Records were kept for a number of days during the month. Many of these indicate instances are the result of seeing a particular species, so there was a greater interest in avian activities so notes were kept on paper with a sharp-point pencil. Anything less would simply not be acceptable to my long-term manner of observing wild birds in many different habitats, from urban to rural places.
This is the list of species noted during February on a particular date, as indicated atop nearly every column, as a julian date. During the first days of the month, it was quite nice to be outside as one or another Great Horned Owl was heard in the night as it was conveying its claim on land north of the Valentine Mill Pond. Undoubtedly, others of this species were also expressing the same intent elsewhere.
There were other distinctive notes for the month. Each date when wildbirds can be distinctively seen is a day to appreciate. The Canada Goose have certainly been active with their calls resounding at the Mill Pond.
As there were warmer days, larger numbers of Canada Goose and American Robin arrived during the season.
With a lesser sound, yet vivid sound at many place, male Red-winged Blackbirds were present at the same habitat. These blackbirds perch atop a bit of marsh vegetation with their claim as will occur during the pending bird breeding season.
Above the hills north of the Heart City, a single Red-tailed Hawk is soaring above the pines. This singular bird is a resident, and with his mate will build a nest among the habitat. It was a sublime time when the pair was soaring in their - perhaps - once again mate flight as they flew closely together, grasping in a manner centuries old, to establish a nest place where some youngsters would be raised to another generation.
A nice addition to the months' tally included the Townsend's Solitaire with its typical place being a treetop perch. Early season Red-winged Blackbird arrived at the marsh of the Valentine Mill Pond. The local horned owls were noably heard singing to one another during dark hours. The local Red-breasted Nuthatch were also notably heard.
Each of these observations were singularly vivid, as a behavior and featheration indicated the details to, perhaps, once again a particular wildbird, whether in some sort of a wild space or at an urban bird feeder.
| Species Proper Name | Julian Date 34 | 36 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 50 | 51 | 57 | 58 |
| Canada Goose | 22 | - - | - - | 350 | 150 | 185 | - - | - - | 150 |
| Cackling Goose | - - | - - | - - | 1 | - - | 4 | - - | - - | - - |
| Mallard | 2 | - - | - - | - - | 2 | - - | - - | - - | 2 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | 1 | - - | - - | 1 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | - - | - - | - - | - - | 1 | 2 | - - | - - | - - |
| Rock Dove | - - | - - | - - | 15 | - - | 10 | - - | 12 | - - |
| Eurasian Collared Dove | - - | - - | - - | 16 | - - | 10 | - - | - - | 5 |
| Great Horned Owl | - - | 2 | - - | - - | 2 | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | - - | - - | 1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Downy Woodpecker | 1 | - - | 1 | 1 | - - | 1 | - - | - - | - - |
| Hairy Woodpecker | - - | - - | 1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | 1 |
| Northern Flicker | 1 | - - | - - | 1 | - - | 1 | - - | 1 | - - |
| Prairie Falcon | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | 1 | - - |
| Blue Jay | - - | - - | 2 | - - | - - | - - | 1 | 1 | - - |
| American Crow | - - | 2 | 1 | - - | 2 | 3 | - - | 2 | - - |
| Cedar Waxwing | - - | - - | - - | 12 | 15 | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 3 | - - | 4 | 2 | - - | 2 | 3 | - - | 2 |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | - - | - - | - - | - - | 1 | 2 | - - | 1 | 1 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 5 | - - | 4 | 2 | - - | 4 | - - | - - | 4 |
| Common Starling | - - | - - | - - | 18 | - - | - - | 4 | 5 | - - |
| Eastern Bluebird | - - | 1 | - - | - - | 2 | 2 | - - | - - | - - |
| Townsend's Solitaire | - - | - - | - - | 1 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| American Robin | 10 | 15 | - - | 35 | - - | 15 | 85 | - - | 145 |
| House Sparrow | 25 | - - | 25 | 25 | - - | 24 | - - | - - | 35 |
| House Finch | 2 | - - | 2 | - - | 6 | 3 | 10 | - - | 18 |
| American Goldfinch | 12 | - - | 2 | - - | 8 | - - | - - | - - | 4 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | 1 | 3 | - - | 3 |
| Dark-eyed Junco | - - | - - | 3 | - - | 6 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 6 |
| American Tree Sparrow | 4 | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - | - - |
| Northern Cardinal | - - | 1 | - - | 1 | - - | 1 | 1 | - - | - - |
During this month in 2016, there were 24 species observed. The overall tally is 32 species for this month in 2016 and 2017.
The days of February were times of expectation and hope for warmer times. There were extents of cold when there was nothing but endurance to rely on. All of outside nature seemed to have a similar sentiment as cold and snow were prevalent. Even a bit of wildbird song — including the early song of a Northern Cardinal — was an appreciated indication of pending days of warmth, when there would be many birds heard amidst the creek valley, and the streets and trees of the heart city streetscape.
Among this northern Nebraska scene, these wildbirds during this month survived, day-to-day in the manner they know, as seen in so many ways and such few means. Each time was experienced and appreciated!
There are 123 different species that have been noted during the most recent months in the immediate vicinity of Valentine, Nebraska.