a mink away from our enclosure with a stick, the fish owl came in and was easily captured. Like most male fish owls he was calm and docile to handle, and after release he sat in a nearby spruce and hooted at us for an hour or so before flying off."

"Their chosen hunting spot was a wide section of the Amgu River, about 30 meters across, very shallow, and right on the edge of the village itself. There, with a background chorus of baying village dogs, logging trucks and ocean static, the Granatnaya family" hunt in the evening.

The team lived in their GAZ-66 vehicle, which was reliable but tinkered with.

"Kolya was constantly adjusting and tightening some hose ... I am not mechanically-oriented so do not know the exact problem," Slaght said. 

GAZ-66 at Sanyon Camp.

"Although we had been in the Amgu area for almost two weeks, we had not gone into the town itself until the afternoon of 18 March, when we drove to Vova Volkov’s banya (sauna and bath house) for a well deserved wash."

Other locales visited earlier in the season, were the Mineralnaya and Sadoga Rivers at their confluences with the Avvakumovka River, near the town of Olga, and the Serebryanka and Faata fish owl territories at Ternei, Slaght describes in two February updates. Details convey the trials of field research in remote country, and the people and places visited, and it all relates to the known Blakiston’s Fish Owls being visited.

Notable for the season: "We were constantly being harassed by county and provincial game inspectors looking for poachers, and many assumed that we were indeed poachers," Slaght said in an email.  Nothing like staying all night trying to catch an owl, then have a bunch of inspectors wake you up at 7 a.m. demanding to know where we are hiding our poached meat."

Quick Statistics (2009) Of Seven Monitored Pairs, Number Nesting: 2 Of Seven Monitored Pairs, No. With Year-Old Juveniles: 3

The next stop was the Saiyon territory, some 20 km north of Amgu.

"We quickly found where the birds hunted and set our trapless prey enclosures. We were delighted thathere, as at Granatnaya, the pair seemed to hunt in different places, and that their year-old juvenile was with them. On 21 March we set prey enclosures at two sites, and quickly captured the male. He had a wealth of information on his back: 175 locations over six months! We caught the juvenile two days later, weighed him, and gave him leg bands."

This bird is pictured in Slaght's article in Wildlife Conservation Magazine.

Information gathered from the GPS dataloggers, "is unprecedented for the species," Slaght explained. "As of now we have good data on winter, spring and summer habitat use, but because of the limitations of rechargeable dataloggers (only last six months), coupled with the difficulty of recapturing fish owls outside of winter, we do not yet have any autumn habitat use data. At present, we have one six-month datalogger and seven year-long dataloggers on fish owls; all will be retrieved next winter."

Each unit costs about $1700 he said, and since they do not transmit, the owls need to be recaptured to retrieve the unit and its information. Two types, from a company in New Zealand are being used.

At Leonovka, though the nest was found abandoned, the female bird was captured and found to be "quite thin," Slaght said. The team retrieved the datalogger which contained information on her movement during three months and at 52 locations.

The field season ended with a "banya and banquet" on April 6.

"This was a highly successful field season; we captured ten individual owls, which is twice as many as we captured in 2008," Slaght said in his final update for the season. "We placed GPS dataloggers on eight of these birds (the remaining two were juveniles), and next winter will return to retrieve these data."

Slaght was at Ternei, finishing up final details in the country, and then at Vladivostok, before returning to Minnesota about mid-April. He will be back again in August-September to conduct habitat and prey density surveys, and again winter 2010 to check on the same birds and retrieve dataloggers with telemetry information.

"The current focus of the research is the conservation and management implications of resource selection by this species in Primorye," according to the mission statement of the Blakiston’s Fish Owl Project.

Slaght is working for a PhD. degree in wildlife conservation from the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota. His advisor is Dr. Ralph (Rocky) Gutierrez.

Slaght indicated that funding for the 2009 field season has been provided by the University of Minnesota, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, National Birds of Prey Trust, Columbus Zoo, Minnesota Zoo, Denver Zoo, Bell Museum, and a Wildlife Conservation Society Fellowship.

Links to these organizations, previous project updates, an article archive and other information about fish owls are at the project website which is maintained by Slaght.

Irony of a Dead Flicker on Easter Morning at Creighton

It is ironic that the first dead bird found for the 2009 season was found Easter morning at Creighton University. The carcass was noted on the south side of the Mike and Josie Harper Center.

The Mike and Josie Harper Center for Student Life and Learning, according to website information, "Serves as Front Door" on the east side of the campus.

The irony is that University personnel profess that - as a religious institution - campus faculty and staff should, according to the message for this Easter:

He said that we would be judged by how we care for, or fail to care for, the least among us. ... Together, we can address systemic and global issues with faith-inspired hope. ... take greater care with the environment — Rev. Andy Alexander, S. J.

Northern Flicker carcass at the Harper Center, Creighton University, early on Easter morning. The dead bird remained upon my departure, to languish for some time until it would get unceremoniously thrown into the trash!

Millions of bird dying from striking buildings and getting killed is certainly a national and international issue. Although the comment of the Jesuit were focused on people, there should be no less attention to the plight of our natural neighbors.

It is doubtful that letting birds get killed on campus, and pursuing campus development that removes the homes for chimney swifts - which has a declining population - shows a greater care for the environment.

The flicker — with its unique and to use religious terminology "God-given life and beauty" — had been killed a day or two previous to Sunday morning. There was no glory of an holy resurrection for it on the third day. Its life was ended by men building dangerous architecture to glorify people, without any concern for what it may wrought on migratory birds.

There were a couple of interesting causes that lead to the finding of this dead bird, including an expectation the previous evening of finding a dead bird on the morning, and a flat-tire on the bicycle that meant being at the right place.

This bird is the eighth known bird death at this building. There have been three on the south side, three on the northwest side and one on the east side. Another died at the entryway. Strikes also occur elsewhere on campus, especially at a walkway on the west edge of campus where dried up and aged carcasses have been noted. There have probably been occurrences elsewhere.

Glory of a Sunrise With Bird Grandeur on an April Morning

As spring spreads across land of the plains, morning sky places provide many a special sighting of distinct birds going about their daily, normal ways. With temperatures rising, and a fresh blush of plants just starting to issue buds or peak from the warming earth, local haunts of some type are places to appreciate where birds are getting along with necessities of their distinctive, and focused times.

Mornings are an especially fine occasion to see what avian species are extant. Forget that big word last used, as just getting out at dawn, with its distinctive quiet and freshness of the day, is always a fine way to realize another time. Birds are flying about to find and relish in their distinct and indicative manner, food and shelter for another particular day in their lives.

Cedar Waxwings. April morning sunrise in the park.

So many details might be considerations for any focus on the natural history or behavior of winged ones about a local habitat on an April morning. What to consider? How many species were seen at the park, lake, wetland, beach, island or other place this day? How many were there of each species? What was seen that has not been seen before? How does the species composition compare to previous recorded information? And of course, a compliant watcher should note the species and how many and a particular locality and enter the particulars as a personal contribution for some database. The dates and details are important, and the species composition and habitat situation, etc., may show some changes in climate, species distribution, extent of a population, habitat conditions, or other humanoid concerns. Etc., again and maybe again, depending.

Birds do care about existence in their own way, living day to day with some readily apparent focus on survival, hopefully without undue, and unnecessary disturbance, dangers and threats. Their times are impinged upon in many ways - how much of their habitat is destroyed again and again - as so many varieties of birds strive to survive the changes constantly imposed on their world.

Watching does certainly provide a human perspective, with foibles of some particular intensities.

What is flying over there beyond the grove? Hear that distinctive call in the pines. A flock is flying with hearty and certain beats of their wings, moving northward in the ageless tradition for generations. Something different could perhaps be seen by a watcher, maybe as a certain dramatic indication, as once again species are moving about in search of a tidbit to eat or wending along to their preferred summer haunts. Though this is without any care for someone that is spying on what they are doing. Birds species always appreciate a place with the food and shelter - those basic comforts which are so important - that let them survive and thrive. Birds could care less whether someone documents their passage. They might rather prefer having a few less folks who's dogs would harass them, or bother them as they build a nest to raise a treasured brood, or flush them away from a spot with warming sun that is a suitable place to roost and rest for the coming hectic times while raising a brood.

Details of each day might be considered once and again, in many a diverse manner, but the birds don't care about how they might be seen or appreciated. They live their lives, and any observer is a voyeur into their realm of existence.

Gull sky at dawn. April 10, 2009.

The duality of the situation is deserving of some proper consideration. Birds do not charge any of their neighbors to impose upon their as they live in their natural realm. Watchers can appreciate and perhaps understand something without any fee. In return, they do deserve proper consideration and assistance to help them thrive and survive.

Hallelujah!

Ongoing Efforts to Conserve Severely Endangered Birds of Hispaniola

Adult male, Ridgway's Hawk. Photographs by Lance Woolaver, unless otherwise designated.

For Lance Woolaver, efforts to get an advanced degree in ornithology focused on helping to understand the life and times of one of the most endangered hawks on the planet, and an equally as rare cuckoo.

Ecology and conservation of the Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) of which an estimated 300 exist, is one topic, and the Bay-breasted Cuckoo (Coccyzus rufigularis), another as he continues working for species’ protection on Hispaniola and in the Dominican Republic.

"The Peregrine Fund was the first conservation organization to focus on the Ridgway’s Hawk in 2002, when they carried out preliminary surveys to get an idea of the remaining population size, distribution and threats and they have played the leading role in conserving this species since then."

"When I arrived in 2004, none of the local people had any idea that this was a special bird that was only found near their village and nowhere else on the planet."

Each season since then, Woolaver, first as a student at York University, journeyed to the Caribbean to study the hawks.

Teatro for the Ridgway's Hawk, 2007.

In 2007 The Peregrine Fund (TPF) and Sociedad Ornitologica de la Hispaniola (SOH) organized an amazing play or "teatro" that made a huge impact on the awareness throughout local villages.

"These plays were written and acted by a professional theater group," said Russell Thorstrom, with The Peregrine Fund. "The play was based on the life of a Ridgway’s Hawk near a local community. The play highlighted as a nesting pair of Ridgway’s Hawk, the local community, conservation and biodiversity and protected the species for future generations. The play was presented at seven communities around Los Haitises National Park and one showing in Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic."

Three significant achievements during the 2008 season from January to August were:

1) "monitoring and protection of hawk nests, and the banding of nestlings. Thirty-nine nest attempts were monitored, 18 of which were successful producing 23 fledglings. Seventeen nestlings were banded, bringing the total number of hawks banded since 2005 to 108 (36 adults and 72 nestlings)," Woolaver said in his report.

2) compiling a Conservation Management Plan for the Bay-breasted Cuckoo, funded by the American Bird Conservancy.

3) SOH produced an educational pamphlet about endemic psittacines which are in need of conservation - the Hispaniolan Parakeet (Aratinga chloroptera) and Hispaniolan Amazon (Amazona ventralis) for use in community awareness programs. WPC provided advice in preparing this publication.

Lance Woolaver holding a nestling. Photograph by Eladio Fernandez.

Measuring a juvenile Ridgway's Hawk. Photograph by Rina Nichols.

TPF translocated four young during the 2008 season to an area outside the Park. They are planning on establishing other populations in other areas of the hawk's historic range through translocations and hacking of young birds collected from the Los Limones area this season.

Wildlife Preservation Canada will be working closely with SOH and TPF to provide assistance in the translocation of young to areas outside of Los Haitises.

Woolaver’s efforts this coming season, working for Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC), are "slightly scaled down due to lack of funding and the end of the intensive research for my PhD. But the same three local men are continuing to monitor and protect nests, band fledglings and adults, and collect date on breeding and feeding ecology. We now have many young birds that we banded that are beginning to breed so we are learning a lot about survival and dispersal."

The local team is managed by Jorge Brocca, director of Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola, and the fieldwork carried out by Timoteo Hernandez, Pastor Leon and Hilario Pollanco from the village of Los Limones.

This team continues to talk with landowners (building mutual respect and trust, etc.) and visiting local schools and taking older grades on field trips.

Their initiative gets a positive reaction by "local villagers who now protect the hawks and nests on their conucos, which are the small farms in the valley basins, primarily with root crops mixed in with some beans and some fruit trees," Woolaver said. "Since the first start of a project to protect this unique hawk, the situation has changed and "the people are genuinely proud of ‘their’ hawk."

"The rainforest is so productive that just these hilltop patches could provide plenty of food (tree snakes and anolis lizards, skinks in the undergrowth) for the hawks and their young.

"A good example of local residents protecting the hawks comes from 2006. We had a nest and nestling fall to the ground due to stormy weather. The nest was about 9 km from the village so not easy to get to. The local landowner that was working his conuco moved the nestling and what was left of the nest onto a rock outcrop, added material to the nest, and built a crude shelter to protect the nestling from the shade. He then protected the nestling for nearly a week until he was able to get word to the local hawk guys and myself in Los Limones. The adults continued to diligently feed the nestling on the ground. We promptly went out as soon as we could, rebuilt the nest in the palm tree and climbed up and put the chick back. That chick fledged and is alive today.

"There have been situations like this every year. Just this year a landowner told the team of a nest that was falling down and the local team climbed up and fixed the nest and the nestlings are now safe."

Habitat changes are having a drastic impact on the local flora and fauna.

Fire at Los Haitises National Park.

"The Dominican Republic covers the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola," Woolaver said in his 2008 report. "Less than 10% of the Dominican Republic remains forested and the remaining areas of native pine, rain and cloud forests are highly fragmented and in immediate danger of further loss due to unregulated logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, and cutting for charcoal production. In addition, hunting and persecution of birds for food and as crop-pests has also had a significant impact. Currently, 21 of the 32 endemic bird species are considered threatened and very little data exists regarding the ecology and status of the majority of these species.

"There is still a massive problem from slash-and-burn agriculture and this is out of necessity as the people have no other choice at the moment if they are to feed their own children, but they are no longer cutting down hawk nest trees. It is a bit surreal though to see an entire valley wiped out yet all the Royal Palm trees which the hawks use for nesting still standing. If the next step could be made whereby locals practice sustainable agriculture in the valleys and leave the tops of the hills forested then everyone would benefit and the hawks and people could easily live side-by-side, and I honestly think the local people would want this as well."

During his field studies, "my most satisfying moments have come from quietly sitting and watching hawks on their nests, either females fussing over their nests (moving the same twig back and forth on the edge of a nest until she feels it is just right) or gently turning eggs, or patiently holding food for a one day old chick while it learns to feed," Woolaver said. "These quiet moments one-on-one with the hawks bring peace and a feeling that everything will be alright and that all the long days and effort are worthwhile.

Ridgway's Hawk nestlings.

Pastor Leon with Ridgway's Hawk nestling. Both photographs by Timoteo Hernandez.

"In 2007 I watched a young female with her first nesting attempt care for and fledge two healthy and strong fledglings. I had first seen her as an egg and then banded her as a nestling at one of the first nests we found in 2005.

"I am also grateful for the friendships I have made in the village and seeing the three local men take charge and being more than able to carry on the work of protecting and monitoring the hawks. They are exceptional people and very well respected members of the community. I think this is the very best that a conservation biologist can hope for when going to another country and working with an endangered species.

"Wildlife Preservation Canada has a long and successful history of providing expertise and funding work with critically endangered species in other countries (Mauritius Kestrels for example)" Woolaver added, "and also realise that a long-term commitment is almost always needed to bring a species back from the brink once it has reached a critically low level. WPC also has a history of working on several levels, locally with species in Ontario (eastern Loggerhead Shrike), nationally (Burrowing Owls) but also internationally (Mauritius Kestrel, Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet, Madagascar Teal) are just some examples.

The project to learn more about the Ridgway’s Hawk was part of the WPC program called the Canadian Collection.

"They fund Canadian students to carry out research on endangered species, Woolaver said. "My PhD. thesis was on the ecology and conservation genetics of Ridgway's Hawk, hence the initial funding. Even though the funding was initially for this thesis research they recognized the need for a long-term commitment and the value of working with one of the world's rarest hawks."

Timoteo measuring a Ridgway's Hawk.

A repaired Ridgway's Hawk nest.

"It is one of WPCs strengths that they have this wealth of experience that has come from working on projects at different levels worldwide. There is also the very pragmatic reality that WPC is a relatively small organization and a small amount of money can go much further in a developing country than it can in North America so a small amount of money can make a very real difference in a country like the Dominican Republic.

"WPC has done an amazing amount of work in the past even though they are a small organization and I think this is due to their staying very focused and you can't get much more focused than trying to help the rarest hawk on the planet."

The Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola, a Dominican Republic non-governmental organization (NGO), "is a strong partner and they are WPCs main partner organization implementing and overseeing work with the hawk this year. They are planning to increase the education and awareness component this year through funding provided by The Peregrine Fund and BirdLife International and in cooperation with another experienced Dominican NGO (Grupo Jaragua Inc.). We will also all be jointly producing a much needed Action Plan this year and this will be funded primarily by BirdLife."

Fowl Times Portrayed in Poetic Prose of Sportsmen of the 1870s

Here is another sample of poetry about wild fowl written by contributors to Forest and Stream, the sportsmen's newspaper of the 1870s.

The Canvas-back Duck.

In sharp November, from afar,

From Northern river, stream and lake

The flocks of noble canvas-back,

Their migratory journeys make.

The frosty morning finds them spread

Along the flats of Barnegat,

Where grows the valisneria root,

The duck-grass with its bulbous thread.

But chief where Chesapeake receives

From Susquehannah, brackish tides,

By calm Potomac and the James,

Feeding at will from morn till eve,

Mid those aquatic pastures green,

The ribbon'd grass and bulbous root

Where slant the yellow sedges lean.

 

By myriads there the wild fowl come

To taste the rich, delicious fare

The red head and the canvas-back

The widgeon with its plumage rare,

The ruddy-duck, the buffer-head,

The broad-bill and Canadian goose,

Loving o'er placid shoal or cove

Their winnowing pinions to unloose.

 

Through all day, dispersed around

They swim and circle o'er the bay,

And at the eve, in gather'd flocks

To mouth of creeks they take their way,

Where some a wakeful vigil keep,

Others at anchor float asleep.

 

And when winter keen sets in,

And frozen is the river's face

To its salt confluence with the bay

The flocks seek out their feeding place.

And where across the ice, a pool

Of open water they discern,

The hungry flocks their flight suspend

And toward the friendly pasture turn;

And tyere the lurking fowler waits,

(Amid the ice-blocks hid from sight)

With heavy gun and deadly aim,

To thin the numbers that alight.

Isaac McLellan. November 20, 1873. Forest and Stream 1(15). On the front page.

For Forest and Stream.

The Whippoorwill.

The white fog drifts along the meadow,

And the gleam

Of the Western sky is fading

From the ripples that were crimson

On the stream.

 

The thousand tiny voices of the hylas

Fill the air,

And the music of the woodthrush,

Floating softly down the mountain,

Seems a prayer.

 

When twilight shadows gather 'neath the cedars

On the hill—

Where the robin lately warbled,

And the sparrow sang his vesper,

All is still.

 

But the whippoorwill complaining in the valley

Far below,

With its voice so wild and restless

Wakens memories forgotten

Long ago.

 

Till the thoughts of former joys and former sorrows

Come again,

And they fall upon the spirit

With the gentle measured cadence

Of the rain.

P. C. B. September 3, 1874. Forest and Stream 3(4): 49.

For Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun.

Western Wild Fowl Shooting.

By J.S. Van Dyke.

 

Many the scenes that deeply, keenly thrill

The sportsman's bosom, as o'er dale and hill

With throbbing heart and tingling nerve he bounds

With pointer, setter, or the ringing hounds.

But few more grand and wild emotions raise

Than one that oft is seen in autumn days,

When first the surly blasts begin to howl,

And heaven's smile to change into a scowl.

When droops the wild rice its once stately head,

And rush and reed and flag are sere and dead;

When withered leaves ride swift on whistling gales,

The wild fowl for their journey spread their sails,

But pause awhile around some favorite place

Ere starting on their long and weary race.

At such a time and spot our stand we take,

Close by the borders of some rice-fringed lake.

Wondrous and grand the scene that now unfolds,

And the astonished eye enchanted holds!

From every quarter of the great blue dome,

In countless throngs the wild fowls swiftly come,

Circling, rushing, darting, wheeling, dashing,

Towering, settling, in the water splashing.

High in the air, with stately, solemn wings,

Slow sail the geese in long converging strings.

Still higher up, with proud, majestic pace,

The sand-hill cranes float by in easy grace,

While far above in dignified array,

The swans are drifting on their southward way.

From every side what varied sounds we hear,

That make true music to the sportsman's ear:

The mellow "honk," the "scape" of saucy snipe,

The widgeon's whistle and the loon's clear pipe;

The "clank-a-lank" that from the brant doth ring,

The rushing bustle of the broadbill's wing,

The mallard's "quack," the frightened wood duck's squeal,

The sandhill's trumpet that o'er all doth peal!

As fall the night, they faster, nearer come;

The air resoundeth with their steady hum,

But we've not come to idly stand and gaze,

And fast and sure spouts forth the deadly blaze.

With rapid buzz the broadbill by us whirls,

But in a trice his whistling pinion furls.

In vain the blue wing plies his whizzing wings,

The deathful hail across his pathway sings;

The lovely wood duck, with his plumage bright,

Whirls struggling down into the shades of night.

The watchful goose, that cautious threads the air,

Droops neck and wings, as if in silent prayer,

And downward plunges with impetuous crash.

In vain the mallard, with his wary eye

Doth seek, with vigorous "quack," to climb on high,

Too late his care; Too late his skyward dash!

He downward thunders with a sullen splash.

Waiting with patience till we give the word,

Our faithful dog retrieves each fallen bird.

The trusty creature, having marked its fall,

Bounds through the reeds, however thick or tall;

Although they fall where man could never stand,

This honest servant brings them to our hand.

The lake is cold; its edge fringed with ice;

But still he flounders on through tangled rice,

Heedless of comfort or the wintry blast,

Toils shivering on until he gets the last.

Then to our boat, and down the moonlit stream

We glide to camp, and soon the fire doth beam.

From drift wood piled on high, the cheery blaze

Shoots far and wide, and o'er the river plays;

And soon we gather round the festive board,

Laden with viands that would tempt a lord;

Then round the fire comes the social smoke,

The song, the story, or the spicy joke;

And then to sleep upon our bed of reeds,

While fancy pictures out to-morrow's deeds.

June 21, 1877. Forest and Stream & Rod and Gun 8(20): 317.

Expressive Phoebes Profoundly Portray Spring at a Midtown Park

With a subtle yet profound charm, some local phoebes have marked another burgeoning spring as their innate understanding of another years' time brought them back to a notable place among some midtown environs. It is a spot they have been known to prefer in several previous years, according to some few notes by ornithological enthusiasts.

The calendar of the birds' time, reliant on some drastically constricted and perpetually questioning human view, was another blatant first that did herald the freshening season for another year. These particularly expressive birds of subtle and social song showed up - once again, thankfully - for another stint to mate, nest under the bridge and raise a treasured brood of young for another season of time.

Phoebe land along Wood Creek.

At one particular well-known locale in a midtown, the phoebes called with zest while moving about, hawking after scattered insects from suitable tree-limbs on the final days of March along Wood Creek in a city park surrounded by urban sprawl. They were there again a few brief days later, before the spring blizzard with hearty winds and minimal snow - more hype than reality - spread across the local city environs. This species was not obvious during a walkabout during the storm, apparently having found a haven in some woods elsewhere, obviously knowing a more suitable place to survive during drastic weather conditions.

After this blatantly subtle, yet well-pronounced weekend of dramatic weather, with its designated blizzard warning, had gone eastward to elsewhere, outdoor conditions subsided to something more pleasant outside. The small number of Eastern Phoebes once again were present at their creek place most certainly suitable for them to thrive, as they have for unknown bird generations. For some confined considerations by an observer, it is a place they suitably appreciated, derived from past observations by some entity that could write about it.

The spring antics of these birds is something to known and appreciate on these days of a warming spring. In the park, what they are doing is expressive and indicative of early April in the lands somewhat associated with the Missouri River valley, but further to the west across the bluffs of houses. At the creek's pond, a particular phoebe was hawking somethings off of the surface of the water. Nearby, four Canada Goose and a bit of a bunch of Mallards ignored the song bird activities, as they had their own focus for establishing a place to survive in the forthcoming months.

Along the creek further to the east, a pair of the obviously vocal phoebes - expressed their characteristic and readily notable call - flying together about the botany springs hollow, along Wood Creek, indicating their natural, exquisite and especial indication of spring-time with warming rays of sun, and portending of ample bugs on which to thrive. The pair interacted so obviously together with attention for each other, vocalizations of expression, going about together and, pursuing prey in the arboreal realm. They seemed to be obviously, and suitably for the norms of their feathered clan, establishing a specific home-range, a defended territory for pending weeks beyond the first blossom of the breeding season.

Graffiti at the midtown home of the phoebe.

One so finely snagged a bug that was about in due to warming temps! These birds expressed, in one person's observant personal opinion, the joy of spring blooming in the park. Hear the call of the phoebe? Fly on again and again, mighty bug-catcher!

Vocalizations from a limb in the treetops seemed to mean so much to them, as their sweet song was heard during a person's brief foray in the park landscape. Brief minutes of appreciation were a too short view of the ongoing daily activities of these active, bug-catching birds.

Eastern Phoebes will be about for the coming breeding season at the park. They may certainly be appreciated to some degree or another by an astute watcher, but remain mostly unknown by ignorant bypassers to the park to walk a dog, jog, or pedal upon their bicycle. These birds don't care, but it is important to know the places they prefer and realize that there are not just empty woods about, but the places are a haven for many neighbors of the natural realm.

Spring is sprouting and spreading an appreciation about the seasonal arrival of a myriad of wildbirds to local haunts of definite importance for a discoverer taking the time to look.

Selection of a National Bird and Other Ornithological Activities in Mongolia

Selection is underway for a national bird for Mongolia.

"There are 12 candidate species to be selected by adults and children," said Dr. S. Gombobaatar, of the Mongolian Ornithological Society and National University of Mongolia. These include the Saker Falcon, Steepe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Gyr Falcon, Whooper Swan, White-naped Crane, Demoiselle Crane, Great Bustard, Lesser Sand Plover, Pallas’ Sandgrouse, Mongolian Lark, and Eurasian Eagle-Owl.

"Most countries have a national symbol bird," Gombobaatar said, "In Mongolia, a national bird has not yet been officially selected. That's why we started it, getting involved members of the Mongolian Ornithological Society (MOS), and students of the Ornithological Laboratory of National University of Mongolia. We hope to have other non-governmental organizations participating soon."

Members of the Mongolian Ornithological Society on an autumn bird migration survey. Images courtesy of Dr. S. Gombobaatar.

People can vote in one of three ways:

1. Directly send vote's questionnaires to local administrations

2. Through internet, with a checkbox list that allows easy voting at the MOS website

3. Message chat on mobile phone, which is being developed by the MOS  

 

The selection process started in October 2008, and will be finished in October 2009.

The MOS is currently also involved with other ornithology projects. The group is recognized for having the most experienced field people in the country for bird research, Gombobaatar said.

The professional bird watching and filming tours help to collect information and data of birds

The society has been organized professional bird watching and filming tours in Mongolia. These field trips help to gather information and data of birds specially rare and endangered birds in Mongolia. The trips are also significant to train young people to identify birds in the field and conserve birdlife in the country. Mostly students have involved in the trips as assistance in order to get field experience and improve English as well. If you someone want to help to gather and create database, and involve bird conservation in the country, you will most welcome to join in the field trips.

A field guide to the birds of Mongolia is expected to be published in June 2009.

"This is the first comprehensive field guide to the birds of Mongolia, and is being authored by S. Gombobaatar, Axel Braunlich (Germany) and Sh. Boldbaatar (Mongolian Academy of Sciences). The book is bilingual. An English edition will be published by A&C Black in the United Kingdom, and Mongolian edition by the support of World Bank and a few different sources."

The book’s contents, Gombobaatar said, are: Foreword, Introduction, How to Use this Book, Taxonomy and nomenclature, Descriptive Parts of the Bird, Key to distribution and status, Plumage terminology, Geography and climate, Main habitats, Important bird species, Migration, and bird-watching Areas. Information for each species will be given in separate accounts, with colour plates and family summaries. Also given will be details on organizations active in the country, references, people that helped get the book done, a glossary.  

Another publication in progress is a photographic album for the countries’ birds.

"This will be the first professional bird photo album in the country in English," Gombobaatar said. "We have planned to complete the book before June 2009. This book contents 150 pages with high quality bird photos including Mongolian bird specialties. Species photos have classified by natural zones. There are 20 species in taiga forest, 30 species in forest steppe, 15 steppe, 15 Gobi desert, 12 species in high mountains, 8 species in desert steppe, 15 species in variety different habitats, 6 species of vagrants and 30 species in wetlands, rivers and lakes including two-three habitat photos each natural zones.

Each page contains "a single photo of species showed distribution map, Global and regional status, names in nine different languages and photographers. Photos were taken by my colleagues in Mongolia. If someone is interested in this volume, we will very happy to collaborate on this matter."

"We are trying to raise funds to produce our photo album and dictionaries," Gombobaatar said. If someone wants to collaborate to raise a fund for this album we will write his/her names, logos and anything he/she wants on the book as financial supporter. Next year we are planning to produce a second volume of the book in large size (20x30 cm)."

Odkhuu with a Steppe Eagle chick in the nest in Central Mongolia, June 2007.

As a tool to help understand what is needed to conserve threatened species, a regional red data book will be published in 2009/2010 in Mongolian and English as well. An accompanying action plan for threatened bird species will be published in 2009/2010.

"We assess 487 species of bird species in Mongolia in a standard format," Gombobaatar said. Each account will give nomenclature, local and global status, geographic distribution, and dominant threats.

Within the country, these include human-induced habitat loss, land degradation through increases in livestock numbers and recreation, tourism, accidental mortality from fisheries related activities, Water pollution and drought, and human disturbance from recreation and tourism.

A dictionary of vertebrate animals of Mongolia published was just released.

Mongolia is a diverse country for birds and "The Mongolian Ornithological Society is one of the main bird research and conservation organizations in the country," according to details on their English-language website. "The Society has intensively organized bird research and conservation activities in collaboration with the National University of Mongolia." An important bird areas guide was prepared for eastern Mongolia in 2005.

Announcement of a False Discovery of the Extinct Carolina Parakeet a Mistake

An April 1st story prepared to show it was issued by Cornell University and The Nature Conservancy, announced the discovery of a local non-migratory species of the Carolina Parakeet in northern Honduras. The story, formatted as a news release from the university news service, gave details, even focused on genetics and made a case that a non-migratory flock had been discovered in central America. News of the discovery was reportedly going to be released in the journal Science.

It was a joke foisted on too many people on April Fool's Day.

The fool's of the day were not the people reading about the announcement on bird blogs, online news services, or had seen comments about the purported discovery on some bird discussion group.

There were thoughts that the Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) lived on, with excitement, wonder and hope implied in the views expressed with a perspective that perhaps this was another bit of surprising news of extinct species.

Cornell University and The Nature Discovery had previously announced, to great fanfare and media attention, the supposed existence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the southeast United States, another species though to have been extinct.

The fool's of the day were the people that worked together to issue the parakeet story. They included pictures, one showing a fake example of a live bird (with the obvious wrong-type of beak), discussed DNA analysis and otherwise wove a tale of deceit. Aspects of a recovery plan were even given. Names for contacts were shown, with false email addresses provided!

Lore of the Carolina Parakeet has it's own profound legacy. One clue to the fallacy of the story, was stating that a migratory bunch in middle, tropical America had stayed put.

None of the known 150 or so historic records prior to 1880 show that this species was noted anywhere else but in the United States, so this was an obvious puzzlement.

Perhaps the two authorities given with the article, could provide a basis for this historic distribution, which perhaps was noted in the 1880s, or some time during the period before the species became extinct. But then, neither email worked. The Cornell University News Service, despite having been asked, could not provide an valid contact email-id for further information regarding the fake news.

Actual history is much more essential, instead of some words issued by a conspiracy to dupe people. In the first era of history, it was called a paroquet. LaSalle wrote about this species in those years about 1680. A number of men mentioned it during the 1750-1800, and their words convey reality as they saw it while exploring places of a growing country. Fiction was not the forte given by authors Gist, Carter, Heckewelder, Cresswell, Filson, Davis, and Collot.

The April 1st fiction included a photograph of a supposed live bird - named - though it was an altered view of a Jenday Conure. Some features matched, but birders focused on details noted errant features that would not have matched reality. Characteristics of the beak showed no similarities, though a quick glance might have sufficed to indicate the species lived on.

These are some examples of comments plucked from the world-wide perspective in reaction to the fake proclamation.

• "See this exceptional news release from Cornell Lab of Ornithology and The Nature Conservancy:" - Ric Z.
• "Someone pointed out that the referenced web site was an April Fools Joke. I didn't find it funny." - Al R.
• "I sure hope it isn't an April Fool's joke." - Patty M.
• "Well, I fell for it, I honestly did not know it was a joke" - Vicki B.

It was a disservice to bird enthusiast's that this fictional account, written with great attention to detail, was released to the public. It was a good bunch of fiction, but basically trash to people positively focused on birds and their conservation.

There shouldn't be any more fake stories issued regarding extinct species. History should not be trivialized by some creative writing effort by an anonymous writer, despite any weak attempt to put some spin of humor on the status of species and their history. It was basically wrong to announce the rediscovery of an extinct species. It seems the two organizations have a history for this type of grandstanding.

All foolishness aside, both Cornell University and The Nature Conservancy should issue an apologize for the April 1, 2009 article of fiction about the Carolina Parakeet.

---

The following information has been received from an official at Cornell University.

"The Carolina Parakeet story did not originate with any official Cornell agency, nor AFAIK from anyone at Cornell, nor from the Nature Conservancy. If you look at the URL you will see that the "news release" is not posted on a Cornell server. It is on Google Docs, where anyone could have placed it. There has been no such thing as "Cornell News Service" for the last five years; that's an old logo, and anyone at Cornell would have known that." - April 6, 2009

Winds of Changes for Generations at the West Table

Winds nearly unending across lands of the central plains, silently and surely are an influence for constant change to some table lands in prairie Nebraska.

Migrant birds and cranes flew in on spring or autumnal winds - again and again to find a safe haven for some days - during many seasons of centuries unknown to any observer. Native Indians, prominently the Pawnee Tribe, dealt with drastic conditions of weather as they lived and roamed across their territory in cycles tied to the seasonal activities needed for the clans to survive through knowledge of the elders.

Cowboys arrived some five generations or so ago, but fewer than 150 years in historic terms - a relative blink in time. These stock wranglers, and the settlers which followed, knew the depth of serious winds, often as some endless moan of a desolate place or while it spread snow during a dangerous winter blizzard. With endless winds of change, beyond settlement through the decades, the country became part of a big Nebraska county.

In the modern millenium, the winds are considered a renewable resource to satisfy energy demands of a burgeoning national population of people. Developers and government officials have wrought dramatic change for residents on the preeminent table lands in west-central Custer County, west of Broken Bow, Nebraska.

First Generations of History

"When the white man found this location the prairies were covered with buffalo, deer, elk, and antelope, while the prairie chickens, grouse, wild duck, and goose were found in great abundance," according to a book about the counties history. "This was nature's suggestion that the country was suited to stock­raising and poultry production, and the demonstration of the years since has justified the prediction. In the early days of Custer county, cattle raising was the only occupation. It indeed was a profitable industry. As early as 1869 the great advantages of this country attracted attention of the cattlemen of the south and east. The territory, well grassed and well watered, was very attractive."

Residents knew the place as Kountze County in 1873.

New Helena was the first place pioneers designated. It was the first official post-office, established June 18, 1875 on the headwaters of Victoria Creek.

"In 1876 Arnold & Ritchie located a ranch on the Loup, a short distance east of Arnold, with 1,000 cattle." "Edward Holway and J.D. Haskell occupied the same ranch formerly located by Harrington. The range claimed by those owning this ranch was the South Loup valley from the spring creek tributary, west to Cedar canyon and the territory north adjoining."

A place now well-known as Arnold was established in April 1877, named in honor of George Arnold of the firm Arnold and Ritchie, a hearty cattle outfit in the area.

"In 1877, the Henry Brothers located another ranch, west of Arnold, with 3,000 cattle. Two Olive brothers, I.P. or "Print" and Ira of Texas heritage, arrived in 1877 to mark the H4 brand on hordes of southern steers spreading across new range. Brother Bob also soon arrived to the flourishing Olive claims of fresh stock country.

All around there claims by other cattle barons, raising steers. Wild cowboys cared for precious stock that freely roam - unfettered like the wind - around the hills and valleys of north-central Nebraska, from the Platte to the Niobrara.

Then more places. The original Lena Post-office of Custer county, was started in 1877 by the Middle Loup river, near the confluence of the Dismal River and the wild horse flats to the southwest. In the summer of 1877, a new Nebraska county, named after the recently deceased General George A. Custer, was officially organized.

One of the first original historic accounts for the county was done by a correspondent that sent in a brief account for the Western Nebraskian newspaper, issued at North Platte.

Notable for these first times when people were names being spread around places newly identified in history. In June the Olives were branding the IR-Bar on their beeves. The Missouri agriculturalist David M. Rankin arrived with cattle to start ranging about the western South Loup, branding the Quarter-Circle M on his steers.

Adding to the sense of the place, rural residents described local people's activities and notable events in their column of community news. Who was around and what were they doing?

Ash creek is one of the first known columns for the county, issued in July 1881 and April 1882 in a county-source newspaper issued at Broken Bow. The Ash Creek news appeared again as "Ash Creek Arrows" from the country between upper Wood Creek and the South Loup River.

Broken Bow, a post office obviously named for an Indian weapon, had its origins in November 1879, though the actual town was officially located and platted in June 1882.

Among the notes of the West Table are details about Letup, established 1880 on the Sandy creek branch of the south Loup. Among the generational notes: "South Loup was submitted name. July 30, 1880. Population to be supplied by office: 90 including children." Its name was soon changed to Delight.

History also tells us: "Merna was established in 1884 and was named after Merna Dunning, a popular girl of that neighborhood. W.G. Brotherton was the first P.M. and is responsible for the name of the town. When the Burlington built into and platted the town, the name remained the same," wrote the Hon. E.R. Purcell on August 13, 1925.

In 1885 Etna appeared on the scene. Further localities known by the pioneers were Anselmo and Callaway, with origins in 1886.

History wrought an identity. Particular places were known to the family, neighbors, and a locality for following generations to learn of. News and information shared a common history passed to young, again and again by various residents on the West Table.

Wehling Family Generations

John C. Wehling and his wife Justine settled in 1885, under provisions of the Homestead Act. "At the time I arrived in Broken Bow the people here told me I was crazy to establish myself on the West Table, as no water was to be had there," was his view according to the family history. The "Die Deutchie Farm," according to Maxine and Ed Wehling, comprised two sections, each with 640 acres.

Monique, a Jersey Giant chicken at the Wehling Place. The couple raise and use whenever possible, locally grown food.

Generations of this family followed, continuing ties to treasured land at the West Table. A son, Charles Wehling married Anna Thanel, of Austria, at Merna in January 1912. "They farmed and raised beef cattle, a milking herd, and crops such as wheat, corn, oats, barley, millet, cane and rye," according to family history. "Never put all of your eggs in one basket," was their adage.

This couple's son, also named Charles married Theresa Roes, in February, 1962. His son Edward, recalls his dad was an innovative farmer, capable of making implements to make a job easier, and had a knack for adding figures in his head, often get the total for groceries, including tax, before a sale clerk could do it using an adding machine. He also enjoyed reciting poetry.

Current residents of the Wehling property homestead are Edward C. Wehling, whom married Maxine Messner, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1990. "We received a parcel of land as a gift from Charles and Theresa Wehling," Maxine and Ed Wehling explained in an email, "and cleaned up an old tree claim two miles to the north of the Wehling farm. A well was dug, old trees stumps removed and new trees were planted. A Morton building was erected soon after. We are now building a new home that has a fine view of the vineyards."

The couple planted their first 700 wine grape vines in 2005, growing them for Mac's Creek winery at Lexington. Maxine also hatches and raises guinea fowl, ducks, chickens, and has a permit to hatch and release bobwhite quail and the wild turkey.

Ed Wehling farmed the family land with his father until May, 2006, when Charles passed. "Ed's uncle Vincent and Theresa Gunther were well known for providing sunflower seeds for birds," Maxine and Ed Wehling said. "They bought pick-up truck loads of bird food. When this couple passed on, it was said that the birds of Custer county would now go hungry." Vince also raised pheasants for release into the wild.

"We enjoy seeing birds and wildlife on our property. It is a sign that nature may be the same as the generations before us may have seen. It is that binding connection that you can appreciate those families that farmed before us, and how they respected and cared for the land and creatures.

"We feel that sense of stewardship to maintain the beauty of the West Table as the first Wehling would have seen it so many years ago," they said.

Wetland Tour of the West Table — April 2, 2009 All images courtesy of Maxine and Ed Wehling.

Wetland on the Wehling rural business property, showing their headquarters in the background.

Small playa being used by a pair of Mallards, on property just south of the Wehling's place.

Another large playa within the footprint for the BPAE proposal being submitted to NPPD. About 5 miles west-northwest of the Wehling Place. There were a few ducks off in the distance on this wetland.

Generations of Whooping Cranes

Whooping Crane families have used playa wetlands during generations unknown. As the habitats have endured and fowl returned to a safe haven, there were no scribes.

An official tally is kept now only for confirmed records during recent decades. The particulars are among the more than 40 Custer County records within the database maintained by the Nebraska office of the Fish and Wildlife Service. It is part of the Cooperative Whooping Crane Tracking Project, according to a summary of details for the species.

The first government instance of these big-white cranes in Custer county was October 6, 1966, 6 miles west and 2.5 miles south of Merna, in the West Table area.

Records occur next in October 1981, with one notable sighting on October 11, 1983, southwest of Callaway.

Families of cranes found wet land conditions in Custer County enough of an attraction for there to be repeat visits.

Family tree of a banded Whooping Crane and its progeny, who's history is being studied by Karine Gil, who contributed this lineage diagram.

One particular female crane raised in 1987 and banded as R-YbY, according to an analysis done by Karine Gil, staff ecologist at the Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust, brought their first fledgling to the Ansley area in 1993. In 1994, the family group again stopped in the Merna neighborhood. This female, also produced chicks in 1996 and 2004, and is still alive according to records.

Another bird is known to show repeated use of stopover habitat. When a juvenile, RwR-Nil came back to the same place visited when one year old, then returning again as an adult traveling with chicks, Gil explained. Rwr-Nil may have added at least 21 descendants.

"I don't know how many of them could be relatives stopping at Custer county for several generations, Gil said, "but this is the information I'm trying to put together as soon as possible." Her findings will be published in a peer-reviewed ornithology journal.

These two families show a pattern that indicates the migrating cranes will repeatedly use the same place as a stopover, according to Gil's research. On occasion this locality can be used during consecutive spring and fall migrations. "I'm currently processing more records which may indicate that stopover use is not opportunistic and dependent on weather conditions only, as other reports present based on other observations. The information being considered indicates that family bonds, and behavior are also linked to the use of stopover sites along the central flyway."

The federal database denotes occurrences on April 15, 1994, and then on the first day of May that spring-time. More records were vetted for inclusion when the cranes made a stop on the last date for October and the second day of November that autumn. More records kept by the database indicate the basics of times when places each year continually to 1998.

Merna and Broken Bow are common origin points for directions to where the whooping cranes spent some time at critical habitat. Continue to consider the sightings for 2000, 2002, 2003, and in 2007. There were three spring visits by groups of 2, or 3, or 4 in 2008.

Migration corridor for Whooping Cranes in Nebraska.

A center-line for the migratory flyway used by Whooping Cranes through Custer County, is centered through its western half, according to a mapped analysis of confirmed records. This map considers the entire region and a larger set of records showing confirmed sightings during the crane migration. A corridor is given that reflects those times when the cranes came to the West Table.

Generations of Whooping Cranes showed their preference for wetland habitats of Custer County during visit after visit. History of some of the bird families reflects what happened with a few families. But the banding of Whooping Cranes ended in 1988, so it is no longer possible to track movement of family groups to to the extent possible when each bird was uniquely marked.

A Generation of Change?

Hard winds of change are going across Custer County this season. Plans are being made to develop the wind power of West Table. Within the past couple of years, a British-based corporation has been getting land leases, processing an application, and just this year, local officials have been deciding upon local zoning regulations. It is required to install a wind-power development with 70-80 wind turbines.

"We are in the Request for Proposal area for an 80 MW wind project," said Ed and Maxine Wehling. "British Petroluem Alternative Energy wishes to develop the site, and has acquired 8,000-10,000 acres for the project" which surrounds the couples rural home.

"We were asked to host transmission lines and possible turbines for the BP wind project for West Custer County, and later learned of the potential threat the 400 foot turbines could cause to whooping cranes in their flyway that they had chosen and utilized for many years. We were concerned. When we learned of the struggles and challenges the whooping crane has endured in our country through the years, it made us sad that wind turbines could pose another hurdle for their survival. I wondered if I might not get that opportunity to see one from the vineyard, as I had hoped to do one day."

"The approach BP initially used," with Laurie Mazer as a company representative, "was to quietly sign up land leases from our neighbors," the Wehling's explained. "We were asked not to discuss the project with others. Many neighbors are just now learning that a project has been proposed since around 2005, when the first meteorological tower was installed."

"Mazer presented the financial gain and positive aspects of the wind project to us. We feel there has been a lack of education and awareness for our community that would include impacts to endangered wildlife.

Area for proposed turbine project in western Custer County, showing the Wehling property - the black box. Image courtesy of Maxine and Ed Wehling.

"We started to become informed on the potential threat to migrating birds from websites such as www.wind-watch.org and www.betterplan.squarespace.com where we met individuals such as Jim and Cheryl Congdon from Wisconsin, who fought to save the Horicon Marsh habitat from industrial turbines being placed one mile from whooping crane habitat.

At a November, 2008 zoning meeting at Broken Bow, the Wheling's noted that BP representative Laurie Mazer was asked by a commissioner the impact a project would have on whooping cranes.

"We felt Ms. Mazer downplayed the issue, and said it was not an issue. We were struck by this, since we know we have had whooping cranes very near to our home."

"With some checking, we found that the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission issued a letter in 2007 to BP's consulting firm, ERM to select an alternative site, due to the endangered whooping cranes. NGPC has toured our area, and maintains that the playas are ideal crane habitat, and that this site is critical, second only to the protected lands of the Platte River area."

On December 9, 2008 there was an informational meeting with Laurie Mazer and Brandy Gibson, of BP, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Although there is no federal nexus for consultation," according to a F.W.S agency official, "the Service attended an information meeting with representatives of BPAE on December 9, 2008, to learn more about their proposed project. At that time, the Service expressed concerns regarding the location of the facility and potential conflicts with migrating whooping cranes."

"Whooping cranes make substantial use of the table land playa wetlands in Custer County, Nebraska," according an email from an FWS official on March 24, 2009. "Most numerous during wet periods, these shallow wetlands with little vegetation and extensive visibility provide ideal roost habitat for migrating whooping cranes.

"Our concern is that the central table playas consistently provide habitat for whooping cranes while on migration. A wind facility among or near these features may cause whooping cranes to avoid using this area, or if they continue to use the playas, there exists potential for mortality due to a strike."

"We are working to establish a process so NGPC could provide input early in their process to hopefully prevent this situation in the future." said Kristal Stoner, a Wildlife Diversity Program Manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

BP applied, and were granted permits for two additional meterological towers in Jan, 2009 from Custer County, during a meeting the Wehling's attended.

The couple continually work to educate people about the wind farm proposal, using personal contact, emails and letters to learn about and tell others of the plan to install wind turbines across the table.

"Our current concern is that, in our experience, BP has been somewhat lax in respecting the recommendations of State wildlife officials, and the F.W.S.," the Wehlings said in late March. "We are concerned that BP will not be prudent regarding the whooping cranes safety and welfare."

"We support alternative energy in our state, and nation, but have reservations regarding a specific wind project proposed by British Petroleum for our area, as the project footprint is right in a migration corridor and more importantly, a stopover site used for many years by whooping cranes."

The couple had a phone conversation with Mark Becker, and biologist Rockford Plettner on March 25th, to discuss project proposals and procedures of Nebraska Public Power District, a publicly-operated utility company.

"We asked how NPPD is regarding concerns for whooping cranes. migrant birds, and other wildlife," according to notes they kept and shared in an email.

"We questioned NPPD on their responsibility for Nebraska sites, and for endangered species, and that they should not simply delegate to a developer in the hopes that the company will do the right thing." The Wehling's said they would re-send all documents for them to review, since a company representative indicated information they had sent previously, was not seen.

"We discussed the recent indications from Karine Gil's work," presented in a talk at the River Conference in March, "that whooping cranes pass stopover information to family cohorts. So any attempts by wind developers to mitigate through creation of other habitat areas may not be beneficial to whooping cranes. We challenged NPPD if it wants to take the risk of a negative perception if whooping cranes are threatened, not just state-wide, but nationally. All in all, we are glad to at least make this a case of NPPD culpability and responsibility for considering environmental concerns."

NPPD will know what plans a developer is proposing once they have submitted an official application, Becker said.

NPPD officials pointed to expectations that Governor Dave Heineman and federal officials want to have 20% wind generated energy. They also mentioned that the Department of Energy has plans for a 765Kv Grid to basically go through Broken Bow, the Wehlings noted.

The RFPs, which NPPD is now accepting are due April 15. One facet of interest to the utility company, is a large-capacity substation near Broken Bow that can provide connectivity to a larger grid to distribute electricity. It would be beneficial to have a turbine farm within a fifteen-mile distance.

Further details indicate federal policy supercedes local authority.

Wind Turbines at the Ainsworth Wind Facility. April 2008, picture by J.E. Ducey.

"Under the federal Public Utility and Regulatory Policies Act of 1878," according to Tim Texel, executive director and general counsel of the Nebraska Power Review Board, "developers of renewable generation facilities at or under 80 megawatts can obtain approval of the facility from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Normally all generation facilities in the State of Nebraska where the output will be sold to third parties must be approved by the Power Review Board. However, once a developer files its information with the FERC and obtains a docket number, the Power Review Boards jurisdiction is preempted and we have no further authority over the facility. The PURPA law also requires the local transmission provider, which appears to be NPPD in this case, to allow the developer to interconnect to the local grid system and either purchase the output or use available capacity to moves its renewable energy. I am not familiar with the proposed British Petroleum wind farm, but the above facts are likely why NPPD informed" the Wehlings in previous contacts "that the primary responsibility for compliance with the Endangered Species Act lies with the developer. Due to the federal laws controlling the issue of renewable energy development, entities such as the Power Review Board and NPPD have limited authority to impose specific requirements on the part of a developer."

Information provided on April 1, in response to an inquiry by the Wehling's, continued:

"It would be quite unfortunate if a renewable energy facility were to be responsible for harming one or more of the few remaining whooping cranes," Texel wrote in an email. "However, it appears that the Power Review Board has no official authority to influence where British Petroleum locates its wind farm."

On April 1st, the Custer County Planning Commission voted 5-1 to approve zoning regulations that designate 1,000 feet as the minimal setback distance between any industrial wind turbine and an occupied residence. On May 6th, the commission will discuss noise and light flicker issues relative to wind turbine farms within the county.

Winds Impose Change on Generations

As the Wehlings work with their 700 vines, winds used by cranes and people working plans for wind power swirl around the futures for the next generations for this country of southwest Custer county.

"Each spring, during pruning of the wine grape vines, I scan the table landscape, and skies, to try to catch a glimpse of a whooping crane," said Maxine Wehling. "Each fall, during grape harvest and post harvest, I do the same thing. So, in a way, for me, the vineyard parallels the whooping crane migration, and each year, the cycle renews itself.

"Just as the Whooping Crane migration goes on each spring and fall cycle, each cycle of generations will leave their mark on the world."

Sky of the West Table, above a vineyard on the Wehling Place.

Survey Underway to Determine Bird Values of Playa Wetlands

Surveys of playa wetlands in central Nebraska are underway to determine the importance of these habitats for different species of birds.

Aerial view of playa wetlands west of Broken Bow, Custer County. Image courtesy of Ben Wheeler.

"We are conducting aerial surveys for waterfowl and whooping cranes and ground surveys for shorebirds," said Ben Wheeler, wildlife biologist with the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project. "We are very excited to see what these survey efforts uncover. The Central Table Playa wetland system is a very unique ecosystem and we have very little information about the animals that use this area. This will be the most comprehensive attempt to inventory the water-related birds of the area to date."

These surveys are a part of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project (NNLP), Nebraska's state wildlife action plan, Wheeler said. "The NNLP seeks to conserve at-risk species and their habitats in several specifically identified landscapes throughout the state. Although many of the NNLP efforts are focused on habitat projects, monitoring species and population trends is also necessary to direct the location and extent of these implementation efforts."

The Central Table Playa wetland system occurs throughout many central Nebraska counties, with higher densities of wetland complexes occurring in Custer, Lincoln and Logan Counties.

The series of flights started in early March and are expected to continue through the beginning of May, Wheeler said. "The weekly aerial survey follows a particular route based upon the location of dense wetland clusters and historic whooping crane observations. Wetlands along the route that have waterfowl or whooping cranes are mapped on a computer to be analyzed with wetland characteristics at a future date. Although the flights are not at an altitude where we can differentiate waterfowl species, the data on use by overall waterfowl is still valuable.

"Waterfowl use of these wetlands has been great. In these shallow wetlands, we see a lot of dabbling ducks (mallards, northern pintails, gadwall, northern shovelers, and teal), with a few diving ducks (ring-necked ducks, redheads, lesser scaup) in the larger and deeper wetlands."

A ground survey for shorebirds will be conducted in early May. "We are fortunate to have information about shorebird migration through efforts in other wetland systems, like the Rainwater Basin. With such information, we can intersect our survey efforts with the migration timing of many shorebirds."

Whooping cranes may be detected later in the season during their period of migration, with numerous confirmed sightings within the county in previous years.

Although there is only a small amount of information known on the birds of these playa wetlands, a breeding bird survey along a 25-mile route through the area, does convey typical species during June. A survey done in 2005 – with a "full" level of water - by T.J. Walker, an employee of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, noted at least these 33, representative species:

Baltimore Oriole Bell's Vireo Black-billed Magpie Blue Grosbeak Brown-headed Cowbird Burrowing Owl Chipping Sparrow Common Grackle Cooper's Hawk Dickcissel Eastern Kingbird Eastern Phoebe

Field Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Greater Prairie-Chicken Indigo Bunting Lark Sparrow Loggerhead Shrike Northern Bobwhite Northern Mockingbird Northern Pintail Orchard Oriole Pied-billed Grebe

Red-headed Woodpecker Red-tailed Hawk Red-winged Blackbird Ring-necked Pheasant Say's Phoebe Spotted Towhee Upland Sandpiper Western Meadowlark Yellow-billed Cuckoo Yellow-breasted Chat

"The Central Table Playas are generally smaller than other popular wetland complexes, such as the Rainwater Basin in south-central Nebraska," Wheeler said. "However, the smaller size is made up for in the frequency of occurrence. For instance, in some areas of high density, we can find as many as 15 to 20 playas with a mile or two."

Many of these wetlands have been drained and farmed, according to state officials.

Aerial Photograph of playa wetlands in Township T17N R22W. Image courtesy of the National Map.

The remaining playas are classified as isolated wetlands, and are not covered under Section 404 which regulates the placement of fill into a wetland, according to John Moeschen, of the Army Corp of Engineers which is the federal regulatory agency.

"We are making some headway to conserve wetlands with programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program and the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project," Wheeler said. "Most landowners who get involved in these programs are very pleased with the results. Often these programs offer financial incentives for ground that is only marginally productive.

"Information gained from these survey efforts will be used to modify existing wetland conservation programs or develop new programs specifically designed for the Central Table Playas. Details such as wetland size and degree of alteration are sometimes used to prioritize program implementation. Consequently, these features are also important to the critters that use the area. We need to make sure that our well-intended programs reflect the biological need and make changes if necessary.

"The success of this project will be merely based upon it's completion," Wheeler said. "No matter what we find it will be more information than we have at this point. Ultimately, we will need to begin thinking about how we can extend this project into future years. Once we have several years of information, we will be able to track changes in bird use of the area and evaluate whether our habitat projects are working or not."

This effort is a partnership which includes the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Major funding has been provided through the Nebraska Partnership for All-Bird Conservation, the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Peak in Winter Population of Trumpeter Swans in the Sandhills

Map of the Sand Hills and general features. All images from the swan report issued by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Fifty years after the first Trumpeter Swans were reintroduced to the Nebraska sandhills, a survey of winter birds indicates the population is the greatest ever recorded.

There were 639 swans counted during a survey conducted by personnel of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, according to Mark P. Vrtiska, Ph.D, waterfowl program manager for the state agency. The survey was done using two high-winged aircraft, with additional details derived from ground counts.

According to details provided by a report issued in March:

"We counted 639 trumpeter swans in the High Plains flock during the 2008 winter survey compared to 593 in 2007. In 2008, most swans were observed on the North Loup River and on or near Merritt Reservoir. The North Loup, North Platte, and Calamus Rivers along with Birdwood and Blue Creeks also held significant numbers of swans. The 2008 winter count was a 7.8% increase in number from 2007 and represents the highest winter count recorded. There was about a 49% increase in the numbers of trumpeter swans counted between the fall 2008 (429 swans) and winter 2008 (639 swans) surveys. We observed no swans on Lacreek NWR during the 2008 winter survey. In addition to High Plains trumpeter swans, 30 other swans were observed during the 2008 winter survey on the Loup River. Given their more southeasterly occurrence, it is likely that these birds are from restoration efforts in other states (e.g., Iowa). However, their origin was not investigated or confirmed.

Number of trumpeter swans considered as part of the High Plains flock, observed during the 2008 and previous winter trumpeter swan surveys.

"During the week of the survey, there was little to open water at Lacreek NWR (approximately 110%) and most Sandhill Lakes. Weather conditions during the survey included winds at 0-8 kph and temperatures near 0^o C. The month of December was colder than past years as there was a large ice/snow even occurring in November."

At Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, near Martin, SD, where the Trumpeter Swan was reintroduced in 1960, there were 384 swans counted on November 8, 2008. This is the largest number of swans ever recorded at this locality.

Severe weather conditions occurred in the region just prior to the survey period. " Below average temperatures and ice on Sandhill lakes concentrated birds on open water and reservoirs more so than in years past and probably increased the accuracy of the counts," according to the survey report.

At Lacreek refuge, management of wetland pools will continue to have a focus on providing conditions suitable for the use by the swans:

"Water management in the developed wetland units will continue to emphasize arrowhead and other preferred submerged aquatic plant species preferred by waterfowl, and the units will be flooded to preferred foraging depths from October through March on approximately 25% of the units during fall 2009."

"A notable aspect of the winter count was a reduction in the relative percentage of cygnets," the report said. "The count continued to denote an increasing number of "white" Trumpeter Swans. Swans are classified as cygnets, or young swans, if they have a gray plumage, according to survey protocol.

"It appears that counts of white birds in both fall and winter surveys continue to increase, while the cygnet production rate (i.e., cygnets/white birds) appears to be steadily declining over time, although a slight increase occurs in 2008. The decline could be the result of the flock reaching the carrying capacity of the landscape, a reduction in the quality of habitats, an increased number of non-breeding pairs or subadults, or other factors. Continued monitoring of this flock and directed research is needed to better understand the ecology of these birds. Ensuring separate counts for adults and cygnets will assist in determining production in the future."

Surveys of the swans are "conducted annually to assess wintering-ground abundance and distribution." Personnel from Lacreek NWR had conducted the aerial surveys prior to 2005.

Trumpeter Swans are also common summer residents at large wetlands in the Sand Hills region of north-central Nebraska.