Findings for Verizon Cellular Tower at Hyannis Golf Course

Verizon Wireless has issued their findings to the Federal Communications Commission for the cellular communications tower to be placed at the Pelican Beach Golf Course east of Hyannis. The tower is designed to provide service to the village and its local airport.

This is a summary of the details associated with this tower — located along Highway 2 — as submitted via email by the applicant to the Federal Communications Commission (ASR Application No. A0916392) in mid-December:

* The 358-foot (109 meters) height tower will be a self-supported lattice structure that will not include any guy wires.

* A previous application to the FCC by Verizon was cancelled (August 26, 2014) due to a revision in the placement of the tower to the golf course site where access and utilities are available. An alternative site further north was rejected since the resident did not want a cellular tower on their property.

* Verizon has received permission from the FAA (Study Number: 2014-ACE-3331-OE) to utilize "avian-friendly" lighting system of “dual, medium intensity lighting without the use of the steady-burning side lights.” Also, any lights associated with “on-ground facilities should be down-shielded and/or motion-sensored to limit such lighting to within the tower compound.”

* A mid-November letter from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), in consultation on this tower, indicated “it appears unlikely that the proposed telecommunications tower would result in adverse effects to federally protected, threatened or endangered species, or to any critical habitat designated for such species.” An additional recommendation was that there be no “removal or impacts to vegetation during the extended nesting season.” If work is necessary, a qualified biologist should conduct an “avian pre-construction risk assessment of the affected habitats to determine the absence or presence of breeding birds and their nests." A qualified biologist will be engaged "if construction cannot be scheduled outside of the specified dates, to complete an avian pre-construction risk assessment and ensure breeding birds and/or nests are not present prior to construction,” according to the FWS. letter, submitted by Eliza Hines, acting supervisor of the Nebraska Field Office. The agency also requested receiving a written report if a bird survey is done.

* In early November, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) concurred with a finding of “not likely to impact” any state-owned property, including Avocet WMA, nor “likely to have any adverse impacts on state-listed threatened or endangered species.”

The NGPC letter also indicated: “We have grown increasingly concerned about the recent increase in tower construction across Nebraska and impacts that this might have on populations of migratory birds,” wrote Carey Greel, an environmental analyst with the state agency. “Aerial photos of the site show the tower would be located in close proximity to an area dense with Sandhill wetland landscape features. These wetlands provide migratory and nesting habitat for numerous migratory bird species, and we have records of trumpeter swan and long-billed curlew, both Tier 1 species identified in our Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan, using wetland and grassland habitats in the area. Tier 1 species are those that are globally or nationally most at-risk, and which occur in Nebraska.”

The other tower at Hyannis (just west of Highway 61) and at Whitman (northward of Doc Lake), have not yet been submitted to the FCC for review as of early December, according to spokesperson for the federal agency. Of the three cellular towers proposed for Hyannis and Whitman, only the golf-course tower has undergone a complete pre-construction review.

Each of the three towers have, however, already undergone an environmental review by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, with similar findings for each tower structure.

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An attempt to determine further information on this tower was not successful in December. The request to the Federal Communications commission was limited. Results of the terse inquiry were:

Regarding the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway and how there will be mitigation on the impact of a new structure along Highway 2:

Requester for the first time suggested that the tower may impact the viewscape along the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway. This e-mail was neither addressed to the FCC nor styled as a reply comment. Moreover, even if we were to treat it as a reply comment, new issues ordinarily may not be raised on reply and Requester has shown no reason why he could not have raised this assertion earlier. In addition, Requester has made no effort to explain how the proposed tower may adversely affect the Scenic Byway.

No information was provided either on the features of the tower, the expected date of construction, nor anything about how the tower will be built.

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.

FWS Comments on Birdwood Creek and R-Project

The following is an email sent by Robert M. Harms, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ecological services office in Nebraska, in regards to Birdwood Creek and the proposed R-Project. This is the entirety of the email sent to the Nebraska Public Power District, and presented verbatim with his permission.

"Please make reference to a recent site visit held on June 16, 2014, that was hosted by a local landowner (Mr. Mike Kelly) and attended by several organizations and individuals including but not limited to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited (DU), and local landowners. The site visit was informational and focused on potential migratory bird issues in the area of the proposed R-Project—especially the alternative preferred by NPPD. There was important discussion at the site visit about an additional alternative that involves routing the R-Project power line from Gerald Gentlemen Station (GGS) to a northeastern direction, east of North Platte where it would then extend northward along Highway 83 — a.k.a the “East of North Platte Alternative” (see attachment for general location). Discussions at the meeting indicated that this alternative may have less impact on migratory birds because it avoids large concentrations of birds that are prevalent in the area of the preferred alternative. There was also discussions about potential impacts to conservation easements held along the preferred alternative, implications of the line to a new Sutherland Bridge over the North Platte River, and a portion of the Mormon Trail, located just north of the North Platte River.

"As you know, a site visit was also held on June 12, 2014, and it was attended by Jim Jenniges, Michelle Koch, and me. We spent a considerable amount of time traveling the Preferred R-Project Route alternative and an additional NPPD-proposed alternative located just east of the Preferred alternative, west of Hershey.

"The purpose of this E-mail is to summarize the main points at the two site visits held on June 12 and 16 and to make recommendations for how to move forward being mindful of requirements of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Careful consideration is needed for the development of a preferred alternative to ensure that NPPD maintains compliance with MBTA. Additionally, as you know the Service is moving forward with preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under NEPA to support issuance of a section 10 permit which may authorize take of the federally endangered American burying beetle. The EIS will address not just issuance of the take permit, but the entire R-Project including affects to other Federal and State Trust fish and wildlife resources including migratory birds—preparation of the EIS essentially federalizes the entire R-project given that the project cannot proceed without authorization to take the ABB under a section 10 permit. It will be difficult to prepare a defensible EIS if there is nearly a certainty of noncompliance with MBTA under the currently-proposed Preferred Alternative in these high bird concentration areas.

"Preferred alternative:

"The Preferred Alternative departs GGS and extends northward where it crosses the South Platte River. Of concern to the Service is that this crossing also extends over a perpetual conservation easement that is held by DU on a parcel of private property owned by Neil Hanson. The conservation easement is for a 1-mile-long segment of river frontage and extends along the north bank. The purpose of the conservation easement is for conservation of migratory waterfowl and other birds. During the course of the site visit on June 12 we learned that there are no federal funds associated with this easement. Since that time, however, we have learned that apparently there remains a federal interest in this conservation easement via parcel swapping involving North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) funds. We suggest that you contact Steve Donovan of DU for clarification and verification. Please notify me if it is determined that a federal interest remains for this conservation easement via federal funds or parcel swaps. I have cc’ed Steve on this E-mail as a heads-up to him.

"The preferred alternative extends northward across several pivots before it intersects with a sand hill, east of Sutherland and heads northward across several meadows and wetlands. As you know, the crop fields in the area provide a considerable amount of habitat for sandhill cranes and other waterfowl in the spring and fall. We are concerned about avian collisions with the R-Project power line in this area given the high concentration of migratory birds in the spring and fall. The R-Project power line makes a turn to the west and then extends northward where it crosses the North Platte River near the Sutherland Bridge. As you know, our preference is always for burial of power lines at river crossings if possible to eliminate all risk of avian collision. If that is not possible, power line crossings at bridges is our next preferred approach as birds tend to avoid areas with increased activities such as bridge traffic.

"From here the power line extends northward through typical sandhill habitat for a few miles, then turns east and crosses Birdwood Creek at a pinch point along the creek. We have learned since our June 12 meeting, however, that the proposed crossing at the pinch point is immediately downstream from a large sandhill crane roost. The area of the crossing contains an abundance of high quality wetland and wet meadow habitats that are used by a diversity and abundance of migratory birds. We are concerned about the proposed crossing in this area because it presents an obvious large risk to migratory birds that use Birdwood creek. We are all too familiar with the risk that such power lines pose to migratory birds when constructed in these kinds of areas and would recommend power line burial to avoid all risk of avian collision here. After crossing Birdwood Creek, the line extends eastward for several miles before it intersects with highway 83 and goes north.

"During our June 12, site visit we also toured an alternative proposed by NPPD, but subsequently eliminated from further consideration. This alternative appears to convey even greater risk to migratory birds via two river crossings over the North and South Platte Rivers, and crossings over a large amount of cropland that provides foraging habitat for migratory birds including large concentrations of sandhill cranes and a large meadow complex on the north side of the North Platte River. This alternative also extends near an area with several playa wetlands, located north of the North Platte River which, as you know, provides habitat for an abundance and diversity of migratory birds including a federally endangered whooping crane confirmed there this last spring.

"Summary

"We have determined that the Preferred Alternative and the other NPPD Alternative (now eliminated from further consideration), both convey great risk to migratory birds, primarily through risk from avian collision with the R-Project power lines. We base this on knowledge of the concentration of migratory birds in the area, two site visits, and firsthand knowledge of the risk that power lines pose to large concentrations of migratory birds. As you know, the MBTA prohibits the intentional and unintentional direct take of migratory birds. Given the concentration of migratory birds in the area it will be difficult for NPPD to maintain compliance with provisions of the MBTA for either alternative.

"We recommend that NPPD do the following using a criteria of NPPD being able to be in compliance with MBTA given the high level of risk associated with power line collisions by large concentrations of migratory birds that are known to frequent the area. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind the relationship between MBTA compliance and defensibility of the EIS as mentioned above. Other alternatives/approaches may be worthwhile to consider evaluating as well—this should not be considered an all-inclusive list of recommendations.

"a) Re-evaluate the preferred alternative and consider alterations to it to avoid and minimize risk to migratory birds. Of great concern is the risk to large concentrations of migratory birds at the currently proposed crossing locations at the South Platte River and Birdwood Creek. We are also concerned about the power line being located in or near conservation easements, cropfields, wetlands, and meadows that provide migratory bird habitat. We appreciate NPPD’s willingness to install bird flight diverters on a large portion of the Preferred alternative line route. However, as you know, BFDs are considerably less that 100 percent effective. A large number of birds can still be killed when they are in large concentrations even when BFDs are installed.

"b) Consider proposing a new alternative that crosses existing bridges and extends along highways in the Hershey-Sutherland area including the need for potential avoidance and minimization measures.

"c) Evaluate the feasibility of the “east of North Platte alternative” that was presented at the June 16 meeting including potential avoidance and minimization measures.

"We recognize the challenges faced by NPPD in the planning and construction of this R-project and appreciate the open lines of communication that have developed over the years as we have worked on other large power line projects together. As always, we would be willing to provide NPPD with technical assistance on this issue including additional site visits and meetings."

- - - - -

This is the response from Thomas J. Kent, the vice-president and chief operating officer of NPPD, as provided to the FWS. This email is being presented here as it is public information as received the FWS, and includes only the pertinent portion of the email.

"When the District first began studying the area around Gerald Gentleman Station (GGS) to determine how best to get the lines out of GGS and along the Sutherland Reservoir and across the Platte River, the District determined that going west out of GGS and then north and back east, would create interferences with multiple existing single circuit and double circuit transmission lines that would result in greater risk to the reliability of the District’s electric system. We also found that the area encompassing the route being proposed by Mr. Kelly includes portions of Birdwood Creek and other tributaries, and contains conservation easements, land in a Wetland Reserve Program area, numerous homes, and three private airstrips that would all need to be considered in the routing process. The area also poses significant challenges due to the lack of roads, ruggedness of the terrain, and the softness of the sandy hills. As a result of these factors, the area encompassing this proposed route was analyzed and eliminated from further consideration for the Project."

Fifteen Bird-strikes on Two May Days at Omaha

There were fifteen bird-window strikes documented on May 7-8 in eastern Omaha, especially downtown.

Ten of these occurred just on Wednesday. This is the earliest instance of this extent of strike occurrences ever recorded during the past few years of this personal effort.

Ruth Sokolof Theater

¶ disabled male Common Yellowthroat on the west side, near the ticket window (certainly it was not in line to buy a ticket to a movie!)

CenturyLink Center Omaha

¶ disabled Clay-colored Sparrow about ten feet north of the northmost entry

¶ a dead Red-winged Blackbird about 35 feet south of the northmost entry

¶ a disabled Common Yellowthroat about ten feet north of the second from north entry

¶ a dead Northern Waterthrush about three feet north of the southmost convention center entry

¶ a dead Clay-colored Sparrow about 35 feet south of the northmost entry; this was at the same spot as the blackbird found earlier; this carcass was found during a early-morning second visit to the locality

Holland Performing Arts Center

¶ a dead Lincoln's Sparrow at the southeast corner of the courtyard, at the north-facing entry

Nebraska State Office Building

¶ a dead Wood Thrush on the north side, at the section of windows at the eastern end

1200 Landmark Center

¶ a disabled Gray Catbird at the north side of the atrium

Omaha-Douglas Civic Center

¶ a dead Clay-colored Sparrow at the entrance on the side side of the atrium

Thursday, May 8

Five different species were noted during the early morning bicycle rounds, just after a fast-moving rain-storm passed through...

CenturyLink Center Omaha

¶ a dead Common Yellowthroat male about ten feet south of the north corner of the west facade

¶ a dead Clay-colored Sparrow about ten feet north of the first from north entry

¶ a dead Marsh Wren about 35 feet south of the northmost entry

¶ a dead Indigo Bunting between the southmost convention center entry and the third from north entry

1200 Landmark Center

¶ a dead Lincoln's Sparrow at the doorway on the south side of the atrium

Friday, May 9

A cool, cloudy day with westerly wind. Only two instances of fatalities, at two of the regular buildings in east downtown Omaha.

CenturyLink Center Skywalk

¶ a dead Baltimore Oriole on the north side, and the eastern section

1200 Landmark Center

¶ a dead Lincoln's Sparrow on the north side of the tower, at the third pane of glass from the west corner

The tally of bird-window collisions personally documented in Omaha is now at more than 1820 during more than six years of surveys.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continues to not take any enforcement activity though each strike instance is a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This agency is basically worthless in this regards at Omaha, and numerous other cities where a multitude of birds are killed or injured in this manner.

Avian Collisions - Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

This is a copy of the email sent by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Brook Bench, director of the Omaha Parks Recreation and Public Property department; a copy was also sent to the nongame biologist at the Nebraska Game and parks Commission. This letter was the basis for an article "Threat to migrating birds puts spotlight on Bob Kerrey bridge" by Nancy Gaarder that was in the Omaha World-Herald on November 4th. There are some supportive comments included with the online article.

"The purpose of this E-mail is to recommend a minor modification to the current lighting regime at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge to minimize the risk of birds colliding with the lighted support cables and pylons during their spring and fall migrations. Protection of migratory birds is a priority to the Fish and Wildlife Service and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in Nebraska and we have worked with numerous organizations to find ways to avoid and minimize the risks posed to migratory birds in our state.

"As you are probably aware, the Missouri River provides an important migration corridor for birds in the spring and fall. Many of these birds migrate at night and rest during the day. Sources of light can attract migrating birds, especially if these lights are located along a flight pathway and are illuminated at a time when birds are looking to rest after a night of migration. We believe that this is the time when birds tend to collide with structures and are injured and killed. For this reason, we request that you consider the following modification to the current lighting at the Pedestrian Bridge.

"We request that you shut off the lights on the cables and the vertical pylons at 11:00 pm as is currently done. However, we request that the lights not be turned back on until sunrise during the spring and fall migrations only. Spring migration is from April 15-May 31 and fall migration is from September 1-October 31. Currently, it is our understanding that the lights are turned back on at 5:00 am year round. Path lighting should remained unchanged to ensure a safe environment for those using the bridge as should any lights associated with warning for aircraft or vessels as required by FAA and the Coast Guard, respectively.

"Our effort here is to try and be proactive and work with you on what appears to be a somewhat minor modification to the current lighting regime to protect birds as they migrate along the Missouri River. At this point, we are unaware of any birds that have collided with the lighted cables or pylons at the Pedestrian Bridge. It is likely, however, that collisions have occurred and dead and injured birds simply fall into the river and go undetected. As you are probably aware, the vast majority of migrating birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

"Thank you for your consideration and assistance in the protection of birds as they migrate through Nebraska. Please contact me if I can be of assistance to you on this matter or if you have any questions. Thanks."

Robert R. Harms

Fish and Wildlife Biologist

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

203 West Second Street

Grand Island, NE 68801

West Table Playa Wetlands Pictorial

Scattered among the agland of western Custer county, there are many small playa wetlands which provide ephemeral habitat for migratory birds. The usefulness of these places varies upon precipitation, with ample water during wet times and no water when it is dry and hot, causing the water to dissipate.

Recent weather in central Nebraska has been notably warmer than usual, with no precipitation for weeks. The playa wetlands have been shrinking, and there are few places with remaining water.

The following images pictorially convey the condition of some of the recognized playas.

August Views

These photographs are courtesy of Ed and Maxine Wehling, local residents.

Cool Playa

Griffiths Playa

Johnson Playa

Overnight Playa

Wehling Playa East

Wehling Playa South

Wehling Playa West

October Views

During a morning outing on October 2nd, these pictures were taken of a couple of the playas visited.

Hostick Playa

Cemetery Playa

Wetland Extent

This image indicates the extent of wetlands in an area west of Merna, as designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Zesto Design Includes Bird Hazards

The design for a new Zesto in north downtown Omaha includes design features which are known to be hazardous to migratory birds.

A courtesy image shows basically a glass exterior with separated by brick columns for one portion of the structure, apparently on the northeast corner. The glass extends for more than one floor. There is also the exterior vegetation which will attract birds. The trees are placed at just the right distance to cause reflections in the glass and which have been repeatedly shown to cause bird strikes. Also, having green foliage (i.e., trees) visible "through the glass" will confuse birds which would think they could fly directly from one to the other. But there will be glass panes in the way.

There have been hundreds of bird strikes in this vicinity, including several along the street where this building is to be constructed.

It is quite ironic that will other buildings have been required to alter their facade to reduce bird strikes, Omaha architects continue to design and promote structures will features that are known hazards.

The Zesto building does not appear to be a structure that will be bird-friendly. And thus it will not meet the criteria to be a "green building."

The building is expected to open in March, just in time for spring bird migration.

The same architectural firm that designed this building, also designed the Slowdown complex, where bird-strikes have been documented. They were also the firm that added the north glass facade to Criss Library, and which is now a place of danger to migratory birds, as their lifeless carcasses have been found in the garden. The firms notes the glass with provides "an abundance of natural light" as a special feature of the building.

In a perverse sense, the recent construction of the parking lot complex to the west of this building - which removed much of the plant growth - has led to fewer strikes.

With ongoing construction of buildings with features known to be hazardous to migratory birds, it is difficult to make any progress in reducing their extent in metro Omaha.

Birds Not Considered in Carter Lake Renovation

When the 300 acres of Carter Lake were renovated, bird use of the oxbow lake was not considered in any manner, according to several comments from a state agency involved in the project.

"Birds aren't a concern," said a manager of the fisheries District 5 in Nebraska involved with the project, when asked to convey a view of how the renovation of Carter Lake - basically to remove fish - as it occurred on Monday, September 27th, would influence bird use of the lake.

There were 84 barrels - each comprising 30 gallons - of the chemical Rotenone spread across the waters of the lake, a Missouri River oxbow. The fish-kill project involved the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

"Birds will go elsewhere where food is available," according to the three fisheries men of the Nebraska agency whom were asked about this project, each of them indicating there were other nearby places where the birds could find food. Specific localities mentioned included Desoto Lake at the federal wildlife refuge northward on the Missouri River, Lake Manawa to the southeast in Iowa, and some other local reservoirs, such as Zorinsky Lake.

Comments heard from the Nebraska representatives of the two natural resource agencies involved in this project, included a common theme ... "birds will go elsewhere where food is available." The several guys talked to also said that the best time to do the water treatment was in the autumn, since it was a good time to schedule the people needed. It was also, a time "agreeable to the people living on the lake." And they all referred to the public meetings where this particular item was never mentioned, at least four Nebraska fisheries personnel said.

It sounded like a mantra, after it was heard again and again.

The treatment of the lake at the end of September, 2010, will basically make the lake unsuitable for fish-eating - piscivore - birds, as there will not be any forage fish for about a year.

From a birds' perspective, it would seem obvious that any agency people - as they are the "professionals" responsible for evaluating the project and its impacts - would consider all aspects of a particular project.

Particular species to consider, are those which have been present historically and utilized the food resources of this oxbow lake of the Missouri River. These include the following species: American Coot, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Bonaparte's Gull, California Gull, Common Loon, Common Merganser, Double-crested Cormorant, Forster's Tern, Glaucous Gull, Herring Gull, Hooded Merganser, Horned Grebe, Osprey, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Redhead, Ring-billed Gull, Thayer's Gull and Western Grebe.

Each of these species rely on an available resource of fish or would scavenge upon this sort of food resource. Yet this aspect of the renovation effort was not considered in any manner, based on repeated comments from staff of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, both in Lincoln and onsite at the north shore of Carter Lake.

If the treatment was scheduled for a different time - most obviously in latter spring 2011 - this situation could have been avoided. The unwanted fish could have been removed in early April, and newly stocked fish could have been out in place in latter May, with the potential to breed, with small fish fry present by summer and readily present by autumn. The forage-fish resource would have continued without interruption, which is completely different from the situation which will now occur with a fish kill in late September.

With the complete dearth of fish in Carter Lake for the current autumn season, through the winter, during spring, and onward into the summer, the birds will certainly have to go elsewhere. There will be no small fish for different species of mergansers to dive for and catch.

The Belted Kingfisher heard on the morning following the chemical treatment, will have to go elsewhere to forage for a suitably sized fish to eat.

This will be a common feature for the birds which have found Carter Lake to be a suitable haven in the past, which will not be the situation for many of them in the coming months.

On the morning following the treatment of the lake, there were at least 20 people present from the Iowa DNR. During an early-morning visit on Tuesday, the NGPC fisheries people had not yet arrived, and they would add to the days tally of people working to remove the dead fish, mostly buffalohead carp and bullhead. There were very few "game fish" such as Bass and Crappie which were fatalities of the chemical treatment. Nothing was heard about any Catfish.

Fish to be stocked in the lake will be bass (measuring 6-8 inches), catfish (8-10") and bluegill (2-4").

There are additional changes expected to occur at Carter Lake, which occurs in both Nebraska and Iowa.

The Omaha Parks and Recreation Department has applied for a 2011 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, to continue the effort the lake improvement project at Carter Lake. The application requests about $900,000 which would be used for another alum treatment of the lake, and to stabilize the lake shore, which would basically involve placing rip-rap along the shore.

Though improving the lake waters by removing "rough fish" will improve water quality, and eventually be beneficially for various water reliant birds, the project could have - yet was not - done in a manner which basically involved timing, to ensure that there would not be any negative impacts to a variety of migratory birds.

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A Meadowlark a Significant Sighting at Carter Lake

Whilst looking at the multitude of dead fish lingering on the north shore of Carter Lake, a meadowlark was readily seen flying about as it was foraging on the short-shorn grass. It was most likely an eastern variety of the species. There was no question that it was this species, which is more typically seen in a grassland situation. There was no mistaking the characteristics of this species on the grass, and its prominent white-colored tail feathers.

It has been too long since one of these larks has been seen, so it was a time of appreciation which was not lessened in any manner by the odor of a multitude of dead fish on the nearby shore of the lake.

This observation the afternoon of October 2nd, is significant because there has not been a meadowlark noted for this locality since March 21, 1929 when three were seen, according to a note in the Letters of Information of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union.

The observation is an indication of those unexpected sightings which can occur while looking about and keeping track of what is observed. The late-afternoon, Saturday outing occurred to see if a bunch of birds were about because of the dead fish present due to the lake renovation which occurred a few days earlier. Seeing a meadowlark was a special treat and indicative of the unexpected occurrence of birds since they can be present at a place suited to their nature.

Watching the lark flit about was a pleasure of the day in an urban setting which the bird did not care about in any manner as it was there, near the shore of the lake.

What a surprising thrill!

Economic Value of La Platte Bottoms for Birdlife

With the massive roadway development and wetland destruction looming to birdlife habitats at the La Platte Bottoms, it seemed appropriate to develop an economic value of the place which has been knowingly been utilized by a myriad of wild birds during the past three decades, and certainly for a much longer period of time.

This rudimentary consideration is based upon placing a value for the presence of each bird - in this case $10 for each bird noted - which is a realistic value for a meal and a safe respite. This amount is then extrapolated to provide a depictive indication of the value of the site for birds during the past three decades.

It should be noted that this information is derived from the efforts by "volunteers" or bird watchers which have not derived a single penny for their efforts, but whom spent their money to pay for the gas to visit the site, and then contributed their time to getting their observations recorded. There are wide gaps in the information available, but a hearty thanks to the people which have visited the locality and taken the effort to document the species present.

Volunteers efforts to document bird occurrence can only be appreciated!

Spring Season

March 2010

There were only two visits, on the 11th and 28th. The number of birds counted was 147, which does not in any manner convey an accurate depiction of the bird use days.

Just for the sake of trying to be more considerate, a greater value needs to be designated, and this will be based upon there being at least 2500 bird use days.

This indicates a minimal value of $25,000.

April 2010

Visits on April 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 21 and 30. On some of these visits, only a few notable species were noted, though there were undoubtedly other species present, yet not denoted.

The number of birds actually depicted, based on reported observations, was 1694, though this also does not indicate the actual extent of bird use. Consider the numbers on each of the days when visits occurred and when counts were recorded:

April 1: 369 individual birds noted

April 4: 32 individual birds noted

April 6: 48 individual birds noted

April 9: a minimum of 352 individual birds noted, which represents only four species

April 10: 52 individual species noted

April 11: 27 birds noted

April 13: 122 birds counted, which represents only six species

April 21: 48 birds noted

April 30: 523 individual birds noted - representing nine species - though with some species, the number given is the minimum occurrence, not the actual number, because of the conditions which did not allow a completely precise count by birders more interested in the experience of watching, rather than counting each bird about the wetlands.

It can be readily estimated that there were at least 250 birds present each day of the month, with the myriad of waterfowl, and later in the month, flocks of shorebirds. This extrapolates to 7500 birds use days, but with the larger flocks of shorebirds going through, the months value could easily be 10,000 birds.

This indicates a minimal value of $100,000.

May 2010

May 1: 147 individual birds counted

May 5: 2213 individual birds counted, which is the minimal number

May 6: 2 birds counted

May 8: 287 individual birds counted, which represents 21 species, thus including all of the species noted on a visit in conjunction with the Sarpy County Spring Bird Count; this survey also denoted some of the breeding season species, resident every day subsequent to their arrival

May 11: 18 individuals counted, representing six species

May 12: 67 individuals counted, representing nine species

May 13: 96 individuals counted, representing five species

May 22: 75 individual counted.

There were 2905 birds counted, which, once again is just a partial presentation of the actual use of the habitat by a variety of birdlife. As there are more species which migrate in May than earlier or later times along the Missouri River valley, there would have been a greater use of the wetlands at this time.

If there were 2200 birds on May 5, there may have been similar numbers on the few days before and after this particular date. If even for five days, this would equate to 11000 birds use days. During mid-month, based on the number on May 8 of 287 birds, this would mean ca. 3000 bird use days.

Add the potential numbers together, starting with 11000, plus 3000 another 15 days with ca. something like 75 or 100 birds per day, this totals about 15,000 bird use days, or about $150,000.

So there is about $275,000 dollars of value to the birds for the wetland habitat at the La Platte Bottoms - based upon one spring - though this valuation is derived from fuzzy math due to a lack of comprehensive bird counts that would better indicate the number of birds on each particular date.

Summer Season

Month of June

There are very few records for this month - mostly from 1998 - though more than 20 species have been noted. On June 9, 2007 two Piping Plover were observed by Justin Rink.

July 2008

The best indication of summer use of the bottom lands east of La Platte, are available from 2008, with notable surveys done on the 8th, 9th, 27th and 29th.

• July 8: 16 species indicated by the NEBirds message 15293 by Clem Klaphake, which accounts for an indicated 213 individual birds; this includes summer residents plus a number of migrants such as American Golden-Plover, Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpiper.
• July 9: 11 species present as indicated by Justin Rink, with a count of 68 individuals, mostly residents as well as some summer transients.
• July 27: 10 species, 80 individual birds; seasonal migrants included the Short-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpiper.
• July 29: 13 species, with 137 individuals noted, once again by the focused observations of Clem Klaphake, indicating an increasing diversity of species, in addition to local residents: Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin and Short-billed Dowitcher.

There were only about 500 individual birds noted, which is a dismally minimal indication of overall bird use, and derived from only four count dates. A more realistic value would be much more significant, say perhaps something such as 7500 for the month when birds were prevalent.

August Bird-use

Records convey birds present at the bottoms during August in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2008 and a few notations from 2009. Diversity is readily indicated, though the number of each species present was not noted often enough to provide a consistent indication of bird use. Though, considering the overall numbers, the tally is 951 individual birds, for these different years, which in no manner depicts the number of bird-use days for this locality.

On Julian date 215, which conforms to August 2-3, there have been 17 species noted, including many migrant shorebirds, including several species of sandpipers, the Lesser Yellowlegs and Short-billed Dowitcher.

On August 6, in 1996 and 1998, there were at least a dozen species present, including the celebrated Least Tern, and lesser seen Common Moorhen.

On August 21, 1993, there were 13 species noted. On August 22, 1993, there were more than 15 species present. And the month ended with further notations.

The following table is an tally of the species seen during different summer months, with the value given indicating the number denoted, with a 0 (zero) noting a species' presence when no count was made:

CommonName	Jun 1998	Jun 1999	Jul 1986	Jul 1998	Jul 1999	Jul 2008	Aug 1993	Aug 1996	Aug 1998	Aug 2008	Aug 2009
Canada Goose	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Wood Duck	1	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	11	13	-
Gadwall	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mallard	2	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	1	-	-
Blue-winged Teal	3	-	-	2	-	0	-	12	15	-	-
Northern Shoveler	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Duck	-	-	-	2	-	8	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Bobwhite	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-
Pied-billed Grebe	-	-	-	13	-	9	2	-	9	-	-
American White Pelican	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Least Bittern	4	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	4	-	-
Great Blue Heron	3	-	-	9	-	163	1	10	10	35	-
Great Egret	-	-	-	-	-	23	-	-	-	12	-
Snowy Egret	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cattle Egret	-	-	-	3	-	10	-	-	-	-	-
Green Heron	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	1	-	-
Black-crowned Night-Heron	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	-	-
Cooper's Hawk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
American Kestrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Common Moorhen	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	16	-	-
American Coot	1	1	-	12	-	53	-	-	11	-	-
Black-bellied Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
American Golden-Plover	-	-	-	-	-	1	13	-	-	-	-
Semipalmated Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	5	-	-	-
Killdeer	12	-	-	63	-	50	41	55	43	90	-
Spotted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	2	-	1	-
Solitary Sandpiper	-	-	-	1	-	5	3	11	1	1	-
Greater Yellowlegs	-	-	-	-	-	1	3	1	0	-	-
Willet	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Lesser Yellowlegs	-	-	-	15	-	15	7	12	1	9	-
Upland Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	7	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Semipalmated Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	1	70	5	-	10	1
Least Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	16	14	10	-	9	3
Baird's Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	3	-	6	10
Pectoral Sandpiper	6	-	-	-	-	14	138	31	10	14	-
Dunlin	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Stilt Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	-	-	3	-
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	4	-
Short-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	1	-
Long-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	-
Red-necked Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-
Least Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
Black Tern	-	-	-	3	-	40	1	3	-	-	-
Forster's Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Rock Pigeon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Common Nighthawk	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	0	-	-
Chimney Swift	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Downy Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Western Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-
Eastern Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	-	-
Blue Jay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Purple Martin	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	0	-	-
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cliff Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	50	-	-	0	-	-
Barn Swallow	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Black-capped Chickadee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Marsh Wren	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	1	-	-
American Robin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Yellow Warbler	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	1	-	-
Chipping Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Song Sparrow	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Blue Grosbeak	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Indigo Bunting	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dickcissel	1	-	-	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Western Meadowlark	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Yellow-headed Blackbird	10	-	-	13	6	2	3	-	9	-	-
Common Grackle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Great-tailed Grackle	2	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	0	-	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60	-	-
Orchard Oriole	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-
American Goldfinch	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
House Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-

This is a list of more than 80 species.

With the readily apparent use of the bottoms, based on numerous visits, it only seems appropriate to deem that there could be at least - once again - a minimum of more than 10,000 bird use days during these months during different years when water conditions were suitable for water birds.

There would certainly be more birds present in August along the Missouri River flyway, than in July.

The extent of records by a cadre of observers also indicates conditions were somewhat similar in 2007, and seemingly similar in 2001, 1998, 1994 and 1993.

The apparent valuation for the summer and autumn provides figures to consider of potentially:

• June: 1000 bird use days
• July: 5000 bird use days
• August: 7500, if not 10,000 bird use days

These values can be used to determine a figure of 13,500 for each of the five years indicated, or $67,500 for these summer months.

Autumn Season

September

There are only a couple of significant dates for bird observations during the month of September, in particular on September 4 when six species were noted, and on the 14th of the same month in 1993, with a record for five species.

The availability of only a few records is an artifact based on a dearth of visits, not on the lesser use of the habitats by bird species. More attention to this place during this particular month would undoubtedly indicate a greater extent of use by transitory bird species, when the flats had water creating a suitable situation for foraging and roosting.

There are no October bird records available for this site. Once again this is an artifact of the data, based upon no accounts from visits by birders, not because there were no birds present.

Needless to say, there were more birds present than observers, so there is an obvious necessity to designate some values for the birds. During optimum years - just to use the handy value of 10,000 for at least five during in the past three decades - provides a $50,000 valuation.

Seasonal Valuation

If conditions were optimal throughout one year on the La Platte Bottoms, what would be the economic value to the visiting birds? This is a hypothetical situation which has not yet been documented, but which can be derived from historic accounts.

In considering this, the valuation of 2010 provides the first indicative valuation of $250,000. Then going into summer, add 100 bird use days for each day of June, July and August, which equates to a overall value of about 9000, or $90,000 in economic terms. Then for autumn, at least $125,000 with the increased diversity of species and greater extent of bird use.

The total is $465,000 which could be readily rounded to $0.5 million. If optimum conditions had been prevalent during a entire three decade period, this would be an economic value of $15 million.

And this considers only a relatively short time.

These birdly details have been completely ignored by the roadway developers with a focus on transportation, and ignorant on what changes they are causing to the landscape so essential for generations - now and from the past - of wild birds in the Missouri River valley.

Decades of Ongoing Use

If the value of the habitats for the spring months of 2010 was $275,000, the value of the habitat over a thirty-year period would be dramatically significant. With variable conditions each year - depending on the extent of precipitation and standing water - the extent of bird use would obviously vary.

To summarize and consider further, these are some workable figures:

$275,000 x five years similar to the valuation of 2010

$67,500 for five summer seasons

$50,000 for five autumn season

The total for the five years among three decades is basically $1.5 million.

So five years out of thirty have been considered in the tally. Using a completely arbitrary value of 1000 for each season in the other 25 years of the three decades of bird use, there would be the need to add further numbers.

25 spring seasons, or 25 x 5000+ = 125,000

25 summer seasons, or 25 x 1000+ = 25000

25 autumn seasons, or 25 x 5000+ = 125,000

Based on these figures - derived from an arbitrary determination of economic importance to a whole bunch of individual birds without a voice - the value of the habitat to resident and migratory birds totals at least $1.7 minimum, or to be generous for the birds, at least $2 million, since there has been greater use than indicated by the available records of ornithologic history.

It should also be realized, that some of the species noted at the site include threatened or endanger species, as well as species of conservation concern, which - considering the myriad of funds spent for their conservation - would dramatically alter any designated valuation, and this would further increase the economic significance of the La Platte Bottoms habitat.

Bottoms a Bird Buffet

Visits on May 22, 2010, indicate a distinctive situation of bird use of the La Platte Bottoms, based on four distinct visits throughout the day. After hiking about Fontenelle Forest in the morning, Justin Rink and six other birders including the Padelfords also visited the bottoms to see what was present. During midday, another visit took place which denoted some additional species. Then, later in the day Rink visited the site again, and in the latter evening Clem Klaphake. Both sent their observations to the Nebraska Birds online forum. None of the bird lists matched, readily indicating the transient nature of how different birds use the site at different times of a day, or days among the migratory season.