Palindrome Sunday Outing in Cherry County

A drive through the country on 02/02/2020 followed a route to and from Valentine by traversing Highway 97, the Brownlee Road, through Goose Creek valley and then northward along the South Wood Lake Road to Highway 20 and back to the Heart City.

At Merritt Reservoir, there were a couple of adult Bald Eagles on the southern edge, and they were near to more than 100 Common Mergansers foraging amidst the open water. Just to the south, there was a skitty bunch of Townsend's Solitaire and a few Mountain Bluebird which had been perched but then flew away a distance beyond our view. Further along, along the northern portion of the Brownlee Road, there were a surprising 21 Trumpeter Swan gathered at Packingham Lake, and this was a surprising number.

A next stop was to appreciate the hilltop view of southerly Wamaduze Valley with red angus and a few horses westerly beyond the top of the dunes. There was a view skyscape as well. This spot along the Brownlee Road is always has a nice landscape perspective.

Snowscape of Wamaduze Valley with a view of the horizon on a fine day. It was partly cloudy, the temperature reached 50o and winds were moderate, thus not bothersome!

Snow in a blowout atop a hill on the eastern side of the valley.

The best bird sighting of the day was a Northern Goshawk atop a tree on the Brownlee Flats, near the village of Brownlee. The bird was seen to fly into a cedar planting, so we drove north up another road to see if a better view might occur. The notably large bird then flew and landed on a branch perch. It was given special attention because of its size. Gordon Warrick was able to get a good picture and features of the immature goshawk were especially notable and made it possible to get a positive identification. This species is rare in the area and it has been about two decades since the last record and that was a bird present along the Niobrara River in Cherry county.

Dead Swan in a Meadow

A dead swan was seen in the meadow just north of the South Wood Lake Road, about four miles southeast of the intersection with the Skull Lake Road, and very obvious from the adjacent road. The dead swan was nearly directly beneath the powerlines present. The carcass seemed very fresh with no predation evident and the feathers mostly "normal." The only aberration was the complete removal of all feathers on a portion of one leg. It appears that it was a clean cut, as if it was done using a knife. Perhaps someone had removed a band?

Dealing With Water Along the Brownlee Road

At one spot along this hard-surface county road there was an apparent road repair. There was digging done in the road-side ditch, with the excavated dirt thrown on the adjacent slope leaving a rough surface. No attempt had been made to smooth dirt surface or to ensure suitable growing conditions for native vegetation that could inhibit erosion. A culvert had been placed under the road. These efforts were made to improve drainage of what would be identified as excess surface water.

There had been no effort to smooth the dirt either on the slope of the hillside or along the sides of the ditch. Also the repair of the road surface was very "sloppy." County workers would likely convey the excuse for the condition being the cold weather which would thwart any dirt work due to frozen ground. What ever, further work is needed to ensure the work was done in a more suitable manner.

Along the South Wood Lake Road, there were several places where road conditions were very muddy and the road surface was very rutted with deeper spots having standing water. Where some rock had been spread, the roadtop was still in a deteriorated condition. The situation would certainly make repeated travels along the route a traverse frustrating as it would be wrought with unsafe conditions and causing a great mess on any vehicle, as well as repeated wear on people and equipment. When frozen, it must be a rough ride.

Wildbirds in the Vicinity of Valentine During November-December 2018

The last two months of 2018 brought the typical variety of wildbirds at Valentine in north-central Nebraska. Weather was highly variable with many periods of snow-covered ground.

These are some details associated with notable observations:

¶ Canada Goose: the greatest number ever seen in the vicinity was associated with the flight of many flocks on December 20th. There was ample open water water with roost habitat at the Valentine Mill Pond, with others birds going easterly or southeasterly to other nearby roost sites, including Potters Pond along the county road to Berry Bridge and others most likely to the Niobrara River roost site near Borman Bridge WMA, after they have returned from foraging grounds to the north. This species will be prominent in area skies through the first weeks of 2019.

¶ Cackling Goose: only a very few seen despite checking flocks numerous times for this more diminutive sized goose which can also be readily identified by its notably different call.

¶ Trumpeter Swan: the single bird and then two swans eventually left for some place more suitable.

¶ Wood Duck: notably reduced in numbers this year.

¶ Gadwall and Mallard: prefer the marshy area at the western extent of the mill pond where there are cattails and shallow waters which mean it is a wetland. The Mallard also like to forage along Minnechaduza Creek below the dam.

¶ The families flock of Wild Turkey were regular daily visitors until the end of December. The group included a female with five young and another female with a single youngster. They certainly had it figured out how to seeds to eat, especially the blackbird seeds. They arrive soon after sunrise, eat their fill and then go wander around nearby. Once they recognized the squeaky door associated with more of the seed mix have been provided, they would return again. Then they would wander around the nearby hills and then return late in the afternoon and eat more of what had been spread for the smaller birds. This was the hierarchy: deer would use a leg to get rid of any turkey ... turkeys would chase away the Eurasian collared dove if they were around ... then the juncos and finchs would get along. The juncos can almost be compared to feathered mice and they sccury around eating.

¶ Rock Dove: pigeons most typically occur at the Valentine Livestock Market and westward from there to near the intersection of Highway 83 and Highway 20.

¶ Eurasian Collared Dove: many arrived late in the season and were sometimes very common as they gathered without interspecies strife and ate in their manner. There was more than one grand bird day when the pioneer doves flew and landed where the seeds where, and then other mates then did the same. Perhaps these birds left the city environs because of the bird roost disrupters placed prominently at electrical power substations. They are not pigeons despite what a city electrical worker may convey.

¶ Great Horned Owl: a regularly enjoyed visitor as heard on several nights.

¶ Woodpeckers: three species regularly seen while the Red-bellied Woodpecker is less regular in its occurrence.

¶ American Crow: a few spend the winter here. Three of them actually visited the bird seed source on a couple of days to determine what the many other birds were eating. They then went back to their norm of foraging.

¶ Cedar Waxwing: permanent residents that apparently roam around a lot for find suitable food.

¶ Brown Creeper: more prevalent than expected since there are a very few Valentine residents obvious enough to realize that a so subtle sound heard where there are tree, is its winter song as it feeds on tree bark.

¶ Common Starling: usually limited to interurban spaces, especially the livestock market, though they do occasionally get together amidst the tree-scape north of the mill pond.

¶ American Robin: ubiquitous in their appreciation of tree seeds.

¶ House Sparrow: this small bird of birddom usually resides amidst nooks and crannies in Valentine, but when cold weather arrives, hey gather at spots where shrubby vegetation provides cover where they can elude avian predators.

¶ Red-winged Blackbird: a few lingered late in the season, probably because they could find something to eat at the seed buffet.

¶ Rusty Blackbird: based upon a review of multiple records for Cherry County, this late November and through December is a very distinctive set of occurrence records. The numbers are indicative. A small group were the first arrivals at the seed buffet and in the horse pen outside my north window. Their arrival was a great surprise, because this species has been reported so rarely. My gaze became fixed on this sort of bird, and my effort of looking was a success. The birds survived into December, and a hearty bunch spent Christmas at my place, then the bunch of four continued to linger until the last day of the year. Didn't have any turkey side dressing for them but they were seen vibrantly feeding on seeds provided in various mixes readily available at local businesses.

¶ Harris's Sparrow: one of the most beautiful visitors during the two months considered, especially during November.

¶ Dark-eyed Junco: daily bird friends about the shack, at the seed and elsewhere including the park and feeders within Valentine. They can get along well until one gets to close to another one and with a flutter of wings the interloper is urged to move a short distance away. With snow on the last day of the year, the seed was getting covered so an alternative was needed to make seed readily available. The steps to the porch were swept and ample seed was provided there to make it easier to reach. This mites can be especially frenetic on days when ongoing snows continue to obscure edible food.

¶ Northern Cardinal: a permanent resident but not always obvious with its color and vivacious expression known to be at the top of some peoples list of one particular bird or two to see and enjoy, once and again along the drive and the north side of town. A visiting male on the last day of the year was vibrant against the white of the landscape as it enjoyed seed provided so it could get something ample to eat.

This is the overall tally of the 42 species seen at regularly visited locales associated with the Heart City during the two months.

Proper Name     Julian Date:	308	310	314	319	327	330	339	345	350	354	364
Canada Goose	55	185	445	550	250	81	185	395	650	4500	200
Cackling Goose	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Trumpeter Swan	2	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Wood Duck	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Gadwall	20	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Mallard	- -	- -	40	2	- -	- -	4	4	6	1	- -
Hooded Merganser	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Wild Turkey	8	8	8	11	8	8	8	8	8	8	- -
Sharp-shinned Hawk	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Bald Eagle	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	1	- -	1	1
Red-tailed Hawk	2	1	1	1	1	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -
Rock Dove	- -	8	- -	6	30	- -	- -	2	- -	35	- -
Eurasian Collared Dove	10	6	5	11	21	6	4	8	7	32	16
Great Horned Owl	1	- -	2	1	- -	- -	2	2	2	2	- -
Belted Kingfisher	- -	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Red-bellied Woodpecker	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Downy Woodpecker	1	- -	1	1	- -	1	1	1	- -	1	- -
Hairy Woodpecker	- -	- -	1	1	- -	2	1	1	- -	1	- -
Northern Flicker	- -	1	3	3	- -	- -	1	2	- -	- -	2
Merlin	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Blue Jay	4	- -	4	3	2	1	2	2	- -	- -	2
American Crow	1	3	7	2	1	3	2	- -	5	- -	5
Cedar Waxwing	- -	4	9	- -	3	30	1	- -	- -	30	- -
Black-capped Chickadee	2	- -	4	2	3	2	2	2	4	2	3
Golden-crowned Kinglet	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Red-breasted Nuthatch	2	- -	2	1	2	- -	- -	1	1	- -	2
White-breasted Nuthatch	2	1	3	2	1	2	2	1	1	1	2
Brown Creeper	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Common Starling	2	7	- -	18	23	- -	- -	- -	35	7	- -
Eastern Bluebird	- -	16	16	7	7	- -	- -	2	- -	5	- -
Townsend's Solitaire	1	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Robin	65	35	18	10	65	175	25	5	20	35	225
House Sparrow	- -	10	20	10	20	15	30	25	39	- -	25
House Finch	4	6	3	4	65	65	12	3	8	28	8
American Goldfinch	2	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -
Red-winged Blackbird	4	11	- -	- -	3	12	3	4	- -	- -	- -
Rusty Blackbird	- -	- -	- -	- -	8	9	7	- -	- -	2	4
Common Grackle	3	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Harris's Sparrow	2	3	3	2	2	2	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Dark-eyed Junco	25	15	14	12	30	32	15	30	12	25	34
American Tree Sparrow	2	3	4	2	3	3	2	2	- -	- -	2
Northern Cardinal	- -	1	2	- -	2	1	1	1	- -	- -	1

The 42 species seen during November-December 2018 (273 records) compares to 35 in 2015 (172 records); 41 in 2016 (292 records); and, 37 in 2017 (176 records).

There are a few bird feeders along Lake Shore Drive so the area wildbirds certainly have some food to eat as they strive to survive snow covering the spaces where they forage, very cold temperatures and other threats to their survival. If a few birds are present when more seed is spread, within a minute or two they are right back and once again busily feed. Seeds for the birds are especially important on snowy days and what follows when the landscape is covered by inches of white. These birds have to survive as they will establish the next generation of our featured friends. Without wildbirds we would live in a boring place, since often it is the color, life and a sudden view of something never seen before that can often create a special day to share. It only requires some attention and a helpful pair of binoculars or a spotting scope.

Saturday Drive in Cherry County Country

With a temperate day of latter autumn expected, a drive to look for birds was done through eastern Cherry county on Saturday, November 4^th.

The bird-watching route began east of Brownlee, and continued west and then northerly, including along Pass Creek to Swan Lake, west of Brownlee, along the road from Brownlee to Highway 97, then north to Spur 16B and past the northwest edge of Valentine NWR. Along the way, birds were recorded for seventeen distinct localities.

This is the tally of 35 species seen, based upon 72 records of occurrence. There were no large numbers of waterfowl at different water bodies but small-sized flocks of different species at the different places.

• Canada Goose: only at Swan Lake
  
• American Wigeon
  
• Mallard
  
• Northern Pintail
  
• Green-winged Teal
  
• Canvasback: enjoyed at Hackberry Lake
  
• Redhead
  
• Bufflehead
  
• Ruddy Duck
  
• Wild Turkey: a flock of 17 in a mown hay meadow in northern Wamaduze Valley
  
• Common Pheasant
  
• Pied-billed Grebe: the three species of grebes were all seen at Alkali Pond, along Highway 97
  
• Black-necked Grebe
  
• Western Grebe
  
• Double-crested Cormorant: at Swan Lake and Hackberry Lake
  
• Cooper's Hawk
  
• Northern Harrier: three along Brush Creek and also present elsewhere
  
• Bald Eagle: a few seen with single adult birds at each place observed
  
• Red-tailed Hawk
  
• Rough-legged Buzzard: in a tree on the north side of Brush Creek
  
• Downy Woodpecker
  
• Northern Flicker
  
• American Kestrel: single birds foraging along the county roads
  
• Merlin: a very pale bird perched atop a tree on the north side of Brush Creek
  
• American Crow
  
• Horned Lark
  
• Common Starling
  
• American Robin: nice numbers at several different places
  
• Red Crossbill: four heard flying over Swan Lake
  
• American Goldfinch
  
• Red-winged Blackbird: flocks of hundreds at two locations
  
• Brewer's Blackbird: amidst the Red-winged Blackbirds east of Brownlee
  
• Harris's Sparrow
  
• Dark-eyed Junco
  
• American Tree Sparrow
  

The weather was especially enjoyable at Swan Lake, when early in the afternoon there were warmer temperatures, slight winds and partly cloudy skies. Conditions at this place made the days' outing especially enjoyable.

During the day, 150 miles were travelled during about four hours of observation time. A special thanks to Gordon Warrick for his company and providing transportation.

Saturday Evening Appreciation of Roosting Martins

Any evening that a tasty cookie can be enjoyed while watching a bird spectacle, it is a good time. That was the case on Saturday evening, August 15th at the midtown martin roost.

There was a congregation of about 25,000 Purple Martins and a wonderful human crowd as well. It was a mix of bird watching amidst a community, with wonderful conversation.

People present included Loren and Babs, Justin, Bob and Tad, Nancy with her notebook and of course, Tisha with the cookies. There were members and leaders of the Omaha Youth Birding Group also present.

Also about was an animal that snagged the dead grackle and then moved along to eat the dead bird, which is the basics of the cycle of life. It moved so fast into the bushes to the east that no picture could be taken. Perhaps it was hungry.

There was also a pair of Peregrine Falcons seen on the scene. These are some sort of pictures, as taken during the time at the Nebraska Medical Center campus. It was certainly a grand evening, in many ways!

Not sure what the birds thought. So many Purple Martins which are the star attraction. Multitudes as well of starlings and grackles that also know this important bird place.

Yet there was death at the scene. These two images convey the reality which the Nebraska Medical Center is ignoring.

A smashed grackle beneath the walkway at the Nebraska Medical Center, midtown. August 15, 2015.

Smashed Purple Martin beneath the walkway at the Nebraska Medical Center, midtown. August 15, 2015.

The Nebraska Medical Center needs to take responsibility for the deaths of birds at their facilities. There is one word which is appropriate ... mitigation. If birds die, do something positive in response. They should purchase a martin house and have it placed at a place where adults can successfully raise young.

Area Birders Appreciate Fowl at Carter Lake

This is an email sent to Mayor Jean Stothert, Robert Stubbe, director of Public Works and Pete Festerson, Omaha city council.

A dozen birders gathered on the east side of Carter Lake to observe the variety of birds present during the latter morning of April 5th. The group included bird-watchers from Omaha, Bellevue, Fremont and other places of eastern Nebraska. The group was associated with the WINGS bird tour group.

There was particular attention given to the "gull flats" north of Bird Isle. There were only Ring-billed Gulls present that appreciated this place to roost and rest. Many other birds were seen. The call of a Bairds Sandpiper was significant. Wigeons were present, as well as a bunch of coots.

The variety of birds was significantly different in comparison to one day previous, on Friday.

No water was being pumped on Friday morning, but then was being pumped on mid-day Saturday. Public officials that have made the decisions regarding the operation of the pump will not provide any details regarding the basis for why this pumping activity is done.

Cooperative Attention to Wintering Trumpeter Swans

An early year arrival of majestic Trumpeter Swans has meant a cooperative effort by many interested in our avian neighbors, and that cared enough to share details of a unique event.

This whole situation started early in January 2014, when local birder Justin Rink was at Carter Lake, viewing the scene from the Nebraska side, and took the time afterwards to post the results of his survey.

Dramatic among the waterfowl was one of the many swans which had an orange-colored marker on one of its wings.

It was a mark that could provide a history for this birds, one of the many among the flock at a bit of open water during the frigid "polar vortex."

Rink's online post indicated: "One orange-tagged adult labeled 387."

Soon thereafter, other bird enthusiasts visited the lake, to see the waterfowl congregation.

Loren and Babs Padelford visited on the 11th, posting online their fowl observations. On the 12th, Robert, a member of the NEBirds forum posted a picture of the tundra swan. Another member Ruthie Stearns, visited from Lincoln, during a time when Omaha birder Betty Grenon was also visiting the lake.

It was the bird with a label that was an especially significant observation.

"Others in this series were released in" southern Minnesota, said Madeleine Linck, of the Trumpeter Swan Society, based in Minnesota. "Generally, if the tag is on the right wing it would have been sexed as a male."

She forwarded my inquiry to Steve Kittelson, a wildlife lake specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Subsequent details convey the special life of this big bird.

"Here is the release information on wing tag #387 in May 2011. I do not have any other information on sightings of #387 after release. A sibling, wing tag #388 was released with #387. #388 was reported with #391 (likely) at Squaw Creek, Missouri in April 2013 (see #3 below)."

Further details from Jon Schneider of Ducks Unlimited, indicate a unique perspective of success associated with this birds previous occurrence, up north in Minnesota.

"A photo 3314 which shows a tundra swan in the foreground and one of our trumpeter swans (387) in the background at Jennie Lake. I never cease to be impressed by continuing progress in habitat restoration that is being accomplished by these collaborative projects with Ducks Unlimited and the Section of Wildlife thanks to LSOHC.

"Pictures of 316-acre Jennie Lake in Douglas County (south of Brandon, east of Alexandria) taken by me on November 1 at the peak of duck migration. Recall Jennie Lake was one of the 8 shallow lakes enhanced by DU in partnership with DNR Wildlife through our initial 2009 OHF appropriation for “shovel ready projects” and was one of the stops on the initial LSOHC tour in 2009 (or 2010?)."

Trumpeter Swans at Jennie Lake, Minnesota. Photograph courtesy of Jon Schneider.

Jennie Lake is about 320 miles from Carter Lake, and is about directly north as the swans fly.

Ongoing Attention

The interest and followup by staff of the Omaha World-Herald are the "final chapter" for this unique saga. A positive response to a story suggestion to Nancy Gaarder, a pictorial effort by supreme photographer Mark Davis who knows what it takes to get grand images of swans at Carter Lake (as he has done once before), and others have come together to present a story of the swans.

This same bird is shown in a previous photograph, and was also among a flock of swans and coots up north.

Birdly Significance

The collaboration which has brought about this recognition is unique in the annals of plains ornithology. So many elements came together through a team effort.

Its a special month for the swans. Only if it would be possible to give #387 a treat, because the swans are oblivious, and that is why it is so important to work on their behalf!

Further Sightings

Date	Carter Lake	Desoto NWR	Schilling WMA
01 Jan	18	- -	- -
03 Jan	19	- -	- -
05 Jan	16	- -	- -
08 Jan	- -	12	- -
09 Jan	22	- -	- -
11 Jan	11	- -	- -
13 Jan	16	- -	- -
15 Jan	- -	- -	22
19 Jan	28 *	- -	- -
* Greatest count ever based upon records for this locality since 1998.

These are the current sightings of Trumpeter Swans Along the Middle Missouri River during January, 2014

The number of Trumpeter Swans present at Carter Lake this month exceeds any numbers previously reported, especially in 2013. Every count thus far in 2014 have indicated more than ten of these swans, whereas all previous reports were for eight or fewer swans, with 19 of the twenty counts six or less.

Current season observations at Carter Lake by Justin Rink, Ruth Stearns, with other mentions by others, as well as a personal visit on January 5th. Desoto NWR records from refuge staff bird survey. Schilling WMA report by Clem Klaphake, who indicated that swans were present during the Omaha Christmas Bird Count done in latter December. Nearby, at the Cass County sandpit lake, there were 22 swans present, including one with a red neck band.

This is the NEBirds report by Daniel Leger, of Lincoln, for activities Sunday evening at Carter Lake.

"I was at Levi Carter Park in Omaha yesterday, arriving around 4:15. By 5:00 there was a crowd of about 30 folks looking for the swans. Justin Rink and Clem Klaphake were among the throng, most of whom were apparently drawn by an article in the Omaha World Herald.

"Three Trumpeters (the tagged adult and two juveniles) were present when I arrived. Others started coming in around 5:15 but most of them didn't come in until around 5:40. There were over 20 Trumpeters plus the juvenile Tundra. The only downside was that it was getting fairly dark by the time the Tundra appeared.

There were 22 Trumpeters present in the morning and 30 in the afternoon on January 23rd. The ambient temperature in the morning, when the following picture was taken, was -5^o with a -24^o windchill.