Distinct Bird Observations Continued at Horseshoe Lake Flats

The unusual occurrence of many birds at the Horseshoe Lake Flats - eastward of Fort Calhoun on the west side of the Missouri River valley - continued during the 2011 autumn season. This locality was a prime space for birding in 2010 with many distinctive observations. The 2011 season was vastly different, as ongoing Missouri River flooding excluded any attempts to determine what was around.

Primary to the two years was a difference in access. With a somewhat lesser extent of flooding in 2010, more visits could occur within the area. In 2011, the roads were blocked during most of the summer, preventing any attempt to record what species were present. It was a vast expanse of ongoing water in the most recent breeding season.

During the autumnal season of 2010, there were many visits which provided various details about the species present. Within much of the same date period in 2011, visits in August and until mid-October, access was available due to the road travel restrictions.

A tally of species noted during the two autumnal season, denotes the following species and numbers counted, during the period indicated:

Common Name	Sep 2010	Oct 2010	Nov 2010	Sep 2011	Oct 2011	Nov 2011
Canada Goose	57	149	-	-	16	6
Wood Duck	7	1	-	-	-	1
Gadwall	-	21	8	-	-	-
American Wigeon	-	4	-	-	-	-
Mallard	-	180	-	-	-	16
Blue-winged Teal	28	2	-	-	-	-
Northern Shoveler	16	12	4	-	32	-
Northern Pintail	-	85	-	-	-	8
Green-winged Teal	-	9	-	-	-	-
Redhead	-	6	-	-	-	-
Lesser Scaup	-	2	-	-	-	-
Common Goldeneye	-	-	-	-	-	1
Hooded Merganser	-	-	-	-	-	3
Ring-necked Pheasant	-	6	-	-	-	-
Wild Turkey	-	-	-	-	-	19
Pied-billed Grebe	14	55	-	-	10	-
American White Pelican	-	116	-	-	-	-
Double-crested Cormorant	-	4	-	-	-	-
Great Blue Heron	24	62	-	2	-	-
Great Egret	-	59	4	-	-	-
Cattle Egret	-	1	-	-	-	-
Bald Eagle	1	14	-	-	3	2
Northern Harrier	1	1	2	-	-	-
Cooper's Hawk	-	1	1	-	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	1	1	-	-	1	1
American Kestrel	-	1	1	-	-	1
Merlin	-	-	-	-	-	1
Common Moorhen	-	-	-	-	1	-
American Coot	-	3087	72	-	1	-
Black-bellied Plover	1	-	-	-	13	-
American Golden-Plover	-	-	-	-	915	34
Killdeer	82	62	-	-	835	317
Spotted Sandpiper	2	-	-	-	-	-
Greater Yellowlegs	2	2	-	-	-	-
Lesser Yellowlegs	20	5	-	-	5	-
Upland Sandpiper	1	-	-	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	19	-
Semipalmated Sandpiper	5	-	-	-	26	-
Least Sandpiper	16	-	-	-	73	1
Baird's Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	21	-
Pectoral Sandpiper	6	-	-	-	10	-
Stilt Sandpiper	20	-	-	-	-	-
Short-billed Dowitcher	2	-	-	-	-	-
Long-billed Dowitcher	8	-	-	-	41	-
Wilson's Snipe	2	6	-	-	14	7
Wilson's Phalarope	22	-	-	-	-	-
Red-necked Phalarope	3	-	-	-	-	-
Bonaparte's Gull	-	-	-	-	2	-
Ring-billed Gull	-	341	-	-	113	177
Rock Pigeon	1	25	-	-	-	-
Mourning Dove	3	3	-	2	-	-
Great Horned Owl	-	1	-	-	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	4	-	1	1	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-	-	-	-
Eastern Kingbird	2	-	-	-	-	-
Warbling Vireo	1	-	-	-	-	-
Blue Jay	2	1	-	1	-	-
American Crow	2	2	-	-	3	-
Horned Lark	-	3	-	-	-	-
Tree Swallow	-	1100	-	-	-	-
Bank Swallow	20	-	-	-	-	-
Cliff Swallow	10	-	-	-	-	-
Barn Swallow	10	275	-	6	10	-
Sedge Wren	3	-	-	-	-	-
Marsh Wren	-	8	-	-	-	-
Eastern Bluebird	-	1	-	-	-	-
American Robin	1	-	-	-	-	-
European Starling	135	22	-	-	23	54
American Pipit	-	-	-	-	91	1
American Tree Sparrow	-	-	0	-	-	-
Field Sparrow	1	-	1	-	-	-
Vesper Sparrow	-	0	-	-	-	-
Savannah Sparrow	-	5	-	-	-	-
Fox Sparrow	-	0	-	-	-	-
Song Sparrow	1	0	-	-	-	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	-	28	-	-	-	-
Swamp Sparrow	-	1	-	-	-	-
White-throated Sparrow	-	0	-	-	-	-
Harris's Sparrow	-	0	-	-	-	-
Snow Bunting	-	-	-	-	2	-
Red-winged Blackbird	5	4045	-	-	-	-
Common Grackle	-	25	-	-	-	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	7	-	-	-	-
American Goldfinch	4	16	-	5	-	-
House Sparrow	8	3	-	5	-	-

The overall tally is 85 species during the autumn at this recognized locality.

During 2010, a list derived from ten visits indicates the occurrence of 74 distinct species.

Once the roads were passable to some extent this year - after September 22nd - notable bird records resulted from eleven visits by local bird watchers. There were, however, only 39 species documented. Several species had already departed for elsewhere by this time.

Prominent was the number of American Golden-Plover, as already indicated. Killdeer were prominent, though there were fewer than last year. Many other shorebirds were present, taking advantage of the mud/sand flats with a receding extent of water on the flats. Some of the property was within the boundaries of the Boyer Chute NWR, with adjacent tracts privately owned.

Few songbirds were noted since their habitat was not accessible to walk-about for any sort of consideration.

Surprising were the two Snow Bunting noted in all their birdly splendor in late October, among the shorebirds. They were early in their arrival, according to the norm.

For many of these species, their occurrence was a result of riverine flooding during both years. Water action provided bare mud flats where many birds - especially shorebirds - found suitable habitat to forage and spend an extended period of time.

A similar situation elsewhere along the Missouri River, would have derived the same benefits. There is a dearth of details for similar conditions elsewhere along the valley.

Flooded Corn-fields Ephemeral Habitat on Missouri River Flats

What is typically corn fields south of Bellevue was flooded in late summer and early autumn of 2011, the year of the great Missouri River flood. Standing water were wetlands utilized by various species of birds as the conditions were suitable for them to reside and feed.

It wasn't until mid-September that any bird use features were determined for the flat land along the east and west sides of Harlan Lewis Drive. This area is on the north side of the Big Papillion Creek. On the south side of the creek are the well-known La Platte Bottoms, a locale which has not been accessible for months due government-enforced road closures.

When the aberrant wetlands were first noted, there was an extensive amount of standing water being used by different sorts of fowl. It was early in the autumnal migration season. Blue-winged Teal were the most prevalent this day, along with numbers of swallows and a few other unusual species such as the Yellow-headed Blackbird.

There were just a few subsequent visits reported for this place. Overall there were 27 species denoted as indicated by a summary of available records contributed by a two or three area bird-watchers and as determined from personal visits. Other observers are known to have also visited the locale, but their observations were not reported.

Common Name	9/17/2011	9/28/2011	10/1/2011	10/5/2011
Wood Duck	- -	- -	- -	8
Gadwall	2	- -	- -	- -
Mallard	26	- -	- -	2
Blue-winged Teal	235	- -	- -	7
Northern Shoveler	- -	- -	50	8
Northern Pintail	- -	- -	3	- -
Pied-billed Grebe	6	- -	3	- -
Great Blue Heron	5	1	- -	- -
Osprey	- -	- -	- -	2
American Golden-Plover	- -	45	- -	- -
Killdeer	8	- -	65	55
Lesser Yellowlegs	- -	10	2	- -
Pectoral Sandpiper	30	11	3	- -
Stilt Sandpiper	- -	2	2	- -
Long-billed Dowitcher	- -	15	- -	- -
Franklin's Gull	1	- -	- -	- -
Ring-billed Gull	1	- -	- -	- -
Belted Kingfisher	1	- -	- -	- -
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	100	- -	- -	- -
Barn Swallow	100	400	200	40
Marsh Wren	- -	- -	1	- -
American Robin	- -	- -	- -	35
European Starling	- -	- -	- -	350
Red-winged Blackbird	100	- -	- -	20
Yellow-headed Blackbird	6	- -	2	- -
Common Grackle	- -	- -	- -	100
Brown-headed Cowbird	30	- -	- -	- -

These records indicate the avian use of ephemeral habitat resulting from flood conditions at lowlands along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska.

On the last visit noted, a rapidly shrinking extent of standing water remained. There was a large extent of barren and dry ground. The influence of the flood waters was rapidly diminishing. Killdeer were still abundant. Few waterfowl were about and their numbers was dramatically exceeded by the swarming starlings and grackles.

The highlight of an evening visit was two Osprey. One carried a fish as it looked for a handy spot to eat an evening's meal. A second Osprey was still looking for a fish of some sort stranded among the few bits of remaining water.

There will be plenty of frogs left without any water in the pending days as the unsually dry and warm weather conditions continue.

There is little if any information to report on how flood waters created conditions suitable elsewhere which may have been used by migratory birds. The impact of the great flood has been a tragedy for many people along the river, yet it should also be noted that other results of the situation can also be considered. The riverine flows unsurpassed in the past few years have provided a variety of habitat in many places for Missouri River birdlife, perhaps representing the situation once prevalent when the river was not channelized.

Expansion Proposed for Nebraska Wetland District

A expansion of the wetland and grassland habitats for migrating birds managed in the Rainwater Basin in southern Nebraska is being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Courtesy map.

The federal agency proposes to increase its acquisition goal to 38,177 acres from the current target of 24,000 acres. Additional areas would be acquired through purchase from willing sellers (9000 acres) or protection using perpetual conservation easements (5000).

The district currently encompasses 26,528 acres, which includes 4,505 acres "donated by or obtained from other agencies, primarily the Farmers Home Administration."

Three factors will influence the acquisition of property, according to a fact sheet:

• the number of privately owned wetland acres that affect management of adjoining acres owned by the Service or the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
• the energy needs of waterfowl and the ability of the regional wetlands to provide the needed calories, amino acids and minerals
• the need to provide more separation between wetlands to reduce the likelihood of large outbreaks of avian cholera

Two public meetings are to be held on the proposal:

Holdrege, Nebraska on January 11, 2011

Clay Center, Nebraska on January 12, 2011

Public comments can be submitted until January 31, 2011. The comments received will be used to prepare a "draft environmental assessment and land protection plan for the proposed expansion."

The district was recognized as a "Landscape of Hemispheric Importance" for shorebirds in April 2009 by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.

The Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District was established in 1963.

Newspaper article on the public meeting in Clay County.

History of King Rail Continues at Vicinity of Platte Confluence

A recent observation of a King Rail at the La Platte Bottoms, continues its history of occurrence in the vicinity of the Platte River confluence.

King Rail at the La Platte Bottoms. Image used with permission of Duane Schwery.

On July 24th, 2010, Kathy and Duane Schwery, of Plattsmouth, noted a single bird east of Harlan Lewis Drive and La Platte Road, and got two pictures of the bird as it walked about the water and marsh vegetation of this season's wetland. Since they reside near La Platte, they have made a number of visits to this locale, and enjoy viewing the wide variety of species present, but had not noted "anything this interesting before," Kathy Schwery noted. Seeing the rail "was a case of being in the right place at the right time."

A few days later, on July 31st, a King Rail was reported at Forney Lake on the Iowa side of the Missouri River, according to the submission by Stephen J. Dinsmore, to the Iowa birds forum available online. There were also three Least Bitterns and the Virginia Rail.

Historic Legacy

History of the King Rail for this region within the valley of the mighty Missouri River, extends back more than 135 years.

The earliest known record for this rail was in October 1874, designated to the general locality of Sarpy County, as reported by Samuel Aughey.

On September 20, 1900, there is a record for Nebraska City, in Otoe County, on the southern side of Cass County.

"Nest of King Rail. Cut-off Lake, Omaha, Nebraska." Image courtesy Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries.

A decade later, Frank Shoemaker first noted breeding activity on June 19, 1909 at Cutoff Lake, which is now Carter Lake, at Omaha. He wrote in his journal:

"A nest of King Rail; of rushes, just above water level among cattails and tules, the water being more than knee deep. There were five eggs, and four young just hatched, but active enough to pile out and swim about bravely. Took two photographs of the nest, under difficulties. The young birds were coal black, like young coots, for which I at first mistook them."

The following day, he noted one of the parent birds, with three eggs still in the nest. There were also nesting Least Bitterns in the same area.

"Got nearly exhausted in the swamp; wading to the waist in water with mud and reeds, cattails, tules, pondweed and duckweed, on a hot day, is strenuous, but very interesting with birds numerous and nesting."

In a subsequent letter, this bird enthusiast described his jaunts to the lake.

"Recently my 'walks' have been 'wades' most of the time, for there is a marshy tract near a cut-off which the river made years ago, north of Omaha, in which I have been studying the bird life. It is so thickly grown up with cattails and reeds that a boat cannot be used to advantage; the water is too deep for boots, even if they could be tolerated at this season of the year; and the region is too public for one to discard his sartorial shucks; so if one desires to go over this tract at all, it is simply a matter of getting in, clothes and all, and wading plenty. Much of the time I am in water to my shoulders, and not infrequently I have stepped into a hole and made it unanimous; but fortunately this has not happened when I had my camera on my back. There is no danger if one keeps his wits about him, and the returns on the investment beat any bonanza you ever hear of. The region is simply alive with birds, and during the past few years I have taken over 60 photographs of birds' nests, young birds, etc., in that region - red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, King and Sora Rails, Least Bittern (a magnificent series of over 30 photographs of this species), long-billed Marsh Wren, Pied-billed Grebe and many others."

At this same locality, another King Rail was noted on May 7, 1929, then again on June 28, 1930. Both reports were in the Letters of Information issued by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union.

Four pertinent records are available for 1939, from Lake Manawa State Park, as reported by Bruce Stiles, for May 19 and 22. The highlight of his observations was a nest with eggs on June 6th. Two birds were noted on June 11th.

In 1967, Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Heineman, of Plattsmouth, noted a single rail in a small pond at the Plattsmouth Refuge, or what is now known as the Schilling WMA, northeast Cass County.

On July 4, 1997, Babs and Loren Padelford noted one at Waubonsie State Park, in Iowa.

Another record for Sarpy county, was on May 14, 1994, as noted by Neal Ratzlaff.

The closest, and most recent sighting in the Nebraska region was August 5-16, 1997 in eastern Otoe County, as noted by S.J. Dinsmore. There have been regular sightings recently at Squaw Creek NWR, down the Missouri River a distance.

Continual Loss of Wetlands Along Missouri River

At Cutoff Lake, that setting was drastically altered decades ago by land development and other changes, and there was an extensive decline in bird diversity as the wetlands disappeared.

The marsh where the most recent sighting occurred, will be replaced by a highway interchange as Highway 34 construction proceeds.

Wetland Evening at the La Platte Bottoms

Tuesday evening, July 20th, was a fine time to visit the wetlands at the La Platte Bottoms. It was muggy and hot, but this is an expected situation at marsh lands during this time in the summer.

During the visit, the following species were noted: one Greater Yellowlegs, a female Wood Duck with her brood of 8 ducklings, about 14 Black Terns including one that carried a fish around for a short while, several American Coots and Pied-billed Grebes, two Belted Kingfisher sitting on the line while looking for a fish to catch. Also some Killdeer, a Sora heard among the marsh vegetation, more than a dozen Mallards including a family group of seven, as well as Red-winged Blackbirds at the wetland scene. Among the other species was an American Kestrel.

Mother Wood Duck and her fast swimming brood.

There was lots of standing water. An area bordered by the tree line on the west, La Platte Road on the north and the Missouri River levee on the east and south was inundated.

Looking west at the condition of LaPlatte Road.

On the north side of La Platte Road, and east of Harlan Lewis Road, the southern half was flooded, and was a favorite place for the Black Terns to forage, and the preferred place for the Greater Yellowlegs. West of Harlan Lewis Road, there was also a large area of standing water, which was where the Wood Duck brood was noted.

American Coot on the marsh waters, south of LaPlatte Road.

View of the standing water north of LaPlatte Road, and west of Harlan Lewis Road.

View of the standing water - with its wetland vegetation and where American Coots and Pied-billed Grebes were seen, and a Sora heard - south of La Platte Road. Looking to the southwest.

A variety of images taken on the scene were digitally altered to convey an artistic interpretation, which is another reason - besides bird and the joys they provide - to appreciate the La Platte Bottoms wetlands.

Sunset from Harlan Lewis Road.