Easement Project to Conserve Schramm Bluffs Along the Platte River

A grant of $1.1 million will be used for the Schramm Bluffs Preservation Project that will protect habitat diversity through the purchase of conservation easements from willing owners of private property in southwest Sarpy County.

View of the lower Platte River valley, as seen from Schramm State Park. Images courtesy of the Nebraska Land Trust.

The funds were provided by the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

The Schramm Bluffs rose to the top of the priority list for the Nebraska Land Trust for four reasons”, according to Dave Sands, executive director of the nongovernmental group:

“1) The lower Platte River has been a focus for the NLT from our inception, due to its location in a region that is projected to have 2 million people by the year 2050;

2) The Schramm Bluffs stand out on the lower Platte due to the presence of significant natural and historical resources on private land;

3) Sarpy County currently has the fastest population growth of any county in Nebraska, creating development pressure that is unmatched in the state;

4) The final and most important reason is landowner support, because only a landowner can open the door to permanent protection of private land.”

At the heart of the 11,000-acre bluffs district is the 331-acre Schramm State Park, an Important Bird Area designated by the National Audubon Society.

“Schramm Park was selected as one of Audubon’s Important Bird Areas in Nebraska because of a combination of the quality of the hardwood forest and the exceptional diversity of birds that can be seen there,” according to Kevin Poague, manager for the IBA program in Nebraska. “The area also contains eastern oak-hickory woodland near the western edge of its range, along with restored and remnant tallgrass prairies.”

One restored prairie probably exceeds 40 acres, Sands said, with a relict virgin prairie of 5 to 10 acres.

The portion of the Platte River that flows adjacent to the Park was counted as part of the habitat. The Platte in this area has been designated as a Biologically Unique Landscape, where endangered interior Least Terns and threatened Piping Plovers nest on sand bars. Endangered pallid sturgeons occur in the river.

Limestone bluffs at Schramm State Park.

“A diverse assortment of songbirds visit the wooded hills and ravines each spring,” Poague said. Species of significant concern known to occur at the park include the American Bittern, Upland Sandpiper, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Short-eared Owl, Whip-poor-will, Red-headed woodpecker, Bell’s Vireo, Kentucky Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Dickcissel.

The importance of the area as a migratory stopover, also had a significant role in its IBA designation.

“Many species of warblers can be observed along the trails at Schramm,” Poague said, “as well as Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanagers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, and many types of thrushes, finches, and sparrows. There is also an active Bald Eagle nest either on or near the property. The Park is easily one of the best sites in the area to visit during spring and fall migration.”

Several members of the nominating committee noted “that the woodlands at Schramm Park were excellent in terms of diversity and health. Forests that have healthy and sustainable layers of habitat (ground cover, shrubs, sapling trees, young trees, mature trees) can attract a wide variety of birds that forage and nest within these different layers. Proximity to known migration corridors (river systems in this case) and lack of intensive development (urban dwellings, farmsteads, acreages) are other bonuses.”

Having easements on surrounding land would help retain a high bird diversity, Poague explained. “Development close to the Park could hurt bird activity in the following ways: increased noise; increased light pollution; possible run-off from yard pesticides; increased human activity could drive people-sensitive species from the area; increased vehicle traffic could negatively affect bird numbers.”

Sands believes that the time for conservation may be limited, given the existing development pressure in Nebraska’s fastest growing county, including the proposed construction of an extensive business development at Pflug Road, where a new highway interchange is being considered.

“Fortunately, many landowners want to preserve agricultural, historical, and natural resources in the area,” Sands said. “For some families, there has been a tradition of good stewardship for more than 150 years. Conservation easements can offer an opportunity to assure that this legacy lasts far into the future.”

Landowners have responded favorably to efforts to conserve the bluffs.

Eleven of the 16 landowners that were sent inquiry letters regarding an interest in conservation easements responded favorably, Sands said, to allowing an assessment team of NLT Board members, including state, NRD, and federal biologists, to visit their land to identify notable natural resources.

In addition to preserving wildlife habitat and plant communities, land protection will help to preserve water quality in the Platte River, as well as scenic vistas that are viewed by millions of people each year from nearby state parks, public attractions, and Interstate-80.

Sunset in the Lower Platte valley, as viewed from Schramm State Park.

Placing a conservation easement can also lead to additional future efforts to conserve habitats, Sands said. “Once land is protected, it will become an excellent candidate for cost-share programs from various agencies, as habitat improvements could not be lost later on to development. In visiting with landowners last summer, a required question involved their willingness to participate in cost-share programs for habitat improvements and all expressed interest without exception, especially when it came to cedar removal.”

Other funding partners in this project include the Cooper Foundation, the Abel Foundation, and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. Expertise and assistance has also been provided by the Fontenelle Nature Association, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska State Historical Society, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“When we first started on this project in 2006, I likened it to a steep climb up a mountain that would be difficult, but rewarding at the end,” he said. “This grant provides an immeasurable boost up the mountain that will not only preserve land and resources, but attract other funding partners in the future. If this landscape is successfully preserved, generations of Nebraskans will have the NET to thank for being the lynch pin that made it possible.”

“It has been a collaborative effort from the start,” Sands said, “because it offers a true win/win approach to the preservation of this beautiful landscape.”

Habitat Conservation Project a Tribute to Pioneers of Conservation

Ongoing habitat conservation in the prairie pothole region of southwest Wisconsin continues as a lasting tribute to pioneer conservationists of the region.

Historic farmsteads of John Muir and Aldo Leopold lay within the boundaries of a project that incorporates "Leopold's land ethic and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ecosystem approach bringing resource agencies, organizations and private landowners together to contribute to the protection of migratory birds and Wisconsin's prairie wetland ecosystems," according to the summary for a federal grant.

This project recently received a $1 million grant from the North American Wetland Conservation Act, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Madison Audubon Society will administer the grant. Partners that will provide an additional $3 million in matching funds include Madison Audubon Society, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Dane County Parks, Natural Heritage Land Trust, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Waukesha County Land Conservancy, private landowners, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association.

"Benefits produced from the project," said Marsha Cannon, the grants administrator with the Madison Audubon Society, "will increase recruitment of ground nesting migratory birds, provide nesting habitat for wetland-associated bird species, provide foraging and migratory resting habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, and other waterbird species, and protect rare and endangered plant and animal species."

The Devils Lake State Park restoration involved 35 acres of wetland and 54 acres of upland restoration. Ditches were filled, water re-channeled to create a natural meander, and numerous (9) scrapes completed. Wetland species were seeded in wetland areas; upland seeding completed on surrounding upland areas." "Upland enhancement grant funds and DU Wetland restoration grant funds from the Phase III SCWIPPI NAWCA grant were used to partially fund this project. Partners on this project include Devils Lake State Park (the landowner), along with Pheasants Forever, Friends of Devils Lake State Park, USDA-NRCS, and Sauk County Land Conservation Department. Partners provided additional funding and/or in-kind services." Images courtesy of Trish Vanderhoef.

A variety of habitat types are being acquired, restored or protected, according to the NAWCA grant summary. There will be 616 acres acquired, 43 acres donated for use as wildlife habitat, easements purchased on 130 acres, easements donated on 80 acres, and more than 1,400 acres of bird habitat restored or enhanced. The emphasis is on restoring palustrine emergent wetlands, decreasing wetland types, riparian wetlands, and adjacent uplands.

Benefits for wetland and grassland birds "include breeding habitat for waterfowl species such as Mallards, Blue-winged Teal, Wood Ducks and Canada Goose; migratory stop-over habitat for several species of shorebirds, waterfowl, and waterbirds such as Wilson's Phalarope, Greater Yellowlegs, Northern Pintail and Lesser Scaup; foraging and nesting habitat for wetland birds including American Bittern, Black Tern, and Marsh Wren; and nesting habitat for grassland bird species of concern such as Sedge Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow, Dickcissel and Eastern Meadowlark."

This prairie wetland initiative project area lies within the Upper Mississippi River/Great Lakes Region Joint Venture of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, according to the NAWCA grant summary.

"Habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement completed under this proposal will help meet habitat and population goals identified" in the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan and the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, the grant said. The project also "incorporates wetland and grassland landscapes identified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) as critical habitat for grassland birds, which includes Partners in Flight Watch List Species and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 species of management concern."

"The project will also develop critical habitat for the state-threatened Blanding's turtle; establish refugia for state and federally listed plant species such as prairie bush clover and prairie white-fringed orchid, improve surface and ground water quality; reduce flooding; develop economically important recreation areas; and enhance aesthetics," according to the NAWCA summary.

"Madison Audubon Society has been a partner with the Southcentral Wisconsin Prairie Pothole Initiative since it began in September 2000," Cannon said.

Devils Lake channels, October 2007.

Phase I - from September 2000 to September 2003 - was administered by the Aldo Leopold Foundation in Baraboo. The Madison Audubon Society agreed to be the grant recipient and administer Phases II, III - from September 2003 to November 2008 - and Phase IV where an agreement is in process.

The anticipated timeframe for Phase IV, Cannon said, is May 2008 - May 2010. Each phase is expected to take at least 2 years, with an additional 1-year "no cost" extension available.

"The first three phases of the project protected, restored and enhanced 13,445 acres," Cannon said in explaining the success that has resulted in a continuation of the conservation initiative. "The project goal for Phase IV is to protect and restore an additional 1,158 acres of wetlands and 1,550 acres of associated uplands, thus bringing the total habitat protected to 16,153 acres.

"Phase IV of the project will provide additional protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetland and associated grassland habitat within the project area. The project will continue to decrease erosion, increase water storage during rainfall and snowmelt events, improve water quality in lakes, streams, and rivers by removing sediment, contaminants, and pollutants, and provide important habitat for wildlife. These functions have been greatly reduced due to the detriment of wetland and grassland habitat productivity within the project area over the last century. Partners have been working hard for a number of years to protect and restore these habitats and recover these functions.

"Federal funds are crucial in acquiring and restoring habitat because no one funding source can cover the entire cost," Cannon said. "Project partners match the federal NAWCA funds with non-federal funds, and thus greatly increase their ability to provide and protect bird habitat. Because NAWCA funding is available over a multi-year timeframe, partners can plan their acquisition and restoration activities with confidence."

"A large number and diverse group of organizations have come together as partners in this proposal," according to the project summary. Cannon also indicated the value of having a diverse group of project partners.

"Many partners are non-government conservation organizations and are partners of the Phase I, Phase II and Phase III NAWCA grants. Waukesha County Land Conservancy has joined the current proposal as a significant new partner. Private landowner, Wildland L.L.C. is greatly welcomed as an important new partner. Private landowner Fair Meadows returns as a partner from the Phase III grant. Partners have collaborated on many conservation projects in the past and are committed to protecting and restoring wetland and grassland habitat within the proposal area. The large number of dollars partners have committed for new match for this proposal demonstrates this commitment.

Devils Lake ponds.

"Diversity brings strength and flexibility to the Southcentral Wisconsin Prairie Pothole Initiative," Cannon said. "Partners benefit from a combined project since, individually, it would be difficult to prepare a proposal and attract the level of grant funding provided by NAWCA. Centralizing grant administration with the grant recipient, Madison Audubon, reduces administrative costs to all partners. While each partner proposes specific projects and match, there is internal flexibility because it is the partnership as a whole that is accountable for meeting project goals. For example, if unforeseen circumstances prevent one partner from meeting land acquisition or habitat restoration goals, another partner can use the funding so the federal dollars are not lost.

"Development and urban sprawl are significant threats to wetland and grassland habitat, and development also threatens restoration potential on agricultural land within the project area. Four rapidly growing metropolitan areas lie within the project area. Madison and Sun Prairie in Dane County, Janesville in Rock County and the Milwaukee metro area in Waukesha County contribute to development pressure, which spills over into neighboring counties. Unfortunately, development is permanent, and lands that are developed are unlikely to provide habitat for wildlife ever again. Partners feel that opportunities lost to purchase and restore wetlands and grasslands due to a lack of funds are opportunities that are unlikely to present themselves again in the future."

The public will benefit from this project as critical habitat is acquired and conserved in a developing area. By accomplishing projected goals, the grant summary says, the public will realize the many benefits that healthy wetland ecosystems provide. They will also gain additional locales for watching birds, and an "overall better quality of living."

Conserving Three Bird Species at Risk in Saskatchewan

Promoting regional conservation of three species of birds at risk in Saskatchewan will be continued with funding assistance from the United States.

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act program managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently awarded Nature Saskatchewan a grant of $50,000, that will be matched with $475,000 provided by project partners, including the Government of Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, SaskPower, Saskatchewan Environment - Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, The EJLB Foundation, Alliance Pipeline Community Program, and Saskatchewan Environment Sustainable Communities Grant and SaskEnergy through the Prairie Conservation Action Plan.

Additional partners are SaskPower’s Shand Greenhouse, the Prairie Conservation Action Plan, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Burrowing Owl Researchers and the Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards.

The grant funding will support "increasing awareness about species at risk through landowner visits and tradeshows, and increasing habitat for species at risk through our pasture expansion program,” said Michelle Yaskowich, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator with Nature Saskatchewan, a non-governmental group.

"The NMBCA funds are greatly appreciated as these contribute to Nature Saskatchewan's ability to deliver our conservation programming to preserve a valuable and meaningful natural heritage for future generations," Yaskowich said. "The vast populations of neotropical migrants have a significant influence and impact in boreal areas, on the prairies, and on migration and in wintering areas. Surveys such as Breeding Bird Surveys and our Operation Burrowing Owl program indicate that many species are in serious decline and in need of conservation actions."

The funding will allow the group to continue to "build on the awareness about habitat for grassland birds, species at risk, and other wildlife as well as the mutual benefits of biodiversity and agriculture that is increasing due to our program activities," Yaskowich said in an email. Grant funding "will allow us to start our initiatives at the beginning of May and continue to deliver awareness and outreach activities throughout the year."

Landowner with sign showing their participation in the Operation Burrowing Owl program. Images courtesy of Nature Saskatchewan.

Grant funds will be used for the Stewards of Saskatchewan (SOS) Bird Species At Risk (BSAR) project, according to Yaskowich. This consists of three voluntary stewardship programs:

1) Operation Burrowing Owl (since 1987), for the endangered Burrowing Owl;

2) Shrubs For Shrikes (since 2003), for the threatened Prairie Loggerhead Shrike; and

3) Plovers On Shore (initiated in May 2008), for the endangered Piping Plover.

"There are currently 479 participants in the two established programs, conserving 63,843 hectares of habitat at 638 sites," Yaskowich said. "The owl and shrike populations are monitored at known occurrence sites each spring in an annual census sent to BSAR participants, who record the number of these two species that return to their land. The neotropical grant fund will also help in the development and delivery of the new Plovers On Shore stewardship program."

"These programs increase awareness, conserve or enhance habitat and identify sites and monitor populations of these three species," Yaskowich said.

"Awareness is increased through on-site personal visits to landowners with any of these species to distribute our conservation toolboxes, as well as through attendance at tradeshows/events where outreach materials on the target species and programs are available for landowners and interested urban and rural residents, advertisements and articles in rural newspapers, our 'Wanted' posters and magnets, and our Steward Appreciation Day workshops.

"Habitat conservation is accomplished by engaging landowners in stewardship commitment through signed voluntary agreements - without an expiration date - where the landowner agrees not to destroy habitat, nor harm these species."

The Bird Species at Risk "project also provides 50% cost share funding to landowners for a pasture expansion program to seed cultivated areas to grassland (invasive species excluded) as well as shrub planting, fencing and alternate water developments. This enhances and increases available Burrowing Owl and Loggerhead Shrike habitat as projects occur near existing pastures. Identification of sites is done through landowners and urban and rural residents who call our toll-free number to report sightings, and when Nature Saskatchewan staff are out on the road."

Participants in the Shrubs for Shrikes program.

“The support of private landowners is essential to these projects,” Yaskowich explained. "As of 2000, only 20% of former grasslands in Saskatchewan remained as natural habitat, according to published research. With 85% of southern Saskatchewan's remaining grasslands being privately owned, conservation of this precious landscape would not happen without the help and concern from these landowners, who also make their living off this land. It is because of these environmentally aware landowners that Operation Burrowing Owl, Shrubs For Shrikes and Plovers On Shore exist."

Yaskowich pointed out the importance of international cooperation to conserve birds.

"As birds do not recognize international borders, for bird conservation to be effective countries that share bird species and individuals must work cooperatively and share resources including expertise and funds. For our project, the Burrowing Owls, Loggerhead Shrikes and Piping Plovers that are summer residents on the Canadian prairies are winter residents in the U.S., or pass through on their way to Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico (Piping Plovers). Because individuals and populations are shared, it is crucial that Canada and the United States work together for conservation of these species at risk and their habitat. Cooperation on conservation for these species results in benefits for all prairie species, most of which are migrants to or through the U.S."

Founded in 1949, Nature Saskatchewan is a "member-based, non-profit registered charity dedicated to protecting nature, its diversity, and the processes that sustain it. Their vision is 'Humanity in Harmony with Nature,' with a mission to promote appreciation and understanding of our natural environment through education and to protect and preserve natural ecosystems and their biodiversity through conservation and research."

More than 1,300 individuals from the Prairie Provinces, and other regions of North America are members. There are eleven local affiliates.

Wetlands Acquisition and Restoration Initiative on the Island of Kauai

Funding awarded through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) will allow protection and restoration of imperiled wetland habitats on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.

View of the lower Kilauea River. Courtesy photo.

The "project will acquire and conserve portions of a coastal estuarine wetland ecosystem," according to the grant details, "to prevent losses of two nationally declining wetland types, and one regionally declining habitat type, and will restore wetland acreage on public lands that will be protected in perpetuity”.

The following conservation goals have been identified for this project, which will acquire 12 acres and restore 128 acres of vitally important wildlife habitat.

1) Restore 23 acres of palustrine emergent wetland within the Huleia Unit of the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge complex. "The Huleia Unit of the Kauai NWR is designated as a core wetland area, which is essential for the recovery of Hawaii's endangered waterbirds." Wetland restoration will directly benefit the wetlands-associated migratory and resident birds which inhabit and frequent the Huleia Unit.

2) Acquire 12 acres within the Kilauea Coastal Preserve, a contiguous protected habitat area adjacent to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR), reducing habitat fragmentation for the endangered species that utilize the area. The KPNWR is a nesting and resting site for thousands of Hawaiian seabirds and the endangered Hawaiian goose. "The Kilauea Coastal Preserve is part of a patchwork quilt of managed areas being developed to protect rare and endangered species in the Kilauea River Watershed. State and county managed lands, a National Wildlife Refuge, and private land partners, combine to create contiguous habitat for wildlife.

3) Restore 105 acres of palustrine emergent wetland and upland coastal dune and strand habitat within Mana Plain State Wildlife Sanctuary. Restoration actions will support increased populations of migratory, wintering, and endemic waterbirds.

Picture of a pair of Koloa taken on Kauai. This species is expected to "benefit tremendously from this project, as Kauai is one of the last strong holds for this species." Photo courtesy of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The project was awarded $1 million dollars in funding from NAWCA, with additional match and funding sources of $2 million provided by the Kauai Public Land Trust, Ducks Unlimited and the Atherton Foundation. Additional partners in the initiative are The Nature Conservancy, Pacific Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetland and Pacific Islands Coastal Programs, U.S.D.A. Natural Resource Conservation Service Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the Kilauea Point Natural History Association.

"Although wetlands cover less than 3% of Hawaii's surface area, they are extremely important because they support both plant and animal species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands," according to information in the NAWCA grant summary. "Protection and restoration of Hawaii's remaining wetlands is essential for the recovery of the endemic waterbirds, as well as to the survival of migrant waterfowl and shorebirds that visit the islands. Kauai is considered the last strong hold for the endangered Hawaiian Duck and Hawaiian Goose due to the lack of the Indian mongoose, an invasive mammalian predator."

Hawaii's wetlands function as valuable resources from several points of view, said Christina Ryder, a biologist with Ducks Unlimited. The land tracts involved in this project are important waterfowl habitats and refuges that "support rare and endangered Hawaiian waterbirds including the Hawaiian coot, stilt, gallinule, duck (Koloa maoli) and goose (Nene). They also serve as productive resource systems and nursery areas, supporting an abundance of fish and other aquatic organisms as well as providing recreational opportunities and acting as aesthetically pleasing natural landmarks.

"Better control and access to water is critical to restoring the Huleia and Mana wetlands," Ryder said. "Due to agricultural modifications at both sites the ecological function of these wetlands has been severely impacted. Better access to water to flood and dry fields is crucial to providing improved forage and nesting habitat for endangered waterbirds. By installing wells and adding piping infrastructure wetland managers will have access to water for wetland management, this will increase invertebrate forage, nesting sites and loafing areas for migratory and endangered endemic waterbird populations.

Map of the Mana project region. U.S. Geological Service map.

These projects could not come soon enough as there have been dramatic declines in wetland habitats in the Hawaiian Islands over the last 50 years. "The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that there were 22,487 acres of wetlands within coastal plains of Hawaii circa 1780." In 1990, an estimated 15,481 acres remained, a decrease of 31%. The agency also reported that logging, agriculture, grazing, military use, fire, and urban and residential development have claimed more than half of Hawaii's native habitats.

The importance of having different project partners is essential, Ryder added. "Partnerships between state, local and federal agencies allow a diversity of experts to collaborate on a project, as well as the ability to leverage additional resources that an individual agency may not be able to provide. By bringing together the State of Hawaii, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kauai Public Land Trust, this project is able to restore two key habitat areas and purchase additional habitats important for endangered species."

"Partnerships are the most effective way to create long term sustainable projects," Ryder suggested. "The more stake holders involved in a project means the more people who want to see the project succeed, and the more people that learn about wetlands and their importance to wildlife and the environment."

Public benefits expected for this initiative include "increased wildlife habitat and opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation and environmental education, improved water quality, and increased shoreline protection, all of which will benefit the residents of Kauai.

University of Nebraska to Improve Campus Conditions for Wildbirds

CPN Passageway.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be the first in Nebraska to address the deaths of birds from striking buildings, with an initiative to address known hazards on campus.

At a meeting held on Earth Day 2008, Ted Weidner, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management & Planning, said the campus plans to “take care” of several locations where birds have died by colliding with buildings.

The priority sites - based on an evaluation of known instances of mortality - are the Cather-Pound-Neihardt passageway, Oldfather Hall links to Bessey Hall and Burnett Hall, Love Library, Manter Hall, and the Nebraska Hall link.

At the Architecture Hall link, another known problem site, the glass exterior walls are expected to be replaced in a few years, so an interim solution will be devised.

Weidner said a coordinated effort will be required to get facilities staff, building management personnel and others involved to implement protective measures. Students can possibly get involved through classroom learning projects, and through groups such as the Wildlife Club and campus ecology club. The expertise of campus staff is another asset that may be helpful in finding effective solutions.

A primary option being considered is placing an opaque film on the glass surfaces, to make them visible to birds so it can be avoided. Also being considered, at the east side of Memorial Stadium, is turning off interior lights to avoid confusing birds, which can result in collisions.

Another site of concern is the Sheldon Art Gallery, one of the “most recognized architectural facilities in Nebraska,” said Weidner. This building has extensive glass areas on the east and west side. Options to be considered include an evaluation on the use of interior lights during the night, and how to reduce the threat of the transparent and reflective characteristics of the glass.

We have “the most work to do” at this building, Weidner said.

Predawn at Sheldon Art Gallery, showing interior lights.

Reflectivity conditions at Sheldon Art Gallery.

These efforts will be carried out during the next 60 days, with a goal of completing efforts at the priority sites by the end of June.

Robert Harms, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, also present at the meeting, stressed the agency’s focus on conservation of migratory birds.

In the case of UNL, the “incidental taking” – i.e., bird deaths due to striking a building – is addressed by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, enacted in 1917.

The FWS is “very concerned” with the ongoing deaths of birds at UNL, Harms said, and is pleased at efforts that will reduce the numbers of bird deaths at the Lincoln campus. “We want people to try options” to reduce mortality.

Efforts that will be undertaken will be evaluated for effectiveness and cost considerations.

Grackle carcass at Oldfather Hall.

East glass at Memorial Stadium.

There is also the need for a better understanding of bird mortality from building strikes at East Campus, but a lack of available details is currently limiting what can be done to buildings there.

Most of the bird deaths at UNL are known from city campus, and only a few records are known from C.Y. Thompson Library and the Law College building.

Weidner also indicated that the campus now includes bird-friendly design for buildings in its design guidelines for new construction.

When planning for the addition to the Nebraska Union was evaluated by campus students and staff, several comments were received that supported a bird-friendly design. Building architects have considered bird-friendly measures in determining the construction of the addition that will be constructed soon.

Conserving Neotropical Migrants in the Choco Region Forest

Birds in need of conservation will benefit from efforts to protect forest habitats in the Choco biogeographic region of northwest Ecuador and western Columbia.

"The Chocó biogeographic zone is an internationally recognized conservation priority," according to the summary for a grant recently awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "However, use of these forests as wintering habitat by these priority species is poorly understood. In Ecuador, over 96% of original Chocó forests were already cut by 1996 and much of what does remain is not well protected."

Project goals are to:

1) Identify priority habitats for conservation of neotropical migrants by surveying a series of chronically understudied and critically threatened habitats.

2) Build in-country capacity by training local residents, university students, and professional biologists via direct participation in research and education efforts.

3) Provide environmental education on neotropical migrants and their conservation needs to local adults and children.

4) Create and preserve habitat for neotropical migrants by establishing community forest reserves and reforestation of over 600 hectares.

Funding - nearly $572,000 - comes from a National Migratory Bird Conservation Act federal grant provided by the Fish and Wildlife Service, along with matching funds that provided $452,000 of the total amount, from partners including the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, Conservation, Food, and Health Foundation, University of California, Los Angeles, Jatun Sacha Foundation, and a private donor to the University of California, Los Angeles.

"The work is coordinated with and supported by the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment, and undertaken in collaboration with Ecuadorian non-governmental organizations and universities and is explicitly coordinated with BirdLife International's Important Bird Area program," according to the grant summary.

"The Chocó biogeographical region spans about 100,000 square kilometers of humid forest in western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, and is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world," according to Dr. Jordan Karubian, with the Center for Tropical Research at the University of California at Los Angeles. "Surveys have revealed exceptional diversity and endemism in plants, reptiles, amphibians, birds and butterflies, and the area is widely recognized as one of 17 'Hot Spots' for biodiversity. In terms of migratory birds, for example, the Chocó supports wintering populations at least 70 potential Neotropical migrants," according to data from Birdlife International, "including 20 species listed as conservation priorities in Birds of Conservation Concern, and five of the top ten priority species listed in the Partners in Flight, North American Landbird Conservation Plan: the Cerulean Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Canada Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and American Swallow-tailed Kite."

The project will "identify priority areas in the Choco region, and will be implemented in three large, Important Birding Area's: 1), the Mache-Chindul Reserve (120,000 hectares, 100-700 meters of elevation); 2), Mataje-Cayapas-Santiago (68,000 ha., 0-35 m. elev.); and, 3), Reserva Ecologica Cotacachi-Cayapas (350,000 ha., 80 - 5,000 m. elev)," Karubian explained in an email. "These IBAs in the provinces of Esmeraldas and Manabi, are government-recognized reserves and contain some of the largest tracts of pristine Chocó forests in Ecuador, and were selected for intensive study because of their importance for neotropical migratory bird populations and conservation in general. They also capture much of the variation in elevation within the Ecuadorian Chocó, ranging from sea level to 4,300 m. elevation, and extending to the extreme northern, southern, eastern and western extents of Chocó habitat in Ecuador. The bird sampling regime will include the entire range of elevation, rainfall, and temperature regimes found in the Ecuadorian Chocó. Additionally, the three are priorities for additional data collection because of current low levels of data available for each site.

"These sites also include most major demographic groups in the Ecuadorian Chocó, including indigenous Chachi and Awa peoples, as well as Afro-Ecuadorians and more recent colonists. Most communities subsist on agriculture, livestock, hunting, and/or timber extraction, though many patches of primary forest remain intact.

"The main challenge is to conserve habitat," according to Karubian. "This is challenging for a number of reasons, not least of which is that we have a relatively poor understanding of what habitats are critical for priority species. The key is to work with local residents to (1) educate them about the importance of these habitats and species and (2) provide economically viable alternatives to habitat destruction. These are both challenging, though the second point is the toughest!

"Education is key to local conservation, and we will expand two highly successful models for local education that we developed in the Mache Chindul IBA. The local residents who receive training as field biologists will also be trained to make public presentations to local communities in and around the IBA's in which we work. These Powerpoint presentations will be given using a digital video projector in combination with a portable laptop computer. The general format will be to discuss Chocó habitat; the phenomenon of migration and migratory birds; the importance of the Chocó for migratory birds; our research project on migratory birds including methods and results; and finally the need to conserve remaining habitat. The presentations will be directed toward adults. We have found that local residents are much more effective at conveying a conservation message than people from outside the communities could ever hope to be. An average of one presentation per month will be presented in each of the IBA's, each to a different community (54 total presentations). Community members will be trained in methods such as extracting birds from mist nets, bird identification, and taking blood samples, morphological measures, and habitat samples. These individuals will then receive full time employment as field biologists while working on this project. A model system for this proposed training is already underway in the Mache-Chindul Reserve. Building in-country scientific capacity is key to conservation in Ecuador. We will leverage the strong collaborative relationships that has been developed with Universidad San Francisco de Quito and Universidad Central in Quito, Ecuador to train a total of six promising young biologists.

"One of the major challenges facing conservation groups" in the area, Karubian said, is "the lack of communication between universities, non-governmental organizations, and state government. One of our goals at Center for Tropical Research is to bridge this gap, and an explicit goal of this project is to bring together communities, NGO's and universities and government from Ecuador and the United States."

The Center for Tropical Research (CTR) is an inter-disciplinary research group dedicated to conservation through the highest quality scientific research coupled with on-the-ground socioeconomic approaches. CTR operates under the umbrella of the Institute of the Environment at UCLA and is led by Director Dr. Thomas B. Smith and Dr. Jordan Karubian, who maintained a full-time presence in Ecuador from 2001 - 2005. Our goal is to implement research, conservation, and training projects with collaborators from local communities, universities, government departments, and NGOs.

This project will take place from July 2008 to July 1010.

Plight of the Piping Plover Depicted in a New Book for Youngsters

Cover of Piping Plover Summer.

The plight of the diminutive Piping Plover, and how people help the species survive is the topic for a colorful, new book for children.

Piping Plover Summer, a tale written for youngsters 5-10 years of age by Janet Riegle of Minnesota, tells about a pair which return to nest on the beach where they nested the previous year, and how they overcome threats to their safety and a dangerous environment to successfully raise a brood of chicks.

The story is presented from the perspective of the birds, and gently reminds "readers that human behavior affects the lives of other creatures in ways we often don't notice, and offers hope and encouragement that there are effective methods for helping endangered populations and that caring humans can make a difference."

Since biologists actively help the birds survive, the connection "between humans and birds adds interest and shows how individuals can make a difference," Riegle explained. The story conveys how the nesting pair adapts to a protective exclosure, placed around the nest by biologists, to keep predators from bothering the brooding birds.

Colorful and evocative art - the illustrations are drawn with colored pencil on colored pastel paper - "creates the mood of beach shorelines along the Great Lakes and North Atlantic coast that are the breeding grounds for this endangered species." The illustrations are drawn in a manner to keep children interested and to evoke the admiration of any adults reading to them.

"Piping Plovers are an attractive, appealing species because the adults are striking with their black headband and necklace showcased against their pale plumage," Riegle said. "And the chicks are just plain cute!"

Her interest in birds began in childhood, as she watched "the bird feeders outside her kitchen window. Growing up in Michigan, her family enjoyed frequent beach outings on the Great Lakes, where she was fascinated by the many sandpipers and plovers scurrying along the shore."

"As a young adult, Janet's interest turned toward music and she became a professional flutist and music tutor. When she moved to northern Minnesota, the amazing flute-like songs of woodland birds caught her attention. She began researching her favorite species until she could identify them by sight and sound."

Illustration of a Piping Plover brood by Janet Riegle.

"Although Piping Plovers formerly nested near Duluth, Minnesota many years ago, they do not nest here at the present time," Riegle said.

"However, they do pass through on migration and I have observed them several times on Minnesota Point on Lake Superior. On one particular occasion I recall seeing a Piping Plover with some other shorebirds on the beach. I politely asked a group of people walking the shoreline to take a slight detour so as not to disturb the birds. The people seemed interested when I mentioned that an endangered species was nearby and I pointed it out to them. They asked lots of questions and thanked me for the information. Later in the summer I again ran into the same group of people and they seemed to have positive memories of that particular experience.

"At about that time, I had recently read 'A Shadow and a Song: The Struggle to Save an Endangered Species' by Mark Jerome Walters (Chelsea Green Publishing Company), which looks back on the series of events that led to the extinction of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow. Also about that time, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released a Draft Recovery Plan for the Great Lakes Piping Plover. I requested one and read through it, and the vulnerability of the Piping Plover really struck me. I thought about the Dusky Seaside Sparrow and how it seemed that so many people involved in that process didn't feel like their role in the game was that important, and that someone else would pick up the ball if they dropped it. Of course that didn't happen and the Dusky Seaside Sparrow is lost forever.

"I felt compelled to do something for the Piping Plover, and felt that perhaps my best contribution could be to introduce the species to a younger generation, thereby awakening their interest in the species and in birds and other wildlife in general.

"The predator exclosure in the book is based on the specifications set forth in the recovery plan for the Great Lakes Piping Plover. I also consulted other sources on exclosures, for example, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Atlantic Coast Piping Plover slide show."

Riegle, a legal assistant by day, has found "that the lives of birds and their songs are far more interesting than sitting in a room trying to improve" the sounds made with her flute. As an avid and respected birdwatcher, she participates in the bird counts and other research in northeastern Minnesota. This is the first children's book she has written.

"I am thrilled that the book is coming out," Riegle said. "I truly hope that children and their parents and grandparents enjoy the story and at the same time become aware of the struggles these and other birds face in their daily lives."

A non-fiction section at the end gives readers more information on Piping Plovers, and resources useful for learning more.

Published by Raven Productions Inc., "an independent publisher in Ely, Minn. Its mission is to encourage children and grown-ups to explore, enjoy, and protect the natural world and share experiences with one another through story-telling, writing, and art."

Bone Studies Reveal Avifauna of North America in Past Millenniums

Relicts of bone from dead birds that have been carefully removed at different types of excavations provide subtle clues to identify the avifauna present during past millenniums in North America. This type of ornithological research is an interesting and intriguing investigation of fragile remnants of excavated bird skeletons, and a subsequent, detailed comparison to known bones to determine - if possible - the particular species.

Published finding present clues of the birds present at a particular locale at a place and time long before primitive peoples had any means of recording history, and hundreds to many thousands of years prior to the first written record of a bird on the continent.

Prehistoric Law's Diving-Goose. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

A wide variety of published findings are available. Each scholarly article may provide details of only a few species, but combined results from the wide range of anthropology, ornithology, archeology and related sources do provide a set of occurrence records for a wonderfully representative variety of avifauna extant during eleven millennia. In this case, starting with ca. 12,000 years before the common era (B.C.E.) through two thousand years ago.

A list of known species was determined by extracting bird information from more than 500 published sources. Information was entered into a database, and included the given bird species name, and the particular locale including country, state or province if applicable and county if available. Chronology was determined from radio carbon dating for the site as given with the research findings. In some cases, when several date ranges were provided, an average was used to designate an approximate, but accurate time of occurrence. Also, in some instances, when avian remains occurred in different strata, distinct names for a particular set of records were designated to separate the species into a time frame with a greater degree of precision.

Ancient Avifauna

More than 1850 distinct records provide the details to document more about 305 recognized species for North America prior to 2000 years B.C.E. (also commonly referred to as Y.B.P., or Years Before Present). For the purposes of this comparison, the base year used is A.D. 2000.

The information given is the species in modern taxonomic sequence, the thousand year period of time before common era, and the number of records within each designated time period. If a record is included within a particular millennia, the site chronology was correlated within that period of a thousand years. For example, if a site was dated to approximately 7750 years B.C.E., it would be within the 7000 millennia period.

Notable are several currently extinct species which were a short time ago in the past - biologically speaking - were an integral part of the continental avifauna.

The value given indicates the number of records for the particular period.

List of Recorded Bird Species

Common Name	12000	11000	10000	9000	8000	7000	6000	5000	4000	3000	2000
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	2
Snow Goose	-	2	2	1	-	4	1	2	2	4	6
Ross's Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Brant	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Canada Goose	2	2	3	3	-	6	1	8	6	7	6
Trumpeter Swan	-	-	2	-	-	1	-	2	1	3	2
Tundra Swan	-	-	1	1	-	-	1	3	3	1	4
Muscovy Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Wood Duck	-	-	2	1	1	-	1	1	2	1	-
Gadwall	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	2	2	-	2
American Wigeon	2	-	1	1	-	1	-	1	3	-	3
American Black Duck	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	2	1	-
Mallard	3	3	5	2	-	2	1	7	5	4	6
Blue-winged Teal	2	-	2	1	-	2	1	1	3	-	2
Cinnamon Teal	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	3	1	-	1
Northern Shoveler	1	1	-	1	-	1	-	3	1	1	2
Northern Pintail	1	-	3	1	-	1	2	4	4	1	5
Green-winged Teal	3	1	4	2	2	4	-	3	3	1	5
Canvasback	1	-	1	1	-	-	-	3	5	2	2
Redhead	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	2	-	1
Ring-necked Duck	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	1	3	1	1
Greater Scaup	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	1	1	3
Lesser Scaup	1	-	2	2	-	-	-	3	4	3	1
Law's Diving-Goose	-	-	1	-	1	4	2	2	3	3	1
King Eider	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Common Eider	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Harlequin Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Surf Scoter	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	4
White-winged Scoter	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	3
Black Scoter	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Long-tailed Duck	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	1
Bufflehead	1	1	1	2	-	1	-	3	5	2	3
Common Goldeneye	-	1	-	1	-	1	-	1	-	-	2
Hooded Merganser	1	-	2	2	1	1	-	-	4	2	2
Common Merganser	1	-	-	1	-	1	-	3	1	3	4
Red-breasted Merganser	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	1	2
Ruddy Duck	2	-	1	1	-	2	1	3	7	2	3
Plain Chachalaca	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
White-bellied Chachalaca	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Ring-necked Pheasant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Ruffed Grouse	3	2	3	3	1	2	1	6	-	1	3
Greater Sage-Grouse	3	2	4	2	-	4	-	4	-	4	-
Spruce Grouse	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Willow Ptarmigan	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Dusky Grouse	1	1	3	-	-	3	1	4	-	1	2
Sharp-tailed Grouse	3	1	4	-	-	1	-	3	-	2	-
Greater Prairie-Chicken	3	-	5	1	-	3	-	1	2	3	-
Lesser Prairie-Chicken	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Wild Turkey	3	2	10	3	4	2	3	10	11	10	20
Ocellated Turkey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Mountain Quail	-	-	2	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Scaled Quail	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Bobwhite	3	-	4	2	2	1	1	1	3	3	1
Spotted Wood-Quail	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Ocellated Quail	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Red-throated Loon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	3
Arctic Loon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Pacific Loon	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	2
Common Loon	1	1	-	-	1	1	-	1	3	6	6
Least Grebe	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Pied-billed Grebe	3	-	-	1	-	1	-	3	10	7	2
Horned Grebe	1	-	1	2	1	1	1	2	2	3	4
Red-necked Grebe	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	1	2
Eared Grebe	-	-	1	1	-	5	-	5	2	4	2
Western Grebe	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	5	3	2	4
Black-footed Albatross	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-
Short-tailed Albatross	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	2
Northern Fulmar	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	2	1
Bermuda Petrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Pink-footed Shearwater	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-
Buller's Shearwater	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Sooty Shearwater	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	1
Short-tailed Shearwater	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-
Manx Shearwater	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Audubon's Shearwater	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Leach's Storm-Petrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	2
Ashy Storm-Petrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Black Storm-Petrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Brown Booby	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Northern Gannet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
American White Pelican	1	-	-	-	-	2	-	2	3	1	3
Brown Pelican	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	2	2
Brandt's Cormorant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	3
Neotropic Cormorant	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Double-crested Cormorant	1	1	-	-	1	2	-	4	7	5	4
Pelagic Cormorant	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	2
Anhinga	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
American Bittern	1	-	1	-	-	1	-	1	1	2	2
Least Bittern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Great Blue Heron	-	-	-	1	-	3	-	4	3	5	3
Great Egret	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	3	2	-
Snowy Egret	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	1	1
Little Blue Heron	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Green Heron	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	1
Black-crowned Night-Heron	-	-	1	-	-	2	-	-	2	2	1
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
White Ibis	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
White-faced Ibis	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Wood Stork	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black Vulture	2	1	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-
Turkey Vulture	3	1	-	2	1	-	-	4	3	3	3
California Condor	6	-	2	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	3
Osprey	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	1	2
Swallow-tailed Kite	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Mississippi Kite	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Bald Eagle	1	1	2	-	1	1	1	4	4	4	5
Northern Harrier	1	1	-	1	-	1	-	1	1	2	3
Sharp-shinned Hawk	3	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	1
Cooper's Hawk	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	1	-	1
Northern Goshawk	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	-
Common Black-Hawk	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Roadside Hawk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Red-shouldered Hawk	2	-	2	-	2	1	-	1	2	1	1
Broad-winged Hawk	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Swainson's Hawk	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	3
Red-tailed Hawk	5	1	5	1	1	-	-	3	6	2	4
Ferruginous Hawk	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rough-legged Hawk	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
Harpy Eagle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Golden Eagle	6	1	1	2	-	1	-	7	2	3	2
Crested Caracara	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Bahama's Caracara	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
American Kestrel	6	2	2	2	1	1	2	4	2	-	7
Merlin	-	1	1	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	-
Aplomado Falcon	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Peregrine Falcon	1	-	1	-	-	1	-	1	1	-	-
Prairie Falcon	2	2	2	-	1	-	-	3	1	1	1
Yellow Rail	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gray-breasted Crake	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Clapper Rail	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
King Rail	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Virginia Rail	-	1	1	-	-	1	-	1	-	1	1
Sora	-	1	1	1	-	2	-	1	2	-	1
Purple Gallinule	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Common Moorhen	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	3	1	1
American Coot	3	1	3	2	1	4	-	7	11	5	4
Sandhill Crane	-	-	2	-	-	1	1	1	5	2	4
Whooping Crane	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-bellied Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Semipalmated Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Killdeer	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Mountain Plover	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-necked Stilt	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
American Avocet	2	-	1	1	-	2	-	1	1	-	1
Spotted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1
Wandering Tattler	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Willet	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	2
Upland Sandpiper	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1
Whimbrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	1	-
Long-billed Curlew	1	-	2	1	-	2	-	-	1	-	1
Hudsonian Godwit	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Marbled Godwit	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-
Ruddy Turnstone	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Least Sandpiper	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Short-billed Dowitcher	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	2	-	-	1	1	-	-	2	1	-	2
American Woodcock	3	-	1	1	1	-	-	1	-	-	1
Red-necked Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Red Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Bonaparte's Gull	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1
Heermann's Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	-
Mew Gull	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Ring-billed Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
California Gull	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	2	1	-	3
Herring Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	1
Western Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	2
Glaucous-winged Gull	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Glaucous Gull	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Black-legged Kittiwake	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	3
Sooty Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Caspian Tern	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	-
Black Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Common Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Arctic Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Sandwich Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Parasitic Jaeger	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Common Murre	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	1	5
Razorbill	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Great Auk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-
Pigeon Guillemot	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	1
Marbled Murrelet	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Xantus's Murrelet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Cassin's Auklet	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	1
Parakeet Auklet	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Least Auklet	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Rhinoceros Auklet	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	1	3
Tufted Puffin	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-
Scaled Pigeon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
White-crowned Pigeon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
White-winged Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Zenaida Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Mourning Dove	3	-	1	2	-	2	-	-	2	1	2
Passenger Pigeon	4	-	4	3	4	2	2	4	5	5	4
Inca Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Blue Ground-Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
White-tipped Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Key West Quail-Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Bridled Quail-dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Ruddy Quail-Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Orange-fronted Parakeet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Military Macaw	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
White-fronted Parrot	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Cuban Parrot	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Greater Roadrunner	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Groove-billed Ani	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Barn Owl	2	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	2	1	5
Western Screech-Owl	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	1
Eastern Screech-Owl	1	1	1	2	1	1	-	2	1	1	-
Great Horned Owl	5	1	2	1	1	5	1	5	4	1	3
Snowy Owl	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2
Northern Hawk Owl	1	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Northern Pygmy-Owl	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Elf Owl	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Burrowing Owl	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	1	-	-	4
Spotted Owl	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Barred Owl	2	-	1	1	2	-	-	2	1	2	1
Long-eared Owl	2	-	4	-	-	1	-	2	-	-	1
Short-eared Owl	3	1	2	1	-	2	-	2	-	1	2
Boreal Owl	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Saw-whet Owl	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Nighthawk	1	-	-	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-
Chuck-will's-widow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Chimney Swift	1	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
White-throated Swift	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Blue-crowned Motmot	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Ringed Kingfisher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Belted Kingfisher	1	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	1	-	-
Emerald Toucanet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	-	-	1
Red-bellied Woodpecker	3	-	-	1	-	-	-	1	2	-	1
West Indian Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Downy Woodpecker	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Hairy Woodpecker	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
White-headed Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Northern Flicker	4	3	3	1	1	4	-	6	4	2	4
Pileated Woodpecker	-	1	-	1	1	-	-	-	1	-	-
Ivory-billed Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Western Wood-Pewee	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cuban Pewee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Eastern Phoebe	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Say's Phoebe	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Rose-throated Becard	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Northern Shrike	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gray Jay	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Steller's Jay	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Blue Jay	3	-	-	1	1	-	-	1	2	-	1
Florida Scrub-Jay	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pinyon Jay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Clark's Nutcracker	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-billed Magpie	5	-	4	1	1	2	-	1	-	2	-
American Crow	1	-	4	1	3	-	1	3	2	-	4
Cuban Crow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
Fish Crow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	1
Common Raven	8	3	5	1	2	6	-	3	4	4	6
Horned Lark	2	1	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	1
Cliff Swallow	1	-	1	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	1
Cave Swallow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Carolina Chickadee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Red-breasted Nuthatch	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Rock Wren	-	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Canyon Wren	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Western Bluebird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Mountain Bluebird	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Townsend's Solitaire	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Robin	4	-	2	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	1
Red-legged Thrush	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Gray Catbird	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Northern Mockingbird	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Bahama Mockingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Brown Thrasher	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pearly-eyed Thrasher	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
European Starling	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Bohemian Waxwing	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-and-White Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Bahama Yellowthroat	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Scarlet Tanager	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-faced Grassquit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Eastern Towhee	1	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Chipping Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Vesper Sparrow	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Fox Sparrow	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3
Song Sparrow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
White-throated Sparrow	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Cardinal	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-
Dickcissel	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	2	1	1	-	1	-	1	1	-	-	1
Eastern Meadowlark	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Western Meadowlark	-	-	1	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	3
Yellow-headed Blackbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1
Brewer's Blackbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Common Grackle	1	-	3	1	-	1	-	-	1	1	-
Great-tailed Grackle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	1	-
Pine Grosbeak	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Purple Finch	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
White-winged Crossbill	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Pine Siskin	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

There are additional records for these expansive time periods which refer to generic species (i.e., goose, duck, hawk, gull, woodpecker, etc.) but these are not included in the list. Neither are bone remains identified to a group of birds such as unidentified waterfowl, or in some cases, simply as unidentified birds.

Grouping the records into distinct millennia shows how the analysis of species varies during a period of time. Larger species - thus larger bones - are better represented in the older periods, with smaller species occurring more often in the more recent periods since the bone remnants have not disintegrated.

There is a large amount of information which could be determined if the records were geo-mapped using the current geographic systems. This would be an extremely useful endeavor to determine species biogeography and to evaluate changes in distribution through time.

The largest number of records are from the United States:

Country - Number of Records

U.S.A. - 2254

Canada - 126

Mexico - 63

Bahama Islands - 49

Belize - 3

This table has a larger number of records since it includes all records and is not limited to those records particular to a valid species.

The number of records from the different states or provinces can also be derived:

State or Province - Country - Number of Records

California - U.S.A. - 406 Nevada - U.S.A. - 262 Utah - U.S.A. - 202 Alabama - U.S.A. - 201 Illinois - U.S.A. - 173 New Mexico - U.S.A. - 101 British Columbia - Canada - 84 Arizona - U.S.A. - 77 Washington - U.S.A. - 77 Tennessee - U.S.A. - 73 Texas - U.S.A. - 71 Idaho - U.S.A. - 69 Florida - U.S.A. - 62 Alaska - U.S.A. - 61 Chiapas - Mexico - 60 Missouri - U.S.A. - 55 Nebraska - U.S.A. - 55 Wisconsin - U.S.A. - 43 Virginia - U.S.A. - 40 Kansas - U.S.A. - 36 Ontario - Canada - 30 Pennsylvania - U.S.A. - 25 Ohio - U.S.A. - 25

New York - U.S.A. - 21 Minnesota - U.S.A. - 21 Michigan - U.S.A. - 20 Oregon - U.S.A. - 17 North Carolina - U.S.A. - 15 Colorado - U.S.A. - 9 South Dakota - U.S.A. - 9 New Hampshire - U.S.A. - 8 Montana - U.S.A. - 7 Northwest Territories - Canada - 7 South Carolina - U.S.A. - 4 Wyoming - U.S.A. - 4 Quebec - Canada - 3 Rhode Island - U.S.A. - 3 Alberta - Canada - 2 Maine - U.S.A. - 1 Mexico - Mexico - 1 Yucatan - Mexico - 1 Oaxaca - Mexico - 1 New Jersey - U.S.A. - 1

The total does not match other tallies since localities where the state or province is not known are not included (i.e., the Bahama Islands and Belize).

One factor which limits the list derived from bone studies is information given for Arizona locales. Many of the studies evaluated do not include site chronology, so the material cannot be attributed to a particular time period, so the records could not be included in the analysis.

It should also be noted that there are certainly additional sources that should be included in an analysis of ancient avifauna. Many of the citations are included in the literature cited for a reviewed source, but are obscure reports that are not generally available and could note be accessed, yet alone get decent consideration. There are valuable additions that would help increase the extent of the base data to evaluate, and help provide a broader view of species occurrence during a particular millennia of former time.

Disclaimer: This is a preliminary analysis subject to change that may occur as a result of further analysis and study, and if additional informational details become available. Further resources - which are not currently available - will also be needed to provide complete geo-coding for each locale that would allow accurate mapping. Currently, there is no foreseeable time when this can be done for the 31,800+ records available overall in the Ancient Avifauna database which includes a diverse bunch of records from excavation and narrative sources through the 1850s.