Hundreds of Wildbirds Die Yearly at Downtown Omaha Buildings

South wall of the Union Pacific Center, where a number of birds have met their demise.

During a volunteer effort to survey buildings in the downtown area of Omaha, there were 413 bird strikes noted during May-November, 2008. A surprising 64 different species were among the tally of birds struck down while flying through the dangerous, built environment full of hazards.

There were 348 instances of dead birds, indicated by a carcass. There were 65 cases of birds that were temporarily injured, and disabled so that they could not fly. When needed, and possible, these hurt birds were moved to an alternate locale to allow it some time to hopefully recover in a safer situation, away from threats of being stepped upon by pedestrians on the sidewalks, or from being eaten by feral cats and to get it away from other potential dangers. Some may even possibly get thrown away by zealous maintenance personnel thinking it was something to be removed with the other trash when cleaning around the building as part of their regular routine.

Surveys - done by walking or bicycling around the area - were most consistent during migratory periods in May, and September-October. Not all areas were visited each day, so some strikes would have been missed. On those days with the more strikes, more places were visited. Species identification was based on personal experience, or with assistance by a few other helpful birders that evaluated a picture taken of the bird where it was found.

Bird Species	May 2008	Jun 2008	Jul 2008	Aug 2008	Sep 2008	Oct 2008	Nov 2008
Virginia Rail	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Sora	5	-	-	-	1	-	-
Mourning Dove	1	-	-	1	3	1	-
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	-	2	-	-	-	-	-
Common Nighthawk	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Chimney Swift	-	3	-	2	1	1	-
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Hairy Woodpecker	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Flicker	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Olive-sided Flycatcher	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	3	-	-	-	2	-	-
Willow Flycatcher	3	-	-	-	-	-	-
Least Flycatcher	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Great Crested Flycatcher	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Eastern Kingbird	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Warbling Vireo	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-eyed Vireo	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Purple Martin	-	-	-	15	30	-	-
Brown Creeper	-	-	-	-	1	3	-
House Wren	-	-	-	1	3	1	-
Sedge Wren	-	-	-	-	2	-	-
Marsh Wren	-	-	-	-	3	-	-
Swainson's Thrush	2	1	-	-	-	1	-
Hermit Thrush	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
American Robin	2	-	1	-	-	1	-
Gray Catbird	2	2	-	-	1	-	-
Brown Thrasher	-	-	-	-	3	-	-
Cedar Waxwing	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Tennessee Warbler	13	-	-	-	-	-	-
Orange-crowned Warbler	-	-	-	-	1	5	-
Nashville Warbler	3	1	-	-	22	9	-
Yellow Warbler	4	-	-	-	1	-	-
Chestnut-sided Warbler	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Yellow-rumped Warbler	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Palm Warbler	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Black-and-white Warbler	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
American Redstart	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Worm-eating Warbler	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ovenbird	7	-	-	1	5	-	-
Northern Waterthrush	-	-	-	1	1	-	-
Louisiana Waterthrush	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mourning Warbler	1	-	-	3	7	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	14	-	-	-	27	7	-
Hooded Warbler	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Wilson's Warbler	-	1	-	1	6	-	-
American Tree Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	1	3
Chipping Sparrow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Clay-colored Sparrow	4	-	-	-	6	4	-
Grasshopper Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Fox Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Song Sparrow	-	-	-	-	2	1	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	2	-	-	-	11	21	1
Swamp Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
White-throated Sparrow	3	-	-	-	-	5	2
White-crowned Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Dark-eyed Junco	-	-	-	-	-	6	5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	2	1	-	-	-	-	-
Blue Grosbeak	1	-	-	-	1	-	-
Indigo Bunting	5	4	-	-	-	2	-
Common Grackle	2	-	16	-	4	-	-
Baltimore Oriole	2	-	-	-	2	-	-
House Finch	-	-	-	1	-	1	-
Total:	102	17	19	29	154	79	13
This list includes only those birds identified to a particular species. In some instances the species could be indentified only to a genus level (i.e., warbler, sparrow), so the overall total indicated by this table does not equal 413.

With the additional strikes that would have occurred in March-April, and adding in strikes that were not documented during the survey period, there are probably at least 500 bird strikes per season in downtown Omaha.

Glass wall area that is a hazard to birds, on the north side of the State Office Building. Some oak trees were just planted to the east and west of the area shown in this picture, so as the trees get bigger and attract migratory birds, an increase in bird strikes is likely.

The species noted most often were:

Common Yellowthroat - 48

Purple Martin - 45; birds at the midtown roost

Nashville Warbler - 35

Lincoln's Sparrow - 35

Common Grackle - 22

Clay-colored Sparrow - 14

Tennessee Warbler - 13

Ovenbird - 13

Mourning Warbler - 11

Indigo Bunting - 11

Dark-eyed Junco - 11

White-throated Sparrow - 10

Species of conservation concern - "a list used to help prioritize conservation planning/actions" - were found 27 times. They included species with different state rankings.

S2 - state imperiled

Sedge Wren; at the Holland Center for Performing Arts and Qwest Center, late in September

S3 - state vulnerable

Brown Creeper, Black-and-white Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Swamp Sparrow; four of the instances were at the Union Pacific Center

S4

Virginia Rail (an anomaly reported from along Saddle Creek Road, just north from Dodge Street), and Ovenbird

S5

Yellow-billed Cuckoo; both at the Omaha World-Herald Building

Six of the total number of strikes were at the Union Pacific Center (Brown Creeper, Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, and Swamp Sparrow), with five at the Qwest Center Omaha, and three at the 1200 Landmark Center.

Certain days during the migration season are especially hazardous, with a large number of strikes that occurred:

May 2008 05/01 - 5 05/06 - 3 05/08 - 2 05/10 - 10 05/11 - 2 05/12 - 3 05/13 - 6 05/14 - 1 05/15 - 1 05/16 - 1 05/17 - 3 05/18 - 7 05/19 - 2 05/20 - 5 05/21 - 4 05/22 - 1 05/23 - 4 05/24 - 2 05/25 - 5 05/26 - 10 05/27 - 2 05/28 - 1 05/29 - 11; two disabled birds; all the species noted were warblers, primarily the Tennessee Warbler 05/30 - 3 05/31 - 8

September 2008 09/03 - 3 09/04 - 9 09/05 - 1 09/06 - 9 09/07 - 5 09/08 - 8 09/09 - 4 09/12 - 7 09/13 - 17; includes eight injured, and one dead martin noted when the birds were arriving at the midtown roost 09/14 - 8 09/15 - 2 09/16 - 4 09/21 - 2 09/23 - 2 09/25 - 23; 20 carcasses 09/26 - 13 09/27 - 8 09/28 - 16 09/29 - 5 09/30 - 8

October 2008 10/01 - 9 10/02 - 6 10/03 - 5 10/04 - 4 10/05 - 1 10/08 - 5 10/09 - 2 10/10 - 6 10/11 - 1 10/12 - 1 10/14 - 2 10/15 - 1 10/16 - 3 10/18 - 2 10/20 - 7 10/21 - 4 10/22 - 2 10/23 - 2 10/25 - 5 10/26 - 3 10/28 - 3 10/29 - 1 10/30 - 2 10/31 - 2

For the six-month period excluding November, when the number of strikes declined and inclement weather did not allow a regular schedule of looking for carcasses, there were 400 strikes. For this period of 185 days, there was an average of 2.16 bird strikes per day.

Deadly Buildings

This survey illustrates the buildings which are obviously the most dangerous for migratory birds in downtown Omaha.

Qwest Center Omaha - 123 known strikes, with all but a couple on the west side facade; FWS officials contacted building management in mid-summer, and asked that something be done by the end of September; nothing has been done

Kiewit-Clarkson Skywalk - 38; hospital officials put up temporary measures once they were informed to the regulations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Union Pacific Center - 36, mostly warblers and sparrows; the building management official is aware of the bird deaths, as they once commented on pictures being taken one morning

Central Park Plaza - 29

1200 Landmark Center - 28; a building management official was informed of deaths at this structure during the summer, at the same meeting with an Omaha World-Herald official

The hazardous zone for migratory birds that enter the courtyard at the Holland Center for Performing Arts. Birds also regularly hit the south wall, located across from the Central Park Mall and its landscaping trees.

Holland Center for Performing Arts - 27; officials are aware of the deaths, as they commented on them when giving notice of the courtyard area being private property; the person was indifferent to the bird deaths

Gottschalk Freedom Center - 22; FWS officials contacted Omaha-World Herald building management officials in mid-summer, and asked that something be done by the end of September; nothing has been done

Zorinsky Federal Building - 15; nothing has been done here by federal officials, at a building which they own and maintain

Omaha Public Power District Energy Plaza - 13; a FWS official said they had a contact with the company, and said they would talk with them about the bird strikes; nothing was heard subsequently

Omaha World-Herald Building - 9; not as dangerous for migratory birds as the Freedom Center

Woodmen Tower Skywalk - 8; an official with the management company informed of these deaths; the same official was asked to note if and when birds were striking the woodmen tower, and they agreed to do so; no further information was received; it is probable that birds strike this prominent tower, but they would fall to the base of the building, which is not visible from the public sidewalk

Kiewit-Clarkson South Skywalk - 7

First National Tower - 7; an official was notified via email, and was considerate enough to provide a reply, expressing thanks for receiving the information

Harper Center, Creighton University. The other hazardous spot at this building is the west end of the north side.

Creighton Harper Center - 6

J.P. Cooke Company - 5; this building constructed in the 1880s, probably has the longest history of bird strikes in the state, since the glass on the north side now known to be a hazard, has probably been a hazard since it was built

Nebraska State Office Building - 4; state officials were notified of the deaths occuring on the north side of the building during the summer; no reply was received; and there were subsequent deaths at this site

American National Bank - 4

Slowdown Lounge - 3

First National Bank Building - 3

Urban Outfitters - 2

Redfield & Company - 2

Harriman Dispatching Center, Union Pacific Railroad - 2

Exchange Building - 2

All Makes Office Equipment Company - 2

What-Cheer - 1

Union Plaza Apartments - 1

Tower Park - 1

State Office Building - 1

O'Keefe Elevator Company - 1

Mr. Toad's Pub - 1

Metropolitan Utilities District building - 1

Laurie and Charles Photographs - 1

Kutak Rock, Omaha Building - 1

Kimball Lofts - 1

Joslyn Lofts - 1

Indian Creek Nursery - 1

Federal Office Building - 1

American Apparel - 1

17th and Harney Street - 1

1405 Harney Street - 1

Deadly situations will increase as more trees are introduced for landscaping (i.e., World-Herald Square, State Office Building) and additional buildings are constructed (i.e., the Wallstreet Tower is a looming hazard). In midtown, the Midtown Crossing development at the former Turner Park, will have several glass exterior buildings that will be hazards. Elsewhere, the Aksarben Village buildings also have features which characterize the buildings where bird strikes occur.

Considerations

Nothing has been done to address the bird strike problem in downtown Omaha.

Despite the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service being responsible for enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act - which protects wild birds - and state and federal-level personnel being well aware of the known problem buildings, they have done nothing to get something done to have any building retrofitted to reduce their danger.

Building owners have also chosen to not undertake any efforts to address the problem at their structures. Their reason(s) for not doing anything is not apparent.

In one example when measures were put in place to address bird strikes by Purple Martins at the Nebraska Medical Center, the deaths continued. Even once hospital officials were informed of the ongoing impacts, they made no subsequent changes. And more martins died.

So even though details of the ongoing deaths has been documented this year, nothing has changed. The problem is obvious. Viable solutions to the extensive, and ongoing deaths are available, but are not being implemented. Building owners continue to ignore the deaths of wild birds at their buildings, with an apparent, and appalling indifference.

Bird Strike Maps

Specific details of where bird strikes are known to occur are available on detailed maps for the vicinity:

View Larger Map May to August - 631 map views	View Larger Map September - 2297 map views
View Larger Map October - 4956 map views (Nov 30, 2008)	View Larger Map November - 2498 map views (Nov 30, 2008)

A picture is often included to provide valid documentation of the bird that was injured or killed by hitting a building exterior at Omaha, the river city.

"...often there is a photo of the injured bird. If that doesn't make you want to do something about this, you have no heart." - comment received via email

West wall of the Qwest Center Omaha, the most hazardous place for birds in Omaha. The landscaping to the west of the area shown is the reason for the many bird strikes.

Market Prices for Wildbirds Given in Chronicles of Urban History

A fresh bit of fare for a day's meal, has always - through chronicles of times during history - been a notable bit of meat that was freshly shot, and as the country was going urban, was bought at the market down some sort of primitive street or lane.

There was always some cost for fresh meat that others acquired. Some of the first known instances of prices are known from the years before there were united states in North America. Hunters were out and about throughout each of the colonies and territories, as vast flocks of wild birds were a fine target.

One of the first mentions of market costs is from more than 235 years in the continental past. The instance referenced one of the greatest flocking fowl of the continent. When these flocks moved and came to roost when gathered in their seasonal hordes, flint-lock guns came out of the closet and from elsewhere, ready to fire upon the passing horde of fresh pigeons.

Passenger Pigeon: Boston in 1771; great numbers of pigeons brought to market in Boston, nearly fifty thousand were sold in one day

The great penguin of the north also provided marketable commodities for the local sea-faring men...

Great Auk: Stinking Islands, ca. 1775; about 20 years prior to 1794; person took half a ton of feathers, many eggs for the market

Undoubtedly abundant, wild ducks and other waterfowl were brought to the market in Charleston, in 1784.

Some "milk white pheasants: could be bought in a Quebec market, in 1791, when it was November and a time when moving flocks could add an ingredient of taste and hearty eating for a day's meal.

Ducks and fowls cost a quarter dollar in New York, back in 1806.

John Melish noted some important historic details during travel his travels in the current states of the U.S.A. There is quite a variety of places from where the prices were given to be known.

Ducks

8/16/1811- Pittsburgh: ducks 25c

9/11/1811 - Cincinnati: ducks 25c per pair

9/25/1811 - Louisville at Bear Grass Creek: ducks 25 to 33 cents per pair

10/7/1811 - Zanesville: 12 1/2 cents

11/12/1811 - Utica: ducks 25 cents

Goose, on a per carcass basis

8/16/1811 - Pittsburgh: 50-75c

9/11/1811 - Cincinnati; 37 1/2 to 50 cents

9/25/1811 - Louisville at Bear Grass Creek: 33 cents each

10/7/1811 - Zanesville: 37 1/2 cents

11/12/1811 - Utica: 50 cents

11/17/1811 - Albany: 25 cents

Unidentified waterfowl

9/25/1811 -Louisville at Bear Grass Creek: fowls 12 1/2 to 16 cents

10/7/1811 - Zanesville: fowls 6 1/4 cents

11/12/1811 - Utica: fowls 9c each

11/17/1811 - Albany: fowls 12 cents each

This could have included anything from snipe to sandpipers, or any variety of geese and ducks. The passenger pigeon or others birds of the migratory flocks could have been harvested and taken to the market to provide some cash income.

Wild Turkey

8/16/1811 - Pittsburgh: 50 to 100 cents

9/11/1811 - Cincinnati: 12 1/2 to 25 cents

9/25/1811 - Louisville at Bear Grass Creek: turkeys 25 to 50 cents each

10/7/1811 - Zanesville: 25 cents

11/12/1811 - Utica: 62 cents

11/17/1811 - Albany: 62c, around the holiday time

Zanesville, along the Muskingum River in Ohio, is an interesting variety in Ohio territory pricing. Fowls, ducks, wild turkeys and geese, with an increasing price for each.

Subsequent chronicles for 1815 mention the Northern Bobwhite available for purchase at the town market in Cincinnati, along with the Wild Turkey.

New Orleans, at the base of the Mississippi River, had an obvious market for fowl, with migratory flocks at the delta, the bayous, and elsewhere in the wild river's habitats. In 1820-1821, naturalist and watcher on the streets, John James Audubon was eaking a living - selling original sketches of the local scenes, which obviously would depict birds - about places of the cosmopolitan city on the big river.

These are some details of the price given only at the market among the products for purchase, and not printed elsewhere for idle reading.

American Woodcock: 1/12/1821; one wood cock in the market

Great Egret: 1/18/1821; saw in market two white herons

Shorebird: 1/18/1821; new species of snipe in the market, partly plucked

Common Moorhen: 2/4/1821; many purple gallinules in the market

Sora: 2/4/1821; several rails or soras in the market

American Robin: 2/5/1821; number of robins killed is astonishing; bring 6 1/4 cents each in market

American Coot: 2/9/1821; hundreds of coots were in the market this morning

Tree Swallow: 2/24/1821; market well stocked with green-backed swallows; caught at roost holes

Cedar Waxwing: 3/10/1821; saw in the market some Ampellis Americana

Great Egret: 3/17/1821; a white crane in the market; there is no reason this might not have been a Whooping Crane

Shorebird: 3/17/1821; pures in the market

American Golden-Plover: 3/17/1821; market plentifully supplied with golden plovers

Great Blue Heron: 3/18/1821; five beautiful blue cranes in the market

Wilson's Snipe, and sandpipers: 3/24/1821; hundreds of snipes in the market

Upland Sandpiper: 3/24/1821; three Bartram's snipes in the market, here called papacots

Great Egret: 3/24/1821; white heron without legs in the market

Northern Mockingbird: 4/5/1821; young mocking birds in the market, able to fly

Gallinule-type Waterbird: 4/23/1821; found in the market a gallinule; differs much from the purple one

Upriver, the lakes and much swamp land about St. Genevieve on the languid Mississippi, ca. 1823, were inhabited by countless numbers of wild ducks flying about in unbelievably large flocks. The hunting by shootists yielded a rich harvest at the market in St. Louis, according to the narrative written by Paul Wilhelm.

The 1826 journal by Captain G.F. Lyon during a residence and tour in the republic of Mexico, gives details from Pueblo Viejo, in Veracruz. This presents one of the few notable sources for this type of information from another nation.

Grouse, large-crested pheasant: game in the market

Gallinule-type waterbird, cojolites: game in the market

Chachalaca, chachalacas: game in the market

Wild turkeys: game in the market

Duck: game in the market

The quantity of ducks available at the market was once again noted to be enormous, in 1835 at St. Louis, on the wild Mississippi River.

Cosmopolitan New York City, had its street markets where fowl were sold. Charles Fox noted a wide variety when was about and taking detailed notes at the Fulton Market, and going there in January, March, April and May, in 1835.

Birds at the January market: great variety of ducks and sea-birds; Alauda alpestris, wild turkey, Columba carolinensis, as well as the Turdus migratorius.

Birds at the March market tended towards small birds, not the bigger migratory water fowl, although ducks were plentiful; others: Snowy Owl, American Woodcock, Horned Lark, American Robin, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird, using modern parlance, since Mr. Fox listed species in his narrative according to their scientific name at the time

Birds at the April market: ducks, etc. which were noted as being very scarce; Northern Bobwhite, Great Blue Heron, Sora, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Mourning Dove, Passenger Pigeon, Snowy Owl, Belted Kingfisher, American Goldfinch

A greater variety is given for birds at Fulton Market in May, as listed in the published memoirs according to their accepted, transitional scientific name, but given here in modern common name style: Wood Duck, Common Loon, Clapper Rail, American Golden-Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Eastern Kingbird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, and some Passeriformes and other unidentified species.

Another bunch of observations are depicted in details for the State of Massachusetts in 1836, among some of the prominent bird records kept by Thomas M. Brewer.

Ring-billed Gull: I have in my possession a pair obtained in our market.

Harlequin Duck: This bird, though extremely rare, is still occasionally met with in our waters; occasionally been shot near Nahant; last winter, in our market a pair that was shot off Phillips' Beach; this winter procured at the Graves.

Curlew Sandpiper: John James Audubon obtained two specimens of this bird in our market.

Redhead: This bird is often to be met with in our market, and is occasionally shot in Fresh Pond.

Ruddy Duck: This bird is quite common in the market, in the early part of September, and is known as the Dun-Bird.

American Black Duck: This is one of our most common ducks. Improperly known in our market as the Black Duck.

Purple Sandpiper: I have met with this bird in abundance in our market.

Two dozen Ruddy Duck were noted in the Charleston Market, on March 20th, 1837.

Some Lapland Longspur's, probably moving south in a large flock, became the target, and there were several specimens shot on Long Island that made it to the New York market district.

The white-fronted geese were a market item at Cincinnati, on the same date, but a brief six years later, in 1843.

In 1844, when sportsman and ornithologist Jacob Post Giraud Jr. was writing about the birds of Long Island, he mentioned market birds.

Microptera Americana, American Woodcock; commands a high price at the markets

Razor-billed auk; occasionally for sale in the New York market during the winter months

Tringa subarquata, Curlew Sandpiper; several purchased at Fulton Market, New York

Two Great Gray Owls - known then as the great cinerous owl - were obtained in 1848 at the Boston markets, and noted as probably having been killed in the state.

Next details are from the people coast and a new frontier in the west, out west on the Pacific coast territory. These are specifics for the San Francisco Bay area, at the great city on the bay when its population was exploding in the middle of the 1800s, especially from 1848-1855.

One of the first items of record is from egg collectors, boating out to the Farallon Islands when the birds were at their peak of laying eggs for the breeding season. Men working for Doc. Robinson loaded their boat with eggs of the California murre, Uria aalge californica, and western gull, Larus occidentalis; notably in 1848.

Lophortyx californicus; large quantities of eggs brought to the markets, in March-August 1852
Uria Troile, foolish guillemot; at the Farallones, they exist in great numbers; demand for eggs in San Francisco supplied from these islands

And the fowl were especially seasonal game, that was at the shot end of a gun during a time when hopeful men were hungary, and were ready to buy, since much of their time was spent in a panning search for bright nuggets. The Bay city market was one place to get bird meat to eat, when away from the gold-fields.

Greater White-fronted Goose: called the speckled belly in the San Francisco market; worth 75 cents to $1 per pair

Canada Goose: in the market at San Francisco

Canvasback: in autumn and winter congregate in large numbers on the bays and rivers of California; the San Francisco market is well supplied with them, command a price of from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents the pair

Redhead: common at the San Francisco market; an excellent bird for the table

Black Scoter, Oidemia american, scoter duck: very abundant about San Francisco in winter; never brought into market, being too fishy and strong to be eaten even by the Chinese

Red-breasted Merganser: abundant about San Francisco in winter; frequent in the markets, but suspect no one eats them but the Chinamen

Grebe: exceedingly abundant about San Francisco; sometimes brought into the markets, but are so fishy as to be uneatable

American Avocet, western avoset: brought into the San Francisco market in considerable numbers in fall and winter; and sold as an article of food

Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa, godwit: very common about San Francisco in the winter; always to be found in the market

Wilson's Snipe, Scolopax wilsoni: shot in considerable numbers about San Francisco; constantly in the market during the autumn and winter

Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx viaticus: frequently brought into the San Francisco market and is reported very good eating

Another variety of history before the present era, is known for the District of Columbia, of 1856, notably based on history being done about the Smithsonian Institution, a repository ofr skins of many a shot bird. In this instance, the skins were shot by someone other than a collector of specimens. Market birds were the Long-tailed Duck, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Horned Grebe, Herring Gull, and Barred Owl.

Another set of notes comes from a Canadian metropolis, Montreal, on the St. Lawrence River:

Ptarmigan or Arctic partridge, Tetrao mutus: brought a fine specimen in the market; shot near Sorel

Great Horned Owl, Strix Virginiana: common during winter, specimens for sale every winter in the market; seen on a barn near Sherbrooke street

Snowy Owl, Strix nyctea: winter of 1859, brought seven snowy owls to the market; rather rare about the immediate neighbourhood of the city, but generally brought into the market every winter; last winter, 1860, only two in the market; they were all young

Barred Owl: seen on St. Helen's Island, one being shot there January 1857; exposed for sale in the market for the last four winters

Blue Jay, Garrulus Canadensis: not very common; obtained some specimens during 1859, in the market; last winter a specimen brought to the market

Further notes came forth from along the Potomac River, among the scientific men keeping a diverse array of history. The bird details given here in the manner of which they were included in the article: List of the birds ascertained to inhabit the District of Columbia, with the times of arrival and departure of such as are non-residents, and brief notices of habits, etc. This was written by government man Elliott Coues and D. Webster Prentiss, in 1861.

2. Falco columbrius, Linn. Pigeon Hawk. Rather rare, but few having been observed. Very shy. Sometimes exposed for sale in the market.

9. Buteo pennsylvanicus, (Wils.) Bon. Broad-winged Hawk. Very rare; only occasionally observed. Specimens have been obtained in the market.

15. Bubo virginianus, (Gm.) Bon. Great Horned Owl. Cat Owl. Not common. Sometimes offered for sale in the market.

154. Meleagris gallopavo, Linn. Wild Turkey. Regularly seen in the markets all through the winter, though not often found in the immediate vicinity of the city. Remains all the year in the neighboring districts.

185. Cygnus americanus, Sharpless; American Swan. Winter resident. Not common. Seen sometimes on the river, and frequently exposed for sale in the market.

186. Bernicla canadensis, (Linn.) Boie. Canada Goose. Wild Goose. Winter resident. Common, but seen most frequently flying over. Arrive in fall just before the first approach of severe weather. Found in market through the winter.

195. Fulix marila, (Linn.) Bd. Greater Black-head Duck. Winter resident. Not very abundant. Often exposed for sale in market, but not much esteemed for food.

198. Aythya americana, (Eyton) Bon. Red-head duck. Winter resident. Very abundant. A common market duck, and frequently offered for sale as the canvas back.

200. Bucephala americana, (Bon.) Baird. Golden-eye duck. Winter resident. Rather abundant. Frequently seen in the market.

206. Erismatura rubida, (Wils.) Bon. Ruddy duck. Winter resident. Abundant. Frequently exposed for sale in the market, but not esteemed for food.

Other published articles are among the great variety of chronicles of the bygone era, including two notable items:

Herring Gull: Isle of Cuba; 1862 - Larus argentatus; specimen found by Lembeye in the market at Havana, and mentioned in his work as marinus

Sooty Tern: St. Thomas; 1863 - Sterna fuliginosa, sooty tern; in the market at St. Thomas, saw a large basketful of eggs, which had been taken at Tortola; bought a dozen for half-a-dollar

At the Farallon Islands, a boat with 25 armed men arrived to harvest murre eggs on June 4, 1863, as the egg business continued to harvest the birds' laying effort.

Back in the east, in a portion of the state of Massachusetts, in 1863:

Redhead: red-headed duck; autumn and winter; not very common; abundant in the markets of Boston in winter; brought from the bays and rivers of the middle states

Greater White-fronted Goose: white-fronted goose; specimens obtained in Boston market that were probably taken in the state

Matamoras has a meat market remembered from 1863 and 1864, as scribed by H.E. Dresser, in his notes about bird-life at southern Texas ...

Northern Mockingbird: Mimus polyglottus; young birds offered for sale in the market-place for three pence each; bought several

Plain Chachalaca: Ortalida maccalli, chiacalacca; very common; in the autumn, great numbers are exposed in the market for sale

Red-billed Pigeon: Columba flavirostris, red-billed dove; during the autumn, brought to the market for sale

In a list of birds observed near Hamilton, Canada west, T. McIlwraith wrote:

Spruce Grouse: Burlington Bay; 152. Tetrao canadensis Linn. Spruce Partridge. The habitat of this species is the dense spruce forests to the north and east of us. I have seen it exposed in the market with the Ruffed Grouse, but its occurrence so far south is by no means common.

In 1866, further details, from a latter decade, are given for New York, Long and Staten Islands.

The following information is from an article by George N. Lawrence - an activist on writing of birds on a scene - who gave his version of bird history for the Long Island, New York vicnity:

Pileated Woodpecker: West Hoboken; 169. Hylotomus pileatus (Linn.). Black Woodcock. I possess one specimen killed at Hoboken. A few years ago it was not unusual to see specimens in our market (in the winter) sent from the northern part of Pennsylvania.

Bald Eagle: In winter, examples killed on Long Island are frequently brought to market

Scolopax rusticola, Linn. Woodcock; this species with the following note, dated 6th Dec. 1859. A poultry dealer in Washington market; found it to be a true European Woodcock; doubtless killed near Shrewsbury, N. J.

Sterna Forsteri, Nutt. Forster's Tern. A few years ago, in the autumn, I found in Fulton Market several specimens of this Tern, both adult and young, which came from Long Island.

In 1867-1869, the Snow Bunting was so abundant during winters, that hundreds were killed for markets in Trenton, New Jersey.

Another of the notable items for market pricing, was from the same vicinity, and the same era. The records are for east Pennsylvania and New Jersey:

Lesser Snow Goose. Anser albatus. Mr John Cassin procured, in the Philadelphia market, two pairs, in the course of twenty years, of this inhabitant of Northwest America.

Wild Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo. Now rare. A few straggling flocks are yet met with on the Alleghanies, and specimens which have been killed there may be seen every winter in the Philadelphia market. It is not uncommon in Virginia.

Considerations

There are 89 species mentioned in more than 175 records of formerly wild birds at the local meat market. The species mentioned most often, are: Wild Turkey, 12 instances; Redhead, 4; Ruddy Duck, 4; Barred Owl, 4; and, Snowy Owl, 4. Also notable referred to are ducks, 15; geese 6, and some type of waterfowl or waterbirds.

The two most prominent species mentioned first in the narratives are now extinct.

Noticeably of lesser occurrence is the swan, with it only being listed once. Wit the ample meat available on these largest of the North American waterfowl, it is surprising they were not more prevalent in the chronicles. The colorful Carolina Parakeet, a loud and obvious part of the avifauna, was not apparently abundant for a bunch to get shot and dressed for a market, and to get sufficient note to be referenced in notes known now as history.

A diversity of wildbirds in the market are one especially notable aspect of bird history that present interesting details that further illustrates the ornithological history through the centuries on the continent.

The Market Assistant, Containing a Brief Description of Every Article of Human Food Sold in the Public Markets

Mystery Bird Described by Canadian Held Captive By Indians

In the memoirs of a young man born in Quebec, Canada, an unusual and notable species was described in his account of the birds noted during a decade of living in the northern wilderness.

Charles Dennis Rusoe D'Eres was only fourteen when taken by troops of the fledgling freedom movement for the United States. His fate for the next decade was sealed when he was traded and became a captive of Indians in December 1874.

In the subsequent months, him and his captors left Fort Michilimakinak, at the entrance of Lake Superior, on many days travel to the Indians village.

Although the memoirs are very vague on details of geography, the Red River is mentioned. Going southward from there, the party of travelers reached the Rontooroo River, which by some scholars is possibly the Minnesota River.

It was here that the group reached the home village of the Scanyawtauragahrooote on an island by the same name. D'Eres was to remain their captive for eleven years, being a blacksmith using the abandoned building and tools from a structure built by a Spaniard some years earlier.

Other notable places mentioned in the narrative include the Tartarrac, a very wide and deep river, which was used for canoe travel to a town of the Spaniards, in order to trade.

The events of the tribe, including buffalo hunts, forays for war with neighbouring tribes, and other goings are mentioned.

Towards the end of the memoirs, in an appendix, is a section titled "Of Their Birds." Here are given a few details of the birds common in the country about Scanyawtauragahrooote Island.

The species list:

"BLACK-BIRD, *Blue-Jay, *Crane, *Crow, *Cuckoo, *Duck, *Eagle, *Fish-Hawk, *Goose, *Hawk, Humming-Bird, *King-Bird, *Lark, *Loon, *Martin, *Night-Hawk, *Owl, *Parrot, *Partridge, *Pellican, *Pigeon, *Quail, *Raven, *Robin, *Snipe, *Stork, *Swallow, *Teal, *Thrush, *Turkey, Wacon-Bird, *Water-hen, Whetsaw, *Whippoorwill,*Woodpecker & *Wren are to be met with in all parts of this country during the summer months.
"Those marked thus * are so common in this country, that a particular description of them in this work would be but to remind almost every reader of what he is already fully acquainted with; I would just observe that they are found in the greatest perfection in the Indian country. The Goose and Turkey are not domesticated by the natives of the land, but in a wild state and in great plenty."

Then there is the mystery bird...

"The Wacon-Bird is nearly the size of the swallow, of a brown colour, shaded about the neck with a bright green; the wings are of a darker brown than the body - its tail is composed of four or five feathers beautifully shaded with green and purple, and is three times as long as its body, it carries this length of plumage in the same manner as the Peacock does, but does not raise it into an erect position - the name of this bird signifies the bird of the great spirit, and is held in great veneration by the Indians, and treated by them as a bird of superior rank to any of the feathered race."

Although there is no apparent identification of the spirit bird, there is some speculation on its identity. This is what Elliott Coues - the U.S. Geologist at the time - says in his biographical appendix to the Birds of the Colorado Valley, published in 1878.

"The description of the latter is not reconcilable with any known species, but, in the light of other accounts of the same bird, may be doubtfully considered a hint of Milvulus forficatus."

There is also another native term mentioned:

"The Whetsaw is of the Cuckoo kind, is a solitary bird, and rarely to be met with in the summer months - 'tis heard in the groves; its noise founds like the whetting of a saw, from whence it receives its name."

The "whetsaw" is identified as being Coccygus erythrophthalmus?

D'Eres also wrote about the hummingbird...

The Humming bird is peculiar to America, and is not known in any other part of the globe; 'tis the smallest of the feathered airy inhabitants - its legs are proportionally small to its body, and are not biger than two small needles - its plumage exceeds description - it has a small tuft on its head of a shining black - its breast is red - the belly white - the back, wings and tail a pale green - small specks of a gold cast are scattered over the whole body - an almost imperceptible down softens the colours, and produces the most pleasing shades - with its bill, which is proportionably small to its body, it extracts moisture from flowers, which is its nourishment; over which it hovers like a Bee, without lighting, constantly moving its wings with such velocity, that the motion is imperceptible; this quick motion causeth a humming noise, from whence it receives its name.

His memoirs of the years in the wilderness were written once D'Eres returned to the towns and cities of Canada and the new United States of America in 1787. He arrived first after Detroit, after going from tribe to tribe on his journey to return to Euro-American settlements. Thereafter, he reunited with his family in the Quebec area, but soon left and entered the U.S., got married and then moved to Spencer, up in the New England region, and took his place in civilization, working as a blacksmith.

An annotation by Coues - and renditions by other's that have studied this narrative - indicate:

"Field says of our author that 'his narrative is at all events little better than a fiction.'"

Whatever scholars may say to depict D'Eres recollections, his brief notations about one especially notable species certainly adds an interesting bit of lore to the history of ornithology.

October Roosting of the Chimney Swift at the River City

Chimney at the Wareham Building on an October morning after the swifts had departed, on their way to foraging about the Missouri River valley.

Chimney Swifts are a common sight in the aerial realm of Omaha in the latter weeks of their seasonal stay. Although the daily skies may have just a few of the feathered bugeaters about, once dusk approaches, there are regular gatherings at the choice chimneys that provide essential shelter and comfort for a chilly autumn night.

Once the Purple Martins finally went southward for warmer climes, it was time to bicycle around to evaluate how swifts were using various chimneys where birds had previously been noted during a few weeks of survey efforts during mid-August to mid-September, 2003. Due to the mode of transportation, there were limitations on the places that were visited, and thus several places which would have had notable gatherings, were not visited.

The scenario was to arrive at a suitable locality at least 30-45 minutes prior to the expected time when the first swift would take a dive into the chimney. This provided some flexibility to see if they were actually present, or whether an alternate site nearby should where to count the birds as they would descend into the roost. Some additional details were the result of being in downtown Omaha at sunrise, when swifts would depart in a staggered manner from the roost they had used overnight. It is even easier to count in the morning, instead of the evening, when a bunch of swifts can quickly enter a chimney - making a detailed count difficult - versus the morning they depart, a few birds at a time.

Roosting Swifts

Omaha has the facilities that provide important seasonal residences for the swifts. A variety of chimneys provide roosts that are essential shelter for hundreds of these birds to spend the night while they eat hundreds of thousands of bugs from the skies of the region during the daylight hours. There are many buildings with important, and useful roosts.

Recognizing the chimneys used by swifts indicates the important roost habitats, useful for evaluating changes and trends in how the extent and conditions of these structures are changing due to urban renewal and building construction.

One thing is certain, there are no new chimneys being constructed, and older buildings are constantly being cleared. Some important structures, have been renovated, and the chimney remains to provide shelter for the bugeaters. The long-term prognosis indicates a steady decline in the extent of chimneys used for breeding and roosting.

These are the details for the last observations for October, 2008, giving the locality, date seen and associated Julian date; the number of swifts counted, and notations of interest:

• Benson: 10/01; 275; 225; 9, 45, 75, 20, 67, 5 at dusk at the community center; additional others at chimney's to the west a block or two

• Creighton University Campus: 10/01; 275; 105; 105 caught at first a.m. leaving Wareham building, the former O'Keefe building on the east side of campus, in the morning at sunrise

• Creighton University Campus: 10/03; 277; 150; 150 caught at first a.m. leaving Wareham building big chimney at 1624 Webster Street; in the morning just before sunrise

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/03; 277; 235; into 6.5x6.5 bricks, ca. 4.5 story chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth

• Dundee Place: 10/04; 278; 12; five into Elwood apartments at 100 block of south 49th Avenue; through open circle atop metal mesh cover on the chimney

• Cathedral: 10/05; 279; 24; minimum count into the Radcliffe chimney at 38th and Dodge Street

• Blackstone District: 10/05; 279; 8; minimal count into chimney at the Colonial residence hotel, after things slowed at the Radcliffe apartment house

Chimney at 1819 Cuming Street. With the ongoing changes to this neighborhood associated with the sprawl of the Creighton campus, it is inevitable that this old, unused building will be razed.

• North Downtown: 10/06; 280; 120; caught this number departing 5x5 chimney at 1819 Cuming Street; others had possibly already departed

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/07; 281; 350; 1, 68, 280, 9; into the chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth; done by 7:15

• Dundee Place: 10/08; 282; 85; partial count of birds at the Glen Arlo apartment building at Capitol Avenue and 51st Street

• Creighton University Campus: 10/09; 283; 185; noted 183 leaving Wareham building chimney just before sun-rise

• Creighton University Campus: 10/10; 284; 157; minimal count of 65, 4, 88 caught leaving Wareham chimney just prior to dawn

• Benson: 10/10; 284; 132; 127 into 4.5x4.5 bricks chimney at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 2725 North 60th Avenue; 5 elsewhere in the business district

• Blackstone District: 10/11; 285; 108; 2, 14, 8, 4, 40, 37, 3 into 4.5x4.5 chimney at the Colonial hotel; also one seen into Tadousac apartment house, not included in number tally; done by 7:05 p.m. on a cloudy evening

• Creighton University Campus: 10/11; 285; 289; 106, 142, 38, 3 departing 7.5x7.5 bricks chimney of Wareham in the first of the morning

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/12; 286; 120; 2, 102, 14, 3; into the chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth; done by 7:15 p.m.

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/13; 287; 130; 1, 2, 1, 4, 25, 86, 8, 4; counted at most ca. 20, then about 7 p.m. the bunch arrived and were within the chimney in 10 minutes

• Old Market: 10/14; 288; 65; ca. 65 total; 3 into chimney at Barry O's pub, 4 into chimney at Upstream at 11th and Jackson, and 3-4 into Bull Durham building at 1019 Leavenworth

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/15; 289; 132; 2, 1, 3, 110, 6, 7, 3 into chimney at Central Presbyterian Church; done by 7 p.m.

• Hanscom Park neighborhood: 10/15; 289; 5; about 9:20 a.m. from buildings to the north; not seen coming from chimneys while watching for some time

• Downtown Omaha: 10/16; 290; 33 caught leaving chimney at west side; 100 south 11th Street

• Old Market: 10/16; 290; 104; 46, 31, 27 left chimney at Upstream building in the a.m.; then many returned into chimney on a morning with chilly temperatures in the mid-30s

• Blackstone District: 10/16; 290; 54; 54 into tallist 7x7 chimney at 3819 Jones street, formerly Columbian School Apartments built in the 1890s; done by ca. 6:50, with a temp of 52^o, a few minutes after sunset

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/17; 291; 136; 50, 60, 20, 6; 22 first bunch, then twice that; whole bunch gathered and flew about for a few minutes; whole bunch in within a couple of minutes.

A unique happening took place after the swifts initially entered this oft used chimney. Within a minute after all the swifts had entered the chimney, at least 80-90 were seen leaving the roost and going northward to some other nearby place ... probably the chimney of a house. The alternate chimney was not located during a quick bike-about, since the birds' destination not visible as it some time post-dusk. Obviously the swifts left the chimney since it was not suitable for the night. Perhaps the heating apparatus for the building was being used with cooler temperatures, making the confines of the brick chimney too uncomfortable.

• Benson: 10/18; 292; 25; 25-30 total; 10 into Immanuel Lutheran church on the south side; 5 into 6005 Maple Street; others in immediate vicinity; evening sunset temperature was 58^o. The roosting activity was done by about 7 p.m.

There were no subsequent sightings of swifts around the city.

End-of-Season Roost Numbers

In considering the final counts for localities where the bugeaters were known to roost, there were several hundred swifts that were present in the final days of their occurrence during the season. There were probably at least 400 at the locales that were surveyed, with an additional number of birds at other places where there are chimneys suitable for roosting (i.e., Drake neighborhood, west Old Market, near south of downtown, south Omaha business district, etc.).

Although the numbers observed are notably less than the extent of flocks present from late August to mid-September, the continued counts exceeding hundreds of swifts at a single roost site, indicates the value of various chimneys for seasonal use by migrating birds.

The birds seen using chimneys on the evening of the 18th, and their certain departure on the following date, correlates with the last known date of occurrence in the Omaha metropolitan area. Based on an evaluation of nearly 1500 records, the last date of occurrence had been October 19th, so the swifts leaving Benson would have been on the same date.

Chimney Swifts will return to the river city in mid-April next year.

Morning view of chimney at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, which has been consistently used for roosting.

Russian Naturalist Documents Original Records for Many Birds in North America

In considering the bird history for North America, there was originally little consideration given to sources of information published in a foreign language. With continued emphasis this focus had changed with the reading of resources published in Europe - particularly from the German republic - and in Asia.

One particular important source originated in Russia nearly two hundred years in the past.

In 1811, the renowned Petrus - or Peter if using the English spelling - Simon Pallas, M.D., had published a volume of the "Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, Sistens Omnium Animalium in Extenso Imperio Rossico et Adjacentibus Maribus Observatorum Recensionem, Domicilia, Mores et Descriptiones Anatomen Atque Icones Plurimorum" which included numerous color illustrations. It was printed by the Academiae Scientiarum, at Petropoli.

Pallas, born in Berlin, was a professor of natural history at the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg for many years, moving there in 1767 after receiving an invitation from Catherine, the Russian empress. He made extensive travels throughout portions of the country, preparing extensive and lucid writings printed in lengthy, illustrated tomes about the events and science of natural history. The names for several birds, subsequently recognize his pioneering efforts: a warbler, cormorant, fish-eagle, sandgrouse and rosefinch. Pallas was in contact with Thomas Pennant with letters from 1766-1781 still extant, and a compilation published.

Anecdotes of the professor were published in the Edinburgh Magazine, September 1786 issue. In 1791, Pallas was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society.

The two volumes of this work, when it discusses observations from across the oceanic strait from eastern Asia, have many bird occurrence records for the North Pacific region which some decades after the publishing of this information, became part of the United States of America, and thus are essential information on its historic ornithology. Several species mentions are recognized as the first historic records for the continental ornithology, and designated for the original description of a species in the nomenclature for the continent.

The species mentioned in Volumen Primum, and, Tomus II, are verily available online for consideration and ready perusal. Accounts for more than 400 species are in the two volumes, listed in order by family, and include a scientific name, other nomenclature details which, since they are in the foreign language are not readily understood, synonyms of nomenclature, distribution details, and a detailed description.

Information is given on a number of species of interest. The following details provide the modern name, designated site and information from the species account. Although the original text often has the spelling Merk, this has been edited to Merck, to conform with the recognized spelling and for uniformity.

• Emperor Goose - Aleutis [Aleutian Islands] - Anser pictus; painted duck, Latham; Aleutis Kamghang; in insulis versus Americam extensis frequens

• Canada Goose - Aleutis - Anser canadensis; Aleutis Kamghang

• Tundra Swan - Aleutis - Cygnus Olor; whistling swan, Pennant; Aleutis, Koolkik

• Harlequin Duck - Aleutis - Anas histrionica; harlekin duck, Pennant; circa insulas versus Americam sparsa observabat frequentem p.m. D.D. Merck

• Common Eider - Aleutis - Anas Cutberti; Anas magna nigro-alba, Edward; Anas mollissima, Linn.; eiderduck, Pennant; America advena observatur

• Steller's Eider - Aleutis - Anas stelleri; western duck, Pennant; in insulis nostris versus Americam sitis, praesertium circa Unalaschka frequens, unde specimina retulit D.D. Merck

• Long-tailed Duck - Aleutis - Anas glacialis; Canard de Miclon, D'aubent; longtailed duck, Pennant; verosimillime trans Oceanum in Americam migrans

• Northern Fulmar - Aleutis - Procellaris glacialis; mallemucke, Martens; Procellaria cinerea, Brisson; Procellaria glacialis, Linn.; Aleuticas abundat

• Parkinson's Petrel - Aleutis - Procellaria aequinoctialis; Procellaria curilica, Pennant; Aleutis Ajudan; circa Aleuticas frequens, unde exempla adtulit D.D. Merck; Procellaria aequinoctialis Linn.

• European Storm-Petrel - Aleutis - Procellaria pelagica, little peterel, Zool. Britan.; Procellaria pelagica, Linn.; stormy petrel, Pennant; frequens inter insulas Americam

• Leach's Storm-Petrel - Aleutis - Procellaria orientalis; Procellaria fuscata, Pennant; circa Unalaschkam lecta retulit ex illo itinere D.D. Merck

• Northern Gannet - Aleutis - Sula Bassana; gannet, Pennant; in itinere vero Americano saepius in Pelago volantem inter Procellarias vidit

• Spectacled Cormorant * - Bering Island - Phalacrocorax perspicillatus; Beringii infausta insula, ubi naufragus vixit, observaverat

• Pelagic Cormorant * - Aleutis - Phalacrocorax pelagicus; Aleutis Agajok; Americana-rum insularum incola

• Red-faced Cormorant * - Aleutis - Phalacrocorax bicristatus; violet-shag, Latham; Americam sparsis et ispo Americae littore invenit

• Species not determined [a modern equivalent could not be found in a search of internet resources] - Bering Sea, Alaska - Phalacrocorax albidus; multoties in pilis marinis circa Beringii insulam vidi

• Bald Eagle - Aleutis - Aquila leucocephala; bald eagle, Lawson; Falco leucocephalus; Americanis ad Nootka Owatinne

• Steller's Sea-Eagle - Tauisk - Aquila pelagica; white eagle, Pennant; white-bellied eagle, Latham; Continentem Americes, praesertim in infami naufragio et morte Beringii insula

• American Oystercatcher - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Haematopus niger; maxime iis quae Americae vicinae sunt, praesertim Ins. Kadiak, frequens avis

• Eurasian Oystercatcher * - Aleutis - Haematopus hypoleuca; pied oystercatcher, Latham; in America

• American Woodcock - Aleutis - Scolopax Rusticola; woodcock, Pennant; Americam sparsis

• Whimbrel - Aleutis - Numenius phaeopus, Numenius minor, Brisson; dwarf curlew, Pennant; whimbrel, Latham; insulas et Americam

• Wood Sandpiper - Aleutis - Trynga Glareola; wood sandpiper, Latham; Americam sitis, a D.D. Merck

• Common Sandpiper - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Trynga leucoptera; Totanus striatus, Brisson; Trynga striata, Linn.; eandem ex insula Kadiak Americae vicina misit D.D. Merck

• Ruddy Turnstone - Aleutis - Charadrius cinclus; Arenaria; Trynga Interpres, Linn.; hebridal sandpiper, Pennant; Arenaria cinerea, Brisson; turnstone; insulis versus Americam sitis

• Red Knot - Aleutis - Limosa Barge; Gallinago cinerea; Scolopax Limosa, Linn.; Americam sitis

• Red-necked Stint - Aleutis - Trynga salina; Trynga ruficollis, Latham; insulis versus Americam sitis D.D. Merck

• Purple Sandpiper - Bering Sea, Alaska - Trynga arquatella, in Beringii insula a Stellero visa

• Red Phalarope - Aleutis - Phalaropus rufus; Trynga fulicipeda rubra, Edward; Phalaropus rufescens, Brisson; Trynga fulicaria, Linn.; red phalarope, Latham; Americam sitas

• Great Skua * - Aleutis - Catarractes skua; Catarractes skua, Brunnich; Arctik bird, Edward, skua gull, Pennant; quam Stellerus in itinere Americano

• Dovekie - Aleutis - Uria Alle; greenland dove, Albin; Alca Alle, Linn.; little auk, Latham

• Black Guillemot - Aleutis - Cepphus Carbo; Aleutis Tschuak; circa insula Aleiticam, praesertim in scopulis circa Unalaschka, unde numerosa specimina accepi

• Pigeon Guillemot * - Bering Sea, Alaska - Cepphus Columba; et Americam abundant et ubique fistulante voce exaudiuntur

• Long-billed Murrelet * - Bering Sea, Alaska - Cepphus Perdix; marbled guillemot, Latham; Americam inque Sinu Ochotensi

• Ancient Murrelet - Aleutis - Uria senicula; ancient auk, Pennant; Alca antiqua, Gmelin; abundant circa insulas Aleuticas

• Cassin's Auklet * - Aleutis - Uria Aleutica; specimina aliquot ex orientali Oceano retulit D.D. Merck

• Parakeet Auklet - Bering Sea, Alaska - Lunda psittacula; perroket auk, Pennant; Americam frequentantibus; Americam extansas non infrequens avis

• Crested Auklet - Aleutis - Uria cristatella; Alca cristatella, Pallas; crested auk, Pennant; frequens in insulis Aleuticis

• Rhinoceros Auklet * - Cape St. Elias - Alca monocerata; circa promontorium S. Eliae Americae

• Rhinoceros Auklet - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Alca monocerata; ad littora insulae Kadiak

• Tufted Puffin - Bering Sea, Alaska - Lunda cirrhata; tufted auk, Pennant; et Americam

• Belted Kingfisher - Aleutis - Alcedo Alcyon; littore occidentali borealis Americae adlata sunt

• Common Raven - Aleutis - Corvus Corax; Aleutis Kalngak; copiese in insulis versus American sitis

• Horned Lark - Aleutis - Alauda coelipeta; Alauda vulgaris; Alauda arvensis, Lin.; Americam sparsae sunt, observavit

• Varied Thrush - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Turdus auroreus; in insula Kadiak

• Hermit Thrush * - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Muscicapa guttata; in insulis America vicinis, praesertim Kadiak; recognized as the Unalaschka thrush

• Red-throated Pipit * - Aleutis - Motacilla Cervina; awatcha - warbler, Latham; i.e., Alauda sylvestris; Americam sitis frequens

• Common Redpoll - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Passer Linaria; Insula Kadiak, Americae contigua habeo varietatem sibiricis similem

• Yellow Warbler - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Motacilla rubiginosa; yellow poll, Latham; in insula Kadiak

• Wilson's Warbler - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Motacilla pileolata; ex insula Kadiak missa est ab amicis, Billings

• Snow Bunting - Aleutis - Emberiza nivalis; Emberiza nivalis, Lin.; snow bunting, Latham; in America boreali frequentissimae

• Golden-crowned Sparrow - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Emberiza coronata; blakcrowned bunting, Latham; in insula Kadiak

* Refers to the first reference to a species in North American nomenclature, or the first currently available historic record of the species in the region

The use by Pallas of known synonyms - from Pennant's Arctic Zoology, and Brisson - is certainly valuable in providing additional details needed to conform his references to modern equivalents of species identification. The reference to D.D. Merck, alludes to Carl Heinrich Merck, whom was on the Slava Rossii when a visit was made to the Aleut islands, with it in particular at Unalashka in June, 1790.

Further details on these records are given in the nominal, modern checklist of species for the continent prepared by the group concerned with tracking this information. This source is valuable for understanding some of the foreign language and how it pertains to the continent east of Asia.

An interesting aspect of the accomplished Pallas (1731-1811), are numerous other nomenclature designations. A number of other original descriptions for North America are based in a 1769 publication in Spic Zool. Details from this source further indicates how Russian-based studies have contributed substantially to the history of ornithology for North America.

Windows are Clear Danger for Migratory Birds

By Maggie O'Brien, Omaha World-Herald Staff Writer

Sunday World-Herald 144(6): 1B-2B. November 9, 2008

An Omaha bird enthusiast thinks federal wildlife officials should be doing more to require businesses to take steps to prevent migratory birds from flying into their buildings and dying.

Jim Ducey, who tracks bird deaths in downtown Omaha, says that since May at least 360 birds have died after hitting tall buildings. He said the glass windows in modern building designs are pretty to look at but deadly for birds.

"The problem is, the people who put up a building with glass make it look really cool, but they don't pay attention to birds," said Ducey, whose hobbies are birds, nature and conservation matters.

The deaths are unfortunate, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials say.

But compared with the thousands of birds that die yearly from encounters with utility lines and other hazards, 300-plus is not a large number, they said.

Still, migratory birds are protected under federal law by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which says they cannot be harmed or killed, even unintentionally.

Under that law, businesses, once notified that birds are flying into their buildings, could be fined up to $15,000 per bird if they don't take steps to prevent the deaths. Federal wildlife officials said they contact the businesses, notify them of the deaths, and offer suggestions to prevent further harm.

No fines have been levied in Nebraska because of birds hitting buildings, said Mark Webb, a special agent with the Fish and Wildlife Service's Lincoln office.

Fines have been imposed on some utilities and road construction crews that ignored the agency's recommendations for protecting birds, Webb said.

Robert Harms, a biologist with the wildlife service in Grand Island, said bird deaths have increased with the number of buildings.

Migratory birds, many of which follow the path of the Missouri River every spring and fall, get too close to Omaha buildings.

When the glass is clear, birds see only what's on the other side. When it is reflective, birds see reflected sky and trees. Both types trick them into flying directly into the glass, Harms said, killing most instantly - and leaving a mess.

"Is it a violation when the bird flies into a building?" Webb asked. "Yes. It's sad that we're losing birds from flying into buildings, but where do you draw the line? We haven't reached it yet."

Some companies may be reluctant to spend money on netting, decals or other measures that could help save birds, Webb said, but "businesses are going to be ahead in terms of money if they just comply with the law. As long as building owners are willing to work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials, they won't get fined."

All bird species are vulnerable to flying into buildings. But according to Ducey's count, purple martins, common yellowthroats and Nashville warblers are among the most common locally.

Last month, the Nebraska Medical Center draped temporary coverings across a skywalk near 44th and Farnam Streets to protect a large nest of purple martins that had roosted in about a dozen nearby trees.

The idea was, the birds would see the covering, instead of reflections, and avoid the glass. At least 15 purple martins died before hospital crews put up the coverings; afterward, none did.

Paul Baltes, a medical center spokesman, said the purple martins now have left the area, continuing on their journey south for the winter. With no other problems, the coverings have been taken down, he said.

Daniel Klem Jr., a professor of biology and ornithology at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., recommends netting. He said some skyscrapers in New York are draped with netting to protect birds.

Decals are another option, Klem said. Such decals might be shaped like butterflies, for instance. Birds will avoid glass if they think other creatures are there.

"(The decals) have to be numerous, and spaced properly to effectively eliminate strikes," Klem said. "The more decals, the more lives saved."

The Qwest Center Omaha is looking into using ultrasonic waves, something like invisible fencing that keeps dogs from leaving a yard, to discourage birds from approaching the building. The system, although expensive, would make sure the birds - and the building's aesthetics - are protected, said Roger Dixon, president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority.

Unfortunately, said Dixon - who is working with federal wildlife officials - the Qwest Center's budget lacks the money to pay for ultrasonic waves, but he hopes to find room in next year's budget.

"We didn't build in the path of birds to do harm," he said. "This has made us aware that birds are being unintentionally taken."

Harms and Webb said most building owners want to protect birds.

"It's a totally new thing. . . . They've never had to think about it before, while me, as a biologist, I think about them all the time," Harms said. "We just want people to try and people to work with us. People in Omaha care about wildlife."