With the expected publication of an opinion piece regarding the formerly long-forgotten Sandy Griswold Bird Sanctuary, another survey outing was taken to the Carter Lake environs.
Several places have been visited on a regular, intermittent basis in the past weeks, mostly by motor vehicle, though the most recent was done via bicycle. The latter method may require more time, but is more relaxing, allows a closer look at the lake and provides an opportunity to better appreciate the nuances of birdlife activity.
Common Name |
May 26 |
June 1 |
Snow Goose |
1 |
1 |
Canada Goose |
18 |
7 |
Wood Duck |
38 |
11 |
|
Mallard |
19 |
40 |
|
Wild Turkey |
2 |
- |
|
Pied-billed Grebe |
1 |
- |
|
Double-crested Cormorant |
- |
1 |
|
Turkey Vulture |
1 |
- |
|
Cooper's Hawk |
1 |
- |
|
Red-tailed Hawk |
2 |
1 |
|
Killdeer |
- |
2 |
|
Spotted Sandpiper |
1 |
- |
|
Mourning Dove |
19 |
15 |
|
Chimney Swift |
69 |
18 |
|
Belted Kingfisher |
1 |
- |
|
Red-headed Woodpecker |
2 |
3 |
|
Downy Woodpecker |
1 |
1 |
|
Northern Flicker |
2 |
4 |
|
Least Flycatcher |
2 |
1 |
|
Eastern Phoebe |
- |
1 |
|
Great Crested Flycatcher |
- |
1 |
|
Western Kingbird |
4 |
6 |
|
Eastern Kingbird |
9 |
10 |
|
Warbling Vireo |
2 |
9 |
|
Red-eyed Vireo |
2 |
- |
|
Blue Jay |
1 |
1 |
|
Purple Martin |
4 |
8 |
|
Tree Swallow |
5 |
- |
|
Bank Swallow |
5 |
- |
|
Barn Swallow |
46 |
39 |
|
Black-capped Chickadee |
2 |
2 |
|
White-breasted Nuthatch |
2 |
- |
|
House Wren |
6 |
11 |
|
American Robin |
45 |
52 |
|
Gray Catbird |
2 |
1 |
|
Brown Thrasher |
- |
1 |
|
European Starling |
53 |
54 |
|
Yellow Warbler |
5 |
8 |
|
Common Yellowthroat |
2 |
4 |
|
Chipping Sparrow |
7 |
4 |
|
Clay-colored Sparrow |
1 |
- |
|
Northern Cardinal |
3 |
1 |
|
Red-winged Blackbird |
11 |
15 |
|
Eastern Meadowlark |
- |
1 |
|
Common Grackle |
59 |
167 |
|
Brown-headed Cowbird |
3 |
9 |
|
Baltimore Oriole |
9 |
14 |
|
American Goldfinch |
4 |
6 |
|
House Sparrow |
14 |
2 |
While doing the numerous surveys, there are several distinct locales about the lake which are the sites for which observations are designated. They include:
- Nebraska
- » Browne Street Woods: only recently identified and visited
- » Carter Lake: the surface of the water and its airspace
- » Levi Carter Park: the City of Omaha Park on the "outer" edge of the cutoff lake
- » Levi Carter Pond: a pond area in the northwest section of the park
- » Kiwanis Park: at the south end of the east portion of the lake
- » Northwest Grove, Levi Carter Park: a wooded area with a water channel and pond in the extreme northwest corner of the park and a place only recently tallied
- Iowa
- » Iowa West Ranch: a densely wooded area, where the species noted are those heard or seen from across the lake
- » Mabrey Park: this City of Carter Lake park was only visited once, on the 26th, before attending the bid meeting for the pending work to occur on the Nebraska side of the lake
During each outing, each bird noted is recorded, in order to get an indication of the species diversity and their extent.
There were 49 species noted in a combined tally for both dates, with 43 for May 26 and 38 for June 1st.
Each of these birds appreciate the bits of sanctuary at the Carter Lake. There is not much "wild habitat" in the primary survey area, so each species take advantage of the little havens which they find suitable.
Obviously the Common Grackle, American Robin and European Starling do well. With so little emergent, wetland vegetation there are so very few Common Yellowthroats. Marsh Wrens are sorely missed, as well as terns.
With the high water conditions along the Missouri River, the pumps at the park have been working nonstop for at least two weeks to lower the pool level of the lake. The preferred pool level is 970.3, and whenever it exceeds this level, pumps on the north bank are turned on. These pumps had been running for two weeks, prior to May 26th. The unwanted water in the lake is being added to the flood flows in the nearby river. It could be a symbolic gesture to reduce the water being forced into the flooding, and swollen Missouri River channel.
With the lake pool still above its preferred tolerance of tenths of inches, whether there is any place for a resident pair of Spotted Sandpipers is not known.
The errant Snow Goose - easily seen at the beach area - can't fly and has been walking around the park's industrial lawn for weeks, in company with the local Canada geese. It can still swim to escape any predators.
At least there a few "tangly copses" - to steal a couple of words which Griswold could use in a much more prosaic manner - which are still appropriate for the catbird and thrasher.
This modern-era bird list is dramatically different from what the Omaha Nature Study Club would have seen during their surveys in the latter 1920s. They counted only waterbirds because of their prevalence and significance.
Only two waterbirds were especially notable on these two particular days. A migrant Pied-billed Grebe (enjoying a respite, heartily preening on a tree snag just inches above the water surface of the pond early in the morning) and the sole Double-crested Cormorant seen flying over the lake on its way to find a better place.
Historically, either of them could have been summer residents.
Sandy Griswold expressed so many fine words about birds. Being able to visit a place so closely tied to his legacy on the particular, fine morning when a new recognition of his bird sanctuary was brought to the public, was a poignant, and special time.
This report is somewhat slight in comparison to the prose which Griswold wrote, time and again. It would take a vastly skilled writer to mimic or maybe try to replicate his distinct style. Rather than be foolish in making such an attempt, this report of birds at his sanctuary will have to suffice.
Perhaps these basic words may help bring a broader recognition to the unmatched reporting - even now, several decades later - by the never to be surpassed Sandy Griswold, of Nebraska.