30 December 2015

Domestic Cats in Wildlands an Unwanted Scourge

Up on the ridge, a bit northeast of the bluebird shack, a black cat sat. It was very obvious from the north window because it was a black spot amidst the otherwise dull colors of the winter landscape. It was on the prowl in its inherent manner.

An obvious target would be birds, known to be a regular target as these predators forage anywhere.

The Dark-eyed Juncos at this place are kept busy all day as they forage for the necessities to survive, so when a fat domestic cat arrives during its stroll, it is a threat for these wildland residents.

It is a harsh time as seasonal birdlife strives to survive. Sources of food are limited by snow cover and an overall frozen land, with recent temperatures near 1o and wind chills even colder, down into the minus 100 degrees.

There is a chill on the land and a wandering cat from some house in the city is not a natural part of the seen.

The unwanted black animal, once seen, became the focus of an afternoon's attention. Once the overshoes were put on, a trudge outside was taken in its direction. After stepping off the front porch of the shack, a first fence of the corral was stepped over. A bit of a ways to the east, a gate was opened and after going through the chain maneuver, it was kept closed, though unlatched while going towards the feline target [later latched and anchored in the proper manner]. The black cat soon realized the intent of the incursion. It moved to the south, hesitated for a bit of time, but the human intruder continued walking in the same direction, and along with some known sounds cats don't like, the cat in the wilds ran to the south.

It was chased away, not because of any animosity regarding cats, but because any cat threatening birds will be dealt with in a manner that will disrupt their stalking.

When the errant black cat was once again obvious on a subsequent day, there on the ridge near the shack, the routine was similar. Get the boots on, cross the fence, etc. It was easier the second time as there were already footsteps to follow, amidst those of the bunnies and deer.

The unwelcome feline was further up the steep slope, so more steps had to be taken across the cold, snowy ground. The black critter actually thought it could hide beneath a pine. It was not there very long, once it realized that my destination was its location. It ran, once again to the south.

A wandering covey of quail were only a few yards away, as they moved about their territory of survival. The quail flew as the cat was chased away, running away to the southward, certainly towards its house along Lake Shore Drive, Valentine.

Wild birds do not have any such option, even on a night when the forecast low was 4o below zero.

Nearby beneath the slope, four horses watched in expectation, thinking that my outdoor dash might mean some would get some grain or hay. Sorry steeds, as that is your owner’s task. Though they stayed about the hay and where they have been fed grain, soon they wandered off into the bluffy grass and pines pasture. They would be excited while getting something later.

Cats chasing any types of birds are just not welcome, anywhere! Where was a wily coyote to deal with the feline? Or, perhaps, a strident hawk or big owl to take care of the domestic wanderer looking to kill avian kin.

The spot where the furry feline was seen is outside the city limits of Valentine. Since it is a rural place, firearms may be discharged, and a bow-and-arrow may be used, legally. The wild country adage of shoot, shovel, and shutup comes to mind for some reason? Perhaps an even better option would be a showdown between a domestic cat and a cougar!

24 December 2015

Breeding Season Survey Results Issued for Niobrara Scenic River

Several common breeding season species present in the Niobrara River valley during 2015 were denoted by bird surveys underway to monitor bird occurrence and distribution.

The Mourning Dove, House Wren, Field Sparrow, American Crow, Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow and Yellow-breasted Chat were among the “most common species” present, according to a “resource brief” issued mid-December for the Niobrara National Scenic River. The surveys during mid-May to mid-June are among many done by the Northern Great Plains Network Inventory and Monitoring Program, of the National Park Service. The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, based in Colorado, provides training and oversight for the people doing the surveys.

The Niobrara River valley is notable for its confluence of several ecosystems where several species of birds are known to hybridize. There was no information issued in the briefs for 2014 and 2015 in regards to avian hybridization.

Overall, there were 78 species noted at the 13 grids along the scenic river eastward of Fort Niobrara NWR.

Results from a similar 2014 effort, denoted 77 species during counts on five days in June, and three days in July.

During the two years of summer surveys, there have been 89 species noted. There were 25 species of concern denoted, the 2015 resource brief, with this classification based upon state and national designations.

Considering the Dickcissel, there were 62 observations in 2015, compared to 161 in 2014. More Grasshopper Sparrows were seen in 2015, than in 2014, comparing 110 to 79, respectively. For the Yellow-breasted Chat, there were 105 detections in 2015, compared to 67 in 2014. The only towhee species recorded, was the numerous Spotted Towhee, according to a list of observations indicated by the published brief. There was a decline in the detections of the Common Yellowthroat, comparing 30 in 2015 to 58 in 2014.

There were very few orioles amidst the survey sites, with only one each of the Baltimore and Bullocks’s Oriole observed in 2015, with five of the Baltimore species noted in 2014. These two species are especially notable for hybridization, based upon historic studies.

Black-headed Grosbeak numbers declined to 5 in 2015, a decrease from 14 in 2014. No Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were seen during any of the surveys in the past two years. This is another species known for the occurrence of hybrids.

Survey efforts are a long-term means to monitor bird distribution and occurrence along the Niobrara River, as well as other locales in the northern Great Plains.

Bird monitoring objectives, according to survey protocols, are:

  • “to integrate existing bird monitoring efforts in the region to provide better information on distribution and abundance of all breeding birds, especially for high priority species;
  • “to provide basic habitat association date for most bird species to address habitat management issues;
  • “to provide long-term status and trend data for all regularly occurring breeding species” … “with a target of detecting a minimum rate of population change” …
  • “to maintain a high-quality database of that is accessible to all of our collaborators as well as to the public on the worldwide web, in the form of raw and summarized data, and;
  • “to generate decision support tools that help guide conservation efforts and provide a better measure of conservation success.”

Although the survey locations were along the river, there were no records of either the Least Tern or Piping Plover.

Neither the 2014 nor 2015 brief included any details on habitats were the surveys were done.

Federal funds pay the expenses associated with these surveys, intended to “detect biologically significant changes in population parameters over time,” including evaluation of population size and birds as indicators of ecosystem conditions.

Surveys will continue in 2016.

22 December 2015

Checklist of Avifauna for the Nebraska Sandhills

The sandhills of Nebraska and extreme southern South Dakota are a unique and expansive area of predominantly prairie lands with interspersed wetlands and human settlements. A great variety of birds occur.

A modern-era checklist has just been prepared for the region, based upon a database of more than 148,000 records, with the first dated record from 1886.

The details convey there are 58 families with a representative 406 valid species. Other sorts of birds occur, specifically known hybrids. In the case of prominent name changes, previous alternate common names are indicated.

The source of the details needed to create this updated checklist was: Gill, Frank and D. Donsker (editors). 2015. International Ornithological Council world bird list (version 5.4). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.5.4. www.worldbirdnames.org", which is the result of a multi-year voluntary effort by globally situated experts. This freely-available spreadsheet also includes details on the published sources that indicated the original naming, as well as subspecies and their distribution. Each tidbit makes the information essential when considering world avifauna, but are interesting as well.

Species are listed in the taxonomic order indicated by this reference. In the case of prominent name changes, previous alternate common names are indicated. Some of the changes are slight, while there might also be a completely new common name.

Family Anatidae
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck; Dendrocygna autumnalis
Swan Goose; Anser cygnoides
Greater White-fronted Goose; Anser albifrons
Bar-headed Goose; Anser indicus
Snow Goose; Chen caerulescens
Ross's Goose; Chen rossii
Canada Goose; Branta canadensis
Cackling Goose; Branta hutchinsii
Brant Goose; Branta bernicla
Mute Swan; Cygnus olor
Trumpeter Swan; Cygnus buccinator
Tundra Swan; Cygnus columbianus
Wood Duck; Aix sponsa
Gadwall; Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon; Anas penelope
American Wigeon; Anas americana
American Black Duck; Anas rubripes
Mallard; Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal; Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal; Anas cyanoptera
Northern Shoveler; Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail; Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal; Anas crecca
Canvasback; Aythya valisineria
Redhead; Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck; Aythya collaris
Tufted Duck; Aythya fuligula
Greater Scaup; Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup; Aythya affinis
Common Eider; Somateria mollissima
Harlequin Duck; Histrionicus histrionicus
Surf Scoter; Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter; Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter; Melanitta americana
Long-tailed Duck; Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead; Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye; Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye; Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser; Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser; Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser; Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck; Oxyura jamaicensis
Family Odontophoridae
Scaled Quail; Callipepla squamata
Northern Bobwhite; Colinus virginianus
Family Phasianidae
Wild Turkey; Meleagris gallopavo
Ruffed Grouse; Bonasa umbellus
Sage Grouse; Centrocercus urophasianus
Sharp-tailed Grouse; Tympanuchus phasianellus
Greater Prairie-Chicken; Tympanuchus cupido
Chukar Partridge; Alectoris chukar
Grey Partridge; Perdix perdix
Common Pheasant; Phasianus colchicus
Family Gaviidae
Red-throated Loon; Gavia stellata
Pacific Loon; Gavia pacifica
Great Northern Loon; Gavia immer
Yellow-billed Loon; Gavia adamsii
Family Podicipedidae
Pied-billed Grebe; Podilymbus podiceps
Red-necked Grebe; Podiceps grisegena
Horned Grebe; Podiceps auritus
Black-necked Grebe; Podiceps nigricollis; eared grebe
Western Grebe; Aechmophorus occidentalis
Clark's Grebe; Aechmophorus clarkii
Family Threskiornithidae
American White Ibis; Eudocimus albus
Glossy Ibis; Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced Ibis; Plegadis chihi
Family Ardeidae
American Bittern; Botaurus lentiginosus
Least Bittern; Ixobrychus exilis
Black-crowned Night Heron; Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night Heron; Nyctanassa violacea
Green Heron; Butorides striata
Western Cattle Egret; Bubulcus ibis
Great Blue Heron; Ardea herodias
Great Egret; Ardea alba
Reddish Egret; Egretta rufescens
Little Blue Heron; Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret; Egretta thula
Family Pelecanidae
American White Pelican; Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican; Pelecanus occidentalis
Family Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant; Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Double-crested Cormorant; Phalacrocorax auritus
Family Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture; Cathartes aura
Family Pandionidae
Western Osprey; Pandion haliaetus
Family Accipitridae
White-tailed Kite; Elanus leucurus
Golden Eagle; Aquila chrysaetos
Sharp-shinned Hawk; Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk; Accipiter cooperii
Northern Goshawk; Accipiter gentilis
Northern Harrier; Circus cyaneus
Bald Eagle; Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Mississippi Kite; Ictinia mississippiensis
Red-shouldered Hawk; Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged Hawk; Buteo platypterus
Swainson's Hawk; Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed Hawk; Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous Hawk; Buteo regalis
Rough-legged Buzzard; Buteo lagopus
Family Rallidae
Yellow Rail; Coturnicops noveboracensis
Black Rail; Laterallus jamaicensis
King Rail; Rallus elegans
Virginia Rail; Rallus limicola
Sora; Porzana carolina
Common Moorhen; Gallinula chloropus
American Coot; Fulica americana
Family Gruidae
Sandhill Crane; Grus canadensis
Whooping Crane; Grus americana
Family Recurvirostridae
Black-necked Stilt; Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet; Recurvirostra americana
Family Charadriidae
American Golden Plover; Pluvialis dominica
Grey Plover; Pluvialis squatarola; black-bellied plover
Semipalmated Plover; Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer; Charadrius vociferus
Piping Plover; Charadrius melodus
Snowy Plover; Charadrius nivosus
Mountain Plover; Charadrius montanus
Family Scolopacidae
American Woodcock; Scolopax minor
Wilson's Snipe; Gallinago delicata
Short-billed Dowitcher; Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher; Limnodromus scolopaceus
Hudsonian Godwit; Limosa haemastica
Marbled Godwit; Limosa fedoa
Eskimo Curlew; Numenius borealis
Whimbrel; Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew; Numenius americanus
Upland Sandpiper; Bartramia longicauda
Greater Yellowlegs; Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs; Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper; Tringa solitaria
Willet; Tringa semipalmata
Spotted Sandpiper; Actitis macularius
Ruddy Turnstone; Arenaria interpres
Red Knot; Calidris canutus
Sanderling; Calidris alba
Semipalmated Sandpiper; Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper; Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper; Calidris minutilla
White-rumped Sandpiper; Calidris fuscicollis
Baird's Sandpiper; Calidris bairdii
Pectoral Sandpiper; Calidris melanotos
Dunlin; Calidris alpina
Stilt Sandpiper; Calidris himantopus
Buff-breasted Sandpiper; Tryngites subruficollis
Wilson's Phalarope; Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope; Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope; Phalaropus fulicarius
Family Laridae
Black-legged Kittiwake; Rissa tridactyla
Sabine's Gull; Xema sabini
Bonaparte's Gull; Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Black-headed Gull; Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Little Gull; Hydrocoloeus minutus
Ross's Gull; Rhodostethia rosea
Laughing Gull; Leucophaeus atricilla
Franklin's Gull; Leucophaeus pipixcan
Mew Gull; Larus canus
Ring-billed Gull; Larus delawarensis
California Gull; Larus californicus
Great Black-backed Gull; Larus marinus
Glaucous-winged Gull; Larus glaucescens
Glaucous Gull; Larus hyperboreus
Iceland Gull; Larus glaucoides
Thayer's Gull; Larus thayeri
American Herring Gull; Larus smithsonianus
Lesser Black-backed Gull; Larus fuscus
Caspian Tern; Hydroprogne caspia
Least Tern; Sternula antillarum
Common Tern; Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern; Sterna forsteri
Black Tern; Chlidonias niger
Family Stercorariidae
Pomarine Skua; Stercorarius pomarinus; pomarine jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger; Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed Jaeger; Stercorarius longicaudus
Family Columidae
Rock Dove; Columba livia; rock pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove; Streptopelia decaocto
Mourning Dove; Zenaida macroura
White-winged Dove; Zenaida asiatica
Family Cuculidae
Yellow-billed Cuckoo; Coccyzus americanus
Black-billed Cuckoo; Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Family Tytonidae
Western Barn Owl; Tyto alba
Family Strigidae
Flammulated Owl; Psiloscops flammeolus
Eastern Screech Owl; Megascops asio
Snowy Owl; Bubo scandiacus
Great Horned Owl; Bubo virginianus
Barred Owl; Strix varia
Great Grey Owl; Strix nebulosa
Burrowing Owl; Athene cunicularia
Northern Saw-whet Owl; Aegolius acadicus
Long-eared Owl; Asio otus
Short-eared Owl; Asio flammeus
Family Cprimulgidae
Common Nighthawk; Chordeiles minor
Common Poorwill; Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Chuck-will's-widow; Antrostomus carolinensis
Eastern Whip-poor-will; Antrostomus vociferus; whip-poor-will

Family Apodidae
Chimney Swift; Chaetura pelagica
White-throated Swift; Aeronautes saxatalis
Family Trochilidae
Ruby-throated Hummingbird; Archilochus colubris
Broad-tailed Hummingbird; Selasphorus platycercus
Rufous Hummingbird; Selasphorus rufus
Calliope Hummingbird; Selasphorus calliope
Family Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher; Megaceryle alcyon
Family Picidae
Lewis's Woodpecker; Melanerpes lewis
Red-headed Woodpecker; Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Acorn Woodpecker; Melanerpes formicivorus
Red-bellied Woodpecker; Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Sphyrapicus varius
Red-naped Sapsucker; Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Downy Woodpecker; Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker; Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker; Colaptes auratus
Family Falconidae
American Kestrel; Falco sparverius
Merlin; Falco columbarius
Gyrfalcon; Falco rusticolus
Prairie Falcon; Falco mexicanus
Peregrine Falcon; Falco peregrinus
Family Tyrannidae
Eastern Phoebe; Sayornis phoebe
Say's Phoebe; Sayornis saya
Olive-sided Flycatcher; Contopus cooperi
Western Wood Pewee; Contopus sordidulus
Eastern Wood-Pewee; Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher; Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher; Empidonax virescens
Willow Flycatcher; Empidonax traillii
Alder Flycatcher; Empidonax alnorum
Least Flycatcher; Empidonax minimus
Hammond's Flycatcher; Empidonax hammondii
Cordilleran Flycatcher; Empidonax occidentalis
Vermilion Flycatcher; Pyrocephalus rubinus
Cassin's Kingbird; Tyrannus vociferans
Western Kingbird; Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher; Tyrannus forficatus
Eastern Kingbird; Tyrannus tyrannus
Great Crested Flycatcher; Myiarchus crinitus
Family Laniidae
Loggerhead Shrike; Lanius ludovicianus
Great Grey Shrike; Lanius excubitor; northern shrike
Family Vireonidae
White-eyed Vireo; Vireo griseus
Bell's Vireo; Vireo bellii
Yellow-throated Vireo; Vireo flavifrons
Plumbeous Vireo; Vireo plumbeus
Cassin's Vireo; Vireo cassinii
Blue-headed Vireo; Vireo solitarius
Warbling Vireo; Vireo gilvus
Philadelphia Vireo; Vireo philadelphicus
Red-eyed Vireo; Vireo olivaceus
Family Corvidae
Grey Jay; Perisoreus canadensis
Blue Jay; Cyanocitta cristata
Steller's Jay; Cyanocitta stelleri
Pinyon Jay; Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Black-billed Magpie; Pica hudsonia
Clark's Nutcracker; Nucifraga columbiana
American Crow; Corvus brachyrhynchos
Northern Raven; Corvus corax; common raven
Family Bombycillidae
Bohemian Waxwing; Bombycilla garrulus
Cedar Waxwing; Bombycilla cedrorum
Family Paridae
Tufted Titmouse; Baeolophus bicolor
Black-capped Chickadee; Poecile atricapillus
Mountain Chickadee; Poecile gambeli
Family Alaudidae
Horned Lark; Eremophila alpestris
Family Hirundinidae
Sand Martin; Riparia riparia; bank swallow
Tree Swallow; Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow; Tachycineta thalassina
Purple Martin; Progne subis
Northern Rough-winged Swallow; Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Barn Swallow; Hirundo rustica
American Cliff Swallow; Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave Swallow; Petrochelidon fulva
Family Regulidae
Golden-crowned Kinglet; Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Regulus calendula
Family Troglodytidae
Rock Wren; Salpinctes obsoletus
Sedge Wren; Cistothorus platensis
Marsh Wren; Cistothorus palustris
Bewick's Wren; Thryomanes bewickii
Carolina Wren; Thryothorus ludovicianus
Winter Wren; Troglodytes hiemalis
House Wren; Troglodytes aedon
Family Polioptilidae
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher; Polioptila caerulea
Family Sittidae
Pygmy Nuthatch; Sitta pygmaea
Red-breasted Nuthatch; Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch; Sitta carolinensis
Family Certhiidae
Brown Creeper; Certhia americana
Family Mimidae
Grey Catbird; Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird; Mimus polyglottos
Sage Thrasher; Oreoscoptes montanus
Brown Thrasher; Toxostoma rufum
Curve-billed Thrasher; Toxostoma curvirostre
Family Sturnidae
Common Starling; Sturnus vulgaris; European starling
Family Turdidae
Varied Thrush; Ixoreus naevius
Eastern Bluebird; Sialia sialis
Mountain Bluebird; Sialia currucoides
Townsend's Solitaire; Myadestes townsendi
Veery; Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush; Catharus minimus
Swainson's Thrush; Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush; Catharus guttatus
Wood Thrush; Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin; Turdus migratorius
Family Cinclidae
American Dipper; Cinclus mexicanus
Family Passeridae
House Sparrow; Passer domesticus; English sparrow
Family Motacillidae
Buff-bellied Pipit; Anthus rubescens; American pipit
Sprague's Pipit; Anthus spragueii
Family Fringillidae
Evening Grosbeak; Hesperiphona vespertinus
Pine Grosbeak; Pinicola enucleator
Grey-crowned Rosy Finch; Leucosticte tephrocotis
Purple Finch; Haemorhous purpureus
Cassin's Finch; Haemorhous cassinii
House Finch; Haemorhous mexicanus
Common Redpoll; Acanthis flammea
Red Crossbill; Loxia curvirostra
Two-barred Crossbill; Loxia leucoptera; white-winged crossbill
American Goldfinch; Spinus tristis
Lesser Goldfinch; Spinus psaltria
Pine Siskin; Spinus pinus
Family Parulidae
Ovenbird; Seiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating Warbler; Helmitheros vermivorum
Louisiana Waterthrush; Parkesia motacilla
Northern Waterthrush; Parkesia noveboracensis
Golden-winged Warbler; Vermivora chrysoptera
Blue-winged Warbler; Vermivora cyanoptera
Black-and-white Warbler; Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary Warbler; Protonotaria citrea
Tennessee Warbler; Leiothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned Warbler; Leiothlypis celata
Nashville Warbler; Leiothlypis ruficapilla
Connecticut Warbler; Oporornis agilis
MacGillivray's Warbler; Geothlypis tolmiei
Mourning Warbler; Geothlypis philadelphia
Kentucky Warbler; Geothlypis formosa
Common Yellowthroat; Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler; Setophaga citrina
American Redstart; Setophaga ruticilla
Cape May Warbler; Setophaga tigrina
Cerulean Warbler; Setophaga cerulea
Northern Parula; Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler; Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted Warbler; Setophaga castanea
Blackburnian Warbler; Setophaga fusca
American Yellow Warbler; Setophaga aestiva
Chestnut-sided Warbler; Setophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll Warbler; Setophaga striata
Black-throated Blue Warbler; Setophaga caerulescens
Palm Warbler; Setophaga palmarum
Audubon's Warbler; Setophaga auduboni; yellow-rumped warbler. There may also be occurrences of the more eastern Myrtle's Warbler, which now has a distinct scientific name.
Yellow-throated Warbler; Setophaga dominica
Prairie Warbler; Setophaga discolor
Grace's Warbler; Setophaga graciae
Black-throated Grey Warbler; Setophaga nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler; Setophaga townsendi
Black-throated Green Warbler; Setophaga virens
Canada Warbler; Cardellina canadensis
Wilson's Warbler; Cardellina pusilla
Fmmily: Incertae Sedis
[Genus relationships not certain.]
Yellow-breasted Chat; Icteria virens
Family Icteridae
Yellow-headed Blackbird; Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Bobolink; Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Western Meadowlark; Sturnella neglecta
Eastern Meadowlark; Sturnella magna
Bullock's Oriole; Icterus bullockii
Baltimore Oriole; Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole; Icterus spurius
Red-winged Blackbird; Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown-headed Cowbird; Molothrus ater
Rusty Blackbird; Euphagus carolinus
Brewer's Blackbird; Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common Grackle; Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed Grackle; Quiscalus mexicanus
Family Emberizidae
Lark Bunting; Calamospiza melanocorys
Red Fox Sparrow; Passerella iliaca; fox sparrow
Song Sparrow; Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow; Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow; Melospiza georgiana
Harris's Sparrow; Zonotrichia querula
White-crowned Sparrow; Zonotrichia leucophrys
White-throated Sparrow; Zonotrichia albicollis
Golden-crowned Sparrow; Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed Junco; Junco hyemalis
Savannah Sparrow; Passerculus sandwichensis
Nelson's Sparrow; Ammodramus nelsoni; Nelson's salt-marsh sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow; Ammodramus caudacutus
Le Conte's Sparrow; Ammodramus leconteii
Baird's Sparrow; Ammodramus bairdii
Henslow's Sparrow; Ammodramus henslowii
Grasshopper Sparrow; Ammodramus savannarum
American Tree Sparrow; Spizelloides arborea
Chipping Sparrow; Spizella passerina
Field Sparrow; Spizella pusilla
Clay-colored Sparrow; Spizella pallida
Brewer's Sparrow; Spizella breweri
Vesper Sparrow; Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Sparrow; Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated Sparrow; Amphispiza bilineata
Cassin's Sparrow; Peucaea cassinii
Green-tailed Towhee; Pipilo chlorurus
Spotted Towhee; Pipilo maculatus
Eastern Towhee; Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Family Calcariidae
McCown's Longspur; Rhynchophanes mccownii
Lapland Longspur; Calcarius lapponicus
Smith's Longspur; Calcarius pictus
Chestnut-collared Longspur; Calcarius ornatus
Snow Bunting; Plectrophenax nivalis
Family Cardinalidae
Summer Tanager; Piranga rubra
Scarlet Tanager; Piranga olivacea
Western Tanager; Piranga ludoviciana
Dickcissel; Spiza americana
Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed Grosbeak; Pheucticus melanocephalus
Northern Cardinal; Cardinalis cardinalis
Blue Grosbeak; Passerina caerulea
Indigo Bunting; Passerina cyanea
Lazuli Bunting; Passerina amoena
Painted Bunting; Passerina ciris

This is an updated checklist for a regional area within Nebraska which conforms to international standards of name designation and taxonomy. The Nebraska bird group standards are based upon a lesser extent of species evaluation ... those only for North America.

Avian taxonomy is an ever-changing situation. Updates are typically issued on a yearly basis, so any field guide may be out-of-date within months after it is published. Name and taxonomy standards used vary greatly, from state to national to international.

It requires a focused effort to update particulars within any digital record-keeping methodology. Changes have to be carefully integrated with all previous, related details, while maintaining their essential intregrity. For a database, temporary alterations have to be allowed as additions and edits occur. Then the information has to be checked again to ensure essential accuracy.

It took numerous hours of a pre-holiday weekend to update the bird nomenclature details included in the database of the Great American Sandhills. It was a much more interesting endeavour than going shopping for holiday gifts!

A day earlier effort to update using the American Ornithologists Union checklist simply did not work. The effort was abandoned as the resultant details were confusing due to a lack of flexibility, especially when considering taxonimc sequence. Any use of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union state checklist was immediately not feasible, due its simplicity and since it could not be saved digitally for later consideration at the home computer, where the hours of editing would occur.

The most problemantic item in regards to updating any personal database is the taxonomic sequence. Common and scientific names can be easily changed. Yet, none of the issued sources provide a specific number of identification, so there is the necessity to derive some means so that once the information is updated, it can be properly sorted for presentation that is proper and adheres to the original source.

After editing the records based upon the AOU checklist, the species sequence was not right. They attribute a species number based not upon when it was first designated, but upon an arbitrary designated number when something occurred. The Winter Wren is an example of this stupidity. The species has been known for nearly two centuries, yet when it was split to include the Pacific Wren of the northwest, its id value was changed.

The NOU checklist indicates nothing as far as a value where the list can be downloaded and used to prepare an electronic checklist, with a value that would allow creating a list with the proper taxonomic sequence.

The most problematic item is determining a sequence. Records need to be sorted so they can be regularly displayed in the right manner. Yet there is no number designated by any of the checklists available. In the case of the update using the IOC list, at least the row of the spreadsheet could be used to provide a faux number to enter so the species could be kept in the proper order. It would certainly make this sort of effort easier if a number was designated by authorities.

The extent of birds has been studied for decades, so it would seem that some numbering sequence could have been adopted that would be dynamic and suitable for the long-term. Alas, that is not the case now and never has been. Determining the order for species has always been essential and it will continue to be essential. Certainly the nomenclature experts could consider and develop a resolution...



18 December 2015

New Master Plan Being Prepared for Cowboy Trail

A final public meeting was held at Valentine on December 16th to get input on a new master plan for the Cowboy Recreation and Recreation Trail. It was a cold night with the local community recovering from an eight-inch snow fall the previous day.

Officials asked for public input in association with comments and a slide presentation. One of the attendees was Al Brock, of the Valentine Recreational Trails Coalition.

Some options suggested by the public at the meeting were:

  • Indicate local activities at communities along the trail that might be of interest to trail users and help with interactions among people with a variety of interests; examples at Valentine include the livestock market, county fair and rodeo activities
  • Convey the availability of community resources beneficial to trail users, including wireless at libraries, shower facilities as well as the usual place to eat and sleep
  • Create pollinator habitat at Valentine to benefit the Monarch butterfly
  • Evaluate small, isolated prairie habitat parcels along the trail as opportunities for public access by trail users that want to stop and enjoy the local nature
  • Indicate local businesses in towns along the trail that provide basic services for cyclists
  • Plan for options to fund the opening of western portions of the trail, perhaps including donations to finance particular sections, with, perhaps, indicated recognition
  • Pursue funding options that can help improve resource values along the trail

Proposed new management scenarios indicated for the trail by public officials include:

  • Alternatives for trail operation and maintenance
  • Maintenance and creation of pollinator habitat
  • Options for haying practices; letters have been sent to current hay cutters to inform them that haying may not occur in 2016 while options are evaluated, according to officials
  • Conservation and replanting of native prairie
  • Clearing of unwanted woody vegetation from the trail right-of-way, especially invasive cedar trees

Indicated concerns regarding the trail, including activities which degrade the trail surface and perspectives of people opposed to the trail and its uses.

Two events to occur in the summer of 2016 associated with the trail corridor include: 1) an “ultra-marathon” with solo and team participants, which is expected to include visitors from other U.S. states, and 2): Valentine being a host community for the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska, where riders will primarily ride along the highway, but will also have the option to ride along the Cowboy Trail.

Local options for recreational trail enhancement at Valentine mentioned, were connectors from the trail to the Valentine High School, and creating a highway-side trail to Fort Niobrara NWR.

The new plan will consider options for opening the western ca. 120 miles of the trail, westward from Valentine to its western terminus. A primary concern indicated is the development cost which is currently about $36,000 per mile, Nelson said.

The last master plan for the trail that was purchased in 1994, was prepared in 1995.

The 321 mile trail across northern Nebraska, is open to the public from Norfolk to Valentine. There are also two segments of the western portion of the trail available for public use at Gordon and Rushville.

Usage figures for 2009, convey there were 17,778 visits for the open section of the trail during June to September, according to the meeting presentation. This would equate to an approximate economic impact of $5.3 million. There would also be subsequent maintenance costs.

Current costs for trail operation and management are about $150,000, according to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission figures. It recently cost $7 million to repair the trail and bridges due to the 2010 historic flooding along the Elkhorn river.

Public officials present at Valentine included the trail coordinator, Kirk Nelson of the NGPC, along with other agency personnel. Alex Duryea represented the Nebraska Tourism Commission.

Other meetings along the trail included one delayed by the snow storm for a day at Rushville. Public comments were to be accepted until December 31st. A draft of the plan will be available for review in the spring of 2016.


Symphony of Horned Owls Late on a December Night

A night's symphony was heard before any tinge of a day's sort of dawn, during the dark when the ground was covered by a few inches of fresh, white snow among the trees and other plants. Incessant calls of the Great Horned Owl were heard while sitting silently in the lawn chair on the porch of the bluebird shack, north of Minnechaduza creek, by Valentine.

There was a vivid duet underway. The mighty feathered owls heard were two focal spots at some nearby place among the trees in two compass directions.

Sounds were close yet elusive. The dynamic duo were in two nearby trees — some barren and some of the coniferous sort — concerned for the time only with their audible expressions. They were certainly well perched — though unseen by a listener of the moment — on a branch of their choice, probably a place they appreciated as a place of seasonal familiarity. They hooted every few minutes, in a contrasting chorus amidst the seemingly absolute still of dark and starlit hours on 13 December 2015.

One of the big owls conveyed a rich and dynamic "hoo-hoo-who cooks for you" of a lower timbre. The response was a the same call at a greater pitch. The sounds of a muted, expressive late night at 5:15 a.m. were such an expression of the chilly land. The owls were indicating their residence as they get established for the pending breeding season, though it is winter on the human calendar. There is probably already a known tree spot for a nest.

No reply was given by the two owl models stolid atop fence posts of the horse corral. They were mute and their heads were covered with snow.

The owl life sounds were calls for the next generation, conveyed one night as it has been by many others of this sort of owl for centuries.

Since owls have their own schedule, their night calls were not heard again, even 30 minutes later. These residents have been heard and seen previously, and will be again when there is the proper chill and lack of winds."

11 December 2015

Hundreds of Canada Goose in Early Winter At Valentine

Flights of loose flocks of Canada Goose going northward as seen from the north edge of Valentine indicate the number of these fowl present here this mid-December.

The morning of the 8th, numerous geese were going northward, coming from the southeast as prominent in the sky as seen from north Main Street, along the decline on the western side of the Valentine City Park. By counting the groups during ca. 8:40 to 8:55 a.m., there were an estimated 1300-1400 Canada Goose, based upon counts by fifths and tenths derived by particular attention.

There have also been a few Cackling Goose amidst the skeins, based upon their smaller fowl size and a once-in-a-while distinctive call. Their lesser size is obvious in comparison.

Just before noon, the flocks were seen returning from their forage grounds, as they flew over and beyond the city to their selected roost to the south.

One potentially notable roost site, as indicted by a county official, is near the Berry Bridge over the Niobrara River, a short distance southeast of Valentine. This locale has not been visited due to travel limitations.

About a dozen of the big geese did linger at the Valentine Mill Pond, midday on the 8th. Continual flow of Minnechaduza Creek contributes to a continuance of suitable pond spots where geese like to linger.

Recent weather conditions have been conducive for open water. Overnight lows have been below freezing, but not frigid. The high temperature for December 8th was 58o. On Wednesday, the 9th, it was 65o. The low temperature for this night was reported as 26o. On the 10th, the high was 55o and the overnight low was 25o, early on the 11th, with a high in the mid 40s expected Friday.

Miller Field — the airport on the south edge of Valentine — is an official National Weather Service reporting station.

Steady winds and the resultant wave action, though slight, has helped break up the edge of the ice-cover, so there is more open water, as noted by conditions at the Valentine Mill Pond. Recent winds have been in excess of 10 m.p.h. during these days, with gusts in the mid-20s occurring regularly. The water action helps to dissipate the edges of the ice and provide a more fluid setting.

A similar extent of fowl occurred in flight on Wednesday and Thursday. On the 10th, about fifty geese were noted at 3 p.m. going northward to their destination where there must be suitable foraging grounds. Their site of choice is way beyond any travel by me on a bicycle, with intent.

With an increase in open water at the Valentine Mill Pond, there were more Canada Goose present on the 10th, with more than twenty present at the noon hour.

The weekend forecast conveys a return to typical weather conditions for the month, with the daily high temperature on average about 37o. There may be 1-2 inches of snow on Saturday with highs in the mid 30s, according to the available forecast.


03 December 2015

November Birdlife in the Valentine Vicinity

Record keeping continued for the birds seen in the vicinity of Valentine. Sightings at the regular places resulted in the sighting of 32 different species, including some which had not been previously seen.

Notable during the days . . .

  • Cackling Goose: a few amidst the many Canada geese at the Mill Pond of Minnechaduza Creek
  • Canada Goose: many present at the Mill Pond; these waterfowl would roost at the pond, and were seen most days flying northward to some place to forage, and then returning later in the day; by the end of the month, with colder weather and a significant snow-storm, the geese went elsewhere.
  • Mallard: the few seen amidst the larger geese were a nice addition to the species list, as they flew about the Mill Pond
  • Wild Turkey: occasionally foraged in the horse corral near the shack
  • Northern Bobwhite: a covey blasted from the grass of the ridge while doing a walk-about survey on a fine day with partly sunny skies and a temperature in the fifties, just before a big cool-down
  • Bald Eagle: typically an adult bird associated with the geese at the pond, though a juvenile was seen once; prominent in the sky as they soar about
  • Cooper's Hawk: seems to be a resident, and one was seen just a few feet distant on one occasion while it was looking for a junco to capture and eat
  • Rock Pigeon: many resident at the livestock market
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove: a few scattered about with the largest number at the livestock sale barn
  • Owls: the two owls were heard in the 5 a.m. hour one morning, with the little owl near the shack and the big horned owl further in the distance
  • Belted Kingfisher: looking for a fresh fish in Minnechaduza Creek, especially at the city park
  • Cedar Waxwing: a fine bunch one day at the berry tree at the Valentine Public Library
  • American Tree Sparrow: only seen once in a while, and then only a bird or two of this species
  • Dark-eyed Junco: a resident enjoyed daily in variable numbers amidst suitable habitats, especially northward of the Mill Pond
  • A Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle were seen at the same time at the livestock market
  • House Sparrow: these birds gathered together for the winter, with large numbers near the Danielski corn storage building, just west of the sale barn, and another bunch amidst the shrubs at the southeast corner of the Mill Pond tract

This is the tally for the month.

Common Name

308

310

311

313

316

317

322

328

331

Cackling Goose

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

3

- -

Canada Goose

- -

- -

- -

70

70

- -

75

280

325

Mallard

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

6

- -


Wild Turkey

- -

- -

- -


9


8

- -

- -

- -


9

Northern Bobwhite

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

16

- -


Bald Eagle

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1


1


1


Cooper's Hawk

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


2

- -

- -


1


Red-tailed Hawk


1

- -


3


2

- -

- -


1


2

- -


Rock Pigeon

- -

- -

- -

- -


45

- -

- -


35

- -


Eurasian Collared-Dove

- -

- -

- -

- -


40

- -


2


53


2


Eastern Screech-Owl

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1

- -

- -


Great Horned Owl

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1

- -

- -


Belted Kingfisher

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1

- -


Red-bellied Woodpecker

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1

- -


Hairy Woodpecker

- -


1

- -

- -

- -

- -


1


1

- -


Northern Flicker

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1


2


Blue Jay

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1

- -


1

- -


American Crow

- -

- -


2

- -

- -


2


2


4


2


Black-capped Chickadee

- -

- -

- -

- -


2

- -


2


7

- -


White-breasted Nuthatch

- -

- -


4


4


3

- -


2


3

- -


Eastern Bluebird

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


4

- -

- -

- -


American Robin

- -

- -

- -


15

- -


12


8


2

- -


Cedar Waxwing

- -

- -

- -

- -


15

- -


6

- -

- -


American Tree Sparrow

- -


1

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


2


Harris's Sparrow


1

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


Dark-eyed Junco

- -


15

- -


20

- -


12


20


24


16


Northern Cardinal

- -


1

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


Red-winged Blackbird

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


1

- -


Common Grackle

- -

- -

- -


1

- -

- -

- -


1

- -


House Finch

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -


2


2


6


American Goldfinch

- -

- -


2

- -

- -


3


4

- -

- -


House Sparrow

- -

- -

- -

- -


8


3

- -

24

25

There were 62 bird types noted during the months of September to November at habitat places in the Valentine vicinity.

The month ended with many inches of snow on the ground, which will influence the presence of local avifauna.


Cherry County Commissioners to Continue Evaluating Energy Element

A proposed energy element for Cherry county will continue to be evaluated by the county commissioners, after a proposed document was discussed at the December 24th meeting and public hearing.

The energy element prepared for the county planning commission was developed in response to legislative bill 997, which stated that "a city of the metropolitan class" should assess energy infrastructure and energy use, evaluate renewable energy sources and promote energy conservation measures. The legislation denoted an deadline of January 1, 2015.

The prepared document was not acceptable to the commissioners, as reflected by their comments:

"Don't understand what it accomplishes," in regards to some language in the document
"Seems pretty generic"
"Does not make much sense"

The document the commissioners - Mark Adamson, Tanya Storer and Jim Van Winkle - considered included a general introduction, a discussion of sustainability, energy infrastructure, energy use, renewable energy structures and state programs related to energy.

In regards to the electrical distribution, the sentence "The overall distribution system is in good condition" did not have any attribution, and obviously was an opinion.

Within the energy infrastructure section, it appeared as if paragraphs had been copied from some other source, based upon the regular use of we and our words, as if Cherry county was the provider of electricity. There was no given attribution.

In the renewable energy sources section, the wind energy facility south of Ainsworth, Brown county, and the turbines at Springview were mentioned. There was no information given on the wind turbine west of Valentine.

The state programs information seemed out-of-date, as there was no mention of current legislation or programs, as the details refereed to items all prior to 2010.

Suggested of the "easiest" "strategies" for reducing energy use were:


  • using the most current and energy efficient sources of lighting, especially in concern to light bulbs
  • installing more insulation in buildings
  • converting to digital/programmable thermostats
  • updating air conditioners and furnaces to more efficient modern systems
  • replace older appliances with newer, more energy efficient appliances
  • replace older "less efficient" water heaters with newer units

Further research would be needed to take any action and to determine how it would fit with the county comprehensive plan. County commissioners attending the upcoming Nebraska Association of County Officials meeting indicated they would discuss this topic with representatives from other counties.

If approved, the energy element would be incorporated within the county zoning regulations.

There is, however, no mandate to enact an energy element, and no penalties if it is not enacted.

The energy element was submitted to the commissioners by the planning board. It had been prepared by a consultant company for $600.