Autumnal migration is currently underway on the plains, and a unique combination of bird watching outings reveal the variety of species which are present now in mid-September. A tally indicates the variety which can be expected.
Bird Watching
Several sources indicate the following 95 species were present along the Missouri River in the Omaha vicinity and at Indian Cave State Park at the following locales:
- Carter Lake (19 species): a morning visit on September 15th.
- Fontenelle Forest (52 species): visits were made on September 14th and 16th by Justin Rink, and on the 17th, he led the field trip for the Audubon Society of Omaha, where there was a drastically notable dearth of forest birds. After that hike about the north uplands, a brief visit was made to the entrance of Gifford Farm, on the river floodplain.
- Harlan Lewis Flats (16 species): visited on the chilly and drizzly Saturday after the Fontenelle Forest foray. This wetland - which in a typical year is corn fields - occurs southward from Missouri River Road to the bridge over the Big Papillion Creek, and is a result of the high water levels during the 103 days of the Missouri River Flood of 2011. There is a barricade on the bridge blocking the road, preventing any further access, so the La Platte Bottoms could not be visited.
- Indian Cave State Park (66 species): a birding day for the southeast district of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission was held on the 15th, with a list of species graciously provided by the agency.
The number of waterfowl varied with a greater number of Mallards at Carter Lake, where they are a common breeding species. The same applies to the Canada Goose. Notable at the north Omaha lake were the 33 Pied-billed Grebe and American Coots.
More dabbling ducks were at the Harlan Lewis Flats, an area along the road of the same name, and southward from Missouri River Road to the bridge over the Big Papillion Creek. Blue-winged Teal were prominent in their drab, eclipse plumage.
A big surprise was the number of Killdeer at the still flooding Gifford Farm. The road was passable to the entrance of the farm. A but further, water was still running across the road and the ground was a barren mudflat. These shorebirds were obvious and it was hoped there might be a greater variety, but only the Spotted Sandpiper was also present.
Noting a Sandhill Crane in southeast Nebraska at this time of the season, is notable.
The Belted Kingfisher was the only species noted for all four localities.
In comparing Fontenelle Forest and Indian Cave State Park, there were 85 species recorded. The Sarpy county forest was notable for its dearth of raptors. More flycatcher species were present at the southern forest, perhaps due to somewhat better weather conditions. It has been notably chilly and damp in the region, likely moving birds further southward.
A fine variety of a dozen warblers are represented from both places.
The Yellow-headed Blackbirds were an enjoyable sight, and it was surprising to see the flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds, which are not often seen in large groups. Of a known 1400 records, only 32 denoted more than 30 birds at a particular time and place. Although only a common of Common Grackles were noted, this is more a result of not being at a place where they are still present in the area.
Moderation in the weather will certainly improve bird watching conditions in the coming days. It will be that sublime seasonal weather to get out and about to denote the grand variety of migrants passing southward this year in the Missouri River valley.
Species List
The number given, is a total of the number of each species recorded - if noted - for the site during the period considered.
Common Name |
Carter Lake District |
Fontenelle District |
Indian Cave District |
La Platte District |
Canada Goose |
272 |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
Wood Duck |
40 |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Gadwall |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
|
Mallard |
386 |
-- |
-- |
26 |
|
Blue-winged Teal |
35 |
-- |
0 |
235 |
|
Wild Turkey |
-- |
14 |
0 |
-- |
|
Pied-billed Grebe |
33 |
-- |
0 |
6 |
|
American White Pelican |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Double-crested Cormorant |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Great Blue Heron |
-- |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Turkey Vulture |
-- |
4 |
0 |
-- |
|
Osprey |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Bald Eagle |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Sharp-shinned Hawk |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Cooper’s Hawk |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Broad-winged Hawk |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Red-tailed Hawk |
-- |
0 |
-- |
-- |
|
American Kestrel |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Peregrine Falcon |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
American Coot |
36 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Sandhill Crane |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Killdeer |
-- |
130 |
-- |
8 |
|
Spotted Sandpiper |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Pectoral Sandpiper |
-- |
-- |
-- |
30 |
|
Franklin's Gull |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
|
Ring-billed Gull |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
|
Mourning Dove |
-- |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
Yellow-billed Cuckoo |
-- |
4 |
0 |
-- |
|
Great Horned Owl |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Barred Owl |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Chimney Swift |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
-- |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
Belted Kingfisher |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Red-headed Woodpecker |
-- |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
Red-bellied Woodpecker |
-- |
3 |
0 |
-- |
|
Downy Woodpecker |
1 |
4 |
0 |
-- |
|
Hairy Woodpecker |
-- |
0 |
0 |
-- |
|
Northern Flicker |
6 |
3 |
0 |
-- |
|
Pileated Woodpecker |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Eastern Wood-Pewee |
-- |
15 |
0 |
-- |
|
Least Flycatcher |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Eastern Phoebe |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Great Crested Flycatcher |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Eastern Kingbird |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Yellow-throated Vireo |
-- |
5 |
0 |
-- |
|
Blue-headed Vireo |
-- |
3 |
0 |
-- |
|
Warbling Vireo |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Red-eyed Vireo |
-- |
9 |
0 |
-- |
|
Blue Jay |
5 |
3 |
0 |
-- |
|
American Crow |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Tree Swallow |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Northern Rough-winged Swallow |
-- |
1 |
-- |
100 |
|
Barn Swallow |
2 |
-- |
0 |
100 |
|
Black-capped Chickadee |
3 |
8 |
0 |
-- |
|
Tufted Titmouse |
-- |
2 |
0 |
-- |
|
White-breasted Nuthatch |
-- |
6 |
0 |
-- |
|
Brown Creeper |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
House Wren |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
-- |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Eastern Bluebird |
-- |
0 |
0 |
-- |
|
Swainson's Thrush |
-- |
2 |
-- |
-- |
|
Wood Thrush |
-- |
5 |
-- |
-- |
|
American Robin |
20 |
2 |
0 |
-- |
|
Gray Catbird |
2 |
2 |
0 |
-- |
|
Brown Thrasher |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
European Starling |
72 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
|
Cedar Waxwing |
-- |
2 |
0 |
-- |
|
Tennessee Warbler |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Nashville Warbler |
-- |
28 |
0 |
-- |
|
Northern Parula |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Black-throated Green Warbler |
-- |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
Bay-breasted Warbler |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Black-and-white Warbler |
-- |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
American Redstart |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Ovenbird |
-- |
2 |
-- |
-- |
|
Northern Waterthrush |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Mourning Warbler |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Common Yellowthroat |
-- |
3 |
-- |
-- |
|
Wilson’s Warbler |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Summer Tanager |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Scarlet Tanager |
-- |
2 |
-- |
-- |
|
Eastern Towhee |
-- |
1 |
0 |
-- |
|
Chipping Sparrow |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
White-throated Sparrow |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- |
|
Northern Cardinal |
-- |
2 |
0 |
-- |
|
Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
-- |
11 |
0 |
-- |
|
Indigo Bunting |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
|
Red-winged Blackbird |
-- |
-- |
-- |
100 |
|
Yellow-headed Blackbird |
-- |
-- |
-- |
6 |
Common Grackle |
2 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Brown-headed Cowbird |
-- |
-- |
0 |
30 |
|
Baltimore Oriole |
-- |
-- |
0 |
-- |
American Goldfinch |
6 |
0 |
0 |
-- |
House Sparrow |
2 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
This is but a sample of the many birds which can be enjoyed during the autumn migration in the special wild spaces and urban places of the region.