La Platte Bottoms a Known Bird Haven for Three Decades

A bit of crop-land on the west side of the Missouri River and south of the Big Papillion Creek, which again and again has pools of standing water is a recognized haven for migratory birds, in Sarpy County, Nebraska. Its importance is profoundly indicated by the extent of notable sightings derived from bird-watchers that have visited the place, again and again in the past three decades.

During the present spring season of 2010 at the La Platte Bottoms - flooded cropland along La Platte Road, about 1.5 kilometers east of the hamlet with the same name - there has been another great variety of species noted by different people, and these observations continue to indicate the importance of the site for a multitude of migratory birds.

Because of the current visits and ongoing interest in the place, it seemed appropriate to consider its importance in the context of bird history, and to present some historic details of species' occurrence.

View of a portion of the flooded cropland along La Platte Road. View to the north. All photographs taken May 22, 2010.

Three Decades of Bird History

The first prominent bird sighting at this place was more than three decades ago, and the interest in species using the habitat has not waned in any way.

There was much less of an interest in the early years of the site's modern history, but there is a great extent of details of the migratory fowl passing through, or perhaps remaining for the summer breeding season in recent history.

Though there are a couple of bird records for this locality from 1928 - attributable to outings of local hunt club out of Omaha - the history for the modern era starts three decades ago, with the report of a European wigeon (now Eurasian Wigeon) seen and closely studied by Ruth Green in late March, 1980. There were other waterfowl present, though they were not noted in her report issued in the Nebraska Bird Review, which presented the specific details essential to a proper identification for the rare occurrence of this particular duck.

Subsequently, Neal Ratzlaff visited on May 26, 1984 and had a fine list of species. His personal records, indicate the origin for the modern era of surveys that have noted the variety of species and the number present during many times of the year when water was prevalent.

It was "common knowledge" that this locale "was a good place to look for shorebirds," Ratzlaff said in May 2010. His first visit to the site was because of the shorebirds which could be seen, and which he recorded in his personal account of species seen here and there.

Many other bird watchers have since made their way to the bottoms, and the records available indicate the interest which may has varied during the times, but is indicative of the diversity which occurs, depending upon habitat conditions.

These are the number of records from the locality, in the modern era (based upon a terse review):

• 1980 - 1 known record
• 1984 - 14 records
• 1986 - 1
• 1993 - 79

  Roland Barth, provides an interesting historic perspective on the locality:

  "La Platte Bottoms was coined in the 'modern era.' I remember the search for a name well, and I believe it was given after a very productive birding migration in the fall of 1993. I'm sure the records of others will also reflect that the fields were flooded in late August 1993 and a lot of 'good' birds were seen there. I myself had 13 county birds in just a few days in late August, 1993. At that time, the best birding was in the flooded fields west of the intersection. We had to park just off the paved, relatively busy road. Some of us got chased away a few times by the Sheriff for unsafe stopping/parking. But the key point is that La Platte Bottoms is also a great place to see birds during the fall migration, in the years when those fields are flooded."

• 1994 - 32
• 1995 - 1
• 1996 - 40
• 1997 - 35
• 1998 - 164
• 1999 - 8
• 2001 - 61
• 2002 - 9
• 2007 - 46
• 2008 - 72
• 2009 - 17
• 2010 - ca. 175

More notable records will originate from the La Platte Bottoms, with further consideration of historic contributions and as conditions continue to create the a situation suitable for birds, which is a great attraction for birders interested in knowing what is present.

"It was always fun and amazing to see what could be found there," said Ratzlaff, whose had been a member of the local chapter of the Audubon Society for many years.

Bird Diversity

A great variety of species are known to occur at the La Platte flats west of the Missouri River and south of the Papillion Creek. More than 125 species have been documented by a dedicated cadre of watchers, based on an evaluation of more than 750 records from online bird forums, published notes and birder records. The following is a tally of the species seen, with the value indicating the number of the species which were noted.

Common Name	1984	1985	1986	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2001	2002	2007	2008	2009	2010
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	32
Snow Goose	-	-	-	-	30	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0
Canada Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	0
Wood Duck	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	18	-	-	-	-	13	-	8
Gadwall	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	12
American Wigeon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20
Mallard	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	3	-	-	-	-	0	-	0
Blue-winged Teal	0	-	-	-	-	-	12	-	170	-	2	-	0	0	-	149
Blue-winged Teal x Cinnamon Teal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Northern Shoveler	0	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	10	-	5	-	19	-	-	381
Northern Pintail	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Green-winged Teal	0	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	28
Redhead	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	15
Ring-necked Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	25
Lesser Scaup	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	80
Bufflehead	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0
Hooded Merganser	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	7
Red-breasted Merganser	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	45
Ruddy Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	8	-	-
Wild Turkey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Bobwhite	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Pied-billed Grebe	0	-	-	6	-	-	-	2	22	-	0	-	2	9	-	7
Horned Grebe	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Eared Grebe	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
American White Pelican	-	-	-	-	150	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-
Double-crested Cormorant	-	-	-	-	300	-	-	25	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Least Bittern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Great Blue Heron	-	-	-	2	-	-	10	-	22	-	2	-	4	198	-	1
Great Egret	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	-	2	35	-	-
Snowy Egret	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Cattle Egret	-	-	-	111	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	3	10	-	1
Green Heron	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	3	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-crowned Night-Heron	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Turkey Vulture	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Osprey	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bald Eagle	-	-	-	-	76	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cooper's Hawk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Broad-winged Hawk	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Swainson's Hawk	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	-	-	3	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Kestrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Peregrine Falcon	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Sora	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	1
Common Moorhen	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Coot	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	30	1	4	-	65	53	-	242
Black-bellied Plover	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5
American Golden-Plover	-	8	-	31	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	3
Semipalmated Plover	-	1	-	3	-	-	5	-	-	-	4	-	1	-	-	17
Piping Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-
Killdeer	0	-	-	51	10	-	55	36	121	-	13	-	-	140	-	3
American Avocet	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	240
Spotted Sandpiper	-	-	-	4	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	-	3
Solitary Sandpiper	-	-	-	3	-	-	11	-	2	-	-	-	-	6	-	-
Greater Yellowlegs	-	-	-	3	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	-	4	1	156
Willet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	6
Lesser Yellowlegs	-	2	-	7	-	-	12	-	18	-	5	-	1	39	1	289
Upland Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Hudsonian Godwit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	1	12
Ruddy Turnstone	1	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	1
Semipalmated Sandpiper	-	0	-	70	-	-	5	-	-	-	29	-	30	11	63	405
Least Sandpiper	-	0	-	14	-	-	10	1	-	-	-	-	10	25	9	536
White-rumped Sandpiper	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	100	-	170	-	-	516
Baird's Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	2	-	3	-	-	-	3	-	-	14	10	218
Pectoral Sandpiper	0	-	-	138	-	-	31	5	16	-	-	-	-	28	1	201
Dunlin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	-	5	1	2	13
Stilt Sandpiper	-	10	-	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	16	-	10	3	-	-
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	15	-	-	4	-	-
Short-billed Dowitcher	-	10	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	4
Long-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	5	94
Wilson's Snipe	-	-	-	11	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	31
Wilson's Phalarope	-	-	-	6	4	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	5	-	30	601
Red-necked Phalarope	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	1	-	-	-
Franklin's Gull	-	-	-	4	1	-	-	-	37	-	15	-	31	-	-	87
Ring-billed Gull	-	-	-	-	22	-	-	29	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	0
Least Tern	2	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Black Tern	-	-	-	2	-	-	3	-	3	-	78	-	100	40	-	25
Forster's Tern	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Rock Pigeon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Common Nighthawk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	4	-	-
Chimney Swift	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-headed Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Downy Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eastern Phoebe	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Western Kingbird	-	-	-	1	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Eastern Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	1	-
Blue Jay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Horned Lark	-	-	-	-	10	-	-	40	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	2
Purple Martin	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Tree Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	10
Bank Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	3	-	10	-	-	5
Cliff Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	42	-	80	50	-	55
Barn Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	35
Black-capped Chickadee	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marsh Wren	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eastern Bluebird	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Robin	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
European Starling	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Yellow Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	1	-	-	-	-	-
American Tree Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Chipping Sparrow	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Vesper Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	14
Lark Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Savannah Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Song Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Harris's Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-
Dark-eyed Junco	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lapland Longspur	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	208	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Cardinal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Blue Grosbeak	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Indigo Bunting	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dickcissel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	-	1	-	-	-	-	1
Red-winged Blackbird	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	5
Eastern Meadowlark	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Western Meadowlark	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Yellow-headed Blackbird	0	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	41	7	1	-	-	2	-	2
Common Grackle	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	13	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Great-tailed Grackle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	4	-	-	6	-	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Orchard Oriole	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	4	-	-
American Goldfinch	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
House Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Among this variety there are the breeding species, which notably include the Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot and Wood Duck. There is also a nearby Great Blue Heron rookery, and there were 45 - mostly young - present on July 8, 2008, according to a report by Clem Klaphake.

A view of the La Platte Bottoms, showing some wetland vegetation on the south side of the road.

Spring 2010

The first report of bird activity at the locale was by Babs and Loren Padelford, for March 11, when several types of waterfowl were present. Additional species were present on March 28, according to the report by Justin Rink.

During April-May 2010, there was a much greater interest in activity at the wetlands, and there are a number of notable times when the birds were closely watched. A notable diversity of species that were present attracted a diverse group of observers, which submitted their observations, with a characteristic variety of detail.

"This year has been very good," said Loren Padelford, who has visited the site numerous times for more than 25 years, along with Babs Padelford, his wife. There has been "more water in 2010, than during a number of recent years" which means it has been a "very good place to see shorebirds and waterfowl."

A summary of the sightings for these two months is presented in the following table, according to Julian Date. The values shown, are the number noted by the different observers. A zero indicates the species was observed, but the number present was not recorded. There were at least 60 species recorded during these two months, as shown in the following table.

Common Name	91	92	94	96	98	99	100	101	102	103	111	120	121	122	125	128	131	132	133	142
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wood Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Gadwall	12	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Wigeon	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mallard	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-
Blue-winged Teal	35	-	-	-	-	50	-	-	0	0	-	-	-	0	0	62	-	-	-	2
Blue-winged Teal x Cinnamon Teal	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Shoveler	70	-	-	-	-	300	-	-	0	0	-	-	-	0	-	10	-	-	-	-
Northern Pintail	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Green-winged Teal	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hooded Merganser	-	-	4	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pied-billed Grebe	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	2
Horned Grebe	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eared Grebe	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Great Blue Heron	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Snowy Egret	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Cattle Egret	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Turkey Vulture	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Bald Eagle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Peregrine Falcon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Sora	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
American Coot	200	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	0	40	-	-	-	2
Black-bellied Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	4	-
American Golden-Plover	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Semipalmated Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	15	-	-	1	-	-
Killdeer	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2
American Avocet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	233	3	-	-	4	-	-	-	-
Spotted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	0	2
Greater Yellowlegs	8	-	15	2	35	-	15	12	0	60	8	-	0	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Willet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Lesser Yellowlegs	-	-	13	1	50	1	5	-	0	30	27	50	0	0	100	2	1	-	8	1
Hudsonian Godwit	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	5	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Semipalmated Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	400	5	0	-	0	3
Least Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	500	30	0	6	0	3
White-rumped Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	500	15	0	1	-	10
Baird's Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	7	-	1	10	-	-	-	200	-	-	-	0	5
Pectoral Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	200	-	-	-	-	9
Dunlin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	10	2	-	9
Short-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
Long-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	40	40	-	14	-	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	-	-	-	5	-	1	3	2	-	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	200	100	0	200	-	-	21	80	-
Franklin's Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	80	-	1	6	-	-
Least Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Black Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	25	-	2
Mourning Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Western Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Horned Lark	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-
Tree Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	-	-	-	-
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	-	-	-	-
Bank Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	-	-	-
Cliff Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	50	-	-	-	5
Barn Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	35	-	-	-	-
American Robin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Vesper Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	14	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Savannah Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Dickcissel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Red-winged Blackbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	4
Eastern Meadowlark	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Yellow-headed Blackbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Grackle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3

Birders that contributed the sightings to compile this list, include Elliott Bedows, Clem Klaphake during multiple visits, Brian Hula, Loren and Babs Padelford during their ongoing bird watching legacy in Nebraska, Justin Rink being there again and again, Matthew C. Sittel and Jerry Toll. The tally includes the fine variety of species noted on Saturday the 8th of May, during the Sarpy County Spring Bird Count. This site was also visited in conjunction with a bird class taught by Klaphake.

Importance for Wildbirds

The La Platte Bottoms are a place which is obviously important a myriad of birds during the different seasons. In particular, species of conservation concern that utilize the flats include the Piping Plover and Buff-breasted Sandpiper, as well as a great variety of other distinctive species, including godwits, the Common Moorhen, the unforgetable shorebirds, Least Tern, and others of no lesser significance.

There are several reasons to recognize this site as an important birding area, and to undertake efforts to manage the land for the benefit of migratory wildfowl, including:

• Importance in the history of Nebraska's ornithology;
• Variety of species which may occur, including several species which are the focus of conservation efforts;
• Large number of birds which can occur at a particular time;
• Status as one of the best shorebird watching areas in east-central Nebraska;
• Being readily accessible to a large population which includes a number of birders; and
• A wonderfully suitable setting that makes it easy for anyone to observe the birdlife present, with access available any time during the year as there is an all-season road on the edge of the site.

With the history indicated thus far, the reasons will only be reinforced by future observations.

Looking Ahead

The La Platte Bottoms are a prominent attraction for birds and the people which watch them, and both would readily appreciate if the place was managed for the benefit of migrating brds rather than a crop of corn or soybeans.

"It would be great if it could be managed for shorebirds and waterfowl," said Justin Rink, a birder from Omaha, whom has seen many notable species at this place. Having water present each year would be better than the "fuddles" which occur ever 2-3 years. The bottoms are "like a terminal," Rink said. "There can be an interesting variety one hour, but a short time later" the number of species can be different. When the conditions are good, "it is one of the best areas" to observe shorebirds in the Bellevue-Omaha area, along the Missouri River.

"A lot of people would enjoy" the site if it was managed for birds, said Ratzlaff, noting that the place is easily accessible to a lot of people in the Bellevue-Omaha metro area.

"It would be outstanding if this site could be acquired and maintained as a wetland" habitat for birds, Padelford also said. "It is particularly important as it occurs near the confluence of the Missouri River and Platte River," along the Missouri Valley flyway. The portion which is the best for birds, is on the south side of La Platte Road, he said.

One concern is how the planned construction of a Highway 34 bridge across the river, to connect with Highway 75, would change the situation at the site. The right-of-way for this multi-lane thoroughfare would be just south of the Papillion Creek, and would dramatically alter the current rural scene.

Bridge construction is scheduled to start in 2011, according to a Nebraska Department of Roads website, which includes a diagram of where the bridge and roadway will be constructed.

There is another alternative that might ensure the bottoms are an attraction for birds and birders for many years into the future.

This setting is very similar to Langdon Bend WMA, which is a mitigation site established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and where berms were created and pumps provided to create water conditions suitable for a variety of bird species which migrate along the Missouri River, in Nemaha County, Nebraska. The place is managed to benefit local wildlife.

The same opportunity is available at the La Platte Bottoms, and only needs to be realized through a cooperative project that would be working to conserve important bird habitats for future times.

View of La Platte Bottoms, looking south from La Platte Road.