Another Mysterious Pacific Coast Bird

A nondescript bird was shot in Tacoma on Saturday, June 20th, by two ladies — Mrs. Harper, recently from Seattle, and Mrs. Emma Kauffman of Tacoma. The creature was only disabled by the shot, and the ladies, thinking it was an owl, bravely essayed to capture it; but it seems they woke up the Tartar. It sprang, kangaroo-like, upon the women and fastened its teeth in the arm of Mrs. Kauffman, and retained its hold until it was choked to death by their united efforts. The wound inflicted was quite severe and painful. This monstrosity measured from tip to tip of the wings, 5 feet 7½ inches; diameter of eye, 1⅜ inches; length of ears, 4½ inches; its feet and toes were each 1 foot 3 inches long, armed with six powerful talons. Its beak resembled that of a goose, except that it was pointed and filled with teeth, incisors and grinders. Mrs. Harper has taken this strange bird to San Francisco.

July 3, 1874. Sacramento Daily Union 47(7253): 4. From the Tacoma Tribune.

Increasing Martin Numbers at Midtown Omaha

There is a regularly increasing number of Purple Martins are their midtown Omaha roost. The evening of July 7th, there were an estimated 5000. The birds were gathering earlier on the utility lines up near 40th Street to gather, chatter and preen.

No one else was present to appreciate the spectacle of the incoming martins. It was a grand scene, as usual.

No visual barriers have been placed on the walkway windows by facilities personnel of the Nebraska Medical Center. The itty-bitty few decals leftover from last year are not sufficient.

Notable Summer Additions To Window-strike Tally

A second new species has been added to the tally of known window-strikes in downtown Omaha. Both were at the same building in downtown Omaha.

Saturday morning, July 7th, a big, dead dove was found on the south side of the First National Bank, on the sidewalk along Dodge Street. A couple of pictures were taken and the carcass was taken for further consideration, since bank security will harass anyone taking pictures in the vicinity of the corporation buildings. The carcass was completely on a public sidewalk, so any confrontation based upon the typical threats by security personnel would have been of no significance.

An inspection of the birds' details later confirmed that it was an Eurasian Collared-Dove, with the neck-marking prevalent, and the difference in size to a Mourning Dove indicative. It appeared to be an adult, as there was nothing in its plumage features to convey it was a juvenile hatched this season.

This was the first time this species has been noted in the downtown Omaha area, despite a multitude of excursions throughout the area during other window-strike surveys.

The little doves are regularly seen, and it was quite a surprise to find its larger cousin dead.

The closest known occurrences of live birds have been one seen a couple of times near 30th and Cuming Streets, this year and earlier. A large flock was present during last winter - and noted several times - near the grain elevators south of 12th and Locust Street. One or two have also been heard and seen during early summer at Levi Carter Park.

Based upon an interpretation of the scenario, it's possible that the first visit into the city-scape of downtown Omaha by this dove species ended when it smashed into the glass exterior of the bank building.

This carcass was disposed of at a suitable green space, to return the bird to its earthly origins, rather than having it thrown indifferently into the trash.

On another Saturday morning, June 2nd, a Cliff Swallow was found at the west entry of the same First National Bank. It was also dead on the public sidewalk.

This species had also never been previously noted as a window-strike victim in downtown.

For both instances to be at the same building and also on the morning of the same day of the week seems somewhat ironic. Though of course that does not matter to the dead birds.

Each fatality was a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which is not being enforced in regards to window strikes at Omaha, by the supposed regulatory agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The First National Bank Corporation is well aware of window strikes at their facilities, especially the First National Tower, but have purposely ignored requests by the F.W.S. to avert the strikes. They have not accepted any responsibility for multiple and ongoing fatalities, despite their presenting features which are known to present hazards to migratory wild birds.

These two records of dead birds are just the most recent examples.

An American Dipper - Cinclus americanus

During a short sojourn at the junction of the north and middle branches of the North Fork of Feather river, in Plumas county, I was told of a remarkable bird which frequented the streams in that neighborhood, and which, from the account given me, I suspected to be the American Dipper (Cinclus Americanus) of Audobon[sic.]. My curiosity was greatly excited, and I determined to see the bird, if possible. For this purpose I set out in company with my informant, on a walk up the north branch. We had passed but a few rods up the stream when, to my gratification, we discovered one of the birds in question. It was a moment of intense interest to me, and the opportunity afforded me of observing the habits of this remarkable specimen of ornithology, of which I had read, but never expected to see, was gratifying in the extreme. I watched it for near half an hour, as it walked, swam or flew along the banks of the stream or the rocks that lay embedded in its rapid current. It seemed to gather its food — probably insects — from the rocks in the stream, generally dipping its head or bill only in the water, though frequently plunging its whole body under and darting through it for a distance of two or three feet. I did not see it making any long plunges, which it is said to do, but which the shallowness of the stream may, in this instance, have prevented. But it seemed to select the shallow places, where, perhaps, is found, the greatest abundance of food. It seldom swam more than a few seconds at a time, either under the water or on its surface; but its movements in either case were made with astonishing celerity, and reminded me of certain bugs which we often see darting about on pools of still water.

But the most remarkable circumstance concerning this bird is the apparent contradiction between its conformation and its habits. Its feet are not webbed, but the toes are divided like those of ordinary land birds; nor it there anything in its appearance or form that would give the slightest indication of its aquatic habits. It has a certain vibratory motion of its body, resembling more the hasty spasmodic curtsey of an awkward girl than anything else I can compare it to, and is accompanied at the same time by a slight bobbing of the head and tail. Its notes is a sharp, clicking chirrup, which it uses when commencing its sharp but rapid flights. There is little or no melody in it. In color its head and neck are a chocolate-brown; its upper parts a very deep bluish gray; lower parts lighter, and tinged entirely with brown. It is six or seven inches long, and about ten inches in the extent of its wings from tip to tip.

These little birds are by no means infrequent on the rapid streams of the wild cañons of the Sierra Nevada mountains, where they make their home during summer and winter. We saw seven or eight of them during this single excursion. They were very gentle and fearless of man, and I sometimes approached within twenty or thirty feet of them.

J. L.

September 4, 1858. Daily Alta California 10(243): 4. From the Daily Bee.

This is the first, and thus-far the only known, newspaper article which refers to the dipper. It is wonderfully descriptive and expressive! Too bad Mr. J.L. did not use his proper name, or he could be truly known for his distinctive place in the chronicles of historic ornithology.

There are — of course — numerous other known records of this species in the region during the 1850s, but issued in other sorts of publications.

A New Kind of Watchdog

W. Kerrick, who lives in one of the Jackson cottages on L street, has a patriotic but peculiar guardian for his garden, the same being a genuine living American eagle of the bald head variety, measuring several feet, more or less, from tip to tip, and looking for all the world as if he had just hopped off the back side of a ten-dollar piece. This biped was purchased a few weeks since from a man who slightly shot and captivated him near Stockton. His wings were clipped, and Kerrick turned him loose at once in the garden, on patrol. The bird of liberty forthwith took possession, and has become monarch of all he surveys. Little children are frightened to a respectful distance by the demoniacal expression of his august countenance, and woe betides the cat, rat, pigeon or other small creature that strays within reach of his powerful talons. He has become remarkably tame, considering the short time he has been in custody. Of a warm day he goes every few hours to a large tub near the kitchen door, takes a deliberate drink, and then gets in and wallows about, in a rather undignified manner, for a royal bird. Then he perches himself on a sort of bench beneath a fig tree, to dry his bedraggled feathers, winking solemnly meantime, and if anybody comes near him he warns him away by making the remark, "Krake! krake! krake!" in the most preemptory tones. When he is not ducking or drying himself he perambulates the garden, seeking whom he may devour, and no urchin is going to steal fruit from that garden as long as that eagle "still lives."

April 21, 1864. Sacramento Daily Union 27(4082): 3.

Spring Window-strikes Kill Multitude of Birds

Another year's tally of birds hitting windows with deadly results at downtown Omaha had an early start in the spring of 2012.

A White-throated Sparrow carcass found April 5, 2012 was the first instance noted for the year, and the earliest window-strike instance observed during the past five years. This bird was dead and moribund at the west side of the CenturyLink Center Omaha, and was indicative of the trend during the next two months.

Two instances of dead sparrows on April 18th started the regular and ongoing occurrence of window-strikes for the spring season, when daily outings — via self-propelled bicycling in the first hour or two of a morning — were done to find dead or disabled birds at buildings in downtown Omaha. There were fatalities or injured birds nearly every day through the end of May.

Pictures were taken — as usual — to document each window-strike occurrence.

The west side of the CenturyLink Center Omaha with its vast expanse of glass and adjacent landscape plantings is the worst bird-hazard in the city, and where the largest number of window-strike instances were located this spring, as well as during the past five years. The deaths continue to occur despite little square decals that have been placed on the upper extent of the glass surface, which were replaced during the spring season this year, at an unknown cost to MECA.

This spring's tally shows the loss of many migratory bird species along the Missouri River valley, as usual. These are the details associated with particular buildings in downtown Omaha:

• CenturyLink Center Omaha: 48 window-strike occurrences documented along the entire extent of the west side of this structure
• Holland Performing Arts Center: 9, with the majority noted in the interior courtyard
• 1200 Landmark Center: 7, mostly on the north side
• Gottschalk Freedom Center: 7, and all on the west side where glass prevails
• Central Park Plaza: 6, on the east side of the twin towers
• First National Tower: 6, on the north side, near their insipid atrium
• Omaha Public Power District Energy Plaza: 4 deaths despite the window covering placed a couple of years ago
• Omaha-Douglas Civic Center: 4, predominantly at the north side plaza
• Law Building: 3
• Brandeis Building: 2
• Union Pacific Center: 2
• Zorinsky Federal Building: 2
• 16th Street - North Skywalk: 1
• All Makes Office Equipment Company: 1
• Barnhart Press: 1
• Curtis Park Service Building: 1, with the carcass of an unknown species also present on the north side on the same day
• Exchange Building: 1
• Farnam Plaza: 1
• First National Bank Building: 1
• Flatiron Building: 1
• Kutak-Rock Omaha Building: 1
• Metropolitan Utilities District building: 1
• Redfield and Company Building: 1
• Woodmen Tower Skywalk: 1

There were 29 species represented in the tally, with a significant number of warblers as victims. The vivid colors of each bird is appreciated for a short time, but it is abbreviated because of the cause of the demise. This spring, records were:

• Common Yellowthroat: 24, with May 24 a day when so many of this diminutive warbler were impacted, with many removed from the courtyard of the Holland Center as they were observed as not being able to readily escape; it was an averted disaster

• Tennessee Warbler: 18
• Common Grackle: 10; grackles are thriving in downtown, but many die due to structural conditions
• Indigo Bunting: 8; there are too many of this little bird found dead, and many, sadly, are females and the future of the species; thoughts of agony on this
• Gray Catbird: 6; this expressive species has always been more appreciated alive than dead, but in downtown Omaha, the splendor of their plumage is a certainly expressive
• Lincoln's Sparrow: 6
• White-throated Sparrow: 6
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak: 5; the beauty of these grosbeaks is always a wonder to appreciate close-up, but their death is obviously a sad event to observe
• Clay-colored Sparrow: 4
• Swainson's Thrush: 3
• Baltimore Oriole: 2 of these beautiful, colorful birds sadly met their demise while trying to go past urban Omaha
• Brown Thrasher: 2
• Ovenbird: 2, always found dead by some glass expanse
• Blackpoll Warbler: 1
• Cedar Waxwing: 1 at the Flatiron Building
• Eastern Wood-Pewee: 1
• Field Sparrow: 1
• Grasshopper Sparrow: 1
• Harris's Sparrow: 1
• Mourning Dove: 1
• Northern Parula: 1 bird to appreciate
• Orange-crowned Warbler: 1
• Prothonotary Warbler: 1 disabled bird that was certainly appreciated
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1
• Savannah Sparrow: 1
• Vesper Sparrow: 1
• Willow Flycatcher: 1
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo: 1 removed from the bank premises
• Yellow-rumped Warbler: 1

During the two-month period, species that had not been previously noted since 2008 were the Northern Parula, Blackpoll Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Field Sparrow and Vesper Sparrow. The reason for their unique occurrence would be an intriguing detail to understand.

The survey period did end without any significant personal event, except for a couple of minutes at the First National Bank Tower, while taking a hurried picture a window-strike victim. This bird was taken away upon departure.

During this period, particular attention was given to the final fate of a carcass or disabled bird. Every carcass found was taken away and placed in a natural situation, rather than their ending up in a trash can. Placing the former bit of wild life in some woods or bit of green space allows their spirit to transcend in a manner more representative of a natural demise. Getting thrown in the trash does not respect in any manner the wild spirit of any birds, though obviously any building-owner could care less as they just want to get rid of the carcass!

Transporting live birds to a more amenable situation may have improved their chances for survival. Being moribund upon a sidewalk is wrought with threats, perhaps including being stomped by an pedestrian ignorant of the situation.

No dead or alive birds were kept in possession, during this or any other season.

Ongoing Mortality

There have been additional instances of window-strikes during June, though tepid conditions of weather have meant a lesser degree of surveys among the heat.

At least 92 different species have been victims of window-strikes about Omaha, based upon a tally developed during the past five years of documenting individual instances.

Each window strike is an instance of a "taking" as regulated by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Regulations of this Act are supposed to be enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

In Omaha, any efforts by this federal agency have basically been insignificant. This is most obvious at the CenturyLink Center Omaha, where despite window decals — which obviously have not been effective — it continues to be the deadliest place for migrant birds at this urban setting along the Missouri River.

Poetic Tribute to the Meadowlark

Written for the Advertiser.

To the Lark.

By Lombardy Maple.

Oh! I raise thy note thou herald of spring.

And sing unto my waiting heart;

And know that every note shall bring

Fond memories, sweet Meadow Lark.

 

Thy silvery notes now softly float,

Out o'oer the meadow brown and stark;

But every note from thy glad throat

Is dear to me,—sweet Meadow Lark!

Peru, Neb., April 1st, 1875. Brownville Nebraska Advertiser 19(45): 1.

This may be the first poem written in Nebraska where the subject is birds!