Don't Mess With This Hawk

This vibrant hawk was eating breakfast and was ready to take on the world this morning. Another hawk was sitting atop a nearby utility pole, just being an observer, but perhaps waiting to swoop in and feed on the remains. It was the threat calls uttered by nearby passerine birds during my bicycling past that meant some human sort of attention was given to the situation.

This seems to be a female, because of size differences. A decent distance was kept away from this beautiful hawk to ensure that it could continue to feed as needed to survive. There were a couple of glances that conveyed some questioning about a tall intruder. My presence was done in a manner to never be excessively intrusive and certainly never a threat. The hawk continued to feed on some unknown prey upon my departure along the street. A guess about the food? Perhaps a rabbit nest?

The sheer intent and veracity of this bird is dramatic. It obviously conveys: don't take from me what is mine because there might have some interloper threatening survival. With its sort of perspective, may this bird thrive! The photo is the not the best of those taken but chosen for display because the character. It is the intensity that was captured and something to appreciate. What is surprising is the extent of feathers on the hawk's legs.

Perhaps a reason for the situation is that a Great-horned Owl that was heard during the night in some nearby trees.

A few Purple Martin were moving in the beautiful skies of the morning with such beautiful clouds, that myself and another visitor to the Walnut Hill Reservoir were visually gushing. After we enjoyed our own space as the clouds passed and the sun began to shine, the significance of the clouds were discussed (with one opinion comparing them to facets of the skin, and its textures and subtleties). The value of the green space was obvious. Even the local Chimney Swifts (at least nine) seemed happy as the bird clan, including what had to young of the year twittered overhead. The bird moment of the day was explaining to a fellow aficionado of skies that the little birds were not bats, but bug-eaters that live in chimneys.

Can't forget the nighthawk, nuthatch, a little bunch of chickadees saying "hello" in their merry refrain, robins of course, the voice of the cardinal, downy woodpecker, the mournful sound of the mourning dove. The House Sparrows enjoy the calm of the evening when they can get a fresh drink, once the human visitors depart to dry off and get warm. There was an subtly expressive Eastern Wood-Pewee, and the nice sound of a Chipping Sparrow, as well. A crow was off in the distance somewhere.

Any visit on a hot summer day - because a best fountain in Omaha is here - for residents of buildings is about the water. "IT IS TOO COLD" was a common refrain heard during my late July interlude one day.

Verses for When Walking Around Midtown

Swing low sweet chariot,

Coming just to carry me home

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

Your presence has let me know

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

It's just the right time to go

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

Life's joys and problems are seeming to end

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

Times when efforts were repeated and sown

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

As family memories begin to close

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

With only thoughts of friendly times once known

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

A personal trail is getting dim

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

With a blood flow lessening its ebb

 

Swing low blessed chariot,

Take me to where colorful birds always sing

 

Swing low sweet chariot,

Before going up and away.

Swing low .. swing real low and don't miss as you carry me home.

Swing low blessed chariot. Thank you for a new life within the holy light.

Saturday - January 10, 2015

Bird Tragedies of Late-October Days at Omaha

With an expectation of changing weather in some subsequent days, some particular attention was given to survey the situation associated with bird-window strikes at numerous buildings in downtown Omaha, just west of the Missouri River.

The weekend of October 25-26 started the norm of a routine, well known. There were no records of bird-window strikes, along the usual route on three days earlier in the week, the days being Monday (October 20th), Wednesday (22nd) and on Friday (the 24th which was a morning of an irksome OMetro bus whose driver would not yield, once and again another time, ending with a point made near the cemetery further westward along Leavenworth Street) when there were low-lying, foggy-type of clouds, and steady southerly winds. The usual route was followed so there was nothing different associated with the survey effort as done a few hundred times previously. These were just a few of many days when there were no findings during the past years when surveys have been done, yet there has never been any data-record kept for the bicycle effort on mornings when there were no bird carcasses found.

On Saturday morning, there were several instances of dead birds at downtown Omaha buildings. These are the particulars, as found during an early morning bicycle survey on October 25th, when there was not much wind.

• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Savannah Sparrow, carcass ten feet north of convention center entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Savannah Sparrow, carcass 15 feet north of convention center entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Savannah Sparrow, disabled bird 20 feet north of convention center entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: White-throated Sparrow, carcass one foot north of second from north entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Cooper's Hawk, dead juvenile next to pigeon at the south end of the west facade, just south of the convention center entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Rock Pigeon; dead, next to Cooper's Hawk carcass, at the south end of the west facade, just south of the convention center entrance
• American National Bank: White-throated Sparrow; carcass on the south side, about 20 feet from the east corner

The occurrence of birds struck dead by flying into glass walls of buildings in downtown Omaha continued on Sunday. There were more fatalities found on the second day of the weekend, October 26th, as indicated by the following details.

• TD Ameritrade Park: Dark-eyed Junco, one of two disabled birds on the south side, just north of the 12th and Fahey Street intersection
• TD Ameritrade Park: Dark-eyed Junco, one of two disabled birds on the south side, just north of the 12th and Fahey Street intersection
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Savannah Sparrow, one of two dead birds, one on bench about 30 feet north of the second from north entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Savannah Sparrow, one of two dead birds by bench about 30 feet north of the second from north entrance
• CenturyLink Center Omaha: Clay-colored Sparrow, dead about ten feet south of the second from north entrance
• 1200 Landmark Center: Lincoln's Sparrow, carcass on the sidewalk at the west side entrance
• Central Park Plaza: Dark-eyed Junco, carcass at the plaza by the north entrance of the south tower
• Gavilon Building: Savannah Sparrow, carcass on the west side, about ten feet from the north corner
• Omaha-Douglas Civic Center: Grasshopper Sparrow, carcass on the north side of the atrium, about ten feet from the east corner

On Monday morning, with light winds prevailing and which were hardly noticeable at the time of my outing, a vividly colored sparrow was found dead at the doorway of a place associated with the Slowdown complex in north Downtown.

• Urban Outfitters at the north downtown Slowdown complex: Fox Sparrow, carcass on the west side of the store, by the main entrance

Another instance for this period of time is for Tuesday, October 28th. A disabled Savannah Sparrow was noted at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, a short time after sunrise.

As the weather changed to more of a typical autumn regime on October 27-28, the subsequent few days may be times for more bird deaths among the buildings of downtown Omaha as more wildbirds migrate southward.

Autumn Season of Chimney Swifts of Eastern Omaha - 2014

The autumn 2014 season of Chimney Swifts congregating at suitable spaces of eastern Omaha was notably different in comparison to previous years.

Swifts were gone from the city skies days earlier than previously noted. Though these bird had migrated to the south, there were warm days and bugs notably present. Temperatures were above average through nearly the end of October. European Starlings were seen "hawking" for bugs in the sky, similar to what swifts did in previous weeks of the year.

A new record for the number of swifts using one chimney occurred this autumn, and it was at the Izard Industrial Zone on September 16th. It surpassed the earlier record counts for a church in the Blackstone neighborhood.

These are the peak counts associated with the results of Omaha swift surveys, conducted since 2003 in the eastern extent of the river city:

• Izard Industrial Zone on 09/16/2014 - 1530; a magnificent evening count at the CenturyLink maintenance facility chimney along Izard Street, near 43rd Street
• Blackstone District on 09/13/2011 - 1400; done by 7:55 p.m.; same number as two nights ago at First Central Congregational Church
• Blackstone District on 09/11/2011 - 1400; multi-sided chimney at First Central Congregational Church at 36th and Harney; massing about and then entered in about five minutes; multiple layers, directions and swirls; counted by groups of ten as they entered
• Blackstone District on 09/17/2014 - 1385; into First Central Congregational Chimney
• Izard Industrial Zone on 10/09/2012 - 1350; swarming as they have on the previous two nights; ready vocalization; done by ca. 7:15 p.m. at CenturyLink building
• Izard Industrial Zone on 10/08/2012 - 1325; vocal as typical on a warmer evening, with some sort of hurry for them to get into CenturyLink chimney; done about 7:25 p.m., with dusk heavy on the scene; counted in groups as they entered chimney at CenturyLink building
• Izard Industrial Zone on 10/07/2012 - 1325; a surprisingly large, vocal group early into the CenturyLink chimney; done by 7:15 p.m. with bunches counted as they swiftly entered the chimney

The last observation of the 2014 season was eleven swifts seen at Benson on October 15th. Ten of the birds flew southeast of the central building district to an unknown roost, and only one was seen using a particular chimney. Swifts utilize several chimneys in this urban setting, as seen and enjoyed by residents and visitors, as experienced on the streets of this district during October.

This occurrence was earlier than expected, as once there was a cool night or two, the weather moderated, with temperatures in the 70s and frost-free night for seven to ten subsequent days. There were European Starlings flying like swifts hawking for bugs seen after the bug-eaters were gone.

After many years of observation and keeping detailed records, there are enough details to determine some approximate sort of pattern associated with the autumnal gatherings of the swifts at Omaha. There may be many dozens of birds present and using a particular chimney on one evening, yet none the next day at the same time. This was obvious this year, especially at the Dundee at Dodge Street locale. There were an approximate 155 seen on October 13, yet none the next evening.

During the 2014 season, the largest congregations of swifts at roosts occurred nearly three weeks prior to dates when a similar number occurred in 2013. Also, the last known presence of these birds occurred a week earlier than last year, based upon surveys done at the same geographic locale.

There are more than twenty records of occurrence for swifts in Omaha, subsequent to the latest date for the 2014 autumn season. This includes five times when more than one hundred swifts were counted at a particular chimney in the evening.

This is a summary of the autumnal days associated with Chimney Swift occurrence among the urban setting of eastern Omaha, for the past few years. The records are based upon multiple surveys, primarily during the evening hours. Julian date 255 is usually October 12th, with October 21st the latest date indicated.

Julian Date	2003	2005	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
255	425	850	- -	- -	374	- -	90	23	- -	- -
256	265	160	- -	- -	60	- -	1400	- -	18	- -
257	- -	265	- -	65	- -	25	254	325	220	- -
258	66	- -	- -	- -	66	- -	- -	2	185	44
259	157	- -	- -	- -	58	- -	- -	130	81	1530
260	405	- -	- -	25	27	- -	- -	504	1	1402
261	80	- -	- -	- -	304	- -	- -	75	9	62
262	462	- -	- -	- -	243	- -	60	56	12	711
263	325	- -	- -	- -	- -	10	70	480	534	- -
264	460	- -	- -	- -	495	190	- -	145	135	- -
265	- -	- -	- -	25	269	- -	45	225	93	700
266	- -	- -	- -	- -	136	16	140	335	- -	- -
267	- -	- -	- -	- -	98	65	- -	17	19	200
268	- -	- -	- -	15	266	220	- -	- -	- -	342
269	- -	- -	- -	- -	137	1	- -	- -	97	372
270	- -	- -	- -	- -	170	- -	- -	365	7	200
271	- -	- -	- -	260	155	- -	- -	65	505	- -
272	- -	- -	- -	- -	408	2	- -	260	349	285
273	- -	- -	- -	155	13	2	- -	225	140	- -
274	- -	- -	- -	225	724	- -	- -	121	33	20
275	- -	- -	25	330	- -	- -	- -	68	306	630
276	- -	- -	- -	- -	178	3	- -	10	53	- -
277	- -	- -	- -	385	511	- -	- -	96	62	330
278	- -	- -	- -	12	42	- -	430	660	160	110
279	- -	- -	- -	32	228	15	- -	630	135	150
280	- -	- -	- -	120	65	- -	- -	59	155	55
281	- -	- -	- -	360	107	130	8	1325	201	121
282	- -	- -	- -	85	227	140	190	1325	154	66
283	- -	- -	- -	183	90	- -	90	1350	200	180
284	- -	- -	- -	289	2	140	- -	626	168	243
285	- -	- -	- -	397	8	265	65	585	157	23
286	- -	- -	- -	120	- -	- -	17	625	31	165
287	- -	- -	- -	130	- -	- -	- -	710	9	2
288	- -	- -	- -	65	1	- -	4	6	2	11
289	- -	- -	- -	137	16	- -	- -	10	4	- -
290	- -	- -	- -	191	- -	- -	- -	- -	7	- -
291	- -	- -	- -	136	1	- -	- -	- -	147	- -
292	- -	- -	- -	25	54	- -	- -	- -	132	- -
293	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
294	- -	- -	- -	- -	9	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -

There is no effort underway in Omaha to designate and conserve chimney structures utilized by thousands of migratory and breeding Chimney Swifts. The trend continues to be a loss of chimney roosting habitat, with particular spaces lost each year, to the detriment of the birds.

Screech-owl Prevalence in East-central Omaha

It has been a fine autumn to hear the calls of the Eastern Screech-owl in several neighborhoods of east-central Omaha. They have been especially prevalent as reported in the greater Dundee area.

During September, the call of the owl was heard during nocturnal hours at several neighborhoods in the area.

In the Carthage neighborhood, on the north side of the Dundee place, there were heard five times throughout the month. It was especially vocal in the early morning hours. In the previous five years, they were heard, but less often, only two or three times during the season.

On Washington Hill, in the vicinity of Harrison school at 53rd and Hamilton Street, they were heard during the week prior to September 20.

At Dundee Place, they were prevalent at two localities, and heard multiple times southeast of Dundee School and near 51st and Burt Street, notably on September 26th.

Near Dundee school during latter summer, two fledglings were readily observed by residents. Adult birds were also seen a time or two, according to available reports, although dates were not recorded.

The only October record available to mid-month was one heard predawn on October 2nd at Washington Hill, Harrison Neighborhood. Thus far, they have not been noted vocalizing at Carthage, though records are known for at least once during four of the past five years.

There are previous autumn records for the vicinity, which contribute to indications of its distribution:

• 04 Oct 2012: Mercer Woods (40th and Cuming Streets)
  
• 01 Nov 2012: picture of one taken in the Memorial Park area and printed in the Nebraska Bird Review
  
• 11 Oct 2013: Metcalfe Park (picture taken of a small owl at the roundup southeast of the park at 50th and Happy Hollow Boulevard)

For November, there is on average only one record per year for the area. Additional occurrences can be expected, based upon their having previously been reported.

September's Significance

The basis for an apparent increase in vocalizations of the little owls may be related to ensuring territoriality claims. Perhaps, for example considering this year, once the fledglings departed the habitat used by their parents near Dundee school, they would roam elsewhere to find their own place to dwell. As they moved further from their home territory, they arrived within the domain of other screech owls, which made certain to convey their place by issuing calls within the boundaries.

An increase in calls might be due to the increased attention being given by resident owls to firmly establish their claim to a territory for this winter and the next breeding season. Whatever the rationale, the night calls have definitively indicated the presence of multiple owls in this region of the urban-scape of one area of Omaha.

Thanks to Julie, Jo and Marjie for providing details on owl occurrence.

---

There were two Eastern Screech-Owls heard the morning of October 25th in the Carthage neighborhood (at 1:45 a.m.) and at the Izard Industrial Zone (near 42nd and Nicholas Streets at 7:20 a.m.).

Tanager Window-Strike Species No. 100 at Omaha

A dead Summer Tanager at the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center is the 100th species found in association with known window-bird strikes in eastern Omaha. The carcass of a first year male, despite being found soggy and forlorn on the west side of the building, at the south end in a corner of the plaza, was nonetheless colorful with subtle hues of red and yellow, with features of its plumage instantly indicative. Based upon its degraded condition, the fatality probably occurred May 27th, though it was not found until the 28th. The former bit of wildbird life was placed into my personal bird-carrier bag, hung on the bicycle frame, and later disposed of at a natural place, rather than getting tossed, indifferently into some container full of human's trash.

The first hours of Monday morning were too rainy, based upon rain drops on the roof and radar perspective, for the usual survey as done along a regular route, via numerous and nearly continuous rotations of bicycle pedals; excluding the downhill parts of the route. This is the second recent morning where a survey was not done, due to the current rainy and stormy cycle of weather.

Also found Tuesday morning were a couple of Least Flycatchers at the CenturyLink Center Omaha (one soggy dead carcass and one disabled bird moved to a safer space). A soggy Tennessee Warbler and female Baltimore Oriole, both lingering carcasses, were at the west side of the Omaha Public Power District Energy Plaza, a few feet south of the buildings' west entrance. The latter two were probably also from the 27th.

This morning's outing was not very smooth because of an especially obvious defect of my transportation. A side of the rear wheel rim of the bicycle split, so when the tire had correct pressure, a metallic bulge meant the brake pad hit the brake pad, causing the wheel to jump and then jerk when using the rear brake. Nothing was smooth and it was also noisy, and a complete bother. Add to this, that when walking, the tire would often stop revolving when it got stuck at the four-inch long bulge, which only stuck out about a quarter of an inch which was however enough to cause the wheel to not turn and drag along the surface, whether it was sidewalk, grass or mud on this Tuesday. The whole situation was a negative diversion, resulting in many words better left ignored for the day!

The situation was profoundly obvious in a negative manner, just a short time later, while going about Carter Lake and Levi Carter Park on another morning bird survey, because winds were finally light in the early a.m. Despite the vexing mechanics, it was nice to prominently see a live Scarlet Tanager along the southeast shoreline of the lake, its red-and-black plumage obvious, among the arboreal realm. This was a new addition to the species recorded among the spaces at this place.

Later, back at the house after an unknown multitude of pedals on a muggy morning where blue skies eventually replaced the clouds, and after removing the wheel, removing the tire and tube, some prying efforts were tried with a tool. The attempt to force the metal back into proper alignment was unsuccessful, though it did seem that the rim lines were suitably aligned. Once the tire, under pressure and back in place on the bicycle frame, and the wheel was turned to determine it if was suitable for riding, it became obvious real soon that there was no improvement. The only result was dirty fingers, that had to be scrubbed clean at the kitchen sink.

It's time, again, for the well-worn Giant — that would be the model type — to get taken to the Walnut Hill bicycle shop for installation of a new rim. This had been planned to get done in a few days, because of at least five broken spokes, but the newly found break has moved forward the day to get the ride repaired. Now more than 25 years old, the frame and handlebars of this essential and omnipresent feature of so-many city travels is likely the only remaining original parts.

There will be many more rides upon its two wheels (which still needs new handle grips, a front tire, and a seat). Perhaps, maybe, in the future there might will be a new cycle, one of them with the big wheels, fewer gears, a really comfortable seat and smooth in all of its operations, and most importantly, without the need for repairs!

While walking back from delivering the bicycle, a small plastic bag of recyclable cans and plastic was picked from along the dirty Omaha Streets. Another was also filled to overflowing on the walk back — along a different route — to pick up the bicycle once the repair was completed.

Plastic trash removed from Omaha streets so it could be recycled.

Created Spaces Are Places for Omaha Birders to Visit

Habitat work associated with the CSO! project in the Saddle Creek basin along Center Street, will establish a changed habitat and create a different space for local birdlife or other things of nature.

There will be an increased floral diversity along the creekway on the east side of Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery once the many types of plants are established along a defined corridor. Any animal life associated with this spot, along with the creek channel mitigation site to the westward, has to be monitored, according to the Section 404 permit acquired by the City of Omaha. This includes an indication to denote bird activities, occurrence of nests, or findings of feathers, or even visual observations that might be captured by a quick click of a camera.

Any efforts by members of the community could be helpful in achieving this goal. The question is what incentive is there for the bird-watching public to visit CSO! project green-spaces to do a bird survey and report their findings? And also have enough interest to share their findings with city officials?

For example, further details on birds, and even other wildlife could be helpful in indicating that the rigorous environmental review and need for mitigation has resulted in something beneficial. Several prominent CSO sites are within the confines of eastern Omaha, and with each of them are readily accessible, so it would be so easy to take a quick look on a day of fine weather.

Birders, during an outing of discovery, might convey that created habitat diversity and green-space are an asset to the city environs? There might be an appreciated view of some expressive bird of some subtlety? Or, with the new additions to the floral landscape, some unexpected, vivid moment might occur.

Or to convey a phrase: "You don't know if you don't go."

These surveys can also be done prior to any habitat modifications, and allow a before/after comparison. This sort of information is already available for Adams Park, Fontenelle Park and Spring Lake Park in eastern Omaha.

It would be helpful if a representative of the CSO! project would give a presentation to a local conservation group, perhaps at Fontenelle Forest or at a usual monthly meeting of the Audubon Society of Omaha. The speaker could tell the attendants about current and proposed projects, changing habitats, and that any effort to assist in some manner could be a contribution to the community!