Editorial Appreciation for Writings of the Sand Hills

Not much to convey here other than these few words about another focus of my writings about a distinctive region of international significance:

"Jim Ducey deserves the Ed Burgess Award for pinch hitting when a couple of folks' stories weren't able to be completed and he understands deadlines so he is double, triple, quadruple, blessed for getting them to us early."

This was for some articles written for the May 20, "Beef Issue" published by the Hyannis newspaper.

Sass and Sentiments column by Sharon M. Wheelock, owner and editor. May 27, 2010. Grant County News 125(42): 2.

Sanhill's stories have been written for many years...

Comparing Late-Spring Birdlife of Significant Urban-Spaces

An distinctive comparison of bird sightings is available because of the species denoted at two particular habitat spaces in east-central Nebraska. There was no attempt to coordinate the two outings, but they both just happened to occur on the same date in May, 2010.

On May 28, a morning count was done at the spaces of Elmwood Park, and a day later there was additional information forthcoming, based on a report on the state's bird forum, based upon what had been seen during an survey at the lowlands of Fontenelle Forest.

The first results were derived from efforts of an individual, while the latter was the last "show and go" for spring by five members of the Fontenelle Nature Association, as reported by Allen Reyer.

Summer has certainly arrived, as readily apparent at Elmwood. Winds in the morning were thankfully, somewhat calm, though humidity was obvious. Foliage was lush and thick, and even enough to deter any interest in some attempt to walk along Wood Creek, since there are no trails. Just north of the bridge over the languid creek of tainted waters, an especially beautiful bird was the mornings' delight of distinction, as she walked along the pedestrian trail and was appreciably expressive.

Young birds are fledging, as determined by an observation of fledgling chickadees, the wing fluttering of a fledgling obvious in the tree, at Shadow Lake. At Wood Duck Point - on the east portion of the pond - there were more than 20 Wood Ducks, comprised mostly of small ducklings closely following their mom, with each of the two being especially attentive, as is their norm.

On the forest lowlands, "It was hot and humid, with lots of mosquitoes and ticks. Birds were scarce and hard to see with all the leaves and tall grasses," Reyer explained in his post about the p.m. outing by the group.

Bugs were not a problem during the a.m. outing at Elmwood. It is quite interesting that during any of the multitude of outings on this scene, ticks have never been a concern. There may have been one found, which grasped upon clothes during the past three years, but none have had any opportunity to grasp flesh.

The bird survey efforts however done, are significant and important to illustrate the value of different places for migratory birds.

Comparing Species

It is quite an unexpected situation to be able to note more species, and a greater number of birds, in the limited green space of an urban park in comparison to the relative expanse of a nature reserve. Yet the results are not contrived, and can only be compared in their actuality.

Especially apparent was the greater number of Wood Ducks along Wood Creek, along its banks through Elmwood park. The little ducklings are about Wood Creek, and what a joy to watch, from afar as their lives are just underway in a new season. It would be especially interesting to get a view from below, which would show their tiny legs paddling furiously, to stay close to their mom, a duck. Wood Duck Point is the best place to appreciate this bit of natures splendor during these days, among the year.

At the ravine, the Barred Owl was up among the branches of the spring trees, looking down at me, while my necked was stretched looking up at it, as it wondered about this intrusion, which soon passed. The pines trees to the west, and generally about, including over on the golf course, continue to be the haven for an expressive Red-breasted Nuthatch, whose distinctive call is always a pleasure to hear, and a ready indication of its existence at a place suitable for a good life.

The following table indicates the bird species noted at these two places on May 28th.

Common Name	Elmwood Park	Fontenelle Forest
Wood Duck	38	3
Turkey Vulture	-	1
Mourning Dove	6	-
Eastern Screech-Owl	-	1
Barred Owl	1	-
Chimney Swift	5	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	1
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2	1
Downy Woodpecker	2	-
Hairy Woodpecker	1	1
Northern Flicker	2	1
Eastern Wood-Pewee	1	-
Great Crested Flycatcher	2	1
Eastern Kingbird	1	-
Warbling Vireo	1	-
Red-eyed Vireo	1	-
Blue Jay	2	-
American Crow	1	-
Purple Martin	-	2
Barn Swallow	1	2
Black-capped Chickadee	4	3
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1	-
White-breasted Nuthatch	2	-
House Wren	6	5
American Robin	44	3
Gray Catbird	4	8
European Starling	15	4
Cedar Waxwing	6	25
Yellow Warbler	-	1
Common Yellowthroat	-	4
Eastern Towhee	-	1
Chipping Sparrow	4	1
Song Sparrow	-	1
Northern Cardinal	10	1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	-	1
Indigo Bunting	1	-
Red-winged Blackbird	1	6
Common Grackle	46	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	1	-
Orchard Oriole	-	1
Baltimore Oriole	3	1
American Goldfinch	2	-
House Sparrow	1	-

The number of species overall is 42, with 33 at the Elmwood Park environs, and 26 on the lowlands of Fontenelle Forest. If the Common Nighthawk, which was present nearby on the heights of Dundee, as well as the screech-owl which is a habitant of the vicinity were included, the whole numbers situation would change, increasing the number of midtown birds.

There is a dramatic difference in the number of birds counted. At Elmwood Park places, there were a minimal 218 individuals, and only 80 in the forest lands, or a value of about 2.5 times greater in midtown Omaha were the green spaces in completely surrounded by neighborhoods.

On the forest lowlands, there is a river, a wildlife area to the east, wooded hills and other such places of birdly habitat.

Actually though, a days outing at Fontenelle Forest could be appreciated more because of the grandeur of the place of big trees, a sprawling marsh, a hidden lake and other sublime spots wherein the big wood-pecker of the river occurs and other special species occur during what would undoubtedly be a fine time of watching a variety of wild birds.

Whether this is a comparison based upon one part of incomplete reporting - though this is most likely not the case - it is surprising to be able to note that a midtown park had more birds than a Missouri valley wildlife haven. Whatever, it is all good, though there has never been any thought that the tally from a mornings' outing at a local urban park would surpass which was noted during a hike by a determined bunch of birders at the great forest near Bellevue!

Dedication of Glacier Creek Addition to Allwine Prairie Preserve

Vivacious songs of Dickcissels in a grassy swale - accompanied by the subtle trill of a meadowlark on the hill - set the natural tone for the dedication of the new addition to the Allwine Prairie Preserve.

As the birds sang continually to express their claim to a seasonal home provided through land conservation efforts, more than 100 people gathered on May 26, on an adjacent slope to recognize the profound success in adding more natural territory to a place that has been a protected haven since the late 1950s.

Farmer Ernie Kobs, as he finished discing the bottom-land along along the Big Papillion Creek. The undeveloped land he has maintained for decades contributes to the value of the grassland setting of the Glacier Creek Tract which abuts his northern boundary, and the Allwine Prairie Preserve, to the west.

The celebration officially marked the addition of a 83 acre tract, the lowland portion of Glacier Creek, to the Allwine Prairie Preserve.

Glacier Creek is a bit of a flow, starting from spring seeps in the hills of northern Douglas County, Nebraska. These perpetual waters have trickled eastward to their confluence with the nearby Big Papillion Creek.

The University of Nebraska - Omaha, has managed 160 acres here, for about fifty years, and they now have a bigger place for education and research endeavors.

The "Glacier Creek Dedication" marked "the success of the first phase of the Glacier Creek Project," according to a flyer.

It was only appropriate that the opening remarks were provided by Dr. Thomas B. Bragg, preserve director and a professor of "grassology" whose studies in recent decades have meant so much to understanding the role of fire in prairie ecosystems, and other essentials to grassland ecosystems. It seemed apropos on this Wednesday, that a portion of the upland prairie at the preserve, was newly sprouting from a recent burn to nourish the grassland.

The addition of this tract "contributes to environmental awareness and education in the Omaha area," he said. This is a "key step in the progress of the Glacier Creek Project." Dr. Bragg was the scientist that mentioned Glacier Creek was spring-fed and was shown on the original surveys of the General Land Office, which would have been something like 150 years ago.

"This is an exciting expansion," Bragg said.

The event tent at the Glacier Creek tract dedication.

John Cristensen, UNO chancellor, said the efforts which resulted in the expansion of the conservation area, "signals the kind of things that can happen through partnership and collaboration." He also mentioned the targets of further efforts including expansion of the tract, and construction of an educational building, indicating that the original donation of the tract occurred in 1959 when donated by Arthur A. Allwine, with interest in the place blossoming in the 1970s, with student research and other educational uses.

There were more than 1200 public and school visitors to Allwine prairie in 2009, according to the event flyer, and this represents organizations including the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H, Sierra Club and others. The building will be built where cars parked for the dedication, near the current cluster of buildings.

At this time there was a short interlude. A Cooper's Hawk was loose, but it was flying around inside a building while the intent was to release it into the wild skies. Once it was recaptured, and while being held prior to release, was the focus of great attention. Multiple cameras took pictures, people gathered around to watch as Denise Lewis, of Raptor Recovery Nebraska made a few remarks. After three months of rehabilitation, it was set free on the prairie, and quickly flew west to perch on a tree.

It was a thrill to the crowd, as the raptor winged its way away.

Jim Thompson, of the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District - a contributor of hundreds of thousands of dollars - expressed well the view of the day, indicating the importance of partnerships. This agency is helping to develop a conceptual plan to create meanders and enhance the wetland conditions of lower Glacier Creek, before the water flows in the Big Papillion Creek. Towards the end of the hiking trail, there was a diagram of this potential plan, showing what may be pending.

Mark Brohman, executive director of the Nebraska Environmental Trust, also spoke. He mentioned having just been in New York City, and where he noticed the urban residents congregating at a small bit of green in the city, whereas on this day, he was among an expanse of grass with sufficient space for everyone to spread out.

Flutist Michael Murphy, as he played a fine variety of tunes which joined in the chorus of the prairie.

UNO's "The Moving Company" among the grass of the prairie; presenting "Ecology" as performed by Rachel Curry, Claire Guthrie, Alyssa Harrington and Jessica Reed. At the microphone was flutist Bethany McAcy and poet/reader Natasha Kessler.

"Glacier Creek is the type of project for which the Nebraska Environmental Trust was established," Brohman said in a personal interview, it "preserves and protects and restores natural resources for everyone, including future generations."

"We are happy we can participate in projects like this," Brohman said. "With partners we can stretch our dollars so much further."

The environmental trust first provided a grant for this place in 2000, to assist with a lowland restoration project. In 2007, a grand grant of $1 million was awarded by the trust and its forward looking board and evaluators. Thus far, $581,000 has been expended, so additional dollars are still available to assist in achieving future goals.

Other prairie enthusiasts were among the crowd on the hills, including Glenn Pollock, an enthusiast whom has worked on prairie conservation for many years. He will have a personal role in the new addition, as he explained a plan to harvest seeds from plants in wet prairie in Iowa - along the Missouri River and Nishnabotna River - and sow them on the lowlands of Glacier Creek. Species he especially hopes to establish include Sullivan's milkweed, the tough prairie cordgrass, compass plant, and others which would find the growing conditions to be fine for them to thrive. He has done similar work of this type in Iowa, and hopes that he can collect some seeds this autumn, and spread them about during the same time, in an effort that will, according to his prognosis, take 20 years before the place will once again look similar to a native prairie.

Ione Werthman, the reason there is a Heron Haven along Maple Street in west Omaha, was present enjoying some time among the grass, and always willing to talk about habitat conservation and its importance. Trilety Wade, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and other characteristic garb, looked as if she had walked off a page from My Antonia. Also noted were Neal Ratzlaff, and Dr. Jeffrey Peake, a professor of geography at UNO. Staff of The Nature Conservancy were also present.

"It is great we have gotten so far," said Dr. Bragg. "Today showed there is a lot of support for this effort which is improving the quality of life for the community."

"I was really pleased," he said.

View of the Glacier Creek addition.

Cookies and lemonade - or tea - were provided on a day with temperatures in the lower 80s, and clearing skies with dark clouds about. There was no rain at the prairie, though it did rain nearby, but it seemed as if the glory of late spring showed down upon the place, setting a scene for birds and people to enjoy, as the efforts of many years were recognized, and duly noted by accolades of appreciation for effort and support.

Birds noted during the late-afternoon visit: Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Western Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, House Wren, American Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Cardinal, Dickcissel, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird and Baltimore Oriole.

The dedication was a World Environment Day Event, sponsored by the Biology Department at UNO and the Papio-Missouri NRD.

Historic Observations of Birdlife Around the Platte River Confluence

Considering the history of where the Platte River flows into the Missouri River, its historic significance is readily apparent in a number of ways, including ornithology.

The prominence of the larger Missouri, meant there have been numerous notations in the historic chronicles where the great river flowed in from the west.

In 1739, the name was first denoted as the Mallet Brothers, with six companions, traveling to Sante Fe, reached the confluence on June 2nd, and noted in their account "la Riviere Platte." They then ascended this waterway, on their westward travel.

There were subsequent voyages which went past the flat water river, also known as the Nebraska river, and which is now designated, officially as the Platte River.

Historic Ornithology

The Missouri River was an important travel route in the first history of the central plains. It was a well-known landmark, route of transportation and gathering place, so among the notes for this predominant place, there were pertinent notations for the general area, as noted by different explorers.

There are other bird records for this general region, but the first particular notation of relevance to historic ornithology for the area about the confluence of the Platte and Missouri, is in association with the Lewis and Clark expedition, in July 1804, when they noted that the Greater Prairie-Chicken was seen in prairies between the Missouri and the river Platte.

In 1811, John Bradbury, went past the La Platte River, and although he did not note any birds in his journal for that particular day, just a few day's earlier, while at the wintering houses on the "Naduet River," (?Nodaway) shot 271 Passenger Pigeons on April 18th. Two days before reaching La Platte, he also collected "a bird of the genus Recurvirostra," most likely the American Avocet.

Bradbury's party ate breakfast on "one of the islands formed by La Platte Riviere," and noted indications that war parties of the Indians had been in the neighborhood recently. Below the bluffs of the Papillion Creek, the naturalist waded through an extensive lake, much covered with aquatic plants, "amongst which were Nelumbium luteum and Hydropeltis purpurea," with water snakes basking upon the later.

In 1823, Paul Wilhelm, Duke of Wurttemberg, during his travels in North America, noted the Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, and the "handsome Sterna with black head and white band on the forepart of its head streaked about, belly grayish etc." which refers to the Least Tern.

On May 3, 1833, Prince Maximilian Alexander Philip of Wied-Neuwied in Germany, on his great excursion to the northern plains, passed the mouth of La Platte River, boating along. His bird-related notes were:

• geese were moving about
• raven could be seen
• red shouldered golden oriole could be seen
• swallows in the air

This would represent the Canada Goose, Common Raven, Orchard Oriole and some type of swallow, of which any one of three or four would have been expected.

A fine list of species for the place was recorded by John James Audubon in May 9, 1843; Edward Harris was also along. The particular site of note was Saint Mary's Island. There were at least twenty species present.

Audubon wrote: "May 9, Tuesday. Another fine day. After running until eleven o'clock we stopped to cut wood, and two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were shot, a common Blue-bird, and a common Northern Titmouse. We saw White Pelicans, Geese, Ducks, etc. ... We have seen a Fish Hawk, Savannah Finch, Green-backed Swallows, Rough-winged Swallows, Martins, Parrakeets, Black-headed Gulls, Blackbirds, and Cow-birds; I will repeat that the woods are fairly alive with House Wrens, Blue Herons, Emberiza pallida - Clay-colored Bunting of Swainson - Henslow's Bunting, Crow Blackbirds."

On the return voyage, on October 5th and 6th, in the same vicinity, they noted the American White Pelican and Harris's Sparrow, which had been discovered just to the south of this area, during the trip upriver in May.

The single 1842 record, was the magpie seen by J.C. Fremont returning from an Army expedition to the West, at the mouth of the Platte River.

Additional notes of importance are based on specimens collected in 1856 by F.V. Hayden, the geologist and naturalist on the U.S. Army expedition led by topographic engineer, Lieutenant G.K. Warren. They documented ten species for April 26-27 at the mouth of the Platte River, while traveling up the Missouri. Their tally included waterfowl, woodpeckers, five types of warblers and sparrows.

A summary of the notations of birds available from these historic visits, is given in the following table:

Common Name	1804	1823	1833	1842	1843	1856
Canada Goose	-	-	**	-	**	-
Ruddy Duck	-	-	-	-	-	**
Greater Prairie-Chicken	**	-	-	-	-	-
American White Pelican	-	-	-	-	**	-
Great Blue Heron	-	-	-	-	**	-
Osprey	-	-	-	-	**	-
Franklin's Gull	-	-	-	-	**	-
Least Tern	-	**	-	-	-	-
Carolina Parakeet	-	-	-	-	**	-
Red-bellied Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	**
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	-	-	-	-	-	**
Downy Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	**
Black-billed Magpie	-	-	-	**	-	-
Common Raven	-	-	**	-	-	-
Purple Martin	-	-	-	-	**	-
Tree Swallow	-	**	-	-	**	-
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	-	-	-	-	**	-
Bank Swallow	-	**	-	-	-	-
Tufted Titmouse	-	-	-	-	**	-
House Wren	-	-	-	-	**	-
Eastern Bluebird	-	-	-	-	**	-
Northern Parula	-	-	-	-	-	**
Yellow Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	**
Chestnut-sided Warbler	-	-	-	-	-	**
American Redstart	-	-	-	-	-	**
Ovenbird	-	-	-	-	-	**
Clay-colored Sparrow	-	-	-	-	**	-
Savannah Sparrow	-	-	-	-	**	-
Henslow's Sparrow	-	-	-	-	**	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	**
Harris's Sparrow	-	-	-	-	**	-
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	-	-	-	-	**	-
Red-winged Blackbird	-	-	-	-	**	-
Common Grackle	-	-	-	-	**	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	-	-	-	**	-

There are 36 species represented.

A much greater number of notes would be added to this tally, if the variety of records - for 1858 to 1882 - from Plattsmouth were included.

A Bit of History From the 1920s

Wetlands in the region, attracted birds, which meant it was also a place where shootists of the different eras came in pursuit of waterfowl.

There are two notations - from September 18 and 24, 1928 -when Wood Ducks were observed among some decoys at a wetland four miles south of Bellevue. The occurrence was reported by L.O. Horsky, in the Letters of Information of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. During this period, this species was quite scarce in the region, and obviously its occurrence was significant enough for its observation to be noted in the historic record.

Among the record of birds in Nebraska, there are possibly other references to birds in the vicinity of the La Platte area that could be determined based upon a detailed review of the Nebraska Bird Review.

Floating Above Country Club and Walnut Hill in Midtown Omaha

On an evening of no particular importance, as little puffy clouds cleared from the skies, a fresh sun shown in obvious brilliance, notably providing thermals perfect for a lazy soar above the city.

For one particular bird watched at a mid-May scene on a Monday evening, there it was comfortable above hordes of urban people indifferent to something looking down upon them, since the humans decided to ride in sealed cars, be enclosed in a house or apartment, or otherwise were so unaware of the significant wonder of a fresh May day.

Gliding on the air was notably easy, as strong winds took a particular hawk around-and-round above Saddle Creek, which is really a road. Despite the pesky grackles - a bunch of a dozen pestering the hawk's indifference - onward was its steady, circular glide to the east. Soon, it was up over there, above Walnut Hill, which is actually a developed neighbourhood.

In a brief span of few minutes and so readily enjoyed whilst stepping along the steep part of one street, towards the top of the bluff, most of them blackbirds of the country club pines, followed the potential threat as it floated away. With their focus on homeland security, and after a successful confrontation and eviction, conditions were again safe, and besides, there were birdly tasks preferable to being in a mob and haphazardly hazing some raptor indifferent to ground conditions.

Once over Walnut Hill, there were only five or so flying in the hawk's close space. There was nothing on the ground to dive after so the Buteo just kept along its personal and unique expression of flight in the midtown air space.

In the skies a distance to the south, with uncertainty of the actual distance, as miles could apply, but it was less than that, or blocks but that is just too urbane, or leagues, but that term is given only because of a relapse into historic presentation.

Over and above Carthage, a companion of the sky was also about, making its own route. Its focus was to find some hefty, and aged carcass big enough to grab a chunk for a meal. Dead meat is pretty scarce in the river city, but a bunch of the Turkey Vultures seem to like the night life, west of Wood Creek, in Memorial Park. They found a fine spot for their roost. The trees have been a prime place, as known only since after 2000. They make the place renowned because of their antics during the current millenium. In the back yard of a mansion, they gather, again and again, to add a subtle and majestic tinge to the evening skies as they float in, circle about, and then settle in the comfort of a branch perfect for the night's shelter. The place has provided this haven again and again, across a span of years.

Doves were cooing in back-yards along the blocks within Carthage.

Swifts were the species of this May Monday. They define the sky, mark the daily hours, are deserve the focus of the day, in memory of a chimney destroyed by urban expansion in North Downtown Omaha.

The hawk over Saddle Creek - appreciated as it was - is indifferent to the plight of the swifts, but as the day waned, there aren't any more swifts above the remnants of a former haunt. The birds can't write a letter. They can't call on the phone, and there ain't any way they could ever send an email to support protection of their neighborhood.

Chimney Swifts would certainly appreciate some new havens, yet each of the new buildings constructed in North Downtown, for example at Creighton University, don't have any chimney. None of them, and they spread across many blocks. There are pillars of brick, yet the swifts have less and less, each and every year because of campus expansion which is based upon building destruction.

It has probably been decades since the population of swifts in Omaha have found a newly built chimney built along with some new construction.

Swift haunts have been continually removed and continue to drastically lessen the places where the essential and important bugeaters can find shelter and raise a brood.

Sure they are immigrants each year - after spending another season in the tropics - but they subtly arrive and depart, and don't require any welfare subsidies.

Bird Havens

Birds linger and are expressive in places where they can safely sing and frolic. Without disturbance... . There are other notable activities, especially for resident birds, but those details are of interest to only a slight bunch, known as bird watchers, or some other appellation.

The array of comments about birds is never ending, and alas, even a tidbit of time watching a Red-tailed hawk being hazed by a bunch of Common Grackles, is amongst the vast awareness of wild birds appreciated by hordes of people.

Spring is a special time to appreciate all the glory and subtlety of birds amongst the haunts of Omaha, even in the blase realm amongst the hills of Carthage and Dundee. — May 18, 2010.

Economic Value of La Platte Bottoms for Birdlife

With the massive roadway development and wetland destruction looming to birdlife habitats at the La Platte Bottoms, it seemed appropriate to develop an economic value of the place which has been knowingly been utilized by a myriad of wild birds during the past three decades, and certainly for a much longer period of time.

This rudimentary consideration is based upon placing a value for the presence of each bird - in this case $10 for each bird noted - which is a realistic value for a meal and a safe respite. This amount is then extrapolated to provide a depictive indication of the value of the site for birds during the past three decades.

It should be noted that this information is derived from the efforts by "volunteers" or bird watchers which have not derived a single penny for their efforts, but whom spent their money to pay for the gas to visit the site, and then contributed their time to getting their observations recorded. There are wide gaps in the information available, but a hearty thanks to the people which have visited the locality and taken the effort to document the species present.

Volunteers efforts to document bird occurrence can only be appreciated!

Spring Season

March 2010

There were only two visits, on the 11th and 28th. The number of birds counted was 147, which does not in any manner convey an accurate depiction of the bird use days.

Just for the sake of trying to be more considerate, a greater value needs to be designated, and this will be based upon there being at least 2500 bird use days.

This indicates a minimal value of $25,000.

April 2010

Visits on April 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 21 and 30. On some of these visits, only a few notable species were noted, though there were undoubtedly other species present, yet not denoted.

The number of birds actually depicted, based on reported observations, was 1694, though this also does not indicate the actual extent of bird use. Consider the numbers on each of the days when visits occurred and when counts were recorded:

April 1: 369 individual birds noted

April 4: 32 individual birds noted

April 6: 48 individual birds noted

April 9: a minimum of 352 individual birds noted, which represents only four species

April 10: 52 individual species noted

April 11: 27 birds noted

April 13: 122 birds counted, which represents only six species

April 21: 48 birds noted

April 30: 523 individual birds noted - representing nine species - though with some species, the number given is the minimum occurrence, not the actual number, because of the conditions which did not allow a completely precise count by birders more interested in the experience of watching, rather than counting each bird about the wetlands.

It can be readily estimated that there were at least 250 birds present each day of the month, with the myriad of waterfowl, and later in the month, flocks of shorebirds. This extrapolates to 7500 birds use days, but with the larger flocks of shorebirds going through, the months value could easily be 10,000 birds.

This indicates a minimal value of $100,000.

May 2010

May 1: 147 individual birds counted

May 5: 2213 individual birds counted, which is the minimal number

May 6: 2 birds counted

May 8: 287 individual birds counted, which represents 21 species, thus including all of the species noted on a visit in conjunction with the Sarpy County Spring Bird Count; this survey also denoted some of the breeding season species, resident every day subsequent to their arrival

May 11: 18 individuals counted, representing six species

May 12: 67 individuals counted, representing nine species

May 13: 96 individuals counted, representing five species

May 22: 75 individual counted.

There were 2905 birds counted, which, once again is just a partial presentation of the actual use of the habitat by a variety of birdlife. As there are more species which migrate in May than earlier or later times along the Missouri River valley, there would have been a greater use of the wetlands at this time.

If there were 2200 birds on May 5, there may have been similar numbers on the few days before and after this particular date. If even for five days, this would equate to 11000 birds use days. During mid-month, based on the number on May 8 of 287 birds, this would mean ca. 3000 bird use days.

Add the potential numbers together, starting with 11000, plus 3000 another 15 days with ca. something like 75 or 100 birds per day, this totals about 15,000 bird use days, or about $150,000.

So there is about $275,000 dollars of value to the birds for the wetland habitat at the La Platte Bottoms - based upon one spring - though this valuation is derived from fuzzy math due to a lack of comprehensive bird counts that would better indicate the number of birds on each particular date.

Summer Season

Month of June

There are very few records for this month - mostly from 1998 - though more than 20 species have been noted. On June 9, 2007 two Piping Plover were observed by Justin Rink.

July 2008

The best indication of summer use of the bottom lands east of La Platte, are available from 2008, with notable surveys done on the 8th, 9th, 27th and 29th.

• July 8: 16 species indicated by the NEBirds message 15293 by Clem Klaphake, which accounts for an indicated 213 individual birds; this includes summer residents plus a number of migrants such as American Golden-Plover, Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpiper.
• July 9: 11 species present as indicated by Justin Rink, with a count of 68 individuals, mostly residents as well as some summer transients.
• July 27: 10 species, 80 individual birds; seasonal migrants included the Short-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpiper.
• July 29: 13 species, with 137 individuals noted, once again by the focused observations of Clem Klaphake, indicating an increasing diversity of species, in addition to local residents: Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Sanderling, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin and Short-billed Dowitcher.

There were only about 500 individual birds noted, which is a dismally minimal indication of overall bird use, and derived from only four count dates. A more realistic value would be much more significant, say perhaps something such as 7500 for the month when birds were prevalent.

August Bird-use

Records convey birds present at the bottoms during August in 1993, 1996, 1998, 2008 and a few notations from 2009. Diversity is readily indicated, though the number of each species present was not noted often enough to provide a consistent indication of bird use. Though, considering the overall numbers, the tally is 951 individual birds, for these different years, which in no manner depicts the number of bird-use days for this locality.

On Julian date 215, which conforms to August 2-3, there have been 17 species noted, including many migrant shorebirds, including several species of sandpipers, the Lesser Yellowlegs and Short-billed Dowitcher.

On August 6, in 1996 and 1998, there were at least a dozen species present, including the celebrated Least Tern, and lesser seen Common Moorhen.

On August 21, 1993, there were 13 species noted. On August 22, 1993, there were more than 15 species present. And the month ended with further notations.

The following table is an tally of the species seen during different summer months, with the value given indicating the number denoted, with a 0 (zero) noting a species' presence when no count was made:

CommonName	Jun 1998	Jun 1999	Jul 1986	Jul 1998	Jul 1999	Jul 2008	Aug 1993	Aug 1996	Aug 1998	Aug 2008	Aug 2009
Canada Goose	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Wood Duck	1	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	11	13	-
Gadwall	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Mallard	2	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	1	-	-
Blue-winged Teal	3	-	-	2	-	0	-	12	15	-	-
Northern Shoveler	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Duck	-	-	-	2	-	8	-	-	-	-	-
Northern Bobwhite	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	-	-	-
Pied-billed Grebe	-	-	-	13	-	9	2	-	9	-	-
American White Pelican	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Least Bittern	4	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	4	-	-
Great Blue Heron	3	-	-	9	-	163	1	10	10	35	-
Great Egret	-	-	-	-	-	23	-	-	-	12	-
Snowy Egret	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cattle Egret	-	-	-	3	-	10	-	-	-	-	-
Green Heron	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	1	-	-
Black-crowned Night-Heron	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	-	-
Cooper's Hawk	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
American Kestrel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Common Moorhen	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	16	-	-
American Coot	1	1	-	12	-	53	-	-	11	-	-
Black-bellied Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
American Golden-Plover	-	-	-	-	-	1	13	-	-	-	-
Semipalmated Plover	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	5	-	-	-
Killdeer	12	-	-	63	-	50	41	55	43	90	-
Spotted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	2	-	1	-
Solitary Sandpiper	-	-	-	1	-	5	3	11	1	1	-
Greater Yellowlegs	-	-	-	-	-	1	3	1	0	-	-
Willet	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Lesser Yellowlegs	-	-	-	15	-	15	7	12	1	9	-
Upland Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	7	-	-	-
Sanderling	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Semipalmated Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	1	70	5	-	10	1
Least Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	16	14	10	-	9	3
Baird's Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	8	-	3	-	6	10
Pectoral Sandpiper	6	-	-	-	-	14	138	31	10	14	-
Dunlin	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Stilt Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	-	-	3	-
Buff-breasted Sandpiper	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	4	-
Short-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	-	-	7	-	-	-	1	-
Long-billed Dowitcher	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	-	-
Red-necked Phalarope	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-
Least Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-
Black Tern	-	-	-	3	-	40	1	3	-	-	-
Forster's Tern	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Rock Pigeon	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Common Nighthawk	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	0	-	-
Chimney Swift	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Downy Woodpecker	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Eastern Wood-Pewee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Western Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-
Eastern Kingbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	-	-
Blue Jay	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Purple Martin	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-	0	-	-
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Cliff Swallow	1	-	-	-	-	50	-	-	0	-	-
Barn Swallow	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Black-capped Chickadee	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Marsh Wren	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	1	-	-
American Robin	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Yellow Warbler	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	1	-	-
Chipping Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Song Sparrow	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Blue Grosbeak	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Indigo Bunting	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dickcissel	1	-	-	9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Western Meadowlark	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Yellow-headed Blackbird	10	-	-	13	6	2	3	-	9	-	-
Common Grackle	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
Great-tailed Grackle	2	-	-	-	-	6	-	-	0	-	-
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	60	-	-
Orchard Oriole	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	-	-	-	-
American Goldfinch	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-
House Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	-	-

This is a list of more than 80 species.

With the readily apparent use of the bottoms, based on numerous visits, it only seems appropriate to deem that there could be at least - once again - a minimum of more than 10,000 bird use days during these months during different years when water conditions were suitable for water birds.

There would certainly be more birds present in August along the Missouri River flyway, than in July.

The extent of records by a cadre of observers also indicates conditions were somewhat similar in 2007, and seemingly similar in 2001, 1998, 1994 and 1993.

The apparent valuation for the summer and autumn provides figures to consider of potentially:

• June: 1000 bird use days
• July: 5000 bird use days
• August: 7500, if not 10,000 bird use days

These values can be used to determine a figure of 13,500 for each of the five years indicated, or $67,500 for these summer months.

Autumn Season

September

There are only a couple of significant dates for bird observations during the month of September, in particular on September 4 when six species were noted, and on the 14th of the same month in 1993, with a record for five species.

The availability of only a few records is an artifact based on a dearth of visits, not on the lesser use of the habitats by bird species. More attention to this place during this particular month would undoubtedly indicate a greater extent of use by transitory bird species, when the flats had water creating a suitable situation for foraging and roosting.

There are no October bird records available for this site. Once again this is an artifact of the data, based upon no accounts from visits by birders, not because there were no birds present.

Needless to say, there were more birds present than observers, so there is an obvious necessity to designate some values for the birds. During optimum years - just to use the handy value of 10,000 for at least five during in the past three decades - provides a $50,000 valuation.

Seasonal Valuation

If conditions were optimal throughout one year on the La Platte Bottoms, what would be the economic value to the visiting birds? This is a hypothetical situation which has not yet been documented, but which can be derived from historic accounts.

In considering this, the valuation of 2010 provides the first indicative valuation of $250,000. Then going into summer, add 100 bird use days for each day of June, July and August, which equates to a overall value of about 9000, or $90,000 in economic terms. Then for autumn, at least $125,000 with the increased diversity of species and greater extent of bird use.

The total is $465,000 which could be readily rounded to $0.5 million. If optimum conditions had been prevalent during a entire three decade period, this would be an economic value of $15 million.

And this considers only a relatively short time.

These birdly details have been completely ignored by the roadway developers with a focus on transportation, and ignorant on what changes they are causing to the landscape so essential for generations - now and from the past - of wild birds in the Missouri River valley.

Decades of Ongoing Use

If the value of the habitats for the spring months of 2010 was $275,000, the value of the habitat over a thirty-year period would be dramatically significant. With variable conditions each year - depending on the extent of precipitation and standing water - the extent of bird use would obviously vary.

To summarize and consider further, these are some workable figures:

$275,000 x five years similar to the valuation of 2010

$67,500 for five summer seasons

$50,000 for five autumn season

The total for the five years among three decades is basically $1.5 million.

So five years out of thirty have been considered in the tally. Using a completely arbitrary value of 1000 for each season in the other 25 years of the three decades of bird use, there would be the need to add further numbers.

25 spring seasons, or 25 x 5000+ = 125,000

25 summer seasons, or 25 x 1000+ = 25000

25 autumn seasons, or 25 x 5000+ = 125,000

Based on these figures - derived from an arbitrary determination of economic importance to a whole bunch of individual birds without a voice - the value of the habitat to resident and migratory birds totals at least $1.7 minimum, or to be generous for the birds, at least $2 million, since there has been greater use than indicated by the available records of ornithologic history.

It should also be realized, that some of the species noted at the site include threatened or endanger species, as well as species of conservation concern, which - considering the myriad of funds spent for their conservation - would dramatically alter any designated valuation, and this would further increase the economic significance of the La Platte Bottoms habitat.

Bottoms a Bird Buffet

Visits on May 22, 2010, indicate a distinctive situation of bird use of the La Platte Bottoms, based on four distinct visits throughout the day. After hiking about Fontenelle Forest in the morning, Justin Rink and six other birders including the Padelfords also visited the bottoms to see what was present. During midday, another visit took place which denoted some additional species. Then, later in the day Rink visited the site again, and in the latter evening Clem Klaphake. Both sent their observations to the Nebraska Birds online forum. None of the bird lists matched, readily indicating the transient nature of how different birds use the site at different times of a day, or days among the migratory season.