Symphony of Horned Owls Late on a December Night

A night's symphony was heard before any tinge of a day's sort of dawn, during the dark when the ground was covered by a few inches of fresh, white snow among the trees and other plants. Incessant calls of the Great Horned Owl were heard while sitting silently in the lawn chair on the porch of the bluebird shack, north of Minnechaduza creek, by Valentine.

There was a vivid duet underway. The mighty feathered owls heard were two focal spots at some nearby place among the trees in two compass directions.

Sounds were close yet elusive. The dynamic duo were in two nearby trees — some barren and some of the coniferous sort — concerned for the time only with their audible expressions. They were certainly well perched — though unseen by a listener of the moment — on a branch of their choice, probably a place they appreciated as a place of seasonal familiarity. They hooted every few minutes, in a contrasting chorus amidst the seemingly absolute still of dark and starlit hours on 13 December 2015.

One of the big owls conveyed a rich and dynamic "hoo-hoo-who cooks for you" of a lower timbre. The response was a the same call at a greater pitch. The sounds of a muted, expressive late night at 5:15 a.m. were such an expression of the chilly land. The owls were indicating their residence as they get established for the pending breeding season, though it is winter on the human calendar. There is probably already a known tree spot for a nest.

No reply was given by the two owl models stolid atop fence posts of the horse corral. They were mute and their heads were covered with snow.

The owl life sounds were calls for the next generation, conveyed one night as it has been by many others of this sort of owl for centuries.

Since owls have their own schedule, their night calls were not heard again, even 30 minutes later. These residents have been heard and seen previously, and will be again when there is the proper chill and lack of winds."

Hundreds of Canada Goose in Early Winter At Valentine

Flights of loose flocks of Canada Goose going northward as seen from the north edge of Valentine indicate the number of these fowl present here this mid-December.

The morning of the 8th, numerous geese were going northward, coming from the southeast as prominent in the sky as seen from north Main Street, along the decline on the western side of the Valentine City Park. By counting the groups during ca. 8:40 to 8:55 a.m., there were an estimated 1300-1400 Canada Goose, based upon counts by fifths and tenths derived by particular attention.

There have also been a few Cackling Goose amidst the skeins, based upon their smaller fowl size and a once-in-a-while distinctive call. Their lesser size is obvious in comparison.

Just before noon, the flocks were seen returning from their forage grounds, as they flew over and beyond the city to their selected roost to the south.

One potentially notable roost site, as indicted by a county official, is near the Berry Bridge over the Niobrara River, a short distance southeast of Valentine. This locale has not been visited due to travel limitations.

About a dozen of the big geese did linger at the Valentine Mill Pond, midday on the 8th. Continual flow of Minnechaduza Creek contributes to a continuance of suitable pond spots where geese like to linger.

Recent weather conditions have been conducive for open water. Overnight lows have been below freezing, but not frigid. The high temperature for December 8th was 58^o. On Wednesday, the 9th, it was 65^o. The low temperature for this night was reported as 26^o. On the 10th, the high was 55^o and the overnight low was 25^o, early on the 11th, with a high in the mid 40s expected Friday.

Miller Field — the airport on the south edge of Valentine — is an official National Weather Service reporting station.

Steady winds and the resultant wave action, though slight, has helped break up the edge of the ice-cover, so there is more open water, as noted by conditions at the Valentine Mill Pond. Recent winds have been in excess of 10 m.p.h. during these days, with gusts in the mid-20s occurring regularly. The water action helps to dissipate the edges of the ice and provide a more fluid setting.

A similar extent of fowl occurred in flight on Wednesday and Thursday. On the 10th, about fifty geese were noted at 3 p.m. going northward to their destination where there must be suitable foraging grounds. Their site of choice is way beyond any travel by me on a bicycle, with intent.

With an increase in open water at the Valentine Mill Pond, there were more Canada Goose present on the 10th, with more than twenty present at the noon hour.

The weekend forecast conveys a return to typical weather conditions for the month, with the daily high temperature on average about 37^o. There may be 1-2 inches of snow on Saturday with highs in the mid 30s, according to the available forecast.

November Birdlife in the Valentine Vicinity

Record keeping continued for the birds seen in the vicinity of Valentine. Sightings at the regular places resulted in the sighting of 32 different species, including some which had not been previously seen.

Notable during the days . . .

• Cackling Goose: a few amidst the many Canada geese at the Mill Pond of Minnechaduza Creek
  
• Canada Goose: many present at the Mill Pond; these waterfowl would roost at the pond, and were seen most days flying northward to some place to forage, and then returning later in the day; by the end of the month, with colder weather and a significant snow-storm, the geese went elsewhere.
  
• Mallard: the few seen amidst the larger geese were a nice addition to the species list, as they flew about the Mill Pond
  
• Wild Turkey: occasionally foraged in the horse corral near the shack
  
• Northern Bobwhite: a covey blasted from the grass of the ridge while doing a walk-about survey on a fine day with partly sunny skies and a temperature in the fifties, just before a big cool-down
  
• Bald Eagle: typically an adult bird associated with the geese at the pond, though a juvenile was seen once; prominent in the sky as they soar about
  
• Cooper's Hawk: seems to be a resident, and one was seen just a few feet distant on one occasion while it was looking for a junco to capture and eat
  
• Rock Pigeon: many resident at the livestock market
  
• Eurasian Collared-Dove: a few scattered about with the largest number at the livestock sale barn
  
• Owls: the two owls were heard in the 5 a.m. hour one morning, with the little owl near the shack and the big horned owl further in the distance
  
• Belted Kingfisher: looking for a fresh fish in Minnechaduza Creek, especially at the city park
  
• Cedar Waxwing: a fine bunch one day at the berry tree at the Valentine Public Library
  
• American Tree Sparrow: only seen once in a while, and then only a bird or two of this species
  
• Dark-eyed Junco: a resident enjoyed daily in variable numbers amidst suitable habitats, especially northward of the Mill Pond
  
• A Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle were seen at the same time at the livestock market
  
• House Sparrow: these birds gathered together for the winter, with large numbers near the Danielski corn storage building, just west of the sale barn, and another bunch amidst the shrubs at the southeast corner of the Mill Pond tract
  

This is the tally for the month.

Common Name	308	310	311	313	316	317	322	328	331
Cackling Goose	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -
Canada Goose	- -	- -	- -	70	70	- -	75	280	325
Mallard	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	6	- -
Wild Turkey	- -	- -	- -	9	8	- -	- -	- -	9
Northern Bobwhite	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	16	- -
Bald Eagle	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1	1
Cooper's Hawk	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	1
Red-tailed Hawk	1	- -	3	2	- -	- -	1	2	- -
Rock Pigeon	- -	- -	- -	- -	45	- -	- -	35	- -
Eurasian Collared-Dove	- -	- -	- -	- -	40	- -	2	53	2
Eastern Screech-Owl	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Great Horned Owl	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Belted Kingfisher	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Red-bellied Woodpecker	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Hairy Woodpecker	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1	- -
Northern Flicker	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	2
Blue Jay	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	1	- -
American Crow	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	2	2	4	2
Black-capped Chickadee	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	2	7	- -
White-breasted Nuthatch	- -	- -	4	4	3	- -	2	3	- -
Eastern Bluebird	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4	- -	- -	- -
American Robin	- -	- -	- -	15	- -	12	8	2	- -
Cedar Waxwing	- -	- -	- -	- -	15	- -	6	- -	- -
American Tree Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2
Harris's Sparrow	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Dark-eyed Junco	- -	15	- -	20	- -	12	20	24	16
Northern Cardinal	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Red-winged Blackbird	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Common Grackle	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
House Finch	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	2	6
American Goldfinch	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	3	4	- -	- -
House Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	8	3	- -	24	25

There were 62 bird types noted during the months of September to November at habitat places in the Valentine vicinity.

The month ended with many inches of snow on the ground, which will influence the presence of local avifauna.

Cherry County Commissioners to Continue Evaluating Energy Element

A proposed energy element for Cherry county will continue to be evaluated by the county commissioners, after a proposed document was discussed at the December 24th meeting and public hearing.

The energy element prepared for the county planning commission was developed in response to legislative bill 997, which stated that "a city of the metropolitan class" should assess energy infrastructure and energy use, evaluate renewable energy sources and promote energy conservation measures. The legislation denoted an deadline of January 1, 2015.

The prepared document was not acceptable to the commissioners, as reflected by their comments:

"Don't understand what it accomplishes," in regards to some language in the document

"Seems pretty generic"

"Does not make much sense"

The document the commissioners - Mark Adamson, Tanya Storer and Jim Van Winkle - considered included a general introduction, a discussion of sustainability, energy infrastructure, energy use, renewable energy structures and state programs related to energy.

In regards to the electrical distribution, the sentence "The overall distribution system is in good condition" did not have any attribution, and obviously was an opinion.

Within the energy infrastructure section, it appeared as if paragraphs had been copied from some other source, based upon the regular use of we and our words, as if Cherry county was the provider of electricity. There was no given attribution.

In the renewable energy sources section, the wind energy facility south of Ainsworth, Brown county, and the turbines at Springview were mentioned. There was no information given on the wind turbine west of Valentine.

The state programs information seemed out-of-date, as there was no mention of current legislation or programs, as the details refereed to items all prior to 2010.

Suggested of the "easiest" "strategies" for reducing energy use were:

• using the most current and energy efficient sources of lighting, especially in concern to light bulbs
• installing more insulation in buildings
• converting to digital/programmable thermostats
• updating air conditioners and furnaces to more efficient modern systems
• replace older appliances with newer, more energy efficient appliances
• replace older "less efficient" water heaters with newer units

Further research would be needed to take any action and to determine how it would fit with the county comprehensive plan. County commissioners attending the upcoming Nebraska Association of County Officials meeting indicated they would discuss this topic with representatives from other counties.

If approved, the energy element would be incorporated within the county zoning regulations.

There is, however, no mandate to enact an energy element, and no penalties if it is not enacted.

The energy element was submitted to the commissioners by the planning board. It had been prepared by a consultant company for $600.

Cedar Waxwings Appreciate Valentine Berry Tree

A flock of Cedar Waxwings have been seen appreciating an old tree along Main Street in front of the Valentine Public Library. There were about fifteen feasting on the berries during the morning of November 14th. They were obviously relishing the food source on a blustery day. Several would feed but if disturbed by a patron, fly to the larger tree just to the north. Some were seen perching in the north tree. Some were also seen to fly across the street to the City of Valentine office building and cling to the front facade, for some birdly reason.

The birds were first noticed because of their distinctive whistle.

Plans had been to remove the tree in the near term, as it is "half-dead." Upon learning that the waxwings were feeding on the berries, the schedule will apparently be delayed so that migratory birds could eat the ample ripe, red berries.

There were also a few House Sparrows present among the branches of the berry tree.

Something new will be planted in the spring.

October Avifauna in the Valentine Vicinity

Seasonal record keeping was continued during October in the vicinity of Valentine Nebraska.

There were forty species denoted at the few locales that are along the way. Notes convey some sense of the birdly presence.

¶ Notable was an big increase in the number of Eurasian Collared-Doves about the Valentine Livestock Market, where Rock Pigeons are also numerous over the pens.

¶ Dark-eyed Juncos became numerous towards the end of the month, and continued to occur in similar numbers into November.

¶ The only known occurrence of meadowlarks was along the Cowboy Trail, within the city limits of Valentine.

¶ An osprey continued to linger about the Mill Pond, and utilized a utility line below the dam to watch for fish to eat in Minnechaduza Creek.

¶ Bluebirds were heard more than seen about the shack. Maybe in the coming spring, neighbor Lou will help make some wooden houses for these birds of beauty.

¶ The resident Great Horned Owls were much more prevalent, especially being vocal near the pond. One of the owls could be seen at dusk on a few evening, flying along the gulch north of the shack, and land on a utility pole to look and listen for something edible.

¶ Reliable in their regular occurrence where Black-capped Chickadees and the sublime White-breasted Nuthatches.

¶ Wild Turkeys were beginning to bunch up as noted during the middle of the month

¶ A favorite about the shack was a Lincoln's Sparrow, which was nearly a daily regular but was gone by the end of the month.

¶ Also gone is the diminutive House Wren, which was a regular resident during the first portion of the month. They will be back next season, as Wally has a slew of houses of various sizes and decoration.

The overall number of species observed in this vicinity is 54, through the end of the month.

These are details for the species noted, as designated to a Julian date. The numbers given are an aggregate of the number counted on the particular date, which may include the same species at different locales.

Common Name	274	276	279	282	283	286	287	288	291	294	297	300	302
Canada Goose	1	- -	5	- -	25	- -	- -	- -	8	7	65	- -	- -
Wood Duck	- -	11	- -	- -	6	- -	2	- -	- -	10	- -	- -	- -
Wild Turkey	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	16	14	- -	- -	- -	8	- -	- -
Turkey Vulture	58	- -	16	9	1	16	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Osprey	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Sharp-shinned Hawk	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -
Swainson's Hawk	- -	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Red-tailed Hawk	4	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
American Kestrel	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Killdeer	- -	- -	5	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Rock Pigeon	50	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	25
Eurasian Collared-Dove	11	1	3	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	2	3	67	- -	35
Great Horned Owl	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	2	1	- -	- -
Belted Kingfisher	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	1	- -
Red-bellied Woodpecker	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1	1	- -	- -
Downy Woodpecker	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Hairy Woodpecker	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Northern Flicker	- -	2	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Phoebe	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Blue Jay	4	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	2	3	- -	- -
American Crow	1	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	2	- -	- -
Black-capped Chickadee	2	2	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	2	- -	- -	- -
White-breasted Nuthatch	2	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4	3	- -	- -
House Wren	2	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Bluebird	14	5	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Robin	5	15	20	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	5	5	2	- -	- -
European Starling	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Yellow-rumped Warbler	2	- -	1	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Spotted Towhee	1	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Clay-colored Sparrow	1	2	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Lark Sparrow	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Lincoln's Sparrow	3	1	2	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
White-crowned Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	2	- -	- -	- -
Dark-eyed Junco	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	16	16	- -	- -
Northern Cardinal	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	2	- -
Western Meadowlark	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	7	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Grackle	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
House Finch	45	5	20	- -	- -	- -	9	- -	3	4	- -	- -	- -
American Goldfinch	4	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4	4	- -	- -	- -
House Sparrow	10	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	10

Continuing to be missed are any ducks other than the Wood Duck and surprisingly the Red-winged Blackbird. Other suggestive sounds need further attention.

Details of Autumn Turkey Vulture Season at Valentine

There are no more Turkey Vultures floating above the ridge of Minnechaduza Creek. After a season of presence, these birds have flown south. During their time in the area, they could be easily seen floating upon air currents, especially north of the creek valley during their daily search for sustenance.

First noted during late August this year, there were a few seen, usually coursing westward in the morning. Counts were in the single digits unless some time was taken to watch them float amidst the skies.

Early in September, a fine number – 16 – were seen at the Bluebird Shack north of Valentine.

By the end of the month, there were 40 counted going to the westward along the creek valley. It is always a mystery how they find the carrion needed to survive! Their majesty of floating is supreme, as they are only occasionally seen actually flapping their wings rather than soaring along.

Three days later, on October 1st, there were 48 noted during a focused watch. After this interlude, an additional ten birds were soaring to the east at the Water Tower Ridge. The entire group of 58 certainly included migratory vultures that had arrived.

Notes were kept on their transition on this cloudy morning. The first vulture was seen at 7 a.m., even before the sun was above the eastern horizon. Thirty minutes later there were five more of these buzzards in the sky northward of the shack.

What followed was an indication of these birds’ flight from one vantage point:

* 12 at 7:50 a.m.

* then 2, plus 3 more to the west

* five east at 8:05

* 21 west at 8:15

* some going east and some west during the interlude

* a dozen floating westward about 8:40

* then another number, most going westerly, until at 8:50 a.m. there was another dozen making their way to elsewhere along the Minnechaduza

On the first day of October, besides the transitional birds, another ten were seen near the water tanks of Valentine. With three Red-tailed Hawks also present, some time watching these birds float on unseen currents was a time of appreciation of flight and how these feathery birds are masters of the air. They are masters of the air, with their wings going to and fro in flight.

No vultures were seen during a two hour watch on Monday, October 5th.

These masters of floating in the sky were seen prominently on October 6th, when 16 were amidst the skyscape of Water Tower Ridge.

During the evening on the 9th, there were nine towards the southern ridge, that being above the fresh waters of the Valentine Mill Pond.

There was an apparent tragedy apparent mid-morning on the 15th. A juvenile was running along the north side of Lake Shore Drive, which is along the north side of the Mill Pond, on the northern side of Valentine. Its right wing was broken, and flight was not possible. The bird was beneath the utility line which is along the thoroughfare. It ran away, going uphill, after first hiding among the shrubbery to avoid what it perceived as a predator. There can be an obvious connection between the lines and a broken wing, the context being an inflight collision.

The last significant number of vultures was on the 13th, when there were still 16 lingering above the trees at the Ward Place, Valentine.

On the 16th was when the last soaring Turkey Vulture was seen, once again floating along the pine-clad ridge of Minnechaduza Creek. It was distinctive against a cerulean blue.

Their seasonal arrival in the spring 2016 will be indicative, and appreciated as a significant aspect of the yearly chronology of avifauna at the river city vicinity.