Questions Persist on Use of Bird-Friendly Construction at Midtown Crossing

By James Ed. Ducey

Construction of Midtown Crossing at Turner Park was initiated in the latter part of September. Mutual of Omaha is building the $300 million mixed-use development, according to website details. Within seven new buildings, there will be 600 apartments, with dining, retail, and other business venues. Parking will be provided for more than 3,000 vehicles. The site is 17 acres, east of Mutual's headquarters, and adjacent to the City of Omaha's Turner Park, and westward from Turner Boulevard along Farnam Street.

The redevelopment process will be involved with the Neighborhood Development Certification through the LEED program, according to comments by Keith Bawolek of ECI Investment Advisors, Inc., in the newspaper. This program of the U.S. Green Building Council promotes several goals, including protection and enhancement of the natural environment.

The participation leads to a certificate in the program, with Midtown Crossing among the first involved in the pilot program.

Bird-friendly measures are not specifically represented in the LEED, neighborhood certification options.

Depiction of the buildings and setting at Midtown Crossing.(Pictures of model and depictions by J.E. Ducey; from material displayed at Mutual of Omaha business headquarters during a public meeting).

Information on how bird-friendly methods of construction will be included at Midtown Crossing is not available. A representative of the company said such measures would be part of Midtown Crossing, when asked about the topic at an October 2nd meeting at company headquarters at 33rd and Dodge streets. He was familiar with the October 2006 comments provided in an email to City of Omaha officials, when the project was announced. He would not provide an email or name to contact for details.

Efforts to get specifics on how bird-friendly measures would be part of building construction, via contact with a representative from Mutual of Omaha using the project website contact, and ECI Investment Advisors, Inc., the developer, using a contact provided on the company website, were not successful. There has been no reply to any sent emails.

The Missouri River valley is a recognized migration corridor for migratory birds. Hawk counts are done daily in autumn, from a hilltop a relatively few miles north of the Omaha/Council Bluffs metro. More than 300 species are known to occur in suitable habitats along the river and its bluffs.

An evaluation of renderings of the planned buildings in October 2006, indicated several items of concern, including:

* Extensive glass exteriors for multiple buildings, mingled with trees of a park and local landscaping, create multiple collision hazards for many species of migratory birds.

* Increased density of multi-story structures to cause a greater extent of a barrier extruding above the hillside treetops along Dodge Street from 30th to 34th streets. The new building complex, or "wall" in the airspace used by migrating wildbirds. Additional area buildings already block certain portions of the sky-scape along Farnam and Dodge streets. This "wall effect" will dramatically increase with the Midtown structures.

* Enclaves or rows of trees which attract birds, but are surrounded on multiple sides by building walls, many shown with a glass exterior. Birds could get "trapped" within a maze of reflective glass or bright towers, and hit a glass wall in an attempt to continue moving along.

Rendition of a scene at the under construction Midtown Crossing.

* Building lights attract birds migrating through areas at night, causing confusion and bird collisions with glass walls. The seven buildings are depicted with extensive areas of glass within the flight levels of common nocturnal migrants through central Omaha.

* Building 7 will nearly block the even-now limited green-space connection between Turner Park and Dewey Park, southward along Turner Boulevard southward. A green belt continues to Leavenworth Street, the city park and further. Boulevard trees are an useful resource for many reasons, and the linear connection should be protected.

* No plans for the proposed landscaping plan for Turner Park are now available, the expected scene to be that represented in project drawings, according to a representative of the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department. How will new plantings in this section of the provide an optimal, inviting setting for flying birds among the buildings.

* The east part of the circular drive overtakes the northwest quarter of the park, with more than 30 trees being removed to make way for construction. Removal of at least two cavity trees, conifers, and other mature trees will fragment the tree cover valuable to arboreal migrants.

A national expert on bird collisions with various types of structures - a professor of Ornithology and Conservation Biology at an eastern college - was asked to review the project plans, in regards to birds colliding with buildings:

"Birds are vulnerable wherever birds and glass mutually occur, but various factors (lighting, vegetation, water) can explain why some sites are more vulnerable than others because they attract more birds to strike sites. The pictures you share suggest these buildings will pose a collision problem for migrating birds passing through this area..."

Numerous bird-friendly options are available for architects, with threats discussed and guidelines to provide a bird friendly building scene, have been issued at Toronto and New York City, and are available on the web.

Birder Report Leads to Further Consultation for Wetland Project

By James Ed. Ducey

A birder's report of Piping Plover present at a pending wetland project site led to further consultation among wildlife agencies and an improved project design.

The project was being developed by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in cooperation with the owner of Duck Lake, near Brownlee, in Cherry County. The project was being managed by the Thedford office of the NRCS.

Two Piping Plover - a federally listed threatened species - were noted May 8, 2006 at the approximately 35 acre Duck Lake during a standard bird survey. There had been several similar surveys in previous years at lakes and wetlands of the ranch.

During the May visit, the level of water in the lakebed had been reduced due to lower the level of the water, to make it easier to treat the lake and kill the carp; an objective of the project. There was an ample expanse of bare sand beach. The plovers were readily seen, and one was acting broody, according to an email the bird watcher sent to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The landowner was first notified of the birds seen, including the Piping Plover, including a mention of its status as a threatened species. After a bit more discussion, the woman rancher said they were interested in wildlife, but would have to rethink any further visits because of the presence of the belted plovers.

Piping Plover are typically just a rare migrant through the Sand Hills region. The first instance of breeding was in 1902 at Clear Lake on the present Valentine NWR, a relatively short distance north of Duck Lake. In 1994, there was nesting at Bean Lake, west of Crescent Lake NWR in the southwest sandhills. The species nested at Goose Lake, Crescent Lake NWR in 2007. Piping Plover do regularly breed on sandbars of the lower Niobrara River, and beaches of Lake McConaughy on the Platte River to the south.

In a subsequent phone conversation the birder's permission to visit the ranch property and its habitats was revoked.

Interest in the Piping Plover meant an email was sent to the district office of the NRCS, coveying the presence of the birds.

According to environmental laws, private lands projects which use federal money must consider any potential impacts on endangered or threatened species.

Personnel from the NRCS Thedford office visited the lake and confirmed the presence of the plover. An offer by the birder to accompany the federal officials was declined.

Efforts of the birder to get project details - in order to be informed on project measures - from this office of the NRCS were not successful. Privacy concerns was the given reason.

Another email was then sent in mid-May to officials of the Fish and Wildlife Service in Nebraska, notifying them of the presence of the Piping Plover.

A consultation regarding Duck Lake then eventually occurred among state and federal agencies.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) met with NRCS at the proposed Duck Lake Wetland Reserve Program project site to become familiar with the project design and to begin the section 7 consultation process pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, according to Robert Harms, biologist in the Grand Island ecological services office of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Following familiarization with the project, the FWS and NGPC identified potential concerns for the federally endangered Whooping Crane (observed at Duck Lake and surrounding meadows), endangered American burying beetle (observed in the area), threatened Piping Plover (since a pair had been observed), threatened western prairie fringed orchid (observed in the area), and endangered Topeka shiner (present in nearby Brushy Creek)," Harms said. "There were also concerns for impacts to state listed threatened dace species: the north redbelly dace and finescale dace.

"Concerns centered around loss of adjacent wet meadows (used by several of the above species) due to the construction of an extensive dam to support what appeared to be the ability to raise the lake level a substantial amount and modifications to the Pass Creek drainage," Harms explained in an email.

Both agencies then worked with NRCS on modifications to the project, which included at least one meeting and written negotiations to resolve concerns, Harms said.

The result: "The NRCS agreed to reduce the total length of the dam so that over flow from the North Loup River could continue to enter Duck Lake when there is ice jam flooding in the spring--we thought that was important to maintaining meadow hydrology. Another modification was agreed to that addressed the drainage system involving Pass Creek. NRCS agreed to construct the structure so that it could never be completely shut-off thereby dewatering the drainage and having a potential impact to listed fish species. NRCS agreed to do surveys for the Topeka shiner and dace prior to treatment of Duck Lake with rotenone. Surveys were also were required to be done in the time frame of the whooping crane migration to ensure that birds were not present at Duck Lake. Should birds be present, all construction work would cease. By the time the construction would be done, plovers had already migrated south - thus, no survey work was determined to be necessary.

"NRCS agreed to do all of the above items during the course of project construction and the FWS concurred that the proposed project would not have an adverse affect on listed species," Harms wrote.

He visited Duck Lake to make an inspection once the project was complete in the latter part of the summer, accompanied by an NRCS biologist. The project measures had been implemented as the three agencies had agreed upon.

The email sent by the bird watcher is cited as the reason for further consultation on the project.

"The number one catalyst for our section 7 consultation was the email report about plovers at Duck Lake and potential project affects that could occur due to the NRCS-funded WRP project," Harms said. "We would never have known about this issue otherwise."

"An additional side benefit of the Duck Lake project was a re-evaluation by NRCS on the way they involve members of the B teams," Harms added. "B teams consist of a group of NRCS, FWS, and NGPC biologists who visit WRP projects to evaluate and make restoration recommendations. I think there will be much better involvement by NRCS of agency biologists in the future."

---

To get background information on the Duck Lake Project, the state office of the NRCS was visited on October 12th. The office required that a Freedom of Information Act request be filed. A signed request was provided, asking what the specific project objectives were, how many dollars were provided, and when the project was completed. The agency representative said it had 20 days to provide a response to the inquiry.

The following information provided by the NRCS - in response to a followup email - was received on November 2nd:

"The Duck Lake project was in response to a landowner application request in the Wetlands Reserve Program to enhance the wetland area. The purpose of the project fits within the WRP objectives which are to in increase the quality of the wetlands, water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.

"The project was completed in December 2006.

"The project was completed as designed. During the planning stages there was an 'informal consultation' with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NRCS included their recommendations in the design and the project is complete.

This was a 10 year agreement restoration cost-share agreement. Its purpose is to re-establish degraded or lost wetland habitat. USDA pays up to 75 percent of the cost of the restoration activity. NRCS obligated $41,942 for this project. This enrollment option does not place an easement on the property. Property rights remain with the landowner."

Ancient Chronicles Reveal the First Records of Wildbirds in North America

© 2007 James Ed. Ducey

Within some of the first Chinese written a few millenia in the past, there are accounts of the first records for birds in North America. The details are intriguing to convey a history.

The "Shan Hai King," or "Classic of Mountains and Seas" was compiled in 2250 B.C. by Yu, a minister public works for Emperor Shun (Mertz 1972). Chinese scholars currently suggest the accounts were prepared by different people over a period of time from ca. 500 B.C. to 200 B.C. and into the new millenium.

There were originally 32 books - with 18 still extant - with the eye-witness account of travels to beyond the Great Eastern Sea, with information some of the world's oldest geography.

Studied from modern interpretations, the fourth book narrative starts at two prominent peaks in what would eventually be known as North America ... "Suh-Chu Mountain" and "Kan-Mei Mountain." The locality correlates to the Big Horn Range, and Sweetwater River, near Casper, Wyoming (Mertz 1972: 114).

Li after li (a measure of distance), the Chinese men sent by Yu traversed the rocky, mountain region. At Keuch-wang Mountain: "Birds are also found there which look like domestic fowls, but which have hair like a rat. These are called Tsz' rats. When they are seen, the country is subject to great drought."

The suggestion is the winged birds were bats (Mertz 1972). The modern locality corresponded to Long's Peak, Colorado.

The second section of the Shan Hai King starts in the northern plains of Lake Winnipegosis in west-central Manitoba. When 600 li (=200 miles) to the south, there was Ts'ao-chi Mountain. "There are many birds and wild animals." The locale correlates with the Moose Mountain Provincial Park, in southeast Saskatchewan, the author wrote.

Southward a relatively short distance, ancient carvings on a boulder, could, based on anthropomorphic evidence, be attributable to the Chinese travelers. A winged effigy similar to the thunderbird is depicted.

The stone with an effigy is now presented at the Writing Rock state park in northern North Dakota.

Many days further south, the narrative describes a treeless area with much sand.

"The Sand River is found here, a stream flowing southerly into the Ch'an River. In this there are many Li pelicans; these look like ducks, but have men's legs. They derive their name from their cry. When these are seen, the country will see great literary achievements."

Potential species include a crane, heron or egret, it being something with long, bare legs. The editor mentions the Whooping Crane. The locale is attributed to the area of the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado.

After moving along a distance, into central Mexico, notes for "Hu Marsh" say there were "birds which look like ducks, but they have rat's tails, and can climb trees. They are called Chie-Keu. When these are seen, the country will have much sickness."

These would be unidentified birds.

Based on the distance and area features, a locality near Triangulo Peak, northeast of Mazatlan was designated.

The fourth section of the book starts at the "North Sea" near "Hao Mountain."

"There are birds here which look like domestic fowls, but have white heads, rat's legs, and tiger claws. They are called Kewi birds, and they eat men."

These rescribed words established the presence of the Bald Eagle at the Strait of Juan de Fuca, near the dominating Mount Rainier.

The species would be the first readily identifiable from a historic narrative for North America.

At a later time on the route, at "Yu-Ju Marsh," there were some waterbirds.

"In this there are many Hwah fish. These look like fish, but have bird's wings. They go out and in. They are bright. Their voices sound like those of the Yuen-Yang. When these are seen, then heaven sends down a great drought."

The locality is designated as Mahogany Peak, Nevada, and refers to the region as being extensively used by waterfowl as a feeding ground, mentioning ducks and waterfowl in particular (Mertz 1972).

Additional species might be considered, including the cormorant.

In the ninth book, the narrative for regions beyond the sea is given in a generally more vague manner. This and the ninth book are suggested as being located about the Grand Canyon - noted as the "Great Canyon" - and elsewhere, maybe within a hundred li, in southern Arizona.

In Black-hip Country, a section states: "They eat gulls. They use two birds, carrying them in their arms." A paragraph for this place, in the 14th book, mentions they "have numerous varieties of birds."

The explorers continued onward to the "Hairy People's Country." Other local tribes were visited, including the "K'eu-wang" of one in the Eastern Regions. A man "has a bird's body, a human face and he rides upon two dragons."

It certainly described a prominent shaman.

The 14th book, a classic refers an expanse called the "Great Eastern Waste" of the same geographic region.

At Ta-o Mountain (Mountain of the Great Ridge): "They eat millet and wild beasts, and have numerous varieties of birds." The same comment was given for a place called the "White People's Country" where they "have numerous varieties of birds, ..."

A legend of birds notes that at the country of the "Kw'un People" are those who "eat birds. Some say that King Hai held a bird in his two hands, and when he had eaten its head, Kaing Hai sent it to Yiu-i ... because he ate the wild beasts, he was called a Yao man."

Bird use of a particular habitat was noted for the "Great Waste." On a "mountain called Yeh-Yao-Kiun-Ti" was a plant called the "Fu-tree" that grew above the "Warm Springs Valley." The narrative said: "They all contain a bird." Other notes mention: "They have birds variegated with all colors. Ti-tsun condescended to be their friend. Ti descended two high terraces (for worship) which were ruled by the variegated birds."

Sahuaro cactus was the reknowned Fu-tree, that contained birds, referring to woodpecker which would excavate cavities, and then the subsequent Elf Owl, Mertz annotates in his book. The Warm Springs Valley was correlated to Castle Hot Springs, north of Phoenix, Arizona.

"Variegated" birds were also noted for Tai Mountain, another locale in the Great Waste.

The ancient setting would certainly have an abundant variety of colorful birds, including parrots notably, and a plethora of other songbirds. There was probably the call of the native Quail.

Story of Fu-Sang

Buddists monks from Kabul left for the far country east of China. The chronicle presents details of explorations between A.D. 458-499, when the party returned to China. The land they had seen was called Fu-Sang, stretching from southern California to Guatemala.

The Buddist "Pik'iu" from "K-pin" brought along religious books and images to present during their missionary work. The consideration of their script provides a thorough analysis of details, discussing effigies, lore, language and even comparing similarities in words and the calendar (Mertz 1972). There are archeological findings which add details to placing the route of the priests.

The few notes start with a most interesting tale.

"At a great distance to the west of the Kingdom of Women, is a fountain that has the taste of wine. In this region, there is also found a Sea of Varnish of which the waves dye black the feathers and furs that are dipped in them, and not too far, another sea the color of milk. The territory surrounded by these natural marvels is of great extent and extremely fertile. Dogs, ducks, and horses of great height live in it, and finally, birds, which produce human beings. The males born of these birds do not live. The daughters only are raised with care by their fathers, who carry them with their beaks or upon their wings."

The Kingdom of Women was mapped to the Mogollon Mesa in east-central Arizona. It was the territory of the Hopi Indians. The Sea of Varnish is said to be the La Brea Tar Pits near Los Angeles, Mertz explains. In the relative region the Salton Sea, Soda Lake or Borax Lake had saline features similar to those given for the sea the color of milk.

Portions of the quoted passage likely refer to the shamanistic spirits expressed by tribes in the region. Wildly decorated masks were common features of ceremonies among Indians of the west.

A great plumed serpent, a mystical god is prominent when presented in the final words regarding birds.

Quetzalcoatl was beneficial to the people, according to the historic lore of the Aztec on the Mexican plain. The Mayan people on Yucatan, called the figure "Kukulcan," and he was a "just statesman." Further details describe the coming of "bearded white men," which after a time, returned to Mexico and then left for another western land.

In the first annals of the Spanish padres, from a bit after A.D. 1500, local knowledge is given for a legendary, bearded man that taught Mexicans about agriculture, measuring time, astrology, locating mines, and theology, historians explain. The list included "making mosaics of feathers of birds."

Using plumage in ceremonies is a consistent theme for Amerindians. Getting the colorful feathers would be an easy task for hunters in the great forests of central tropics, vibrant with macaws, parrots, hummingbirds and other bird varieties of many sorts.

A Viking Era

Norse sailors and ship passengers were continuing westward expansions when they set sail a millennia ago across the mighty north Atlantic Sea. Home ports were in Norway and Iceland, where returned voyagers described a variety of sea lands in stories shared about the latest exploration. Some of the Viking stories became written legends.

Historians of the era refer to the Groenlendinga Saga. Eiriks Saga with fourteen sections of narrative rich with original lore and legacy. There are tantalizing few words about wild birds.

Eirik the Red

Eirik sailed west from Norway in A.D. 982, going to the west coast of what came to be known as Greenland. Their settlement was at Eiriksjford, northwest of Cape Farewell, the southern tip of the great broken land. A "multitude of fowl" were among the abundant game of the fiords.

After a stay of three years, Eirik returned to Norway, but sailed again from Iceland in A.D. 986 with a fleet of 25 ships and an estimated 300 people, livestock and equipment going to Greenland.

An 986 voyage for Bjarni Bardarson was a turned-about way to his father's farm on the southern tip of Groenlendinga. His route reached the northeast coast of America, continued back northward on the eastern shores of Canada and across the strait to his intended destination.

There were subsequent journeys from Greenland to the western regions, which included voyages south along the coast of America.

In 1003 Leif Ericcson (also spelled Eiriksson) and 35 hearty men left home to search for a land of hills and forest, or the flat land covered with forest described during Bardarson's voyage.

Leif sailed cross the strait, landing at Helluland (Flatstone Land or Flat Rock Land), southward in coastal waters, past Markland (Forestland), and on to what became known as the land of Vin. They built a camp within a sound, between the island and a cape.

The camp established in August - called "Leif's Booths" - was near a river on the peninsula adjacent to the cape (Pohl 1972: 32). The men stayed until the following spring. Then further explorations meant battles with the local tribesmen.

The Viking settlement at Winland is recognized as being at L'Anse aux Meadows, on the northern tip of Newfoundland. There were several structures - including at least eight houses with turf walls, boat-sheds and a kiln - on a terrace at the head of Epaves Bay.

The "Saga of Leif's Voyage of Discovery" relates in brief accounts prominent items as the travelers in at least two boats, sailed west and etched a new settlement into a foreign wilderness, scattered with groups of native peoples known as Eskimos.

Eiriksson returned to Greenland the next sailing season.

Karlsefni Voyages

The wealthy Icelandic merchant Thorfinn Karlsefni (also spelled Karlsefne) came to Vinland, using Leif's home for a winter, before also returning to Greenland.

New explorations ensued in 1010, after a winter of marriage and merriment at Brattahlid, inland at the fjord's also near Gardar, northwest from the southern Cape (Cape Farewell). Kerlsefni and a party of 160 people and gear sailed in search of Leif's socalled vin land. Vins likely meant meadow lands suitable as stock pasture.

The small sea=worthy vessels left a home's harbor and navigated northwest to Disco Island off the west coast of Greenland, across to Helluland, onward to Markland and southward in coastal waters. Several of the following summers were spent exploring miles after miles of coastal lands and river deltas of North America.

As the party sailed onward, past innumerable coves, one notable early-summer day they reached a prominent bay at the southern portion of their new world trip. The island they reached was called Straumsey, in the fjord call Straumsfjord. The translated account says:

"They sailed into a frith; there lay an island before it, round which there were strong currents, therefore called they it Stream island. There were so many eider ducks on the island that one could scarcely walk in consequence of the eggs. They called the place Stream-frith. They took their cargo from the ship, and prepared to remain there. They had with them all sorts of cattle. The country there was very beautiful."

The word for this bird in Icelandic is Aefur. The identity of the species as the Common Eider was closely considered (Goodwin 1941: 389-383). Another interpretation says the journey chronology would not allow for eggs, being late in the season when young would have been expected (Ingstad 2001: 86.)

The group remained until winter's end. Subsequent travels meant a continuation to Hop, the southern extent of the voyage on the Atlantic coast.

The only mention of fauna is reference to a "great number of all kinds of wild beasts in the woods." There were battles with the local inhabitants, called Skraelings (Eskimos) in the narrative.

With these troubles, the explorers left for elsewhere, northward up the sea coast.

One historian extends the mention of dung to meaning it was "very likely a sea gulls' nesting area" (Pohl 1972: 118). The saga refers to "animals wintering there" as the source of the deposit (Pohl 1972: 202).

The winter was spent at Vinland, with some exploring about Stream Fjord. Merchant Karlsefni returned to Greenland in 1014, ending his journeys back at a home port at Iceland.

Norsemen Localities

Historians interpret in their distinct ways the settings and places given in the words and phrases of the Viking sagas. Two notable still have a vague, accuracy lacking designation a millenium after the visit.

The first written mention of Vinland - the land of meadows - was about 1075 in a German document (Ingstad 2001: 103). Two maps dating to 1600 indicate the location of Vinland. One is from about 1590 by an Icelander denotes the Promontorium Winlandiae.

The Winlandiae setting used by the Vikings has been recreated and is featured at a Canadian national park.

The other of Danish origin in 1605 shows the three prominent lands of the Norsemen, including Helluland and Markland and adding "promonotory of Vinland the Good," (Ingstad 2001: 117).

Stream Island at Streamfiord, according to historic interpretations of geographic details provided in the saga, in modern geography is Gerrish Island in Portsmouth Bay of southeast New Hampshire (Goodwin 1941). This site is more probable as the modern locality, rather than the explanation of a different historian, explaining that Straumsey island - at Stream Fjord - was in the bay at the mouth of the Hudson River (Pohl 1972: 87). Governor's Island would be the modern placename.

Hop is attributed as being in the vicinity of Plymouth, Massachusetts (Goodwin 1941: 114). The other suggested locale is the distance a viking ship could reach up the James River, from the southerly extent of Chesapeake Bay (Pohl 1972).

This locale is also suggested as comparing favorably to the Strait of Belle Isle and Belle Isle.

Other potential placenames have been proffered within the expansive view of modern information sources.

Land of Penguin

After a few decades of time lapsed, an European seaman eventually noted one of the most studied of extinct bird species.

An 1170 reference to this species is based on the ballad of Madoc the sonne of Owne Guyneth, prince of North-wales. His saga refers to the land of Pengwyn in 1170.

The great penguin refers to the flightless Great Auk. During the navigator's era, this species nested at the Isle of Oyseaux, or Bird Island, also referred to again by later miscreants as Penguin Island. The species was a commodity for men of the sea.

Frieze at a German Church

Norsemen continue to sail the northern Atlantic, accounts of voyages spread among the European ports. Commerce and trade were important business, an economy that included providing edible game to people.

Transport - physically or figuratively - of a common North American species, led to its depiction in a church frieze in a cathedral in the city of Schleswig, Germany. There are eight representations of the familiar Wild Turkey. The date of the frieze is not later than A.D. 1280, according to historians.

It would be about two hundred years until the next explorer's narratives would mention wild birds, this time at the southern isles of North America.

References

Chinese

Henriette Mertz. 1972. Pale Ink. Two Ancient Records of Chinese Exploration in Ameria.

Vikings

Helge Ingstad. 2001. The Viking Discovery of America: The Excavation of a Norse Settlement in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland.

William B. Goodwin. 1941. The Truth About Leif Ericsson and the Greenland Voyages.

Frederick J. Pohl. 1972. The Viking Settlements of North America.

A Season's Survey of Chimney Swifts at an Urban Scene

Evening swifts on 400 block of South 11th Street.

By James Ed. Ducey

Chimney Swifts are a regular and common resident about urban Lincoln, Nebraska. Arriving as groups in mid-April, their twittering is prevalent in the daily sky, with resident birds eventually dispersing to suitable chimney places to nest.

Their distribution and occurrence makes an interesting foray into another season's view of a particular species, so reliant on building architecture for survival. Numerous surveys were done were done via bicycle in 2007, through mid-October when the last swift of the season was noted in silent flight among the ethereal skies at Carriage Park.

Swift Arrival

The first Chimney Swifts seen were 18 in the evening above the Haymarket district on 17 April. Chimney use was first noted on 23 April with a couple birds into the two chimneys at Ben's Auto at 20th and O Streets, a known haven from 2005 surveys.

Larger counts continued for several days in central downtown. The 26 April count at Downtown Lincoln indicated 18 at 14th and O street; one in west chimney in southeast corner of Post and Nickel business building; one in west chimney at H.E. Wood building (1332-36 P Street), one at the McKenzie Building at northeast corner of 14th and P Streets; one out 130 South 13th Street. There were also 18 at the Haymarket.

Chimney Habitats

Eventually the swift bunches dispersed, as pairs used smaller local chimneys to build a fragile, stick nest to rear young. The only specifics for May-July, are:

27 Apr: two into 1107 L Street.

28 Apr: two in northwest corner of N Street Express Lube at 17th street.

5 May: one in Spaghetti Works on North 12th Street, five in and two out WCs at 1226 P Street, and one in 1317 L Street, the Cornhusker Apartment House.

On 27 May, a swift was seen snagging twiglets from a dead tree branches at Cushman Woods, on the east edge of city campus.

Details of central Lincoln chimneys during the swift breeding season were gathered in 2005.

Post-Breeding August

The first group of swifts was noted in early August.

6 Aug - Downtown Lincoln: 85, 432 South 11th Street, back alley view of 4.5x4.5 chimney of three stories.

11 Aug - Hawley District: 215, 2425 O Street chimney of 4.5 x 4.5 bricks; first at 7:45, done by 9 p.m.

28 Aug - Downtown Lincoln: 45, alley view of 432 South 11th Street.

Swifts were prevalent during the month, and into September.

Migratory Swift Flocks

In mid-September, a large flock on the south side was the impetus for the regular schedule of evening surveys. Prominent chimneys with previous known use in the Haymarket, downtown Lincoln and east downtown were visited, each every few days, with intermittent outings to a few other places.

10 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 260, quickly into the southwest corner chimney at 411 South 13th Street (4.5x4.5 bricks of three stories).

11 Sep - East Downtown Lincoln: 89, former Bens Auto Parts building at 2020 O Street; heard 7:25, some about at 7:40, swarming at 7:55, done by 8:10 p.m.

12 Sep - Haymarket: 107, Schwarz Paper Company, 747 O Street.

13 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 95, 1400 0 Street building.

14 Sep - Hawley District: 101, Midwest Sound, 2425 O Street; once in a while one doesn't make it in so tries again.

15 Sep - Near South Neighborhood: 25, one into Lincoln High Chimney; others generally about with larger roost not apparent.

16 Sep - Everett Neighborhood at 12th and C Streets: 35 about, but did not use large 8-sided chimney at Everett Elementary school. The swifts went eastward to an unknown roost.

17 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 532, 411 Building; first entry at 7:40 with two, then ca. 130, then further bunches of the swifts in their grand swirl, flying about the chimney. This is the greatest single site count known, considering nearly 300 records for Lancaster County.

18 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 475, 411 Building, done by 7:40; a similar number used this chimney the following night.

20 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 22, 15 at 1226 P Street (6x4.5 bricks); 2 at 1230 P Street (6.5x4.5); 4 at Spaghetti Works, 228 North 12th Street.

21 Sep - Haymarket: 197, Mill Towne, 650 J Street, 6.5x6.5 bricks of five stories.

Round chimney at Waterpark Condos.

22 Sep - Waterpark Condominiums at Antelope Park: 85, a big round chimney at 2901 J street; birds in and out, with some going elsewhere towards the south. Dubbed the "tower of confusion" with some birds entering and some birds leaving. There seemed to be uncertainty on staying.

23 Sep - Everett Neighborhood: 20 about, three into President Apartment House at 1340 Lincoln Mall; one into Ambassador Apartment House, 1330 Lincoln Mall.

24 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 177, tornadic swarm above 404 South 11th Street in the northeast corner, then count of entrants done by 7:30 on cloudy, pre-rain evening; one in and one out earlier at 432 South 11th Street; others using 411 South 13th.

25 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 176, into 411 South 13th Street, and still entering after swifts seemed done with entry at 11th street chimney; at 411 finished at 7:45 on clear evening.

27 Sep - Haymarket: an estimated 300+ in a confusing count from the wrong vantage point at Mill Towne, making it difficult to see what was actually entering the chimney.

28 Sep - Mill Towne south Haymarket: 365, 1s in, then larger groups going in until very dark on cloudy night; group done 7:50; small bunches of swifts chased a passing Rock Pigeon, American Kestrel and Mourning Dove.

30 Sep - Downtown Lincoln: 330, chimney at 411 South 13th St.; done by 7:35; 30 m.p.h. wind, clouds clearing.

October

01 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: nine, back chimney at 404 South 11th Street; many more at 411 South 13th Street.

03 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: 73, 27 into 1713 O Street, east portion for pawn shop; 46 into 1717 O Street, the Poor Boy Pottery business noted on the sign out back; group entry finished by 7:30 p.m.

03 Oct - East Downtown Lincoln; 25, generally about at former Bens auto parts building and southward.

03 Oct - UNL City Campus: 7 noted where they had been regularly seen throughout the summer.

04 Oct - East Downtown Lincoln: 98, Bens auto parts; done by 7:35 p.m.

O Asian Garden recessed roost site.

05 Oct - Hawley District: 128, 2545 O Street at empty O Asian Garden building; two story recessed; noted Friday evening after none were at nearby Midwest Sound at 2425 O Street. A confirming count was done Saturday morning.

06 Oct - Near South Neighborhood: 31, into residence chimney - with one-half covered - at 1140 South 20th Street at Mount Emerald neighborhood. It took repeated biking the streets to find this evening's roost.

07 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: 38, generally about 14th and O street airspace; one into 1400 O Street; 3-4 into northeast corner of the McKelvie Building 210 North 14th Street.

08 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: 25 flying about south side; two into 404 South 11th Street; others flew to northeast.

14 Oct - Downtown Lincoln: a single swift during the early afternoon, noted from the heights of Carriage Park. A couple hours later one was also seen over the nearby Everett neighborhood. None were seen during the evening's cloudy and rainy skies, with scattered clearing as the sun set.

This date is similar to the other known last occurrence date for Lancaster County in 1925, cited for Lincoln as reported by Mrs. Smith in the NOU Letters of Information.

Chimney Swifts were present about Lincoln in Nebraska for 180 days in 2007.

Swift Tally

Chimneys at several buildings had large numbers of swifts repeatedly use a premier roost.

411 Building, 411 South 13th Street, southwest corner: 10 Sep, 260; 17 Sep, 532 in a exhilarating rush; 18 Sep, 475; 25 Sep. 176; 30 Sep: 330.

Big chimney at Mill Towne, south Haymarket.

Mill Towne biggie, 650 J Street - 21 Sep, 197; 28 Sep, 365.

404 South 11th Street - 24 Sep, 177.

2545 O Street, O Asian Garden building - 5 Oct: 128, there was no chimney apparent at this two-story structure. After leaving the unused chimney at Midwest Sound, birds a block east in the same alley, were entering a recessed roost covered by a metal, boxlike contraption. A few swifts departing the next morning would strike the box.

It appears that this former supermarket will be torn down. This empty building was purchased in mid-August by the credit union already present at the southwest corner of the block; now owning nearly the entire city block.

Other notable buildings include Midwest Sound and Lighting at 2425 O Street, the former Ben's Auto Parts building and 1400 O Street, each which were used also in 2005.

A pair of buildings with first use noted this season were at 1330-1340 Lincoln Mall, the Ambassador and President apartment houses. These large, five-story chimneys were watched on 23 September.

The last count of chimney use was 31 birds Oct 6 in the residence chimney at Mount Emerald. Counts of 38 on 7 Oct and 25 on 8 Oct were made downtown, but it was not possible to find a particular roost used by most of the swifts counted flying about the urban skies. On the 7th, one swift used 1400 O Street, 3-4 used the McKelvie Building chimney and the others may have been over in the alley about the 200 North 12th / 1200 P streets, city block.

As the season waned, the day sky of the city would have a dearth of swifts. The skies were quiet until twittering birds arrived at a general locale, usually less than an hour before sundown. Then the swirl of birds began about the chosen chimney and once started, they quickly entered the roost as dark was covering the land.

Late season chimney use was more scattered for fewer birds. Although groups of 20-30 birds had gathered, only a few birds were seen using a chimney visible at the scene. Swifts went to other available chimneys amongst several within a couple of city blocks.

The different locales used this year provide a diverse array of chimneys useful for resident swifts, and different migratory flocks. Alternative sites allow birds to move around and select an optimal place on a particular day. Some sites obviously have a premier combination of features to provide a roost useful on a continued basis.

Considerations

The trend for a decreasing number of chimneys continues. Since 2005, several buildings razed in the Trago Park area includes residences near 20th and R streets, Supply Service, and two usable chimneys at 2100 O Street business structures. Three residences at 100 North 22nd were moved to north of city campus, renovated and sold to home buyers. Each structure removed was to make way for the expressway and other Joint Antelope Valley Authority project features.

Removal of the O Asian Garden building appears imminent. Three houses across the street - one which could possibly be used by a pair of swifts - are slated to be razed for a new business building.

The former Ben's Auto Parts building still sits empty, the owners of the site awaiting redevelopment as the JAVA project spreads. At the end of the season, construction had just started about a block away, for an O Street bridge. 

The limitation around central Lincoln is the shortage of smaller chimneys that can be used by a pair of swifts. Many of these potentially suitable structures are covered by a screen or some other thing. As birds successfully raise young, the breeding population cannot expand since there are no additional nesting structures. If chimney covers were removed, a number of additional nest sites could be provided.

Nearly all modern built buildings do not have chimneys. Suitably-sized structures can be built in alternate manners, and incorporated into the local environment a place for a pair. Proactive measures can enhance the value of Chimney Swifts, wherever they happen.

An Essay on the End of the Swift Season

Chimney at Mount Emerald.

By James Ed. Ducey

As a mere acolyte of swiftian studies, discoveries of their habits are due to travels by various sorts about downtown streets and alleys, historic market sections, neighborhoods of different sorts and other built environments.

An outing meant eyes to the skies to purvey the aerial coursers flashing in the ethereal realm. There has been a diverse watch as black bugeaters descend into a chosen chimney with a wide variety of architecture at business buildings, churches, schools, residences and warehouses. Only older structures are any interest since nearly all modern architecture doesn't provide a useful chimney.

A last bicycle ride of the present years' season was a survey at Mount Emerald. The dark coursers of the sunlit skies did flit and twitter in a diminutive place beneath the perfect azure of the worldly dome.

Settling residents created this place with unknown swift haunts on a higher elevation in the salt basin. Habitats for many generations of swift clans are subtly decorative and splendid places where each generation has its fragile yet distinct origins.

The Mount, and adjacent Hillsdale, are a housing jumble on the stolid ground. Structures of various sorts dominate among the concrete grid of streets Great arboreal splendors provide insect swarming from hidden beginnings, their fate to provide a steady source of sustenance for the bug eating birds awing on the constant and unseen air currents of urbane skies.

Near the top of Mount Emerald, a great chimney to mark the place for celebratory gatherings. It is brick and stone solid, and finely decorated with symbolic effigies. The great eagle of the skies is a most dramatic aspect. Common pigeons watch the place, and sit about its crest.

Smaller brick abodes of the local homes had provided a number of shelters for a dedicated pair of nesters. The variety of chimneys offer a bunch of distinct features best known from the aerial, bird's-eye view. The swifts nurture another generation during the endless cycle of seasons.

Ignorant heathens readily exclude with screen or other covers, entry of the little black birds into suitable haunts, limiting the number of pairs that could get together in the magical bonding of their ongoing nature.

Suitable respect to the benefits and glory of the daily swift antics is extended in just a limited and unknowing manner. One sturdy stone turret lets the common folk watch - with a cool glass of lemonade - the movements of the birds above eating bugs of several sorts pesky to the people below. The residents don't express any means of deserved appreciation.

Bell tower at Mount Emerald. All photos by the author.

Majestic in design and stature, a solid bell tower marked with symbols, musically joins with the great antics of aerial flight. Tolling in the winds of the saline flats, the chimes convey the swifts way each day as they go about their tasks.

Bugs hovering over the tree lofts are easily the usual meal readily captured. Another gets taken. Then another insect is gone, a thousand times each day for the first, real bugeaters of this community.

Seasons of the swift are regular and consistent. Eggs appear in a fragile stick nest. Nourished young take flight to course through air currents in a learned mastery of the flight essential as flocks gather when warmer weeks wane.

In a season's finale on a muggy eve of early October, a lesser bunch of swifts gather together. With the sun gone away in the west, the small flock of migratory birds flit through the treetops. Which single chimney will demark a 2007 finale and provide a warm, shared shelter for a long night.

No obvious spot is shown by elegant swoops and swirls from the last of the swifts. No place is easily apparent as when many hundreds of birds use the father of all chimneys elsewhere in the star city. There was no great bunch giving a phantasmagoric display about the large entry to a expansive chimney - perhaps the mother of all chimneys - as found in the river city along the Missouri.

Around the blocks went the survey cycle. No roost was obvious as dusk darkened the scene. Then a few swifts were heard as they circled about a leafy tree and small chimney covered with peeling white paint. Each little black bird there quietly dropped into the nights spot. Their numbers were counted as they gathered in the home's warm shelter. Then all was quiet on Mount Emerald.

As the chills of the night spread, there are fewer edible insects. In a few shorter days, the little black swifts depart on the expected retreat to warmer, southerly spaces.

The swift cycle will begin again next spring, after a few harsh months, when there are no masters of the skies about. Without the flitting twitter of the aerial acrobats, it is a lesser time for enthusiasts of the grandeur of the Chimney Swift, wherever it may happen.

Swift skies as seen from the heights of Carriage Park, Lincoln.

Riverine Wildlife Habitat Created as Part of Bridge Construction

James Ed. Ducey

A project to replace the historic Meridian Bridge included dirt excavation that restored a riverine chute along the Missouri River channel.

Sediment was excavated from the river side channel to provide the fill dirt needed to construct a new approach to the Nebraska side of the bridge for Highway 81, south of Yankton. The bridge replacement project is being carried out by the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR).

"Construction of a bridge could potentially have negative effects on surrounding fish and wildlife habitat, but in this instance, it will actually improve habitat," said Robert Harms, a biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Service ecological services office in Grand Island.

About 10 acres of backwater area were restored, with work mostly finished this autumn.

The new backwater will improve habitat for the "federally endangered pallid sturgeon, Least Tern, scaleshell mussel, and for other fish and wildlife, including the sturgeon chub and false map turtle," according to a FWS press release. The tern and sturgeon will benefit from "small fish and insects that are often abundant in backwater areas, and provide a food resource."

Migratory birds that will benefit include waterfowl and wading birds, said Harms, mentioning the Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, as well as other water birds, such as the American Coot or Pied-billed Grebe. "The habitat will provide resting habitat for ducks and geese as they migrate in the spring and autumn. Much of this type of habitat has been lost over the years on the Missouri River," Harms said, "resulting in a drastic decline in the abundance and diversity of native fish and wildlife species."

Once construction of the piers for the new bridge is completed, an outlet will be excavated to connect the backwater area to the Missouri River channel.

The backwater area - along the Missouri National Recreational River - will be owned by the National Park Service, which is supportive of adding water flows through the site to create a flowing side channel chute, said Harms. Discussions to undertake this conversion should occur in the next couple of years.

The NPS also plans on building a trail system through the site, south of the chute, according to the NDOR project website..

During construction, the NDOR is taking measures to avoid any impact to endangered or threatened species. Specific items, according to a news release, include:

• "Restrictions on the placement of material into the river and prohibition of pile driving or demolition activities during the critical spawning time for pallid sturgeon in the late spring and early summer;
• "Reducing the length of the temporary causeway to avoid changes in hydrology that could impact spawning habitat and stationing of two spill kits at the construction site to contain accidental spills from equipment should they occur;
• "Construction equipment, such as barges and tow boats, brought in from offsite locations were carefully inspected for zebra mussels, and invasive species that could severely impact the ecology of the river."

Surveys for the presence of the Least Tern, Piping Plover, scaleshell mussel and wintering Bald Eagle were also carried out to ensure bridge construction would not disturb these species.

NDOR "considers the backwater restoration project a win-win addition to the project," said Scott Brummond, a district environmental compliance officer with the agency. It was "a win for many fish and wildlife species and the environment and a win for the taxpayer and contractor due to the available fill material from this adjacent area being used in the embankment for the bridge approach."

This project was a collaborative effort among several agencies to develop an "environmentally friendly construction plan," according to the news release.

The Nebraska Department of Roads worked with the South Dakota Department of Transportation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The Meridian Bridge was built in the 1920s, and the new bridge is providing a replacement.

NDOR Yankton Bridge project website

Terns and Plovers Depend on Riverine Sand Mines

James Ed. Ducey

Least Terns and Piping Plover breeding in 2007 along river systems in eastern Nebraska had a successful season using riverside habitats.

Most of the terns and plovers used sand and gravel mines for breeding activities during the 2007 season, said Mary Brown, manager of the Tern and Plover Partnership.

"There was little nesting on the Platte, Elkhorn and Loup rivers due to high water conditions," she said.

The 2007 population of birds using the river-side habitats seemed similar to the previous years, Brown said. "More post-flight fledglings seemed to be produced, although the number of birds that return in 2008 will be the true measure of success."

Final population numbers for the three river systems would not be available until the reports of partnership volunteers are received.

Habitat for the endangered and threatened species is changing as some sand mines are converted to housing developments as a typical 50-year life-span has elapsed, Brown said. One pit near North Bend was being converted to a housing development during past summer season. This has also taken place at sites near Ashland, Valley, Columbus, Schuyler and Columbus.

With sand mines providing the majority of nesting places, conservation efforts are focused on these areas as they become housing developments following sand and gravel extraction.

The Planning - Aggregates - Community - Environment (PACE) program is used by industry groups to direct land use that results in a landscape beneficial to wildlife. PACE has members from local conservation groups and the sand and gravel industry.

Plans for an extraction site are based on a set of objectives are used to address five issues, according to information about PACE: access to resources, rapidly changing land use, the cost of doing business, lack of public understanding and regulatory issues.

As the transition occurs, developer and utility equipment can be disruptive, Brown said. "We try to reschedule their efforts to avoid and impacts."

With the establishment of new housing, landowners often cooperate with the partnership, informing new residents of the birds nesting on the beaches. Some residents think it is "kinda cool to have a bird sanctuary in the neighborhood," Brown explained in an interview after her first three months as director for the partnership.

After starting in mid-July, Brown visited known nesting sites and discussed partnership activities with mine personnel, operation managers and plant owners.

Her previous experience with the these birds included watching them at Lake McConaughy as a birder and biologist working on Cliff Swallows at the nearby Cedar Point Biological Station. She was also familiar with the terns and plovers on the Atlantic coast.

Brown has realized the importance of volunteer participation for the partnership.

More than 20 people provided about 400 hours of volunteer time to monitor nesting sites or to conduct regular surveys, paying for their own gas and other expenses, she said. One volunteer wrote and article for the local newspaper. Most of these people live in the immediate vicinity of the area of their effort, and are also very helpful in spreading the word about the two bird species.

"The partnership could not accomplish what we do without our volunteers," Brown said.

Riverine habitat is the ultimate solution to maintaining viable populations of both species, Brown said. "How to provide viable river channel habitat is one of the grand questions in managing the terns and plovers.

"There are so many demands on eastern Nebraska rivers. Impacts include channelization, reduced flows due to diversion, impacts of droughts, changes in land use and other activities.

"It will take the effort of communities, land owners, wildlife groups and business to partner in efforts to provide appropriate habitat to help ensure success for the birds."

Results of this years' survey efforts will be provided to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and will eventually be integrated into counts on the national and international levels, for use in managing both species.