Showing posts with label Holt county. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holt county. Show all posts

18 September 2018

Further Details of South Holt County Wildbirds

Another survey of distinct wetlands along the southern boundary of Holt County provide additional details on the value of these habitats for wildbirds. The observations were recorded on September 3rd by Jason Thiele at the local wetlands, most of which are associated with the headwaters of Clearwater Creek, thus the CC designation. Each of these site names have been designated to the specific site indicated by the ebird checklists, but are a geographic locality rather than a roadway site name as originally given. Some of the wetland habitat areas are part of the same area, but were designated as different localities because they were in either of the two counties ... Holt or Wheeler. Road 846 is the county boundary.

This is the list of the 47 species observed. Note the prominence of waterfowl, including the ibis (glossy or white-faced) and the number of pelican that utilize Goose Lake WMA. Shorebirds noted were other important finds. Many of these species may forage at the smaller wetlands area and then return to the wildlife management area for an overnight stay. This survey effort was also valuable in denoting songbirds present in the area during late summer and after the breeding season.

Proper Name Goose Lake WMA CC Meadow CC Wetlands CC Wetlands North Clearwater 502 Meadow Clearwater 846 Meadow Clearwater Wetlands Clearwater Wetlands North Deloit Meadow
Canada Goose -- -- -- 40 -- -- -- -- --
Wood Duck -- 6 9 3 -- -- -- -- --
Blue-winged Teal -- 40 30 15 -- 30 10 -- --
Mallard -- 12 2 2 -- 8 -- -- --
Ibis -- 15 -- -- -- -- 1 -- --
Great Blue Heron -- -- -- 1 -- -- 1 1 1
American White Pelican -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 150
Turkey Vulture -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- --
Cooper's Hawk -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Red-tailed Hawk 1 -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 1
Killdeer 1 -- -- 8 -- 6 -- -- --
Least Sandpiper -- -- -- -- -- 8 -- -- --
Wilson's Snipe -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- --
Solitary Sandpiper -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- --
Forster's Tern -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2
Eurasian Collared Dove -- -- -- 2 -- -- -- -- --
Mourning Dove 2 -- -- 30 -- 2 1 3 1
Belted Kingfisher -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --
Red-headed Woodpecker -- -- -- 3 -- -- -- -- 1
Northern Flicker -- 1 -- 1 -- 1 -- -- 1
American Kestrel 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --
Eastern Kingbird -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 1
Warbling Vireo -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2
Red-eyed Vireo -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2
Black-capped Chickadee -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2
Barn Swallow 1 -- -- 30 -- 2 -- -- --
Marsh Wren -- 1 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
House Wren -- -- -- -- -- 1 -- -- 1
White-breasted Nuthatch -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2
Grey Catbird -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5
Brown Thrasher -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1
Common Starling 10 -- 11 30 -- -- 20 -- --
American Robin -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 2
American Goldfinch 1 -- -- 3 -- 2 -- -- --
Nashville Warbler -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1
American Yellow Warbler -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 2
Wilson's Warbler -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1
Yellow-headed Blackbird -- -- -- 3 -- -- 20 -- --
Bobolink -- -- -- 30 -- -- -- -- --
Western Meadowlark 3 -- -- 6 -- 4 -- -- --
Baltimore Oriole -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1
Red-winged Blackbird -- 8 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Brown-headed Cowbird -- -- -- -- -- -- 40 -- --
Common Grackle -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5 --
Song Sparrow -- -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- 1
Chipping Sparrow -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5
Northern Cardinal 2 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

The overall tally of 47 species for this survey effort compares to 40 species as recorded on August 12th. The combined total is 57 species for both dates.

These records are especially valuable as they provide further details on the occurrence of a great variety of wildbirds that occur at wetlands habitat present along the proposed corridor of the r-project. This industrial powerline would bisect some of the wetland settings. It would also impose a powerline across the flight path used by wildbirds as they fly from the overnight roost at Goose Lake WMA to the wetlands just to the south.

12 January 2017

Holt County Couple Speak on Turbine Facility

Author note: The names of the couple that spoke at the public meeting of the zoning board meeting are not given in this article to facilitate its publication. Primary in the decision to spread this story regarded the situation as expressed by the speakers at a public zoning board meeting at Valentine in early January that should be conveyed to so many others. Also, spoken comments were made at a public meeting, and are therefore public information as personally noted. Minutes of this meeting made by the secretary of the board, will, according to details heard at the most recent January meeting of the Cherry County Commissioners - be made available online. Comments made at a public venue are public information. As the author of this story, it has been a difficult conundrum. The overall decision was to share the information so that many more could realize what may occur when wind turbines are placed on a local landscape.

Grand Prairie Wind Turbine Facility

A couple dealing with a massive wind turbine facility in Holt county have experienced the process and results associated with the planning and subsequent operation of an industrial wind turbine facility in northern Nebraska.

Speaking to the Cherry County Planning and Zoning Board on January 3rd, they indicated how turbines at the Grande Prairie Wind Farm located northeast of O’Neill has “ruined” values which they once readily appreciated at their rural residence. The couple travelled to Valentine to share their experiences with zoning board members now considering changes to Cherry county zoning regulations pertaining to wind energy conversion systems.

The couple reside on property within one and 1/3 mile of the nearest turbine of the Grande Prairie facility that has 200 model 110 Vista turbines. About 60 of them are visible from the a corner of the property where the couple has lived for 20 years.

The extent and ongoing occurrence of noises from operational turbines was especially prominent in their comments. Noisy conditions occur regularly since the turbines became operational at the end of October, 2016.

Turbine noise is heard “every day,” said the mister.

"The noise is not constant as we always hear it but when we hear it it is a steady constant noise not rising or falling like the wind, therefore it is a very unnatural sound," the missus said. “On any given day there is a different sound.” On occasion the sound is similar to a shoe thumping in a dryer. They have found that the noise is worse when the turbine blades are rotating away from their home, and the back side of the turbine nacelle is closer. The sounds carry across the level landscape until it meets an obstruction, which in this case, is their home.

To document the extent of the noise, they rely on decibel meter to determine readings at various times. On occasion, levels were measured at 52-68 dBA within their house, and 68 to 82 dBA outside. Early in January, 2017, there was a reading of 50 dBA within their home. Noise from the operating turbines can readily exceed typical residential sounds such as a furnace running or television volume.

County regulations indicate that noise levels should not exceed 50 dBA.

“I miss the peace of the night,” the missus said. She used to be able to enjoy hearing the calls of resident owls, coyotes howling and otherwise appreciate their rural setting. Prominent sounds now can regularly be those of operating wind turbines. It is “very disturbing, and not natural,” she said. When the weather and wind direction changes, the extent of noise also varies.

“A neighbor three miles distance from the turbines can hear them,” the mister said.

Blinking red lights atop the many turbines are also notably obvious in the night skyscape, which was formerly nothing but stars.

The couple had initially been told by project developers that no turbine would be placed within five miles of their home. A map they provided at the Cherry county board meeting showed that the extent of turbine placement was much greater than originally proposed.

“Zoning regulations were not as strong as they should have been,” the mister said, noting that some members of the zoning board currently have an opinion that the project “should not have happened.” There was only one initial public meeting, they said.

Three primary concerns for the Holt county zoning board have been: 1) decibels of noise from the turbines at the site and nearby; 2) influence on land values; and, 3) the designated setback distance. There were also other items that the zoning board dealt with.

The gentleman from Holt county said the project has been “very disturbing to people that live near the site. It has split families and neighbors. It is a mess.”

There was some economic benefit to the community during the construction phase, he said. Any other economic benefits to the county are not yet apparent.

A prominent comment they made was that 80% of the owners of property where the turbines are placed do not live at the site, but instead reside in O’Neill or elsewhere. These owners receive thousands per month in payment for having a turbine on the property.

The Grande Prairie project was started in 2008. The county zoning board initially heard about the proposal in 2014, it was said. This project has been sold twice, and is currently owned and operated by Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

They mentioned Berkshire Hathaway Energy constructs wind turbine facilities due to tax breaks.

Warren Buffett has invested in wind energy for years, notably because of the federal government tax subsidies to generate wind power, according to press reports. "That’s the only reason to build them,” Buffett said. "They don’t make sense without the tax credit.”

There is a proposal for an additional 25 turbines to be placed amidst the facility which comprises 54,000 acres. Some members of the planning board are hoping for a delay on any further placement of any more of the massive turbines.

The couple indicated they would welcome anyone wanting to visit and personally experience conditions associated with living near the operational turbines at one of the largest wind turbine facilities in Nebraska.

Cherry County Zoning

People present at this meeting included 8 of the 9 members of the zoning board, the zoning administrator and 12 guests with most of them indicating their name on a sign-in page. The wife of a newly elected county commissioner, once again, declined an opportunity to put her name on an attendee list.

No decisions were made to revise any zoning regulations during this meeting. Particular attention was given to the three items that the county commissioners indicated that the planning board members needed to consider. Several sources of information were discussed and then documentation was provided for individual members to consider for discussion at the February meeting of the Cherry county zoning board.

01 November 2014

Chain Lake and Wetlands Threatened by Industrial Powerline

Chain Lake is a remote wetland in southern Holt county, eastern Sand Hills, which through a wonderful juxtaposition was visited many times to record the wildbirds present. Just to its south, and extending into Garfield county is another extensive wetland, with Rush lakebed adjacent to this place.

Each of these wetlands are habitat havens, as they have been for decades and changing centuries.

Now, an industrial powerline — The R-Project — is being proposed by the Nebraska Public Power District which would slice through the setting associated with these three wetland places.

NPPD has not indicated what legislation gives them permission to construct the so-called "r-project" and they have made no known attempt to convey what factors they have considered in determining the "preferred" corridor for this project which will impact so many miles of sandhill's terrain.

The company is dictating to the residents what will happen. The land-owners have not been given any option other than to accept the dictates of the company, which has made decisions based also upon perspectives made by bureaucrats associated with the Southwest Power Pool.

Chain Lake Bird Survey Dates

1990
27 February: 1
4 March: 13
13 March: 2
17 March: 7
21 March: 15
25 March: 3
28 March: 1
30 March: 10
31 March: 1
4 April: 8
17 April: 14
22 April: 25
27 April: 7
3 May: 19
9 May: 17
11 May: 2
14 May: 1
15 May: 12
16 May: 7
22 May: 1
23 May: 42
31 May: 16
5 June: 1
13 June: 30
22 June: 24
25 June: 1
5 July: 30
14 July: 35
15 July: 3
25 July: 29
10 August: 25
18 August: 18
28 August: 1
6 September: 29
14 September: 19
19 September: 24
28 September: 18
5 October: 19
12 October: 1
14 October: 11
31 October: 11
12 November: 5

1991 with a focus primarily on shorebird occurrence
7 April: 2
14 April: 2
20 April: 1
21 April: 4
27 April: 9
5 May: 14
12 May: 7
22 May: 7
23 May: 1
29 May: 9
7 June: 3
12 June: 2
20 June: 3
4 July: 5
12 July: 6
20 July: 8
27 July: 5
15 August: 10
26 August: 6
1 September: 8
18 September: 5
30 September: 3

The values indicated are the number of species recorded for the given date. Not all species were denoted, since the intent was to record waterfowl and shorebird occurrence.

These surveys were done by Loren Blake, an avid birder that lived on a ranch west of Chambers, in southern Holt county. These records are part of his legacy for this area of the Sand Hills.

There have been 114 species recorded at this location, based upon more than 675 distinct records:

  • Greater White-fronted Goose: a total of 132 on three dates in April 1990
  • Canada Goose: 419 during April to May, then July to November, 1990
  • Gadwall: 114; March through October 1990 with a peak count of fifty on 13 June 1990
  • American Wigeon: 104; March through May 1990, and then early in October; peak count 75 on 30 March 1990
  • Mallard: 1314; several counts of more than 100, with 300 denoted on 12 November 1990
  • Blue-winged Teal: 135 on thirteen counts from mid-April to late-September
  • Northern Shoveler: 285 from seventeen dates of occurrence, with greatest numbers from 30-50
  • Northern Pintail: 760 for seventeen counts; mid-April was the when there were 120 present on two dates
  • Green-winged Teal: 133; primarily from mid-March to later in April, 1990
  • Redhead: 91 from nine dates of record; largest count 30 on 22 June 1990
  • Ring-necked Duck: 23, from three dates, two in March and one in October, both in 1990
  • Lesser Scaup: 237, from March 21 to May 9, 1990
  • Bufflehead: 17, denoted on two spring visits
  • Common Goldeneye: 21 in March 1990
  • Hooded Merganser: 2 on 31 March 1990
  • Common Merganser: 166, with 150 seen on 3 March 1990
  • Ruddy Duck: 37 associated with seven dates
  • Sharp-tailed Grouse: 1
  • Greater Prairie-Chicken: 17
  • Pied-billed Grebe: 2, with one seen on two days, one in March and the other in July, both during 1990
  • Horned Grebe: 10 on 21 March 1990
  • Eared Grebe: 2 on 31 May 1990
  • American White Pelican: 60 on seven date
  • Double-crested Cormorant: 55 on nine dates
  • Great Blue Heron: 1
  • Cattle Egret: 1 on 9 May 1990
  • Bald Eagle: 63, with counts of 20 (13 March 1990), 12 (17 and 21 March 1990) and 10 (mostly adults on 4 March 1990)
  • Northern Harrier: 3, with only one seen on three different dates
  • Swainson's Hawk: 2
  • Red-tailed Hawk: 4, with only one seen on four different dates
  • American Kestrel: 4, with only one seen on four different dates
  • Prairie Falcon: 2
  • American Coot: 142, associated with twelve dates, the peak number being 100 on 22 April 1990
  • Sandhill Crane: 12 on 31 October 1990
  • Black-bellied Plover: 1 on 16 May 1990
  • American Golden-Plover: 6 on 14 September 1990
  • Semipalmated Plover: 11 in 1990 and 22 in 1991, based upon ten records, with the largest number (15) seen on 27 April 1991
  • Piping Plover at Chain Lake: one on 20 April, one on 27 April and one on 5 May, all in 1991 for this threatened species in Nebraska
  • Killdeer: 28 in 1990 and 699 in 1991; a breeding season resident as indicated by at least 140 dates of occurrence; peak number 84 on 01 September 1991
  • American Avocet: 4 in 1990 and 22 in 1991 from eleven counts; there were eleven present on 1 September 1991, as seen by Loren Blake
  • Greater Yellowlegs: 1 in 1990 and 5 in 1991
  • Lesser Yellowlegs: 14 in 1990 and 88 in 1991
  • Willet: 1 in 1990 and 13 in 1991
  • Spotted Sandpiper: 10 in 1990 and 51 in 1991
  • Upland Sandpiper: 5 in 1990
  • Long-billed Curlew: 1 in 1990
  • Marbled Godwit; six in mid-April 1990
  • Sanderling: 56 in 1990 and 1 in 1991
  • Semipalmated Sandpiper: 13 in 1990 and 338 in 1991
  • Western Sandpiper: 11 in 1990 and 31 in 1991
  • Least Sandpiper: 14 in 1990 and 33 in 1991
  • White-rumped Sandpiper: 275 in 1991
  • Baird's Sandpiper: 45 in 1990 and 288 in 1991
  • Pectoral Sandpiper: 3 in 1990
  • Dunlin: 1 in 1991
  • Stilt Sandpiper: 7 in 1990 and 117 in 1991
  • Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 6 in 1990
  • Short-billed Dowitcher: 4 in 1990 and 9 in 1991
  • Long-billed Dowitcher: 38 in 1990 and 52 in 1991
  • Wilson's Phalarope; numerous records, with a count of 1000 on 27 April 1991 and other counts of 200 or more in May of the same year
  • Red-necked Phalarope: 20 in 1990 and 4 in 1991
  • Franklin's Gull: 4
  • Bonaparte's Gull; five in late May 1990
  • Ring-billed Gull: 67
  • Black Tern: 17
  • Mourning Dove: 15
  • Great Horned Owl: 7
  • Common Nighthawk: 2
  • Red-headed Woodpecker: 8
  • Downy Woodpecker: 3
  • Northern Flicker: 11
  • Least Flycatcher: 5
  • Western Kingbird: 8
  • Eastern Kingbird: 9
  • Loggerhead Shrike: 2
  • Warbling Vireo: 1
  • Blue Jay: 1
  • Black-billed Magpie: 1
  • American Crow: 4
  • Horned Lark: 9
  • Tree Swallow: 1
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow: 16
  • Barn Swallow: 13
  • Black-capped Chickadee: 3
  • House Wren: 4
  • Eastern Bluebird: 50
  • Mountain Bluebird: 2
  • Swainson's Thrush: 2
  • American Robin: 13
  • Northern Mockingbird: 1
  • Brown Thrasher: 5
  • European Starling: 8
  • American Pipit: 102
  • Yellow Warbler: 2
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler: 2
  • American Tree Sparrow: 1
  • Chipping Sparrow: 6
  • Field Sparrow: 1
  • Vesper Sparrow: 3
  • Lark Sparrow: 8
  • Lark Bunting: 1
  • Savannah Sparrow: 3
  • Grasshopper Sparrow: 1
  • Lapland Longspur: 50
  • Dickcissel: 1
  • Red-winged Blackbird: 8
  • Eastern Meadowlark: 1
  • Western Meadowlark: 14
  • Common Grackle: 3
  • Brown-headed Cowbird: 4
  • Orchard Oriole: 1
  • Baltimore Oriole: 4
  • Red Crossbill: 8
  • American Goldfinch: 8

The bird diversity associated with Chain Lake extends to the south in association with other nearby wetlands.

To place an industrial powerline with it towers and hanging wire hazards across the different wetlands present south of Chain Lake indicates a lack of concern for wildbirds or some other sort of ignorance by NPPD officials.

References

Blake, L.E. 1988. Connecticut warbler. Nebraska Bird Review 56: 99. Blake, L.E. 1989a. Sprague's pipit. Nebraska Bird Review 57: 32. Blake, L.E. 1989b. Winter wren. Nebraska Bird Review 57: 96. Blake, L.E. 1989c. Black-headed grosbeak. Nebraska Bird Review 57: 96. Blake, L.E. 1990a. Nesting trumpeter swans. Nebraska Bird Review 58: 106. Blake, L.E. 1990b. Buff-breasted sandpipers. Nebraska Bird Review 58: 107. Blake, L.E. and J.E. Ducey. 1990. A comparison of historic and modern birdlife at an eastern Sand Hills lake in Nebraska. Nebraska Bird Review 58: 100-104. Loren B. Blake and Jim Ducey. 1991. Birds of the eastern Sand Hills in Holt County, Nebraska. Nebraska Bird Review 59: 103-132. Ducey, Jim and J. Schoenenberger. September, 1991. Some birds of the Pony Lake area of the eastern Sandhills, Nebraska. Nebraska Bird Review 59: 55-58.

22 January 2013

Comparison of Birdlife at Eastern Sandhills Lake

Bruner Lake is located in the eastern sandhills of southwestern Holt County (Section 11, T25N, R16W) (Figure 1). The area around the lake was where Lawrence Bruner, one of the founders of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, made some of the first comparative studies of birdlife in Nebraska. His records from decades ago can be compared with current information to provide a perspective on changes in birdlife that have occurred.


Figure 1. The Bruner Lake area of Holt County showing the Bruner property and areas birded in 1990.

The area was first visited by Bruner in 1883-84 when he filed a claim on 160 acres about 1.5 miles south and east of the lake (northeast quarter of section 24). Others in the Bruner family claimed additional acres in the same vicinity. At this time he marked out the property, which included a marsh, and planted some trees and shrubs. The Bruners filed their claim under the Timber Culture Act that allowed tree-claims to be filed on 160 acres once 16 acres of trees were planted and had two years of successful growth (R.G. Cortelyou, pers. comm.).

When Bruner staked his claim and visited the family property, he also made a list of the birds seen. In 1883 he visited during the latter days of June and early part of July. His 1884 visit started earlier than in 1883 and ended in the end of May or early June. Bruner returned to his property in 1901 and kept records of the birds seen during this summer visit. He then made a comparison of the birdlife present in 1901 to the sightings made in 1883-84 (Bruner, L. 1902. A comparison of the bird-life found in the Sand Hill region of Holt County in 1883-84 and in 1901. Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 3:58-63.)

A comparison to the historic period was done by Blake, who first located the tract of land owned by the Bruner family by finding it on a 1904 Hon County land map. Bruner Lake area was then visited several times to assess the current birdlife. Visits were made to the area on 27 April, 18 May, and 23 June 1990. The Leushen Birders from Norfolk helped record bird species on the 23 June field trip. A brief trip was also made on 13 July to confirm the presence or absence of a couple of species.

Bruner Lake is predominantly open water with rushes growing on about one-half of the shoreline. Two small islands in the lake are covered with vegetation. The marsh has open water in its center and shore-line. Land close to the water is covered with a mix of rushes, grass, and scrub willow.

Areas around Bruner Lake that were also covered included a shelterbelt about 0.5 mile to the southeast that is a mix of ash and mulberry. A planting of young cedar trees and a few cottonwoods grow on the west side. Another shelterbelt, predominantly green ash trees, and marsh is 1.5 miles to the southeast. The shelterbelts are not grazed by cattle but there is not much woody understory. Areas of sandhills prairie were also covered.

Bruner recorded 55 species, about evenly divided between wetland, grassland, and woodland habitats (Table 1 and Table 2). It is notable that in 1901 there were several species—Say's Phoebe, Pinyon Jay and Lazuli Bunting—that are more typical of the western part of Nebraska. These could have been rare vagrants or possibly misidentifications.

Table 1. List of species recorded historically and in 1990 in the Bruner Lake area of southwestern Holt County, Nebraska
Species A B C D Species A B C D
Eared Grebe - - C - Mourning Dove A B - D
Am. Wh. Pelican - - - D Yellow-b. Cuckoo A - - -
D-c. Cormorant - - C - Great Horned Owl - - C -
American Bittern A - C D Burrowing Owl A - - -
Great Blue Heron - - - D Short-eared Owl A - - -
White-fr. Goose - B - - Common Nighthawk A - - D
Canada Goose - B C D Red-head. Woodp. A - C D
Green-wing. Teal - - C D Downy Woodpecker - B - -
Mallard A B - D Northern Flicker A B C D
Northern Pintail - B C D Eastern Phoebe A - - -
Blue-wing. Teal A B C D Say's Phoebe A - - -
North. Shoveler A - C - Western Kingbird A - C D
Gadwall A - - D Eastern Kingbird - - C D
Redhead - B C D Horned Lark A - C D
Lesser Scaup - - C - Purple Martin A - - -
Ruddy Duck - B C D Barn Swallow A - C D
Northern Harrier A - - - Blue Jay A - C D
Swainson's Hawk A - C D Pinyon Jay A - - -
Red-tailed Hawk - - - D American Crow - B C D
Rough-leg. Hawk A - - - Bl-c. Chickadee - - C D
American Kestrel - B - - House Wren - - - D
Ring-n. Pheasant - B C D Marsh Wren A - - D
G. Prairie-Chick. A B C D Eastern Bluebird A - - -
Sharp-tailed Gr. A - C - American Robin - B C D
N. Bobwhite A - - - Gray Catbird A - - -
American Coot A B C - Brown Thrasher A - C D
Sandhill Crane A - - - Loggerhead Shrike - B - -
Killdeer A B C D Warbling Vireo - - - D
American Avocet - B - D Yellow Warbler A - C D
Less. Yellowlegs A - C - C. Yellowthroat - - C D
Willet A - - - Lazuli Bunting A - - -
Spotted Sandpiper - - - D Dickcissel A - - D
Upland Sandpiper A - C D Field Sparrow - - - D
Long-bill. Curlew A - - - Lark Sparrow A - C D
Marbled Godwit - B - D Grasshopper Sp. A - C D
Semipalm. Sandp. - - C - Bobolink A - C D
Least Sandpiper A - C - Red-wing. Blackbird A B C D
Baird's Sandpiper A - - - West. Meadowlark A B C D
Stilt Sandpiper - - C - Yellow-h. Blackb. A B C D
Long-b. Dowitcher - B - - Common Grackle A B C D
Common Snipe - - - D Br-head. Cowbird A B C D
Wilson's Phalar. A - C D Orchard Oriole - - - D
Forster's Tern A - - - Northern Oriole - - - D
Black Tern A - C D Am. Goldfinch - - - D
Rock Dove - - - D House Sparrow - - C D

A - 1880s-1901; B - 27 April 1990; C - 18 May 1990; D - 23 June 1990

A B C D - Dates as above, but a probable nesting species

One of the most drastic changes Bruner noted was that Sandhill Cranes no longer nested. In 1883-84, a young Crane was brought to camp and became a companion of the people. A wetland species that would have been associated with marsh habitat like that used by the Sandhill Crane would have been the Northern Harrier. Bruner noted this species but it was not recorded on the 1990 field visits. The extensive wetland meadows present when this area was first settled would have provided ideal nesting habitat for this raptor.

There were 72 species recorded in 1990. Almost half of the birds seen were associated with water and wetland habitats (Table 2). The majority of the remaining species were associated with woodland habitats and there were close percentages of these species noted during the surveys. There was a decrease in grassland species which comprised a lower percentage of the total species recorded in the 1990 surveys. This is due to the larger number of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds noted in 1990 in comparison to the historic bird sightings made by Bruner.

Table 2. Habitat affinity of birds recorded in the Bruner Lake area.
Habitat Affinity 1880s - 1901 1990
  Number (Percent)
Limnic 19 (34%) 33 (46%)
Grassland 17 (31%) 14 (19%)
Woodland 18 (33%) 22 (31%)
Miscellaneous 1 (2%) 3 (4%)
Total 55 72

Other differences were noted in the occurrence of species associated with wetland habitats. The Long-billed Curlew, Willet and Forster's Tern were noticed historically but not currently. Several migratory waterfowl and shorebirds were noted currently but not historically, including the Lesser Scaup, Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Stitt Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher. The Common Snipe occurs now and could possibly nest. It is very puzzling that Bruner did not note the Common Yellowthroat which would have been expected in the wetlands during either of the two periods he made his bird records.

Potential new breeding waterfowl include the Canada Goose, Redhead, and Ruddy Duck. These species were noted on each 1990 visit but were not observed by Bruner during either of his extended visits. The Canada Goose would have been reintroduced and would utilize areas from which they had been extirpated when historic hunting decimated resident populations.

The Great Blue Heron was recorded in 1990 but not on prior historic visits. There is now a large nesting colony within a few miles of Bruner Lake. Historically, the lack of large cottonwood trees used as nesting habitat might have been a limiting factor for the summer occurrence of this heron. The cottonwoods were planted decades ago to create shelterbelts. The growth of these larger trees would also provide habitat for birds such as the American Kestrel, American Crow, American Robin, Warbling Vireo, and Northern Oriole. Other differences in woody habitat species are the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Gray Catbird which were recorded only historically and utilize available shrubby habitat.

The Red-tailed Hawk and Black-capped Chickadee were noted in 1990 but not in either of the historic visits. The Burrowing Owl and Short-eared Owl were not recorded in 1990 whereas they were present historically. The Sharp-tailed Grouse also was not present though it has historically nested in Holt County (Ducey, J.E., Nebraska Birds: Breeding Status and Distribution) and occurs elsewhere in the Sandhills region.

The Rock Dove and House Sparrow were not present historically but occur now. Their presence can be attributed to nesting habitat provided by barns and other buildings that were not formerly present. The House Sparrow probably did not occur until about 1940 when this introduced species spread westward from eastern Nebraska. The Ring-necked Pheasant is also an introduced species.

Fewer species would have been recorded if migratory birds were not recorded. Migratory species that would not have occurred during the summer time period when Bruner also did his field work include the Greater White-fronted Goose and Rough-legged Hawk.

There have been changes in the birdlife of the Sandhills region around Bruner Lake. Tree plantings and the growth of woody plants has increased the available habitat. Despite the increase in species diversity, the loss of nesting species such as the Sandhill Crane indicates very obvious changes in Sand hills avifauna. No sightings of the Burrowing Owl and Short-eared Owl could indicate changes in the summer distribution of these species, especially the latter owl. The Short-eared Owl has had a decrease in range and has not been recorded as nesting in Nebraska in recent years.

We would like to thank Jim, Cliff, and Bob Taylor of Taylor Land and Cattle Inc. for permission to visit this area.

Loren Blake and Jim Ducey. December 1990. A comparison of historic and modern birdlife at an eastern sandhills lake in Nebraska. Nebraska Bird Review 58(4): 100-104.

24 October 2011

Amelia a Village of Flowing Water

Article and images Copyright 2011 James E. Ducey. October 20, 2011. Amelia - the village of water. Grant County News 127(11): 1, 5.

Amelia is a bit of a former village amidst a rural setting where ample water is readily appreciated and important.

Tracing its origin to the mid-1880s, the once-bustling village still conveys one essentially obvious reason for it being established more than 125 years in the past.

Water. Ample water from the groundwater aquifer. Water which flows forth as it has for decades, if not at least for a known century or more.

Amelia's history dates to the mid-1880s. In August 1885 a post-office was established, and named after the wife of I.D. Bliss, an early settler, according to records of the era. In 1892, the town was platted with numerous lots ready for the taking by anyone interested in settling.

Water was available just below the ground's surface. Placing a pipe into the ground could create a flowing well, with each house having a flowing well for its domestic uses, plus another for their stock. When digging a hole for a fence post, water might bubble forth, indicating its prominent extent.

Water was one obvious reason the village thrived. At one time there was a local newspaper. During the early years, a gentleman from the black community near Goose Lake, arrived weekly to gather dairy products and convey them to Burwell. A grocery store provided goods at O'Neill prices in 1889.

The community thrived in a setting which provided the necessities, though details of it history are few.

For local residents Harlan and Fay Dierking, a dance hall was the place for celebrating their marriage in 1946. Roller-skating was also a popular pastime they remembered.

In 1951, there were more than a hundred residents, according to local recollections.

Modern Amelia

Amelia continues though it is has many fewer residents. There is the community postoffice started in 1994. On the north side is a Catholic Church, and a Methodist church a short distance southward. A former repair shop is gone, though remnants remain to indicate where commerce once thrived.

Water is still notably prominent, with prominent and continual flows at many places.

A fountain on the southern edge of the village area that was installed by Lee Sammons continues to flow several decades after it was created. It was originally placed where it was a prominent feature near a former gas station.

The iconic fountain of Amelia. Picture taken May 12, 2007.

"A lot of people stop at the fountain," said Doug Frahm, a current resident and lot owner. "A local woman comes each week to get 10-15 gallons of water. It is a favorite spot where visitors prefer to take a photograph."

"I enjoy seeing people stopping by to enjoy the water," he said, adding that some ask whether the water is safe to drink, while others will not drink from the fountain because it is not "out of a bottle."

Southward a well on the Waldo ranch, is still prominent and known for it still continuing to flow from a pipe sunk into the aquifer, just a few feet below the ground's surface.

"There is nowhere else in the world where this happens," Frahm said. "I've traveled around the world" and not seen anything similar. "The water is always there and we are never without."

"It is pure water, and found to be 99.9% pure," he said, noting that it has been tested and found free of minerals or other matter which might taint its quality.

Times have changed in this country setting. There are only seven residents now, compared to 13 in 1996, when a reporter with the Associated Press visited.

Instead of people, seven horses graze the grass beneath under huge cottonwood trees about their pasture which are the lots of former residents. Frahm said their names are Joe, Misty, Patches, Rob, Sally, Schaff and Winny.

School house fountain.

Flowing well which provides water for the horses of Amelia.

These horses daily drink the fresh water, including from one tank provided by a former wash tub. This is but one prominent use of groundwater resource. The notable local uses include:

  • Domestic uses including drinking and other household uses
  • Providing water for livestock

    Horse in pasture by hay meadow near Amelia.

    A horse resident of Amelia.

  • Nourishing hay meadows
  • Creating wetlands used by a myriad of migratory birds
  • Providing water resources essential for the survival of game animals
  • Providing a source for local creeks and eventually larger rivers such as the south fork of the Elkhorn River and Dry Creek

Frahm grew up in the community and has lived here - off and on for five decades - where water was always fresh and abundant. He recalls as a youngster, the joy of getting a "cool bottle of pop for 2 cents" from concrete "tanks" in the ground were full of 50 degree water which kept the drinks cold. The tanks were also essential in earlier years for maintaining the quality of dairy products.

At times, water from the wells was "like a river to play in," he recalled.

The District 58 school at the southeast corner of the village had its own fountain, and where, once they got the teacher's permission, the kids rushed to get a refreshing drink.

After serving in the Air Force, Frahm returned home to establish his home and work the family ranch. During the subsequent years, he has purchased many of the lots of the village.

"There are 24 flowing wells" which he knows of within the few acres of the former village which he now owns and where he resides with is wife Mary, a retired school teacher.

Northwest of Amelia, Harlan Dierking, continues to reside on the family ranch where he and his wife Faye have been for 65 years, and where they built a new home in 1957.

"We enjoy the country life," and water wells provide water essential for their home, and to refresh livestock. Their depth varies from 15-20 feet.

There are three flowing wells," he said. "Windmills drilled to a depth of about 60 feet also pump water for stock."

"Even when the electricity is out, we can get fresh water from a windmill," said Faye Dierking.

A pond created on their ranch is also supplied by a flowing well.

"The pond is 18 feet deep," Harlan Dierking said. "There have been smallmouth bass caught which are near the size of state records."

Dierking published a book "As I Recall" in 2007 to ensure his perspective of the area's history would not be forgotten. A few pictures prominently illustrate a some of the well-know, local flowing wells.

"We are very happy with the water," Harlan Dierking said. "I hope future generations would appreciate it as much as I do now."

"I want the water to be the same 10, 20, 30-40 years from now," Frahm said. "It is one of our hugest assets. I don't want the water ruined," he said in a recent interview, as a short ways southward on Iris Avenue - the main street - the water continues to everflow from the two prominent fountains of Amelia, the village of water.