Area Birds in Grant County, Nebraska in 2017

January 11, 2018. Area birds. Grant County News 133(24): 1. The published article had subsequent edits prior to being posted online.

Wildbirds are a great and ongoing attraction, and during the eclipse and other times during 2017 in Grant county, several people took the time to look upon a scene and kept notes that indicated the occurrence of 70 species.

The initial known bird outing of the year was at the Hyannis cemetery on March 15, when a travelling group spent 40 minutes to see what was present. Their report is especially interesting as four variations of Dark-eyed Junco were seen (ebird.org checklist by Rick Wright) that had origins in different regions of North America. A Townsend’s Solitaire seen was the first one reported since March, 2009.

There was a nice report submitted by Nebraskan William Flack for a site on the south Whitman Road at the Cherry Valley Road on March 30th. His tally was 20 species including a fine variety of waterfowl including numerous Northern Shoveler and Gadwall, some Canvasback as well as two magnificent Trumpeter Swan present as reported with pictorial documentation.

Avocet WMA was a prominent locale for ornithological history of the year as it is adjacent along Highway 2. Some tally’s reported were based upon a few minutes spent to take a look. There were 44 species noted in April, May and August. Waterfowl had a prominent occurrence. There was also large numbers of pelicans, ibis. The site is also notable for the unusual occurrence of Great-tailed Grackle.

During the August eclipse, observer Bernard Morris parked at the gas station – when not watching the sky during a three hour period – kept a list of species present across the highway at the wildlife area that included three species of raptors and two sorts of terns.

Birder Flack did a walk-about in the eastern extent of Whitman on August 23rd, with an online submission reporting the occurrence of 14 species. Another visitor reported a few species for their driveby.

Many of the years’ records are transitory observations kept while someone was driving along either Highway 2 or Highway 61. Some of these sightings could be designated to a particular locality, but those submitting the record are not aware of local place-names, so instead indicate a name referring to a broad, generic locality.

There was a survey done at the Apache Ranch by an employee of the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, but since it occurred on private property, details are not publicly available. This was apparently the only visit to a site significantly away from a prominent roadway.

Among the shorebirds seen were the Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs and Willet. There was for some reason only one report of a Long-billed Curlew.

In considering the years’ observations, it is obvious there is a relative dearth of sightings in Grant county, as a larger number of species would be expected to occur. Nothing was reported about the Blue Jay, which appears to have a sporadic occurrence at Hyannis. It is very surprising that there was no recorded occurrence of the Downy Woodpecker. In regards to the Horned Lark and Marsh Wren, one report of each is not indicative as they both have a broader wide-spread range. The same applies to the Common Yellowthroat, which would be expected amidst the habitats at Avocet WMA and other spaces, in addition to the singular 2017 observation at Frye Lake WMA. There was no mention of Chimney Swift at Hyannis, though it has been seen in the urban setting in many past years. Why is it that the only report of a House Wren for the county dates to 2007? Is an indication of range or due to a lack of reported sightings? The lack of any report of Dark-eyed Junco is also indicative of a lesser extent of observational occurrences, as this species is prevalent in winter times within the region.

If an observer had driven south of Ashby to Alkali Lake, there would have certainly been a greater diversity of species occurrence to report because its features are quite unique and any wildbirds present can be seen from a roadside vantage. Though there were sightings from Whitman, there was no mention of Doc Lake. Nothing was referred to Wolfenberger Lakes though it is also adjacent to and visible from Highway 2. There were no reports from the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory that is publicly owned and seemingly conducive to visits. Surprisingly, no birder apparently visited DeFair Lake WMA, which, based upon personal experience, is a fine place and even nice enough to spend an overnight in the parking lot.

There are 192 species of birds that are known to occur within the county, based upon an overall consideration that includes historic occurrences. Considering the more than 300 species of birds that occur in the sandhill region, the overall tally is also less than what would be expected.
On an aside, it seems obvious that the overall availability of birding places within Grant county is not known to an extent that could result in more and/or extended visits. When obvious public lands are not visited, it is likely the result of a lack of knowledge of their being available for bird watching?

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This is a list of the species observed, and which was not submitted with the article for the newspaper. Species are listed in taxonomic sequence.

* Canada Goose * Trumpeter Swan * Wood Duck * Gadwall * American Wigeon * Mallard * Blue-winged Teal * Northern Shoveler * Northern Pintail * Green-winged Teal * Canvasback * Redhead * Ring-necked Duck * Lesser Scaup * Bufflehead * Ruddy Duck * Common Pheasant * Pied-billed Grebe * Western Grebe * White-faced Ibis * Black-crowned Night Heron * Great Blue Heron * American White Pelican * Double-crested Cormorant

* Turkey Vulture * Northern Harrier * Swainson's Hawk * Red-tailed Hawk * American Coot * Killdeer * Long-billed Curlew * Greater Yellowlegs * Lesser Yellowlegs * Willet * Spotted Sandpiper * Ring-billed Gull * Forster's Tern * Black Tern * Eurasian Collared Dove * Mourning Dove * Chimney Swift * Red-headed Woodpecker * Hairy Woodpecker * Northern Flicker * Western Kingbird * Eastern Kingbird * Loggerhead Shrike * Warbling Vireo

* Cedar Waxwing * Horned Lark * Tree Swallow * Barn Swallow * Marsh Wren * Brown Thrasher * Common Starling * Townsend's Solitaire * American Robin * House Sparrow * House Finch * American Goldfinch * Common Yellowthroat * Yellow-headed Blackbird * Western Meadowlark * Orchard Oriole * Red-winged Blackbird * Brown-headed Cowbird * Common Grackle * Great-tailed Grackle * Dark-eyed Junco * Lark Sparrow

Cellular Tower Threats to Birds and Sandhill Features

Cellular communication towers being sited near Hyannis and Whitman pose a potential threat to migratory birds, and will also change the local character of the sand hills.

Three towers more than 300 feet in height, with associated guy wires are either approved or being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration. Each one is located in association with wetland habitats near the two communities.

Two towers locations are east of Hyannis and south of Avocet WMA:

* one for Alltel southwest of the intersection of highways 2 and 61, with a height of 308 feet above ground level, and placed upon a hilltop.

* another for Verizon sited at the Pelican Beach Club golf course, and with a height above the ground of 358 feet; a public notice on this tower was recently issued in the Grant County News.

Communication tower guylines are a known hazard to flying birds, according to many studies.

Avocet WMA is a known haven for birds, with nearly seventy different species of birds known to occur. Especially prominent are the Trumpeter Swans, which typically nest each summer season, and when more than half-a-dozen can occur. These birds, the largest of the North American waterfowl, typically fly just above the hills in a steady ponderous flight, and could readily hit any guylines located just south of the wetland. Young, inexperienced juveniles would be especially in danger. Other species present could also strike the lines.

Having two towers placed south of the wildlife area are particularly hazardous due to their proximity and the limitations in flight airspace that will occur.

Near Whitman, a tower is proposed to the north and slightly west of Doc Lake. It would apparently also be a Verizon tower, and also have a height above the ground of a hilltop of 358 feet.

More than seventy species of birds have been recorded to occur at this wetland and lake, including more than a dozen on occasion.

In addition to potential threats to migratory birds, the towers will mar the landscape view. They are all along the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway and readily visible from Highway 2. The two towers east of Hyannis are also within the northern extent of the Sandhills National Natural Landmark, thus adding further industrial development to this unique tract.

The blinking white lights of these towers will be incessant in the night skies.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating the towers to determine if there are any concerns that the agency needs to address. Migratory birds are also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Mitigation Project Restoring a Sandhills Lake

Because of impacts on less than two acres of wetlands, a lake expanse of at least 400 acres is being restored within the central Sand Hills of Nebraska.

Two landowners in Grant County and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad have agreed to restore natural hydrology to an altered lake.

The railroad was constructing dual-track alignment in the eastern sandhills and needed to mitigate for impacts, i.e., placing fill upon two sorts of wetland soils, comprising 1.23 acres and .46 acres.

Because of the loss of the wetlands, a review by the Army Corp of Engineers was required, in accordance with Section 404 regulations. The lost habitat needed to be replaced.

Results are now known, according to federal documents provided by the Corps through a Freedom of Information Act request.

BNSF would restore no less than 10.14 acres of wetland habitat, and it would be done at Egan Lake, in southeast Grant County. In May 2012, railroad consultants visited the site, evaluating its suitability for mitigation measures.

Lake features present included pumps to remove water, and which has been "heavily manipulated for the past 40 years by drainage" and was a situation of "highly altered hydrology regime and spread of invasive reed canary grass in the hay meadow, it is not nearly the high quality avian wildlife habitat that it once was prior to drainage," according to details given among the permit documentation. An estimated 1,900 acre feet of water was annually pumped from the lakebed, over a low dune and into the adjacent valley. Removal of the water helped dry meadows to facilitate hay harvest, and fall stock grazing.

"Performance Standards" and "Success Criteria" include, primarily "Completion of physical site improvements (e.g. abandon drainage ditch and remove pumps) and implementation of altered management (e.g. terminate pumping of surface water).

The lake once had a "viable and productive fishery," according to the federal documents.

A conservation easement has also been placed on the property. Documents filed at the Grant County court house, with a mid-December date, indicate an easement was placed upon 389.17 acres, with the the Wellas Cattle Company and Hebbert Charolais.

Financial details of transactions associated with the restoration and easement are not publicly available.

The two landowners will continue their normal ranching activities around the lake. BNSF has also indicated, according to permit documentation, that they would provide "costs related to construction, protection, and potential monitoring."

A "verification letter" indicating compliance with permit conditions must be provided by June 30, 2013 to the Nebraska Regulatory Office, according to a Corps official. The letter would especially indicate that the water pumps and pipes have been removed, and that the drainage ditches have been abandoned.

Egan Lake baseline conditions. Images from mitigation plan provided by the Army Corp of Engineers regulatory office.

Egan Lake mitigation plan.