Birdlife Variety Mostly a Historic Treasure at Hanscom Park

A proposal to create a dog run in an urban park in east Omaha is the latest potential threat to bird habitats within metro area.

In an article published a few days ago in the local newspaper, neighborhood associations (Hanscom Park, Leavenworth and Field Club) expressed their intent to create a dog run area at Hanscom Park, a city of Omaha park.

There were four sites presented as alternatives, but the obvious focus was on the northeast corner of the park property.

"The most attractive to the group is in the northeast corner of the park. It is a little used area of the park and has good parking and lighting from the streets. It's a big space with trees."

"Area 3 - ... Large area, available street parking, near business area, utilizes and underused area of the park, good topography, easily fenced, placement immediately adjacent to problem area, easy access from the street, existing (partial) lighting from the street, multiple entrance possibilities."

... people "think the idea of a dog park in the northeast corner of Hanscom Park is appealing. It would help with the revitalization of the area around the park and keep that corner of the park cleaner and safer," said a representative of the Fort Birthsite Neighborhood Association.

This preference indicates an obvious choice to possibly ruin the only little bit of natural woodland - designated as a reforestation area - which remains in a park space which was formerly a prominent place for birdlife in an urban setting.

The three other potential sites have similar features noted, but there are comments that they may not be visible from the street, the topography is hilly and thus possibly more difficult to fence.

This neighborhhod project would have to undergo a review by the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department, and would involve having public hearings.

Historic Ornithology

If a dog park is to be considered it would need to consider the other current uses, and this includes birds. Thus material was compiled to present pertinent details for a park which seems to have more of a history than for being a current haven, undoubtedly due to the ongoing demise of suitable habitats that could promote species diversity.

The first known note about the avifauna of Hanscom Park was about one species that appreciated the suitable arboreal splendor. In 1899 the following few words are indicative: "409 Red-bellied Woodpecker. Summer resident, not common. Specimen seen in Hanscom Park -- 1899." The unknown author of this unpublished manuscript on the birds of Omaha, expressed their words of history to the material among the records of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. The entire account has been dutifully transcribed and is not available online.

One of the best sports writers of the midwest, Sandy Griswold, wrote in a March 1900 column for the Sunday World-Herald, about spring fever, and included in his commentary, a mention of Hanscom Park.

"Although this restlessness comes to every one except the most hardened business man, it does not come to all at the same time or by reason of the same causes. One man may recognize its first symptoms as he walks down Farnam street and feels a warm, soft air of spring blow upon his face; another may be stricken as he walks through Hanscom park and sees the swelling buds of the maple and the elm; another may sit at his desk dreaming for an hour over something he has seen in a newspaper which sends his thoughts a thousand miles afield, or yet another may find the sweet poison in some vernal odor, or in the voice of a newly arrived bird. Whatever its cause all know the symptoms of the disease and all know the remedy."

During this time, another Omaha naturalist was making his own forays to a readily accessible place. The renowned Frank H. Shoemaker prepared a complete account of birds seen during an unknown number of visits. There had to be several, as his list includes species typically present during different seasons, and as it takes more than one survey to prepare a list comparable to what he prepared from his east Omaha residence.

"Probably the most convenient place for a short trip of observation is Hanscom Park. It is well within the city and easy of access, and the birds are always there. If one will make occasional visits to this place, on holidays and after business hours, keeping a list of the birds he sees, he will be surprised at the number of species his list will show after a few trips. The following notes are the result of a series of lists made in this way, all within the limits of Hanscom Park."

The entire text, which conveys comments about each species, is also available among the content of the Birds of Nebraska website which is essential for any consideration of Nebraska's first bird history.

Bird enthusiasts described the species prevalent, while others had an intent to modify the landscape to create what they thought was a better use, and as shown by the following comments, did not consider any impacts to habitat of the wild things.

The following comments are from a bird editorial written by an editor of the Sunday World-Herald, issued on January 14, 1917. The author was probably Miles Greenleaf, based upon its source publication, the year, and other items relative to Omaha and its local bird-watching enthusiasts.

"Spring is not so far away, and the time is rapidly approaching when gangs of men will be put at work in the public parks. In their labors they should be so directed that benefit may be derived therefrom, rather than destruction.

"During his years of service, Commissioner Hummel has done much to deserve commendation, which is freely accorded him. His establishment of baseball diamonds in the public parks and playgrounds has been useful in running rowdyism out of the national game in its amateur state. His skating rinks and football fields, both soccer and American, have been boons to advocates of these sports, while the accompanying equipment of dressing rooms and equipment are luxuries unknown until the Hummel regime.

"Nevertheless, Park Commissioner Hummel has his limitations and it is well that he acquaint himself with them. In his restless efforts to 'beautify' Omaha's parks, Mr. Hummel has indulged in a campaign which will prove to have been destructive rather than constructive.

"The rustic features of our parks need not the hand of man to aid in their beauty. Already every mysterious ravine and draw in Turner Park, for instance, has been cleaned of all shrubbery and underbrush, filled with dirt and neatly levelled to smooth and unsightly nicety." The author then specifically mentioned Hanscom Park.

"We have an idea that the Chewinks, Thrashers, Vireos and Thrushes thus thrown from their homes are protesting in their honeysweet voices to some spirit above, while we mere humans, who would have them with us always, must stand by and watch their deportation by a day laborer with an ax and spade!"

The demise of an albino American Robin - which had been thriving at Hanscom Park - was lamented in another editorial, issued July 4, 1920, and most likely by the same author. The article indicated:

"A very estimable and valuable bird student, strongly identified with the Nebraska Audubon society, the Boy Scout Council of Omaha and the Biological Survey of the United States Government chanced to stroll homeward one day - and saw an Albino Robin in a tree in his yard. Recognizing this as a chance in a lifetime - he shot it. He previously had applied for a permit to take specimens, but had not, at the time, received his permit.

"Well, by the time all this is in print, the man who killed the bird will have been legally punished; the specimen will have taken its place forever in the Cornhusker museum; the birds will continue to sing, breed and cavort around - and there you are!"

In 1921, Editor Greenleaf, in another Sunday World-Herald also wrote about "birdologist" Billy Marsh and his studies of wildlife around Omaha, including this comment: "Nor can we see Hanscom park as a tangled wildwood any more than a specter of Beau Brummel in overalls." It was obvious that the author knew that Hanscom park could not be a wild place, but certainly his expression did not convey any thought that the place should have only mown lawn. Consider that he also expressed this opinion: "Why bother the remaining rustic sections of this expanse of natural beauty?" in reference to Elmwood Park.

The same applies to Hanscom Park, as place whose bird-related history, has just a brief resume of bird history from the 1930s.

A few decades later, apparently in the 1960s, Clyde and Emma Johnson, residing near 22nd and St. Marys Avenue ventred forth to Hanscom park to view the birds. They didn't keep records but this changed once they mover closer to Elmwood Park, and their notations are an essential guide to species there during many years.

The bunch of bird history does indicate the variety of species known for Hanscom Park.

A Comparative Species List

Bird records available for Hanscom Park, provide an dramatic comparison of birds noted in 1900 to those few known from more than a hundred years later. It should be noted that because of the sparse availability of habitat beneficial for bird diversity, there have been very few surveys at the park. If a greater number of visits had occurred, there is always a larger number of species.

Though there are not enough records of sightings to provide the basis for a truly indicative comparison, the following list does is somewhat indicative, and is the only information which can be used to show any differences. And despite the lack of sightings, there are obvious differences shown by the details.

Common Name	1900	2003-04
Red-tailed Hawk	**	**
Rough-legged Hawk	-	**
American Kestrel	**	**
Killdeer	-	**
Rock Pigeon	-	**
Mourning Dove	**	**
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	**	-
Eastern Screech-Owl	**	-
Common Nighthawk	**	**
Chimney Swift	**	**
Belted Kingfisher	**	-
Red-headed Woodpecker	**	-
Red-bellied Woodpecker	**	-
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	-	**
Downy Woodpecker	**	**
Hairy Woodpecker	**	**
Northern Flicker	**	**
Eastern Wood-Pewee	**	-
Least Flycatcher	-	**
Eastern Phoebe	**	-
Great Crested Flycatcher	**	-
Eastern Kingbird	**	**
Loggerhead Shrike	**	-
Warbling Vireo	**	-
Red-eyed Vireo	**	-
Blue Jay	**	**
American Crow	**	**
Purple Martin	**	-
Barn Swallow	-	**
Black-capped Chickadee	**	**
White-breasted Nuthatch	**	**
Brown Creeper	**	**
Carolina Wren	**	-
House Wren	**	-
Golden-crowned Kinglet	**	-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	**	-
Eastern Bluebird	**	-
Veery	-	**
Swainson's Thrush	**	-
Wood Thrush	**	-
American Robin	**	**
Gray Catbird	**	**
Brown Thrasher	**	**
European Starling	-	**
Cedar Waxwing	**	-
Yellow Warbler	**	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler	**	-
Black-and-white Warbler	**	**
American Redstart	**	-
Common Yellowthroat	**	**
Hooded Warbler	-	**
Scarlet Tanager	**	-
Eastern Towhee	**	-
American Tree Sparrow	**	**
Chipping Sparrow	**	**
Clay-colored Sparrow	**	-
Field Sparrow	**	-
Fox Sparrow	**	-
Song Sparrow	**	-
White-throated Sparrow	**	-
Dark-eyed Junco	**	**
Northern Cardinal	-	**
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	**	**
Western Meadowlark	**	-
Common Grackle	**	**
Brown-headed Cowbird	**	-
Baltimore Oriole	**	**
Purple Finch	-	-
House Finch	-	**
American Goldfinch	**	**
House Sparrow	-	**

There are 71 species represented on this list. The overall tally from the 1900 list was 58 species; with 40 known from more than a dozen surveys during different months from 2002-2008.

The following comments convey some of the obvious differences. Further evaluations could be made if further specifics were considered, especially differences in breeding species, time of occurrence, etc.

• Differences in the occurrence would be due to the extent of trees suitable for foraging, and with cavities for nesting.
• Vireos which occur in tree canopies are probably present at different times, but just not noted.
• Wrens prefer shrubby habitat, which was apparently present in former times, but which is not now available.
• Kinglets also occur in lower-canopy vegetation, which is sorely lacking in a place like Hanscom Park.
• Sparrows also prefer shrubs or low-lying habitat to forage for seeds of different plants; grassy lawns are not suitable in any manner as a place for wild sparrows to find something to eat.
• The developed nature of the park would not be suitable at all for any meadowlarks now, nor in a number of past decades, as well as the Eastern Bluebird which prefers open country.
• When the Shoemaker list was prepared around 1900, the European Starling had not yet been brought to North America, and the House Sparrow had not yet reached the environs of this park in the river city.

It should also be noted that there are no records to indicate any bird use of the lagoon waters during either period. Typically an errant duck or two might occur at the water habitat.

The bird variety of this east Omaha park during modern times would undoubtedly be greater than the species listed, but it would require that there be enough habitat to make the place interesting and worth a visit. Shorn lawn among isolated trees is a relatively barren landscape which can be utilized by arboreal species, but overall Hanscom Park is a whole lot of "artificial grounds" with so little natural spaces, that any bird watchers rarely visit.

Park Management

In 2005, some emails were sent to city officials regarding tree removal in the northeast portion of Hummel Park, once again based upon an article in the local newspaper. Concerns were expressed about spring-time tree removal and any possible impacts to nesting birds, which are legally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as well as a Nebraska statute.

The Audubon Society of Omaha also sent an email to the city agency to express their preference for having a reforestation area in this area of the park. This effort to conserve the northeast portion of the park seems to have been forgotten, as neighborhood associations and representatives have indicated a preference that this same place now become a place where dogs came romp.

What will it take for this area to be suitably retained as a tiny bit of wilds, which represent what was formerly more prevalent, as indicated by bird history? Parks should not only be barren lawn, isolated trees, playgrounds only for a select group, flower beds, and related features - with manicured spaces prevalent and predominant - but they also need to include plants and vegetation representative of the lands natural history and where the song of resident and migratory birds can be readily appreciated by birders on a walk around their neighborhood.

A dog space and a bird woodland can both be assets for Hanscom Park, but only if a suitably devised plan which conserves the woods is proposed so that this bit of wild can be a feature to continue to enjoy.