Mystery Bird Described by Canadian Held Captive By Indians

In the memoirs of a young man born in Quebec, Canada, an unusual and notable species was described in his account of the birds noted during a decade of living in the northern wilderness.

Charles Dennis Rusoe D'Eres was only fourteen when taken by troops of the fledgling freedom movement for the United States. His fate for the next decade was sealed when he was traded and became a captive of Indians in December 1874.

In the subsequent months, him and his captors left Fort Michilimakinak, at the entrance of Lake Superior, on many days travel to the Indians village.

Although the memoirs are very vague on details of geography, the Red River is mentioned. Going southward from there, the party of travelers reached the Rontooroo River, which by some scholars is possibly the Minnesota River.

It was here that the group reached the home village of the Scanyawtauragahrooote on an island by the same name. D'Eres was to remain their captive for eleven years, being a blacksmith using the abandoned building and tools from a structure built by a Spaniard some years earlier.

Other notable places mentioned in the narrative include the Tartarrac, a very wide and deep river, which was used for canoe travel to a town of the Spaniards, in order to trade.

The events of the tribe, including buffalo hunts, forays for war with neighbouring tribes, and other goings are mentioned.

Towards the end of the memoirs, in an appendix, is a section titled "Of Their Birds." Here are given a few details of the birds common in the country about Scanyawtauragahrooote Island.

The species list:

"BLACK-BIRD, *Blue-Jay, *Crane, *Crow, *Cuckoo, *Duck, *Eagle, *Fish-Hawk, *Goose, *Hawk, Humming-Bird, *King-Bird, *Lark, *Loon, *Martin, *Night-Hawk, *Owl, *Parrot, *Partridge, *Pellican, *Pigeon, *Quail, *Raven, *Robin, *Snipe, *Stork, *Swallow, *Teal, *Thrush, *Turkey, Wacon-Bird, *Water-hen, Whetsaw, *Whippoorwill,*Woodpecker & *Wren are to be met with in all parts of this country during the summer months.
"Those marked thus * are so common in this country, that a particular description of them in this work would be but to remind almost every reader of what he is already fully acquainted with; I would just observe that they are found in the greatest perfection in the Indian country. The Goose and Turkey are not domesticated by the natives of the land, but in a wild state and in great plenty."

Then there is the mystery bird...

"The Wacon-Bird is nearly the size of the swallow, of a brown colour, shaded about the neck with a bright green; the wings are of a darker brown than the body - its tail is composed of four or five feathers beautifully shaded with green and purple, and is three times as long as its body, it carries this length of plumage in the same manner as the Peacock does, but does not raise it into an erect position - the name of this bird signifies the bird of the great spirit, and is held in great veneration by the Indians, and treated by them as a bird of superior rank to any of the feathered race."

Although there is no apparent identification of the spirit bird, there is some speculation on its identity. This is what Elliott Coues - the U.S. Geologist at the time - says in his biographical appendix to the Birds of the Colorado Valley, published in 1878.

"The description of the latter is not reconcilable with any known species, but, in the light of other accounts of the same bird, may be doubtfully considered a hint of Milvulus forficatus."

There is also another native term mentioned:

"The Whetsaw is of the Cuckoo kind, is a solitary bird, and rarely to be met with in the summer months - 'tis heard in the groves; its noise founds like the whetting of a saw, from whence it receives its name."

The "whetsaw" is identified as being Coccygus erythrophthalmus?

D'Eres also wrote about the hummingbird...

The Humming bird is peculiar to America, and is not known in any other part of the globe; 'tis the smallest of the feathered airy inhabitants - its legs are proportionally small to its body, and are not biger than two small needles - its plumage exceeds description - it has a small tuft on its head of a shining black - its breast is red - the belly white - the back, wings and tail a pale green - small specks of a gold cast are scattered over the whole body - an almost imperceptible down softens the colours, and produces the most pleasing shades - with its bill, which is proportionably small to its body, it extracts moisture from flowers, which is its nourishment; over which it hovers like a Bee, without lighting, constantly moving its wings with such velocity, that the motion is imperceptible; this quick motion causeth a humming noise, from whence it receives its name.

His memoirs of the years in the wilderness were written once D'Eres returned to the towns and cities of Canada and the new United States of America in 1787. He arrived first after Detroit, after going from tribe to tribe on his journey to return to Euro-American settlements. Thereafter, he reunited with his family in the Quebec area, but soon left and entered the U.S., got married and then moved to Spencer, up in the New England region, and took his place in civilization, working as a blacksmith.

An annotation by Coues - and renditions by other's that have studied this narrative - indicate:

"Field says of our author that 'his narrative is at all events little better than a fiction.'"

Whatever scholars may say to depict D'Eres recollections, his brief notations about one especially notable species certainly adds an interesting bit of lore to the history of ornithology.

October Roosting of the Chimney Swift at the River City

Chimney at the Wareham Building on an October morning after the swifts had departed, on their way to foraging about the Missouri River valley.

Chimney Swifts are a common sight in the aerial realm of Omaha in the latter weeks of their seasonal stay. Although the daily skies may have just a few of the feathered bugeaters about, once dusk approaches, there are regular gatherings at the choice chimneys that provide essential shelter and comfort for a chilly autumn night.

Once the Purple Martins finally went southward for warmer climes, it was time to bicycle around to evaluate how swifts were using various chimneys where birds had previously been noted during a few weeks of survey efforts during mid-August to mid-September, 2003. Due to the mode of transportation, there were limitations on the places that were visited, and thus several places which would have had notable gatherings, were not visited.

The scenario was to arrive at a suitable locality at least 30-45 minutes prior to the expected time when the first swift would take a dive into the chimney. This provided some flexibility to see if they were actually present, or whether an alternate site nearby should where to count the birds as they would descend into the roost. Some additional details were the result of being in downtown Omaha at sunrise, when swifts would depart in a staggered manner from the roost they had used overnight. It is even easier to count in the morning, instead of the evening, when a bunch of swifts can quickly enter a chimney - making a detailed count difficult - versus the morning they depart, a few birds at a time.

Roosting Swifts

Omaha has the facilities that provide important seasonal residences for the swifts. A variety of chimneys provide roosts that are essential shelter for hundreds of these birds to spend the night while they eat hundreds of thousands of bugs from the skies of the region during the daylight hours. There are many buildings with important, and useful roosts.

Recognizing the chimneys used by swifts indicates the important roost habitats, useful for evaluating changes and trends in how the extent and conditions of these structures are changing due to urban renewal and building construction.

One thing is certain, there are no new chimneys being constructed, and older buildings are constantly being cleared. Some important structures, have been renovated, and the chimney remains to provide shelter for the bugeaters. The long-term prognosis indicates a steady decline in the extent of chimneys used for breeding and roosting.

These are the details for the last observations for October, 2008, giving the locality, date seen and associated Julian date; the number of swifts counted, and notations of interest:

• Benson: 10/01; 275; 225; 9, 45, 75, 20, 67, 5 at dusk at the community center; additional others at chimney's to the west a block or two

• Creighton University Campus: 10/01; 275; 105; 105 caught at first a.m. leaving Wareham building, the former O'Keefe building on the east side of campus, in the morning at sunrise

• Creighton University Campus: 10/03; 277; 150; 150 caught at first a.m. leaving Wareham building big chimney at 1624 Webster Street; in the morning just before sunrise

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/03; 277; 235; into 6.5x6.5 bricks, ca. 4.5 story chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth

• Dundee Place: 10/04; 278; 12; five into Elwood apartments at 100 block of south 49th Avenue; through open circle atop metal mesh cover on the chimney

• Cathedral: 10/05; 279; 24; minimum count into the Radcliffe chimney at 38th and Dodge Street

• Blackstone District: 10/05; 279; 8; minimal count into chimney at the Colonial residence hotel, after things slowed at the Radcliffe apartment house

Chimney at 1819 Cuming Street. With the ongoing changes to this neighborhood associated with the sprawl of the Creighton campus, it is inevitable that this old, unused building will be razed.

• North Downtown: 10/06; 280; 120; caught this number departing 5x5 chimney at 1819 Cuming Street; others had possibly already departed

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/07; 281; 350; 1, 68, 280, 9; into the chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth; done by 7:15

• Dundee Place: 10/08; 282; 85; partial count of birds at the Glen Arlo apartment building at Capitol Avenue and 51st Street

• Creighton University Campus: 10/09; 283; 185; noted 183 leaving Wareham building chimney just before sun-rise

• Creighton University Campus: 10/10; 284; 157; minimal count of 65, 4, 88 caught leaving Wareham chimney just prior to dawn

• Benson: 10/10; 284; 132; 127 into 4.5x4.5 bricks chimney at Immanuel Lutheran Church at 2725 North 60th Avenue; 5 elsewhere in the business district

• Blackstone District: 10/11; 285; 108; 2, 14, 8, 4, 40, 37, 3 into 4.5x4.5 chimney at the Colonial hotel; also one seen into Tadousac apartment house, not included in number tally; done by 7:05 p.m. on a cloudy evening

• Creighton University Campus: 10/11; 285; 289; 106, 142, 38, 3 departing 7.5x7.5 bricks chimney of Wareham in the first of the morning

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/12; 286; 120; 2, 102, 14, 3; into the chimney at Central Presbyterian Church at 55th and Leavenworth; done by 7:15 p.m.

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/13; 287; 130; 1, 2, 1, 4, 25, 86, 8, 4; counted at most ca. 20, then about 7 p.m. the bunch arrived and were within the chimney in 10 minutes

• Old Market: 10/14; 288; 65; ca. 65 total; 3 into chimney at Barry O's pub, 4 into chimney at Upstream at 11th and Jackson, and 3-4 into Bull Durham building at 1019 Leavenworth

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/15; 289; 132; 2, 1, 3, 110, 6, 7, 3 into chimney at Central Presbyterian Church; done by 7 p.m.

• Hanscom Park neighborhood: 10/15; 289; 5; about 9:20 a.m. from buildings to the north; not seen coming from chimneys while watching for some time

• Downtown Omaha: 10/16; 290; 33 caught leaving chimney at west side; 100 south 11th Street

• Old Market: 10/16; 290; 104; 46, 31, 27 left chimney at Upstream building in the a.m.; then many returned into chimney on a morning with chilly temperatures in the mid-30s

• Blackstone District: 10/16; 290; 54; 54 into tallist 7x7 chimney at 3819 Jones street, formerly Columbian School Apartments built in the 1890s; done by ca. 6:50, with a temp of 52^o, a few minutes after sunset

• Elmwood East Neighborhood: 10/17; 291; 136; 50, 60, 20, 6; 22 first bunch, then twice that; whole bunch gathered and flew about for a few minutes; whole bunch in within a couple of minutes.

A unique happening took place after the swifts initially entered this oft used chimney. Within a minute after all the swifts had entered the chimney, at least 80-90 were seen leaving the roost and going northward to some other nearby place ... probably the chimney of a house. The alternate chimney was not located during a quick bike-about, since the birds' destination not visible as it some time post-dusk. Obviously the swifts left the chimney since it was not suitable for the night. Perhaps the heating apparatus for the building was being used with cooler temperatures, making the confines of the brick chimney too uncomfortable.

• Benson: 10/18; 292; 25; 25-30 total; 10 into Immanuel Lutheran church on the south side; 5 into 6005 Maple Street; others in immediate vicinity; evening sunset temperature was 58^o. The roosting activity was done by about 7 p.m.

There were no subsequent sightings of swifts around the city.

End-of-Season Roost Numbers

In considering the final counts for localities where the bugeaters were known to roost, there were several hundred swifts that were present in the final days of their occurrence during the season. There were probably at least 400 at the locales that were surveyed, with an additional number of birds at other places where there are chimneys suitable for roosting (i.e., Drake neighborhood, west Old Market, near south of downtown, south Omaha business district, etc.).

Although the numbers observed are notably less than the extent of flocks present from late August to mid-September, the continued counts exceeding hundreds of swifts at a single roost site, indicates the value of various chimneys for seasonal use by migrating birds.

The birds seen using chimneys on the evening of the 18th, and their certain departure on the following date, correlates with the last known date of occurrence in the Omaha metropolitan area. Based on an evaluation of nearly 1500 records, the last date of occurrence had been October 19th, so the swifts leaving Benson would have been on the same date.

Chimney Swifts will return to the river city in mid-April next year.

Morning view of chimney at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, which has been consistently used for roosting.

Russian Naturalist Documents Original Records for Many Birds in North America

In considering the bird history for North America, there was originally little consideration given to sources of information published in a foreign language. With continued emphasis this focus had changed with the reading of resources published in Europe - particularly from the German republic - and in Asia.

One particular important source originated in Russia nearly two hundred years in the past.

In 1811, the renowned Petrus - or Peter if using the English spelling - Simon Pallas, M.D., had published a volume of the "Zoographia Rosso-Asiatica, Sistens Omnium Animalium in Extenso Imperio Rossico et Adjacentibus Maribus Observatorum Recensionem, Domicilia, Mores et Descriptiones Anatomen Atque Icones Plurimorum" which included numerous color illustrations. It was printed by the Academiae Scientiarum, at Petropoli.

Pallas, born in Berlin, was a professor of natural history at the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg for many years, moving there in 1767 after receiving an invitation from Catherine, the Russian empress. He made extensive travels throughout portions of the country, preparing extensive and lucid writings printed in lengthy, illustrated tomes about the events and science of natural history. The names for several birds, subsequently recognize his pioneering efforts: a warbler, cormorant, fish-eagle, sandgrouse and rosefinch. Pallas was in contact with Thomas Pennant with letters from 1766-1781 still extant, and a compilation published.

Anecdotes of the professor were published in the Edinburgh Magazine, September 1786 issue. In 1791, Pallas was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society.

The two volumes of this work, when it discusses observations from across the oceanic strait from eastern Asia, have many bird occurrence records for the North Pacific region which some decades after the publishing of this information, became part of the United States of America, and thus are essential information on its historic ornithology. Several species mentions are recognized as the first historic records for the continental ornithology, and designated for the original description of a species in the nomenclature for the continent.

The species mentioned in Volumen Primum, and, Tomus II, are verily available online for consideration and ready perusal. Accounts for more than 400 species are in the two volumes, listed in order by family, and include a scientific name, other nomenclature details which, since they are in the foreign language are not readily understood, synonyms of nomenclature, distribution details, and a detailed description.

Information is given on a number of species of interest. The following details provide the modern name, designated site and information from the species account. Although the original text often has the spelling Merk, this has been edited to Merck, to conform with the recognized spelling and for uniformity.

• Emperor Goose - Aleutis [Aleutian Islands] - Anser pictus; painted duck, Latham; Aleutis Kamghang; in insulis versus Americam extensis frequens

• Canada Goose - Aleutis - Anser canadensis; Aleutis Kamghang

• Tundra Swan - Aleutis - Cygnus Olor; whistling swan, Pennant; Aleutis, Koolkik

• Harlequin Duck - Aleutis - Anas histrionica; harlekin duck, Pennant; circa insulas versus Americam sparsa observabat frequentem p.m. D.D. Merck

• Common Eider - Aleutis - Anas Cutberti; Anas magna nigro-alba, Edward; Anas mollissima, Linn.; eiderduck, Pennant; America advena observatur

• Steller's Eider - Aleutis - Anas stelleri; western duck, Pennant; in insulis nostris versus Americam sitis, praesertium circa Unalaschka frequens, unde specimina retulit D.D. Merck

• Long-tailed Duck - Aleutis - Anas glacialis; Canard de Miclon, D'aubent; longtailed duck, Pennant; verosimillime trans Oceanum in Americam migrans

• Northern Fulmar - Aleutis - Procellaris glacialis; mallemucke, Martens; Procellaria cinerea, Brisson; Procellaria glacialis, Linn.; Aleuticas abundat

• Parkinson's Petrel - Aleutis - Procellaria aequinoctialis; Procellaria curilica, Pennant; Aleutis Ajudan; circa Aleuticas frequens, unde exempla adtulit D.D. Merck; Procellaria aequinoctialis Linn.

• European Storm-Petrel - Aleutis - Procellaria pelagica, little peterel, Zool. Britan.; Procellaria pelagica, Linn.; stormy petrel, Pennant; frequens inter insulas Americam

• Leach's Storm-Petrel - Aleutis - Procellaria orientalis; Procellaria fuscata, Pennant; circa Unalaschkam lecta retulit ex illo itinere D.D. Merck

• Northern Gannet - Aleutis - Sula Bassana; gannet, Pennant; in itinere vero Americano saepius in Pelago volantem inter Procellarias vidit

• Spectacled Cormorant * - Bering Island - Phalacrocorax perspicillatus; Beringii infausta insula, ubi naufragus vixit, observaverat

• Pelagic Cormorant * - Aleutis - Phalacrocorax pelagicus; Aleutis Agajok; Americana-rum insularum incola

• Red-faced Cormorant * - Aleutis - Phalacrocorax bicristatus; violet-shag, Latham; Americam sparsis et ispo Americae littore invenit

• Species not determined [a modern equivalent could not be found in a search of internet resources] - Bering Sea, Alaska - Phalacrocorax albidus; multoties in pilis marinis circa Beringii insulam vidi

• Bald Eagle - Aleutis - Aquila leucocephala; bald eagle, Lawson; Falco leucocephalus; Americanis ad Nootka Owatinne

• Steller's Sea-Eagle - Tauisk - Aquila pelagica; white eagle, Pennant; white-bellied eagle, Latham; Continentem Americes, praesertim in infami naufragio et morte Beringii insula

• American Oystercatcher - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Haematopus niger; maxime iis quae Americae vicinae sunt, praesertim Ins. Kadiak, frequens avis

• Eurasian Oystercatcher * - Aleutis - Haematopus hypoleuca; pied oystercatcher, Latham; in America

• American Woodcock - Aleutis - Scolopax Rusticola; woodcock, Pennant; Americam sparsis

• Whimbrel - Aleutis - Numenius phaeopus, Numenius minor, Brisson; dwarf curlew, Pennant; whimbrel, Latham; insulas et Americam

• Wood Sandpiper - Aleutis - Trynga Glareola; wood sandpiper, Latham; Americam sitis, a D.D. Merck

• Common Sandpiper - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Trynga leucoptera; Totanus striatus, Brisson; Trynga striata, Linn.; eandem ex insula Kadiak Americae vicina misit D.D. Merck

• Ruddy Turnstone - Aleutis - Charadrius cinclus; Arenaria; Trynga Interpres, Linn.; hebridal sandpiper, Pennant; Arenaria cinerea, Brisson; turnstone; insulis versus Americam sitis

• Red Knot - Aleutis - Limosa Barge; Gallinago cinerea; Scolopax Limosa, Linn.; Americam sitis

• Red-necked Stint - Aleutis - Trynga salina; Trynga ruficollis, Latham; insulis versus Americam sitis D.D. Merck

• Purple Sandpiper - Bering Sea, Alaska - Trynga arquatella, in Beringii insula a Stellero visa

• Red Phalarope - Aleutis - Phalaropus rufus; Trynga fulicipeda rubra, Edward; Phalaropus rufescens, Brisson; Trynga fulicaria, Linn.; red phalarope, Latham; Americam sitas

• Great Skua * - Aleutis - Catarractes skua; Catarractes skua, Brunnich; Arctik bird, Edward, skua gull, Pennant; quam Stellerus in itinere Americano

• Dovekie - Aleutis - Uria Alle; greenland dove, Albin; Alca Alle, Linn.; little auk, Latham

• Black Guillemot - Aleutis - Cepphus Carbo; Aleutis Tschuak; circa insula Aleiticam, praesertim in scopulis circa Unalaschka, unde numerosa specimina accepi

• Pigeon Guillemot * - Bering Sea, Alaska - Cepphus Columba; et Americam abundant et ubique fistulante voce exaudiuntur

• Long-billed Murrelet * - Bering Sea, Alaska - Cepphus Perdix; marbled guillemot, Latham; Americam inque Sinu Ochotensi

• Ancient Murrelet - Aleutis - Uria senicula; ancient auk, Pennant; Alca antiqua, Gmelin; abundant circa insulas Aleuticas

• Cassin's Auklet * - Aleutis - Uria Aleutica; specimina aliquot ex orientali Oceano retulit D.D. Merck

• Parakeet Auklet - Bering Sea, Alaska - Lunda psittacula; perroket auk, Pennant; Americam frequentantibus; Americam extansas non infrequens avis

• Crested Auklet - Aleutis - Uria cristatella; Alca cristatella, Pallas; crested auk, Pennant; frequens in insulis Aleuticis

• Rhinoceros Auklet * - Cape St. Elias - Alca monocerata; circa promontorium S. Eliae Americae

• Rhinoceros Auklet - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Alca monocerata; ad littora insulae Kadiak

• Tufted Puffin - Bering Sea, Alaska - Lunda cirrhata; tufted auk, Pennant; et Americam

• Belted Kingfisher - Aleutis - Alcedo Alcyon; littore occidentali borealis Americae adlata sunt

• Common Raven - Aleutis - Corvus Corax; Aleutis Kalngak; copiese in insulis versus American sitis

• Horned Lark - Aleutis - Alauda coelipeta; Alauda vulgaris; Alauda arvensis, Lin.; Americam sparsae sunt, observavit

• Varied Thrush - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Turdus auroreus; in insula Kadiak

• Hermit Thrush * - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Muscicapa guttata; in insulis America vicinis, praesertim Kadiak; recognized as the Unalaschka thrush

• Red-throated Pipit * - Aleutis - Motacilla Cervina; awatcha - warbler, Latham; i.e., Alauda sylvestris; Americam sitis frequens

• Common Redpoll - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Passer Linaria; Insula Kadiak, Americae contigua habeo varietatem sibiricis similem

• Yellow Warbler - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Motacilla rubiginosa; yellow poll, Latham; in insula Kadiak

• Wilson's Warbler - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Motacilla pileolata; ex insula Kadiak missa est ab amicis, Billings

• Snow Bunting - Aleutis - Emberiza nivalis; Emberiza nivalis, Lin.; snow bunting, Latham; in America boreali frequentissimae

• Golden-crowned Sparrow - Kodiak Island, Alaska - Emberiza coronata; blakcrowned bunting, Latham; in insula Kadiak

* Refers to the first reference to a species in North American nomenclature, or the first currently available historic record of the species in the region

The use by Pallas of known synonyms - from Pennant's Arctic Zoology, and Brisson - is certainly valuable in providing additional details needed to conform his references to modern equivalents of species identification. The reference to D.D. Merck, alludes to Carl Heinrich Merck, whom was on the Slava Rossii when a visit was made to the Aleut islands, with it in particular at Unalashka in June, 1790.

Further details on these records are given in the nominal, modern checklist of species for the continent prepared by the group concerned with tracking this information. This source is valuable for understanding some of the foreign language and how it pertains to the continent east of Asia.

An interesting aspect of the accomplished Pallas (1731-1811), are numerous other nomenclature designations. A number of other original descriptions for North America are based in a 1769 publication in Spic Zool. Details from this source further indicates how Russian-based studies have contributed substantially to the history of ornithology for North America.

Windows are Clear Danger for Migratory Birds

By Maggie O'Brien, Omaha World-Herald Staff Writer

Sunday World-Herald 144(6): 1B-2B. November 9, 2008

An Omaha bird enthusiast thinks federal wildlife officials should be doing more to require businesses to take steps to prevent migratory birds from flying into their buildings and dying.

Jim Ducey, who tracks bird deaths in downtown Omaha, says that since May at least 360 birds have died after hitting tall buildings. He said the glass windows in modern building designs are pretty to look at but deadly for birds.

"The problem is, the people who put up a building with glass make it look really cool, but they don't pay attention to birds," said Ducey, whose hobbies are birds, nature and conservation matters.

The deaths are unfortunate, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials say.

But compared with the thousands of birds that die yearly from encounters with utility lines and other hazards, 300-plus is not a large number, they said.

Still, migratory birds are protected under federal law by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which says they cannot be harmed or killed, even unintentionally.

Under that law, businesses, once notified that birds are flying into their buildings, could be fined up to $15,000 per bird if they don't take steps to prevent the deaths. Federal wildlife officials said they contact the businesses, notify them of the deaths, and offer suggestions to prevent further harm.

No fines have been levied in Nebraska because of birds hitting buildings, said Mark Webb, a special agent with the Fish and Wildlife Service's Lincoln office.

Fines have been imposed on some utilities and road construction crews that ignored the agency's recommendations for protecting birds, Webb said.

Robert Harms, a biologist with the wildlife service in Grand Island, said bird deaths have increased with the number of buildings.

Migratory birds, many of which follow the path of the Missouri River every spring and fall, get too close to Omaha buildings.

When the glass is clear, birds see only what's on the other side. When it is reflective, birds see reflected sky and trees. Both types trick them into flying directly into the glass, Harms said, killing most instantly - and leaving a mess.

"Is it a violation when the bird flies into a building?" Webb asked. "Yes. It's sad that we're losing birds from flying into buildings, but where do you draw the line? We haven't reached it yet."

Some companies may be reluctant to spend money on netting, decals or other measures that could help save birds, Webb said, but "businesses are going to be ahead in terms of money if they just comply with the law. As long as building owners are willing to work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials, they won't get fined."

All bird species are vulnerable to flying into buildings. But according to Ducey's count, purple martins, common yellowthroats and Nashville warblers are among the most common locally.

Last month, the Nebraska Medical Center draped temporary coverings across a skywalk near 44th and Farnam Streets to protect a large nest of purple martins that had roosted in about a dozen nearby trees.

The idea was, the birds would see the covering, instead of reflections, and avoid the glass. At least 15 purple martins died before hospital crews put up the coverings; afterward, none did.

Paul Baltes, a medical center spokesman, said the purple martins now have left the area, continuing on their journey south for the winter. With no other problems, the coverings have been taken down, he said.

Daniel Klem Jr., a professor of biology and ornithology at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., recommends netting. He said some skyscrapers in New York are draped with netting to protect birds.

Decals are another option, Klem said. Such decals might be shaped like butterflies, for instance. Birds will avoid glass if they think other creatures are there.

"(The decals) have to be numerous, and spaced properly to effectively eliminate strikes," Klem said. "The more decals, the more lives saved."

The Qwest Center Omaha is looking into using ultrasonic waves, something like invisible fencing that keeps dogs from leaving a yard, to discourage birds from approaching the building. The system, although expensive, would make sure the birds - and the building's aesthetics - are protected, said Roger Dixon, president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority.

Unfortunately, said Dixon - who is working with federal wildlife officials - the Qwest Center's budget lacks the money to pay for ultrasonic waves, but he hopes to find room in next year's budget.

"We didn't build in the path of birds to do harm," he said. "This has made us aware that birds are being unintentionally taken."

Harms and Webb said most building owners want to protect birds.

"It's a totally new thing. . . . They've never had to think about it before, while me, as a biologist, I think about them all the time," Harms said. "We just want people to try and people to work with us. People in Omaha care about wildlife."

Disabled Warbler Uses Bicycle as Roost While Recovering

While bicycling about downtown Omaha on 25 October, to check for bird strikes, there were five birds found. There were only disabled, the other two were carcasses of former life.

An Orange-crowned Warbler and Dark-eyed Junco were found at the northeast corner of the Central Park Plaza, north tower. There were several passerby's - there is a coffee shop inside - while getting photos and getting ready to move the birds elsewhere so they could recover in safety.

One lady exiting the building was pulling a small suitcase on wheels, and before anything could be said, her foot was right on top of the warbler, and it seemed her show may have stepped on the bird. After a quick comment, she avoided the nearby junco.

The warbler, though obviously already suffering from having hit the building, seemed to miss having any further adverse affects.

After picking up the warbler so it could be taken elsewhere, the junco flew off.

A landscaped area a few blocks away, was where the warbled was taken. Upon being placed on a tree branch, it flew about 50 feet but landed on the grass lawn. It was then picked up again and after trying to put it back on the branch, it flew a few feet and precariously hung from a few leaves, until flying a few more feet and landing on the bicycle being used as transportation.

After being placed on the branch again, the bird remained in place.

The bicycle shown is a borrowed bike, since the front tire of my bicycle had been stolen earlier in the week, on Monday, October 20th, while at the Criss Library at UNO. This was a whole ordeal in itself. After leaving campus and partially carrying the one-wheeled bike, a campus security officer came up and said there had been a report of a stolen bicycle, and I was the match for the description of the so-called thief.

Within a minute there were two other security officers at the scene. The first one basically accused me of stealing the bike, since that was what had been reported by someone near the library. After a few minutes another security guy arrived.

The ordeal on Dodge Street at 62nd - which lasted at least fifteen minutes since they would not believe the bike was mine - was somewhat inane, since the security guys kept questioning whether the bike was actually mine, again and again. Rather than checking to see if a bicycle was really stolen, they wanted proof it was actually mine. Consider, 1) why would someone steal a bike without a front wheel; 2) the bike lock and cable were right there, and the cable had not been cut; 3) the security guys would not go to the rack to see the other tire that was hanging loose, having been removed but not taken (something to do with making sure they were all safe); and 4) they would not go the the scene to notice that there was no cut lock or cable at the supposed scene of the theft.

Consider also these points: 1) someone else stole the tire from my bicycle, and nothing was being done to find them; 2) someone makes an accusation of a bicycle theft, and the false report was believed; 3) the security guy said I had been at a bicycle rack west of the library looking at bikes there, when that was not the case, so this was a made-up detail since I did not even know where that rack was located; 4) the last security guy that arrived in a pickup, made an illegal left turn off Dodge street to reach the scene; and 5) once I was able to finally leave, the security guy that was haranguing me, made a comment that perhaps I should be banned from campus for being a trouble-maker. His reasoning: my id was not provided immediately upon request.

To summarize: my tire gets stolen and other people are in the wrong, and I get harassed. The situation and related events were discussed later in the week with a supervisor at the security office.

These details are provided since without a bicycle that provided my only transportation, it meant there was no means to get around to look for bird strikes. Riding the buss downtown and then walking about just was not adequate for a timely and more thorough search. No funds are available to purchase a new wheel.

On Thursday, Marjie Ducey let me borrow her unused bicycle. After figuring out how to get air into the tires, mobility returned. And because of having this bike, I was able to get around this morning, and to rescue three disabled birds. A special thanks to her for assistance by providing a bicycle for transportation.

Orange-crowned Warbler on bicycle in downtown Omaha.

It seemed somewhat special that this picture could get captured. It seems that perhaps the Orange-crowned Warbler appreciated the bike being available and useful it getting it taken to a safer place. This was shown by it also using the bike as a temporary spot to rest and catch some warm sun rays.

Long-Tailed Duck Depicted on Winning Duck Stamp

Long-Tailed Duck with Decoy, painting by Joshua Spies.

A dramatic acrylic painting of a Long-tailed Duck by Joshua Spies of South Dakota is the winner of the 2009-1010 “duck stamp” contest held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

There were 270 entries in this year’s contest, and entrants had been asked to depict one of the following species of waterfowl: Canada Goose, Brant, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, or Long-tailed Duck. The first-through third-place entries are illustrated on the contest results page.

Funds raised through the mandatory purchase of the $15 duck stamp by waterfowl shootists, are used for habitat conservation. More than $750 million dollars has been raised by selling duck stamps, according to FWS figures. The stamps have been required since 1934.

“The Duck Stamp is a significant funding mechanism for the Service to acquire land for the National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Jim Leach, a refuge supervisor for the FWS and chairperson for the Federal Duck Stamp planning committee. “These lands provide critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. The lands are also open to the American public, and provide hunting, fishing, and environmental education opportunities. The contest to select the artwork involves the arts community, birders, nature enthusiasts, hunters, and stamp collectors.”

“Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System,” according to details on the duck stamp web page.

Spies, from Watertown, has a degree in fine arts degree from South Dakota State University. He previously competed in the federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp - better known as the duck stamp - contest, and previously placed first in the South Dakota duck stamp competition, and has been featured in “Wildlife Art” magazine, according to information on his website.

Judging was held and the winner was announced during a two-day contest held the weekend of October 18th, at the Bloomington Art Center, in Minnesota.

First posted on bloggernews.net

Mortality of Migratory Birds Continues at UNL Hazards

Recent bird strike. Carcass of a Brown Creeper at the UNL city campus.

A visit the UNL campus to view the measures that were put in place to address bird strikes indicates that bird mortality continues at place where some effort was made to reduce the extent of the hazards.

The first thing found was a dead Brown Creeper at the Cather-Pound-Neihardt walkway. Obviously the markers put on the glass at this site did nothing to help this bird. In looking closer at the south side of the walkway, there were several smears on the glass from bird droppings indicating other strikes. And it seems that one of the markers was also beginning to fall off. There were some feathers at a second place under the walkway. Additional carcasses were expected, but since there are many feral cats on campus, they probably got eaten, or thrown away.

The markers placed on the glass are not enough to adequately address the bird strikes at this building hazard. There are not enough, and they obviously do not sufficiently make the glass opaque to significantly reduce the extent of impacts. Whether they are making any difference is not known.

Glass of the CPN walkway with obvious smears from bird droppings that occur at a bird strike. Click on the image for a better view.

View of the CPN walkway on October 19, 2008.

The same situation applies at the Hamilton Hall walkways. No carcasses here either, and for the same reason. The extent of markers here is also pretty sparse, and do not appear to be sufficient enough to make a significant impact.

Obviously the Fish and Wildlife Service did not followup on this effort to evaluate whether it was a substantive effort that would seriously address the very significant bird strike issue on city campus. This reflects an ongoing "whatever" attitude by this agency on the bird strike problem.

View of the markers placed on the north walkway at Hamilton Hall.

The grade for the effort by UNL is a D since at least some effort was taken, but it was a measly effort and not enough to get a passing grade. There was not enough preparation made to find a solution that would be immediately effective and with lasting impact. The decals were put up later than expected. The most simplistic and cheap option was selected. There has also been no followup evaluation to see what the actual results are. Also the dead creeper is a significant negative on any grade. Facilities needs to try again, and this time try to at least get a passing grade...

The grade for the FWS is a C, since they made some effort to address the problem, but did not provide specific suggestions for measures that would be most effective (providing a copy of suggested guidelines is not enough), there was no followup on what was done, and they have not made any effort to continue to work with UNL to ensure the extent of bird strikes is significantly reduced at the earliest possible time.

The wild birds continue to die from bird strikes at the UNL City Campus.