Great Omaha Parks Bird Count Weekend

A national effort to survey late-winter birds was underway last weekend, so it was deemed appropriate to go outdoors to denote what was about at some Omaha park spaces.

Surveys of one sort or another were done Friday-Sunday, February 17-19, using a variety of transportation. The look-about around Carter Lake was done via bicycle. Hummel and N.P. Dodge parks, along with Memorial and Elmwood parks were done afoot. A drive-by at Miller Park with its many geese, many a similar cruise at Fontenelle Park to ensure that a count of the waterfowl would be distinct. A few more birds would have been seen -- perhaps -- if the effort involved walking.

A special thanks to the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department for providing written permission to visit N.P. Dodge Park, which is still closed to the public due to the flood of 2011.

A big appreciation is given to Jim and Sandy Kovanda for their rainy day outing at Spring Lake Park, which they visited again to appreciate the birdlife at this urban woodland facing dramatic changes. They especially enjoyed seeing a wild fox! They have visited this park many times to observe the birds.

Findings are presented according to park district, as one particular locality does not conform with the observations made. Using this methodology also allows a greater precision in determining where a bird actually occurred, when a database record is evaluated later.

Common Name	Hummel District	Dodge Park District	Carter Lake District	Miller District	Fontenelle District	Memorial District	Elmwood District	Spring Lake District
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	50	-
Cackling Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Canada Goose	-	7	1003	356	317	-	65	-
Gadwall	-	-	32	-	-	-	-	-
American Wigeon	-	-	7	-	-	-	-	-
Mallard	-	-	346	-	-	1	4	-
Northern Shoveler	-	-	218	-	-	-	-	-
Canvasback	-	-	52	-	-	-	-	-
Redhead	-	-	76	-	-	-	-	-
Ring-necked Duck	-	-	82	-	-	-	-	-
Lesser Scaup	-	-	6	-	-	-	-	-
Common Goldeneye	-	1	73	-	-	-	-	-
Hooded Merganser	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Common Merganser	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Duck	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Wild Turkey	-	12	-	-	-	-	-	-
Pied-billed Grebe	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Bald Eagle	-	7	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	-	-	3	-	-	-	1	-
American Kestrel	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
American Coot	-	-	315	-	-	-	-	-
Rock Pigeon	-	-	-	-	6	2	-	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
Barred Owl	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
Belted Kingfisher	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2	2	-	-	-	-	3	-
Downy Woodpecker	3	3	1	-	-	-	5	4
Hairy Woodpecker	1	-	1	-	-	-	-	1
Northern Flicker	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	1
Pileated Woodpecker	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Blue Jay	1	-	-	-	-	-	3	-
American Crow	-	13	-	-	-	-	-	5
Black-capped Chickadee	18	4	2	-	-	9	12	3
Tufted Titmouse	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
White-breasted Nuthatch	7	2	-	-	-	3	8	4
Brown Creeper	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2
Winter Wren	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
American Robin	-	-	-	-	-	32	16	-
European Starling	-	8	14	2	2	-	-	-
Fox Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Dark-eyed Junco	-	-	-	-	11	3	26	4
Northern Cardinal	-	-	-	-	-	1	14	5
American Goldfinch	-	-	2	-	-	-	2	-
House Sparrow	-	-	-	-	-	-	15	5

There were 44 species recorded at these eight localities. It's a small number, but there is significance in the details.

While moving around Elmwood Park, flocks of waterfowl were moving northward. First heard, then seen was the group of Greater White-fronted Goose, then a short time later, a bunch of loud Canada Goose, with a few intermingled Cackling Goose. The call of the latter was readily heard.

A Red-tailed Hawk lurked about, first in a tree and then in the great blue sky. Might a pair nest here again? Hopefully!

Significant Observations

Significant sightings occurred the first day while outdoors bound on a bicycle, with many pedals required to get a comprehensive perspective suitable for an adequate survey. The most obvious importance is due to the occurrence of three small birds.

There were three Pied-billed Grebes seen swimming on the unfrozen water of Carter Lake. Among the records for the national count, there were no others of this species observed in Nebraska or adjacent state. The closest places seen were east-central Kansas and west-central Missouri.

The numbers of Canvasback (with exceptional numbers), Redhead (also with exceptional numbers), Northern Shoveler, Gadwall were also significant for this oxbow lake which is now being transformed into an industrial lake.

It was a chilly time when the Pileated Woodpeckers occurred the following morning. There were some slight calls, given perhaps as a "heads up" which within moments turned into a direct observation of a big, flying woodpecker. Then another one flew in the same direction among the riverine woods. These birds have found a haunt. With a restriction on visitation, they enjoy the setting on the east side of the park, where they were also present in the early months of 2011. Whether they continue to reside is not known, because if the park setting is completely open, the intrusion of many human visitors would not suit these big woodpeckers.

While walking around Hummel Park — trying to ignore the two big dogs running around and not on a leash as required by a city ordinance — the cheer of the chickadee was prevalent. The number was impressive though the count was still something less than the number appreciating the woodland setting.

A surprising sighting was a group of five White-breasted Nuthatch within a few feets distance along Wood Creek at Elmwood Park. A couple would be no surprise, but this many were a "big flock" to appreciate.

The diminutive Brown Creeper, seen at two parks, seemed to be working the tree bark with others of its ilk. At Elmwood Park, they could both be watched in a compact view. Their occurrence was certainly much more pervasive than indicated.

The Fox Sparrow was an unexpected sighting along Wood Creek. Its rufous color and spots were characteristic. Though snow covered lots of the ground, there were places where this species could forage in its ground-scratching manner.

The only record for the Winter Wren in the Omaha area during the long weekend was in the stream-side woods at Memorial Park. Hail to the almighty spirit of the birds for getting a glimpse of this feathered mite, which — based upon previous records — should have been sighted at some of the other park places visited. This park has been the best place to get a glimpse of this seasonal visitor all winter.

Records were gathered for some other non-park places. One significant sighting was an great number of American Crow seen flying above the dead amidst the trees where various birds occur. A Cooper's Hawk found the setting to be completely suitable.

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A few comments about the birds found during this survey initiative were mentioned in Nancy's Almanac for February 23rd, issued by the Omaha World-Herald.