What is typically corn fields south of Bellevue was flooded in late summer and early autumn of 2011, the year of the great Missouri River flood. Standing water were wetlands utilized by various species of birds as the conditions were suitable for them to reside and feed.
It wasn't until mid-September that any bird use features were determined for the flat land along the east and west sides of Harlan Lewis Drive. This area is on the north side of the Big Papillion Creek. On the south side of the creek are the well-known La Platte Bottoms, a locale which has not been accessible for months due government-enforced road closures.
When the aberrant wetlands were first noted, there was an extensive amount of standing water being used by different sorts of fowl. It was early in the autumnal migration season. Blue-winged Teal were the most prevalent this day, along with numbers of swallows and a few other unusual species such as the Yellow-headed Blackbird.
There were just a few subsequent visits reported for this place. Overall there were 27 species denoted as indicated by a summary of available records contributed by a two or three area bird-watchers and as determined from personal visits. Other observers are known to have also visited the locale, but their observations were not reported.
Common Name |
9/17/2011 |
9/28/2011 |
10/1/2011 |
10/5/2011 |
Wood Duck |
- - |
- - |
- - |
8 |
|
Gadwall |
2 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|
Mallard |
26 |
- - |
- - |
2 |
|
Blue-winged Teal |
235 |
- - |
- - |
7 |
|
Northern Shoveler |
- - |
- - |
50 |
8 |
|
Northern Pintail |
- - |
- - |
3 |
- - |
|
Pied-billed Grebe |
6 |
- - |
3 |
- - |
|
Great Blue Heron |
5 |
1 |
- - |
- - |
|
Osprey |
- - |
- - |
- - |
2 |
|
American Golden-Plover |
- - |
45 |
- - |
- - |
|
Killdeer |
8 |
- - |
65 |
55 |
|
Lesser Yellowlegs |
- - |
10 |
2 |
- - |
|
Pectoral Sandpiper |
30 |
11 |
3 |
- - |
|
Stilt Sandpiper |
- - |
2 |
2 |
- - |
|
Long-billed Dowitcher |
- - |
15 |
- - |
- - |
|
Franklin's Gull |
1 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|
Ring-billed Gull |
1 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|
Belted Kingfisher |
1 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|
Northern Rough-winged Swallow |
100 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
|
Barn Swallow |
100 |
400 |
200 |
40 |
|
Marsh Wren |
- - |
- - |
1 |
- - |
|
American Robin |
- - |
- - |
- - |
35 |
|
European Starling |
- - |
- - |
- - |
350 |
|
Red-winged Blackbird |
100 |
- - |
- - |
20 |
|
Yellow-headed Blackbird |
6 |
- - |
2 |
- - |
Common Grackle |
- - |
- - |
- - |
100 |
Brown-headed Cowbird |
30 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
These records indicate the avian use of ephemeral habitat resulting from flood conditions at lowlands along the Missouri River in eastern Nebraska.
On the last visit noted, a rapidly shrinking extent of standing water remained. There was a large extent of barren and dry ground. The influence of the flood waters was rapidly diminishing. Killdeer were still abundant. Few waterfowl were about and their numbers was dramatically exceeded by the swarming starlings and grackles.
The highlight of an evening visit was two Osprey. One carried a fish as it looked for a handy spot to eat an evening's meal. A second Osprey was still looking for a fish of some sort stranded among the few bits of remaining water.
There will be plenty of frogs left without any water in the pending days as the unsually dry and warm weather conditions continue.
There is little if any information to report on how flood waters created conditions suitable elsewhere which may have been used by migratory birds. The impact of the great flood has been a tragedy for many people along the river, yet it should also be noted that other results of the situation can also be considered. The riverine flows unsurpassed in the past few years have provided a variety of habitat in many places for Missouri River birdlife, perhaps representing the situation once prevalent when the river was not channelized.