Chain-saw Vandal Destroys Numerous Trees at Omaha's Hummel Park

During a hike to survey bird diversity at Hummel Park on 19 October, it became readily apparent upon reaching the ridge just south of Ponca Creek, that dozens of trees had been very recently cut-down by someone wielding a chainsaw that was obviously working perfectly.

Destruction was first noted upon reaching the uplands to the northeast of the day camp area at the northern section of the park. There were some stumps here and there and elsewhere, which were the remnants of what had been live trees.

The extent of what had been sawn down increased upon walking eastward along the ridge-top hiking trail. Continuing along, there were trees cutoff to one extent or another along the entire path to the eastern edge of the park at North River Road, including some at the northern entrance to the park. Additional trees were destroyed among the woods at a couple of places.

The tree removal was obvious, but while hiking along, the reason for it having occurred was not apparent.

City officials were contacted later in the day, and asked about what had occurred at the park.

Officials were aware of the situation, which was vandalism.

A report has been filed with the Omaha Police Department, according to Steve Scarpello, administrator of the department.

Officials are expected to continue attempts to determine the person(s) responsible for destroying the trees in the forest of the park.

Hummel Park has ongoing problems with vandalism.

This year Parks' officials placed barriers on the two routes to access the hilltop picnic and shelter area at the north portion of the park. Improvements are being made to the structures, and vehicular access was limited by gates across the roads, though access by hiking is still possible.

Access to the northwest corner of the park has been recently closed by placing concrete barriers to prevent vehicular travel. One site along this former street had been regularly used as a dumping site for a variety of trash.

The former roadway now provides a fine path for hikers.

Additional efforts are being made to stop vandalism at the park and to suitably improve the place for visitors.

Plans include changes to increase the presence of people at the park, to help thwart illegal activities.

Hummel Park is currently taken care of by a caretaker at N.P. Dodge Park, a position which is currently vacant, but with someone expected to be onsite early in November.

In 2011, according to management staff of Parks Recreation and Public Property, the three buildings which currently comprise the Hummel Park Day Camp will be removed, and a single new structure will be built and will provide accommodations for a resident caretaker.

Frisbee Golf Course Nixed

A frisbee golf course will not be installed in the northern woods of Hummel Park.

City officials said that the volunteer effort to create this recreational feature will not continue. There had been three holes created in the upland area of the north picnic grounds.

Factors influencing this decision included the insufficient extent of efforts by volunteers which offered to create the course, and a realization that the summer conditions along Ponca Creek are not conducive this sort of outdoor recreation.

During the summer, the woods along the creek are hot and humid, with pesky bugs prominent. Vegetative growth also was inhibitory.

Portions of the course had been expected to be placed along the designated nature trail along Ponca creek.

There are now no plans for any recreational developments along the trail. It will continue to be managed as a natural area, which is conducive to passive pursuits such as watching birds.

This section of the park and its habitats are known to have been a place to observe Cerulean Warblers - a species of concern - during the summer season, and Winter Wrens from late autumn to early spring. A plethora of other species are known to occur, based on reports posted on the NEBirds online forum.

Bird Strikes of One Day in Mid-October at Omaha Buildings

When the pre-dawn morning of October 20th arrived, the clock indicated it was 1.5 hours past the typical time to get up and get going, based on forays on recent days. The latter start was intentional as the birdly focus had changed somewhat in order to determine if Chimney Swifts were still present. More than 50 were seen on the evening of the 19th in the Memorial Park and Dundee area, and as it was late in the season for their ongoing residence in the river city, the intent was to be downtown during the early morning, so if any swifts were about, they could be seen and noted.

The mornings' outing was underway about 6:30 a.m., after doing regular duties around the house, including placing the recyclables bin on the curb, and putting out a very small bag of trash out front for the weekly removal. The yard waste container had been dealt with the evening before.

The survey route followed the typical route. Hard pedaling up the Cuming Street hill to 39th Street, then over to Burt Street and a relatively easy downhill ride to 30th Street and onward.

At the Harper Center on the Creighton University campus, there was a subtle indication of what was pending for this particular day. Calls of numerous birds were heard and some were readily seen.

Upon reaching the site of numerous previous bird-strikes at the southwest entry for the building, a bird was seen careening off the glass, but it continued onward.

Upon looking closely, there were no obvious carcasses, but it seemed appropriate to look closer. The result: a bug-eaten warbler of some sort on the south side of the building, at the windows just east of the entry.

The first picture of the day documented this bird strike occurrence.

There was another dead bird at the southeast corner of the same building. It was fresh and had probably happened very recently, perhaps just minutes earlier. Another picture was taken, including one of the carcass and the scene.

The morning's ride continued on the self-propelled bicycle.

At the Qwest Center Omaha, there was the normal uncertainty about the day's situation.

This morning, there were a bunch of sparrows on the north side at the north entry, with about five birds congregating against the glass at the northern entrance. Upon an approach, they all flew away. More of these birds were along the sidewalk just to the north, and they were chased about while looking at the situation, though they did not depart, instead they scattered but returned to the same place.

My route went southward along the west facade of this ugly place. There was a carcass noted, so my travels were stopped to document this, just seconds before the security man was there. His job was to throw away the dead bird, but I was there so he kept walking, apparently in communication with whomever he is supposed to report to.

Further south along the west facade of the deadliest building for birds in Omaha, there was another species of the same ilk. It was not dead, but disabled and just could not seem to find a means to get away. Assistance was rendered.

It seems that the dead bird patrol during the dawn hours at the Qwest Center Omaha will not deal with live birds, as they seem to remain. Perhaps the security guys have been instructed to leave them alone. At least this gives them an opportunity to recover and hopefully fly away and continue their migration.

It is the obvious intent of the management personnel associated with the Qwest Center Omaha to get rid of the dead birds in an attempt to make sure no one knows about the many bird strikes which occur at this building.

The morning's route went onward amongst the buildings of downtown Omaha.

There was a dead Lincoln's Sparrow at the Holland Center for Performing Arts. The day before there had been a lively discussion with a representative of the management group for this facility, but the bird that died certainly did not care about that rhetorical discussion.

One interesting comment: "We don't want to be like them," was said in reference to what was occurring at the Qwest Center Omaha, in regards to security men throwing birds into the trash.

The next spot of prominence for this day was the Union Pacific Center, at its north side. There were two disabled birds on the sidewalk and another appreciating shelter beside some bits of sidewalk landscaping.

Species noted here were a Nashville Warbler, a subtly-colored Orange-Crowned Warbler and a big American Coot that did its best to avoid having anything to do with the pedestrians on the sidewalk, though it was forced to move and make its own way.

The morning continued, thankfully without any harassment from any security force, which is prevalent in downtown at certain buildings.

On the west side of the Zorinsky Federal Building was a dead Lincoln's Sparrow, photographed while certainly being watched on the surveillance cameras mounted at each corner of the place. This documentary interlude was short enough so there was no confrontation. Though when an inquiry was made to get a name and phone number for the building manager, one guardian would not provide any details. Outside, another security man at least provided a name.

At the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center, another dead Lincoln's Sparrow was photographed, while two smoking females workers watched with some interest or another.

Onward to the east, at the Nebraska State Office Building and once again on the north side, were two more dead warblers. During the too-long interlude to take pictures, Bill, who formerly lived in Alaska explained the inane means of providing light and power to Bering Sea settlements, so some time lingering occurred.

Pictures were taken and a departure soon followed. One interesting tidbit was that the State of Nebraska leases the building which is owned by Kiewit, so they are responsible for the situation.

Across the street, there was a disabled Orange-crowned Warbler on the north side of the 1200 Landmark Center. A picture of the situation was taken for documentary purposes. Then, on the south side of the same place, was a dead Lincoln's Sparrow.

The morning was deadly, and it was obvious that a whole bunch of birds were moving southward in their autumnal migration. It was a condition that indicated that perhaps some places should be looked at again.

Onward the route went and the premonition was correct.

At the north side of the Union Pacific Center, there were two more disabled birds. One was a forlorn and suffering Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. The other was a species first unknown, but it soon became apparent that it was a Yellow-rumped Warbler that was clinging to the building's wall outside of where there was interior landscaping.

These two birds were not here for very long. It was interesting to be able to observe how strikes occurred at different times in the early morning. The prognosis is that the American Coot hit first. Then the warblers suffered a similar fate. And just a short time later, the Yellow-rumped Warbler and kinglet also struck the building because of the interior landscaping at this building.

The route of the day went westward a far ways, and there was another apparent carcass. It was a dead Lincoln's Sparrow on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus at a site which had appeared to be a hazard. The situation was confirmed by the dead bird lying in the Tritsch Garden. This was the first known bird strike on the campus of the college.

With the numerous bird strike instances in the morning, it somehow seemed appropriate to check further into what was happening on this October day. It was a suitable decision to check out the situation later in the day, during the afternoon.

The first site visited resulted in seeing another dead Lincoln's Sparrow, at the southwest entrance for the Harper Center on the campus of Creighton University. This site is a regular hazard.

Just a short jaunt to the east, there was a carcass of an Orange-crowned Warbler and another of the Field Sparrow at the Qwest Center Omaha.

The day's activities ended as an ambassador to inform a public official about the multitude of bird strikes and the prominent hazards at the Omaha-Douglas Civic Center. He was informed of the several recent bird strikes and how the Migratory Bird Treaty Act pertains to the situation.

An email to the Fish and Wildlife was sent asking that they provide the building administrator with further information.

There were 20 known bird strikes, during what was obviously a bad day for migratory birds in the river city! Disabled and dead birds cannot speak for what they sorrowfully deal with. This account conveys what happened on one October day, and indicates the extent of hazardous conditions for migratory song birds along the Missouri River in east-central Nebraska.

Bird-Themed Poetry From the Atlantic Monthly in the 1860s

The Titmouse.

You shall not be over-bold

When you deal with arctic cold,

As late I found my lukewarm blood

Chilled wading in the snow-choked wood

How should I fight? my foeman fine

Has million arms to one of mine

East, west, for aid I looked in vain;

East, west, north, south, are his domain.

Miles off, three dangerous miles, is home;

Must borrow his winds who there would come.

Up and away for life! be fleet!

The frost-king times my fumbling feet,

Sings in my ears, my hands are stones,

Curdles the blood to the marble bones,

Tugs at the heartstrings, numbs the sense,

Hems in the life with narrowing fence.

 

Well in this broad bed lie and sleep,

The punctual stars will vigil keep,

Embalmed by purifying cold,

The winds shall sing their dead-march old,

The snow is no ignoble shroud,

The moon thy mourner, and the cloud.

 

Softly, — but this way fate was pointing,

'T was coming fast to such anointing,

When piped a tiny voice hard by,

Gay and polite, a cheerful cry,

"Chic-chic-a-dee-dee!" saucy note,

Out of sound heart and merry throat,

As if it said, "Good day, good Sir!

Fine afternoon, old passenger!

Happy to meet you in these places,

Where January brings few men's faces."

 

This poet, though he lives apart,

Moved by a hospitable heart,

Sped, when I passed his sylvan fort,

To do the honors of his court,

As fits a feathered lord of land,

Flew near, with soft wing grazed my hand,

Hopped on the bough, then, darting low,

Prints his small impress on the snow,

Shows feats of his gymnastic play,

Head downward, clinging to the spray,

Here was this atom in full breath.

 

This scrap of valor just for play

Fronts the north-wind in waistcoat gray,

As if to shame my weak behavior.

I greeted loud my little savior;

"Thou pet! what dost here? and what for?

In these woods, thy small Labrador,

At this pinch, wee San Salvador!

What fire burns in that little chest,

So frolic, stout, and self-possest?

Didst steal the glow that lights the West?

Henceforth I wear no stripe but thine:

Ashes and black all hues outshine.

Why are not diamonds black and gray,

To ape thy dare-devil array?

And I affirm the spacious North

Exists to draw thy virtue forth.

I think no virtue goes with size:

The reasons of all cowardice

Is, that men are overgrown,

And, to be valiant, must come down

To the titmouse dimension."

 

'T is good-will makes intelligence,

And I began to catch the sense

Of my bird's song: "Live out of doors,

In the great woods, and prairie floors.

I dine in the sun; when he sinks in the sea,

I, too, have a hole in a hollow tree.

And I like less when summer beats

With stifling beams on these retreats

Than noontide twilights which snow makes

With tempest of the blinding flakes:

For well the soul, if stout within,

Can arm impregnably the skin;

And polar frost my frame defied,

Made of the air that blows outside."

 

With glad remembrance of my debt,

I homeward turn. Farewell, my pet!

When here again they pilgrim comes,

He shall bring store of weeds and crumbs.

Henceforth I prize thy wiry chant

O'er all that mass and minister vaunt:

For men mishear thy call in spring,

As 't would accost some frivolous wing,

Crying out of the hazel copse, "Phe-be!"

And in winter, "Chic-a-dee-dee!"

I think old Caesar must have heard

In Northern Gaul my dauntless bird,

And, echoed in some frosty wold,

Borrowed the battle-numbers bold.

And thank thee for a better clew:

I, who dreamed not, when I came here,

To find the antidote of fear,

Now hear thee say in Roman key,

"Paean! Ve-ni, Vi-di, Vi-ci."

Anonymous. May, 1862. Atlantic Monthly 9(55): 585-587.

The Bobolinks

When Nature had made all her birds,

And had no cares to think on,

She gave a rippling laugh — and out

There flew a Bobolinkon.

 

She laughed again, — out flew a mate.

A breeze of Eden bore them

Across the fields of Paradise,

The sunrise reddening o'er them.

 

Incarnate sport and holiday,

They flew and sang forever;

Their souls through June were all in tune,

Their wings were weary never.

 

The blithest song of breezy farms,

Quaintest of field-notes flavors,

Exhaustless fount of trembling trills

And demisemiquavers.

 

Their tribe, still drunk with air and light

And perfume of the meadow,

Go reeling up and down the sky,

In sunshine and in shadow.

 

One springs from out the dew-wet grass,

Another follows after;

The morn is thrilling with their songs

And peals of fairy laughter.

 

From out the marshes and the brook,

They set the tall reeds swinging,

And meet and frolic in the air,

Half prattling and half singing.

 

When morning winds sweep meadow lands

In green and russet billows,

And toss the lonely elm-tree's boughs,

And silver all the willows,

 

I see you buffeting the breeze,

Or with its motion swaying,

Your notes half drowned against the wind,

Or down the current playing.

 

When far away o'er grassy flats,

Where the thick wood commences,

The white-sleeved mowers look like specks

Beyond the zigzag fences.

 

And noon is hot, and barn-roofs gleam

White in the pale-blue distance,

I hear the saucy minstrels still

In chattering persistence.

 

When Eve her domes of opal fire

Piles round the blue horizon,

Or thunder rolls from hill to hill

A Kyrie Eleison, —

 

Still, merriest of the merry birds,

Your sparkle is unfading, —

Pied harlequins of June, no end

Of song and masquerading.

 

What cadences of bubbling mirth

Too quick for bar or rhythm!

What ecstasies, too full to keep

Coherent measures with them!

 

O could I share, without champagne

Or muscadel, your frolic,

The glad delirium of your joy,

Your fun un-apostolic.

 

Your drunken jargon through the fields,

Your bobolinkish gabble,

Your fine anacreontic glee,

Your tipsy reveller's babble!

 

Nay, — let me not profane such joy

With similes of folly, —

No wine of earth could waken songs

So delicately jolly!

 

O boundless self-contentment, voiced

In flying air-born bubbles!

O joy that mocks our sad unrest,

And drowns our earth-born troubles!

 

Hope Springs with you; I dread no more

Despondency and dullness;

For Good Supreme can never fail

That gives such perfect fullness.

 

The Life that floods the happy fields

With song and light and color

Will shape our lives to richer states,

And heap our measures fuller.

C.P. Cranch. September, 1866. Atlantic Monthly 18(107): 321-322.

Custer County Farm the Site for First-ever Big Sit in Nebraska

A farmstead in Custer County was the locale for the first Big Sit done in Nebraska.

Common Name	10/8-9	10/10	10/11
American Crow	24	28	3
American Goldfinch	-	-	1
American Pipit	-	5	5
American Robin	-	-	2
Barn Swallow	-	1	-
Blue Jay	-	-	2
Brewer's Blackbird	-	7	7
Chipping Sparrow	7	0	1
Clay-colored Sparrow	4	0	-
Common Grackle	3	-	-
Dark-eyed Junco	1	-	-
Dickcissel	-	2	-
Eastern Bluebird	1	-	-
European Starling	-	-	65
Field Sparrow	15	0	-
Fox Sparrow	-	-	1
Grasshopper Sparrow	3	0	-
Great Blue Heron	-	1	-
Great Horned Owl	-	-	2
Greater Prairie-Chicken	-	25	0
Harris's Sparrow	1	0	1
House Sparrow	-	-	1
House Wren	1	1	-
Killdeer	-	-	1
Le Conte's Sparrow	-	2	-
Lincoln's Sparrow	8	0	-
Mourning Dove	-	-	5
Northern Bobwhite	-	-	1
Northern Flicker	-	1	1
Northern Harrier	-	-	1
Orange-crowned Warbler	10	-	1
Prairie Falcon	-	-	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	-	-
Red-winged Blackbird	55	-	-
Ring-necked Pheasant	-	-	10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1	-	-
Sandhill Crane	0	200	0
Savannah Sparrow	6	0	5
Sharp-tailed Grouse	-	1	-
Song Sparrow	4	0	2
Spotted Towhee	1	-	1
Vesper Sparrow	6	0	3
Western Meadowlark	-	-	50
White-crowned Sparrow	24	0	12
White-throated Sparrow	2	1	1
Yellow-rumped Warbler	20	-	8

Tim Hajda contributed the results for Team Merlin, based on observations made from a circle in the yard of the family farm a few miles southeast of Broken Bow, on October 11th.

Though "bad weather made it downright miserable for most of the time," Hajda noted, 30 different species were seen from his vantage point.

It was windy and cloudy on the Sunday, with temperatures in the 30s.

Each species seen was appreciated, he said.

"The weather caused me to have some doubts that birds would be active and present in their normal numbers. It did turn out that there was a marked difference in bird activity, so I especially appreciated seeing the birds that were out and about, despite the weather."

Hajda did not keep watch during the entire day, but spent many hours outside scanning the nearby rural landscape — "mostly half-melted snow blanketing cane and corn fields across the rolling hills" — to see what species were visible.

"In true 'big day' fashion, what seemed to be the easiest species to find suddenly disappeared," Hajda noted in a contributed posting to the NEBirds forum. "There were no Horned Larks, Field, Lincoln's or Clay-colored sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-tailed Hawks, etc. It was made up by some pretty neat birds, though."

A particular highlight on Sunday was a "beautiful 'red'" Fox Sparrow, especially appreciated. The most prevalent native species were the Western Meadowlark, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Greater Prairie-Chicken, and migratory Yellow-rumped Warblers.

In anticipation of the Big Sit, an international birding event held on the second Sunday of October, Hajda had been closely watching bird activity in the area to determine what species were present. His observations for the two previous days were submitted for other Nebraska birders to read, and obviously indicated that he was spending time afield each day of a three-day weekend.

The passage of a cold weather front on Friday and Saturday "really stirred the birds up," he noted. There was a fresh "7 inches of snow" on the flatlands of central Custer County. Among the 23 species seen during a Saturday hike within two miles on his house, were 2 adult Le Conte's Sparrows, as well as a possible juvenile.

"I was sorting through sparrows in a weedy ditch down the road when I came across them," Hajda said. "I got incredible looks from just a few yards away." This is the first record he has of the species in Custer County, as he has for several months been working to compile a list of known species. Pictures of these sparrows were posted online.

Le Conte's Sparrow noted during the weekend of the Big Sit in Custer County. Image courtesy of Tim Hajda.

There were a dozen sparrows noted in the vicinity during his foray. Other species were noted on Friday, but not during any other time of the weekend.

An overall tally of 47 species during the weekend readily indicates the different avifauna tht can be seen on a particular day ... during a short hike or noted from the limited perspective that is the primary criteria of any Big Sit, wherever it may occur.

"Birding becomes habitual, so I always feel a desire to get out and see what birds are around. On top of that, area bird activity was high and unusual stuff was showing up, possibly due to the fluctuating weather conditions. It was nice out and there were a lot of birds — good enough reasons for me to spend time outdoors!"

The Big Sit has taken place for more than a decade, but the closest point of participation was at DeSoto NWR — along the Missouri River — in an event sponsored by the refuge, and with multiple observers present during the day.

Team Merlin was comprised solely of Hajda, with support provided by his family.

"My family was very supportive. My Dad brought out some hot soup mid-morning and got the latest report on what I had seen. Even my 'non-birding' siblings were very interested in what I was doing and what birds I saw."

"The Big Sit! puts a fun spin on encouraging birders to get out and look for birds at a less-popular time of year. As was proved during my Sit, unusual birds can and do show up at unexpected times and in unexpected places. Going out and doing an intensive count like The Big Sit! opens up a wider opportunity for these birds to be detected, documented and reported, which ultimately increases our overall knowledge of the Nebraska avifauna. The Big Sit! is also a tool in ornithological public education, drawing people in with the social atmosphere and then increasing their awareness of the birds. Now that I have experienced The Big Sit! myself, I hope to further popularize it throughout the area and throughout the state."

Hajda had first first read about The Big Sit! two years ago and thought that it would be a fun excuse to get out and do some birding. He wasn't able to take part in the last two Sits because of other planned activities, but made it a priority to participate this year.

Greater Prairie-Chicken on a center pivot. Image courtesy of Tim Hajda, who has taken additional pictures of birds at the Hajda farm and elsewhere in Nebraska.

Chimney Swift Nesting Towers the Focus for an Expanding Research Project

A research project to understand the use of nesting towers by the Chimney Swift has recently expanded from Connecticut to a nationwide extent with the intent to assist the Chimney Swift, which are declining in numbers across their entire range.

The decline may be caused by a loss of nesting habitat, as chimneys are being capped to prevent access, or removed as older buildings are demolished. Newly constructed buildings do not always include chimneys, so few new breeding places are being developed.

"A potential solution is to provide additional suitable nesting sites through the proliferation of chimney swift towers," said Tanner Steeves, a graduate assistant at the University of Connecticut, and a member of the University of Connecticut Ornithology Research Group. Steeves helped to develop a new design for constructing nesting towers for the swifts, and is a project manager for a project to document swifts breeding in towers constructed for their use.

The "Chimney Swift Project" will document the location of existing swift towers, and track their yearly occupancy. The project was originally started by Margaret Rubega, a professor at the University of Connecticut, as well as the State Ornithologist.

A request for assistance from swift enthusiast's in North America was recently posted in different online bird forums. Tracking of swift tower locations originally started in Connecticut, Steeves said. The researchers wanted to increase their "sample size for adequate scientific scrutiny," so they asked other birders and conservationists for information about any towers they were aware of.

"We hope to evaluate the importance of tower design and placement for the conservation of swifts," said the message from Steeves, and Margaret Rubega, also involved with the project. "We are asking anyone who knows of an existing tower, or who intends to build one, to provide the tower location (GPS coordinates welcome, but not necessary), along with the tower owner or manager's contact information."

Towers have been constructed for use by the Chimney Swift (Chateura pelagica) for many decades, according to scattered details in the ornithological literature.

The Chimney Swift Project intends to evaluate the value of different structures currently in use and to figure how newly built nesting sites are beneficial.

"We are interested in creating a new swift tower design that would be inexpensive, affordable, lightweight, easily constructed, and moveable," Steeves said. "We feel that these characteristics will increase the likelihood of their construction by local birding groups, and perhaps their effectiveness - if the initial placement of a tower resulted in no occupancy, it can be relocated."

Towers built using the new design have been built and installed at Storrs, Connecticut, and the performance of this design is still in the process of being evaluated.

"We are still in the process of refining this design. As we heard of more towers throughout Connecticut and the Northeast, we began to consider the efficacy of these towers more seriously. It turns out that the installation of a swift tower does not guarantee it to be occupied by nesting swifts. There has been no continent-wide assessment of swift towers, so we decided to start reaching out to see if we could get a basic idea of how many towers were out there, where they are, and if they are being occupied by swifts.

"The allocation of conservation dollars is an important consideration for most organizations, so it is important to know how well they work," Steeves said, noting two important questions: "Do Swift towers help stabilize declining populations?," and "What is the pattern of occupancy of swift towers?

Answering these questions might help conservation efforts for the species, he said.

The database of swift nesting towers, will "eventually be available for public viewing, hopefully in some sort of web-based manner," said Steeves.

Public education and outreach are other opportunities for the project. Activities of the swifts could be viewed through web-cams, or autumnal gatherings could provide bird watching opportunities.

Contributions from swift enthusiasts "are greatly appreciated and will help future conservation efforts" for the swifts, he added. The monitoring can help with better understanding the distribution and occurrence of the birds.

This project has been funded by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP), and the University of Connecticut's Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, and is being completed in partnership with Shannon Kearney of the CTDEP Wildlife Division.

Proclamation Designates Tern and Plover Day in Nebraska

October 14, 2009 was officially recognized as Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover Day in Nebraska, according to a proclamation issued by Governor Dave Heineman.

The designation was in recognition of the tenth anniversary of the Tern and Plover Partnership in Nebraska, which started in 1999, said Mary Bomberger Brown, program coordinator of the effort. "We wanted to get some recognition of this effort to protect the Least Tern and Piping Plover, so contacted the governor's office and provided them information on the partnership and its successes."

The proclamation was prepared by the governor's staff and was read by Governor Heineman at a ceremony on October 14th, at the Warner Room of the State Capitol.

Chris Thody, Governor Dave Heineman and Mary Bomberger Brown at the reading of the proclamation. Courtesy of the Tern and Plover Partnership.

State of Nebraska

Proclamation

Whereas, Interior Least Terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos) and Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) are protected in the state of Nebraska by the Nebraska Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act, the federal Endangered Species Act, and the federal International Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and

Whereas, the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership works proactively and cooperatively with the aggregate mining industry, electrical power companies, other utility companies, Natural Resources Districts, real estate development companies, construction companies, local governments, property owners, homeowners’ associations, state and federal agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the University of Nebraska School of Natural Resources, the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and others to protect Nebraska’s Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers; and

Whereas, Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers require open areas of sand for nesting which, in Nebraska, includes sandbars in the Platte, Loup, Elkhorn, Niobrara, and Missouri rivers, sand and gravel mine discharge piles, beaches at lakeshore housing developments, and Lake McConaughy; and

Whereas, Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers return every year to Nebraska to nest which is critical for the recovery and survival of the two species; and

Whereas, by protecting Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers nesting on their property, the partners of the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership are making positive contributions to the conservation of these two imperiled species; and

Whereas, the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership builds alliances with all interested parties to insure that Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers remain a part of Nebraska’s rich natural heritage; and

Whereas, recognizing the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership gives us the opportunity to celebrate Nebraska’s natural heritage and to embrace the continued recovery of these two species.

Now, therefore, I, Dave Heineman, Governor of the State of Nebraska, do hereby recognize Wednesday, October 14, 2009, as

Interior Least Tern and Piping Plover Day

in Nebraska, and I do hereby urge all citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of Interior Least Terns and Piping Plovers in the State of Nebraska and the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and cause the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska to be affixed this fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Nine.

Brown, provided a short speech. Chris Thody, outreach coordinator for the partnership, also attended.

"It is very useful for the governor's office to know of the positive results and successes of the partnership," Brown said in a latter interview. "The proclamation also expands the exposure of this effort to a new audience, which gives a broader base of potential interest and support. Our group can be worked with successfully, and it is important that more people realize this."

Personally, "it is always nice when efforts get recognition by people in a broader context," than the regular partners and bird enthusiasts, Brown said.

"The proclamation was a special treat," she said. "We hope to parlay this attention in expanding our efforts to conserve" these two bird species.

In Nebraska, The Least Tern is an endangered species and the Piping Plover is classified as threatened, with both species in peril throughout their North American range.

Name the Giant Plover

The Tern and Plover Partnership is currently holding a contest to name a giant model of a Piping Plover.

The model is several feet in height and it a life-like representation being used as part of the partnership's educational efforts.

"It is helpful in getting people interested enough to stop and visit to learn more about the plover," Brown said. "This gives us a chance to explain the needs for conservation" and to explain that there are birds in peril in Nebraska.

The giant plover has been taken to a couple of events already, and has especially enjoyed by kids, younger and older, Brown said. Many of them like to get their picture taken with the model bird.

Although Brown and Thody refer to the giant plover as a she, most of the suggested names have been a male moniker.

The deadline for entering the naming contest is October 28th, and names can be submitted at the Partnership website.

DeSoto's Gooseless Wonders Contribute to Bird Distribution Research

Whether it was swallows flitting above riverine lake waters in search of a tasty insect morsel, cormorants resting on a perch or geese winging into a safe haven, each of some particular bird species noted on Sunday were a contribution that will help in the understanding of particular distribution of autumn season birds across the U.S. and a few other places of the world.

View from the Bit Sit "circle" at DeSoto NWR.

The sightings of an autumn Sunday were made during another Big Sit at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, along the Missouri River, west of Missouri Valley, Iowa.

With temperatures in the mid-30s, and under gray, overcast skies, the tiny observation spot for this annual event was in the comfort of the viewing gallery of the refuge nature center. Valid observations were made from a small place at the end of a hallway, with glass walls conducive to looking outside. There was warmth and chairs. A spotting scope was setup used to view the oxbow lake and other habitats visible outside the windows.

It was a good vantage point to look at where the Canada geese gathered, and to scan the water habitat which attracted other notable species. A Northern Harrier could be seen in a nearby field. Off in the distance was a Red-tailed Hawk sitting on the snag of a tree. A Pied-billed Grebe floated along, ignorant of it being noted in a tally of results for a days' research. Occasionally, gulls coursing over the lake, in search of a tasty tidbit. Other bird activity was intently watched.

Being inside, the participants were able to converse with other visitors. Some inquired about which birds were being seen, or took the opportunity to look through the spotting scope to get an upclose view of the avifauna in view.

The wintery weather of Saturday, moved waterfowl southward, and this included flocks of geese moving down the Missouri River valley.

Deb Hunsberger and James Hartman looking for bird species during the Big Sit.

For Deb Hunsberger, the highlight of her time closely watching the scene for birds was the arrival of a small flock of greater white-fronted geese, which she had not seen in a while. She was present to help - being a regular refuge volunteer - and a member of the Friends of DeSoto Refuge board. She normally birds outside, so did miss not seeing any songbirds which might have been identified after being heard among the woods along the banks of the lake-shore.

The 41 species noted this year was comparable to the two previous Big Sits, when the watchers made their observations from a boardwalk on the east side of the nature center, and outside.

During the morning, when the majestic Bald Eagle was seen winging southward over the oxbox lake, Jim Hartman noted that a pair have raised a brood - just off to the east on the refuge - since 2000. Next season, the refuge will install a web-cam at the nest, so live views of the breeding activity can be sent back to the nature center. This will help with environmental education efforts, he said, and allow visitors to get a close-up view of the birds' breeding activities.

DeSoto refuge is "happy to participate in this important research effort," said Hartman, a biologist at the refuge. "DeSoto NWR was established as a refuge for migratory waterfowl. So birding is a natural fit on our refuge. The date of The Big Sit falls in National Wildlife Refuge week. We were looking for activities to do during that week and found this one."

The moniker "Desoto's Gooseless Wonders" refers to the dramatic change which has occurred at the refuge, which was formerly a haven for tens of thousands of snow geese during autumn migrations. Snow geese which formerly occurred, now migrate further west, Hartman said, noting that people still call and ask when the geese will be present.

The Big Sit is always held on the second Sunday of October. DeSoto NWR has participated for three years, and plans to be involved next year as well, Hartman said. About 10-12 people have participated each year.

There were 194 registered circles for the Big Sit this year, with eight located outside the U.S.A.

Species noted during the Big Sits done at the refuge.
The 1 is used to represent that the species was observed, and does not have anything to do with the number present, which is not recorded.

Common Name	Oct 2007	Oct 2008	Oct 2009
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	1
Snow Goose	-	-	1
Canada Goose	1	1	1
Wood Duck	1	1	1
Mallard	1	1	1
Blue-winged Teal	-	1	1
Northern Shoveler	-	-	1
Northern Pintail	-	1	1
Green-winged Teal	1	1	1
Common Goldeneye	-	-	1
Common Merganser	1	1	1
Ring-necked Pheasant	1	1	1
Wild Turkey	1	1	1
Northern Bobwhite	1	-	-
Pied-billed Grebe	-	-	1
American White Pelican	1	1	1
Double-crested Cormorant	1	1	1
Great Blue Heron	1	1	1
Great Egret	1	1	1
Turkey Vulture	1	-	1
Osprey	1	1	-
Bald Eagle	1	1	1
Northern Harrier	1	-	1
Broad-winged Hawk	-	1	-
Red-tailed Hawk	1	1	1
Prairie Falcon	-	-	1
Killdeer	-	1	1
Ring-billed Gull	-	-	1
Rock Pigeon	1	1	-
Eurasian Collared-Dove	-	1	-
Mourning Dove	1	-	-
Great Horned Owl	-	-	1
Barred Owl	1	-	-
Belted Kingfisher	1	-	1
Red-bellied Woodpecker	1	-	1
Northern Flicker	1	1	1
Acadian Flycatcher	1	-	-
Eastern Phoebe	1	-	-
Blue Jay	1	1	1
American Crow	1	1	1
Tree Swallow	1	-	1
Bank Swallow	-	1	-
Cliff Swallow	-	-	1
Barn Swallow	1	1	1
Black-capped Chickadee	1	-	-
Eastern Bluebird	-	-	1
American Robin	1	-	1
European Starling	1	1	1
Northern Cardinal	1	-	1
Common Grackle	1	-	1
American Goldfinch	-	-	1
House Sparrow	-	-	1