Location and Habitat Size of Sandhill Lakes Used by Swans

Scattered among the vast grassland expanse of the Nebraska Sandhills are numerous lakes and marshes that are breeding habitat for an interesting diversity of nesting waterbirds, including the Trumpeter Swan, the largest of the North American waterfowl.

Before the turn of the century this swan was reported as a breeding bird on Watt's Lake, southwest of Valentine in Cherry Co. (Bates 1900), and was considered to have probably once bred at many lakes throughout the Sandhills region (Bruner 1904).

Trumpeter Swans as nesting birds were eventually extirpated from the lakes and marshes, due to indiscriminate shooting and disturbance, as the Sandhills were settled. Reintroduction efforts undertaken during the 1960's were required to return breeding Swans to Nebraska. Birds released at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota eventually became established and a portion of this growing population entered the state to once again nest (Monnie 1966).

Since that time the population status of the Trumpeter Swan, as well as other breeding ducks and geese, has been evaluated during an annual waterfowl survey carried out to compare yearly trends (pers. comm., Rolf Kraft, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and John Sweet, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission). During these aerial surveys the lakes where Swans are observed and possibly breeding are recorded.

In order to assess the characteristics of the different lakes where Swans were present during the breeding season, an analysis of satellite imagery was undertaken to evaluate the relative amount of water and marsh habitat.

The habitat maps used to figure the amount of open water or marsh are available at the Remote Sensing Analysis Laboratory of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This laboratory has prepared an inventory of the location and size of wetlands for the Omaha District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The survey used picture elements from the scanner system of the Landsat Satellite to classify four wetland types: open water, marsh, subirrigated meadows, and riparian wetland. Any area inundated by surface or groundwater frequently enough to support vegetation adapted to survive in water-saturated soil was identified and mapped on a mylar overlay the size of the relevant U.S. Geologic Survey 7.5 minute quadrangle map (Turner et. al. 1980).

These overlays were used to measure the amount of open water or marsh at the Sandhills lakes where Trumpeter Swans had been observed. A measuring device connected to a Numonics Electronic Digitizer/Planimeter was traced around the elements designated by the survey. The area of open water or marsh could be determined in this fashion and the size in acres was then easily converted to hectares.

Alkalinity data was included because of the impact it has on the vegetation of the marsh plant community. This information is from a conibrehensive study of the lakes in the region (McCarraher 1977).

Results

The 23 lakes utilized by Trumpeter Swans occurred primarily in Cherry, Sheridan, and Garden counties (Figure 1, Table 1). They ranged in size from 12 hectare (ha) West Cottonwood Lake up to 253 ha Alkali Lake. Nineteen of the 23 were from 23 to 103 ha in size. West Cottonwood was exceptionally small. The average size was 72 ha. Omitting the lowest and the 3 highest overall size values (those over 103 ha) gave an average size of 56 ha.

Figure 1. Locations in the sandhills region where Trumpeter Swans have been observed during the breeding season.

All of the lakes, except for Hoover, had greater than 56% open water. The range was from the low value of 32% at Hoover Lake to 89% at the two Alkali Lakes in Cherry Co. The average amount of open water was 76% for all 23 lakes.

Open water habitat in the Sandhills has been classified as a submersed aquatic zone. This zone, which is one of three possible wetland zones, is characterized as open water containing floating and submerged aquatic vegetation. Representative species include common duckweed (Lemna minor), star duckweed (Lemna triscula), sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus) and common bladderwort (Urticularia vulgaria) (Gilbert et. al. 1980). Yellow water lily is an additional floating aquatic plant that is present.

Marsh was much less extensive than open water at the lakes, with only about one-fourth the amount of the total surface area. The values ranged from 11% to 68%, with an average of 24%. The marsh area has two plant zones. Dominant plants of the inner marsh zone are hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus), duckweed (Lemna spp.), and arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.). Also found in this zone are common cattail (Typha latifolia), river bulrush (Scirpus fluviatilis) and giant burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum). The outer marsh zone has a highly variable plant composition of hydric grasses and sedges and an interspersion of mesic and zeric species from the marsh and neighboring upland plant community (Gilbert et. al. 1980).

Of the 21 lakes for which alkalinity is known, 12 (57%) are slightly alkaline, 1 (5%) is moderately alkaline, and 8 (38%) are of medium alkalinity.

Table 1. Habitat characteristics of sandhill lakes where Trumpeter Swans have been observed during the breeding season.
Map Site. No.	County	Habitat Size (Hectares)					Water Chemistry
	Lake Name and Location	Marsh	%	Open Water	%	Total	Alkalinity 1
	Garden
1.	Gimlet (T21N R44W)	12	38	20	62	32	slight
1.	Black Steer (T21N R43W)	14	17	68	83	82	slight
1.	Miller (T22N R43W)	12	32	25	68	37	moderate
	Sheridan
2.	Spade Ranch (T27N R41W)	17	20	70	80	87	medium
3.	Dolly Warden (T28N R42W)	9	35	17	65	26	medium
3.	Round (T28N R42W)	7	20	28	80	35	medium
4.	Frye (T35N R41W)	11	22	40	78	51	slight
4.	Hoover (T35N R41W)	36	68	17	32	53	slight
	Cherry
5.	Alkali (T34N R40W)	20	11	157	89	177	medium
5.	South Twin (T33N R39W)	15	36	27	64	42	medium
5.	Spall (T35N R39W)	13	39	20	61	33	slight
6.	Cody (T35N R33W)	37	23	125	77	162	slight
7.	Wolf (T29N R35W)	8	22	28	78	36	slight
7.	Home Valley (T29N R37W)	13	13	84	87	97	no report
7.	West Cottonwood (T28N R38W)	3	25	9	75	12	medium
8.	Rat (T29N R39W)	12	28	31	72	43	slight
8.	Fawn (T28N R39W)	6	26	17	74	23	slight
8.	Turpin (T28N R39W)	16	30	38	70	54	slight
9.	Alkali (T26N R39W)	28	11	225	89	253	medium
9.	School Section (T26N R40W)	38	37	65	63	103	slight
9.	Castle (T25N R39W)	25	25	76	75	101	slight
10.	Twenty-one (T29N R27W)	32	43	42	57	74	slight
	Brown
11.	Amer. Game Assoc. (T27N R24W)	10	19	42	81	52	no report
	Total	394	24	1271	76	1665
1. Data from McCarraher, 1977

The higher values for the amount of open water would seem to indicate that this lake characteristic may have more of an influence on use by Trumpeter Swans than the extend of marsh vegetation. Also, Swans were recorded more often on lakes that had only slight alkalinity.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank John Sweet and Rolf Kraft for providing the lake names and locations.

Literature Cited

Bates, J.M. 1900. Additional notes and observations on the birds of northern Nebraska. Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 1: 15-18.

Bruner, L., R.H. Wolcott, and M.H. Swenk. 1904. A preliminary review of the birds of Nebraska. Klopp and Barlett Co., Omaha, Nebraska. 116 pp.

Gilbert, M.C., M.W. Freel, and A.J. Bieber. 1980. Remote sensing and field evaluation of wetlands in the sandhills of Nebraska. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha, Nebraska.

McCarraher, D.B. 1977. Nebraska's sandhills lakes. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska. 67 pp.

Monnie, J.B. 1966. Reintroduction of the trumpeter swan to its former prairie range. Journal of Wildlife Management 30: 691-696.

Turner, J.K., D.C. Rundquist, A. Bieber, and L.C. Hamilton. 1980. Wetlands inventory of the Omaha District. Final Report, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Omaha, Nebraska. 110 pp.

March 1984. Location and habitat size of lakes in the Nebraska sandhills utilized by trumpeter swans. Nebraska Bird Review 52(1): 19-22.

Comparison of Birdlife at Eastern Sandhills Lake

Bruner Lake is located in the eastern sandhills of southwestern Holt County (Section 11, T25N, R16W) (Figure 1). The area around the lake was where Lawrence Bruner, one of the founders of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, made some of the first comparative studies of birdlife in Nebraska. His records from decades ago can be compared with current information to provide a perspective on changes in birdlife that have occurred.

Figure 1. The Bruner Lake area of Holt County showing the Bruner property and areas birded in 1990.

The area was first visited by Bruner in 1883-84 when he filed a claim on 160 acres about 1.5 miles south and east of the lake (northeast quarter of section 24). Others in the Bruner family claimed additional acres in the same vicinity. At this time he marked out the property, which included a marsh, and planted some trees and shrubs. The Bruners filed their claim under the Timber Culture Act that allowed tree-claims to be filed on 160 acres once 16 acres of trees were planted and had two years of successful growth (R.G. Cortelyou, pers. comm.).

When Bruner staked his claim and visited the family property, he also made a list of the birds seen. In 1883 he visited during the latter days of June and early part of July. His 1884 visit started earlier than in 1883 and ended in the end of May or early June. Bruner returned to his property in 1901 and kept records of the birds seen during this summer visit. He then made a comparison of the birdlife present in 1901 to the sightings made in 1883-84 (Bruner, L. 1902. A comparison of the bird-life found in the Sand Hill region of Holt County in 1883-84 and in 1901. Proceedings of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 3:58-63.)

A comparison to the historic period was done by Blake, who first located the tract of land owned by the Bruner family by finding it on a 1904 Hon County land map. Bruner Lake area was then visited several times to assess the current birdlife. Visits were made to the area on 27 April, 18 May, and 23 June 1990. The Leushen Birders from Norfolk helped record bird species on the 23 June field trip. A brief trip was also made on 13 July to confirm the presence or absence of a couple of species.

Bruner Lake is predominantly open water with rushes growing on about one-half of the shoreline. Two small islands in the lake are covered with vegetation. The marsh has open water in its center and shore-line. Land close to the water is covered with a mix of rushes, grass, and scrub willow.

Areas around Bruner Lake that were also covered included a shelterbelt about 0.5 mile to the southeast that is a mix of ash and mulberry. A planting of young cedar trees and a few cottonwoods grow on the west side. Another shelterbelt, predominantly green ash trees, and marsh is 1.5 miles to the southeast. The shelterbelts are not grazed by cattle but there is not much woody understory. Areas of sandhills prairie were also covered.

Bruner recorded 55 species, about evenly divided between wetland, grassland, and woodland habitats (Table 1 and Table 2). It is notable that in 1901 there were several species—Say's Phoebe, Pinyon Jay and Lazuli Bunting—that are more typical of the western part of Nebraska. These could have been rare vagrants or possibly misidentifications.

Table 1. List of species recorded historically and in 1990 in the Bruner Lake area of southwestern Holt County, Nebraska
Species	A	B	C	D	Species	A	B	C	D
Eared Grebe	-	-	C	-	Mourning Dove	A	B	-	D
Am. Wh. Pelican	-	-	-	D	Yellow-b. Cuckoo	A	-	-	-
D-c. Cormorant	-	-	C	-	Great Horned Owl	-	-	C	-
American Bittern	A	-	C	D	Burrowing Owl	A	-	-	-
Great Blue Heron	-	-	-	D	Short-eared Owl	A	-	-	-
White-fr. Goose	-	B	-	-	Common Nighthawk	A	-	-	D
Canada Goose	-	B	C	D	Red-head. Woodp.	A	-	C	D
Green-wing. Teal	-	-	C	D	Downy Woodpecker	-	B	-	-
Mallard	A	B	-	D	Northern Flicker	A	B	C	D
Northern Pintail	-	B	C	D	Eastern Phoebe	A	-	-	-
Blue-wing. Teal	A	B	C	D	Say's Phoebe	A	-	-	-
North. Shoveler	A	-	C	-	Western Kingbird	A	-	C	D
Gadwall	A	-	-	D	Eastern Kingbird	-	-	C	D
Redhead	-	B	C	D	Horned Lark	A	-	C	D
Lesser Scaup	-	-	C	-	Purple Martin	A	-	-	-
Ruddy Duck	-	B	C	D	Barn Swallow	A	-	C	D
Northern Harrier	A	-	-	-	Blue Jay	A	-	C	D
Swainson's Hawk	A	-	C	D	Pinyon Jay	A	-	-	-
Red-tailed Hawk	-	-	-	D	American Crow	-	B	C	D
Rough-leg. Hawk	A	-	-	-	Bl-c. Chickadee	-	-	C	D
American Kestrel	-	B	-	-	House Wren	-	-	-	D
Ring-n. Pheasant	-	B	C	D	Marsh Wren	A	-	-	D
G. Prairie-Chick.	A	B	C	D	Eastern Bluebird	A	-	-	-
Sharp-tailed Gr.	A	-	C	-	American Robin	-	B	C	D
N. Bobwhite	A	-	-	-	Gray Catbird	A	-	-	-
American Coot	A	B	C	-	Brown Thrasher	A	-	C	D
Sandhill Crane	A	-	-	-	Loggerhead Shrike	-	B	-	-
Killdeer	A	B	C	D	Warbling Vireo	-	-	-	D
American Avocet	-	B	-	D	Yellow Warbler	A	-	C	D
Less. Yellowlegs	A	-	C	-	C. Yellowthroat	-	-	C	D
Willet	A	-	-	-	Lazuli Bunting	A	-	-	-
Spotted Sandpiper	-	-	-	D	Dickcissel	A	-	-	D
Upland Sandpiper	A	-	C	D	Field Sparrow	-	-	-	D
Long-bill. Curlew	A	-	-	-	Lark Sparrow	A	-	C	D
Marbled Godwit	-	B	-	D	Grasshopper Sp.	A	-	C	D
Semipalm. Sandp.	-	-	C	-	Bobolink	A	-	C	D
Least Sandpiper	A	-	C	-	Red-wing. Blackbird	A	B	C	D
Baird's Sandpiper	A	-	-	-	West. Meadowlark	A	B	C	D
Stilt Sandpiper	-	-	C	-	Yellow-h. Blackb.	A	B	C	D
Long-b. Dowitcher	-	B	-	-	Common Grackle	A	B	C	D
Common Snipe	-	-	-	D	Br-head. Cowbird	A	B	C	D
Wilson's Phalar.	A	-	C	D	Orchard Oriole	-	-	-	D
Forster's Tern	A	-	-	-	Northern Oriole	-	-	-	D
Black Tern	A	-	C	D	Am. Goldfinch	-	-	-	D
Rock Dove	-	-	-	D	House Sparrow	-	-	C	D
A - 1880s-1901; B - 27 April 1990; C - 18 May 1990; D - 23 June 1990 A B C D - Dates as above, but a probable nesting species

One of the most drastic changes Bruner noted was that Sandhill Cranes no longer nested. In 1883-84, a young Crane was brought to camp and became a companion of the people. A wetland species that would have been associated with marsh habitat like that used by the Sandhill Crane would have been the Northern Harrier. Bruner noted this species but it was not recorded on the 1990 field visits. The extensive wetland meadows present when this area was first settled would have provided ideal nesting habitat for this raptor.

There were 72 species recorded in 1990. Almost half of the birds seen were associated with water and wetland habitats (Table 2). The majority of the remaining species were associated with woodland habitats and there were close percentages of these species noted during the surveys. There was a decrease in grassland species which comprised a lower percentage of the total species recorded in the 1990 surveys. This is due to the larger number of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds noted in 1990 in comparison to the historic bird sightings made by Bruner.

Table 2. Habitat affinity of birds recorded in the Bruner Lake area.
Habitat Affinity	1880s - 1901	1990
	Number (Percent)
Limnic	19 (34%)	33 (46%)
Grassland	17 (31%)	14 (19%)
Woodland	18 (33%)	22 (31%)
Miscellaneous	1 (2%)	3 (4%)
Total	55	72

Other differences were noted in the occurrence of species associated with wetland habitats. The Long-billed Curlew, Willet and Forster's Tern were noticed historically but not currently. Several migratory waterfowl and shorebirds were noted currently but not historically, including the Lesser Scaup, Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Stitt Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher. The Common Snipe occurs now and could possibly nest. It is very puzzling that Bruner did not note the Common Yellowthroat which would have been expected in the wetlands during either of the two periods he made his bird records.

Potential new breeding waterfowl include the Canada Goose, Redhead, and Ruddy Duck. These species were noted on each 1990 visit but were not observed by Bruner during either of his extended visits. The Canada Goose would have been reintroduced and would utilize areas from which they had been extirpated when historic hunting decimated resident populations.

The Great Blue Heron was recorded in 1990 but not on prior historic visits. There is now a large nesting colony within a few miles of Bruner Lake. Historically, the lack of large cottonwood trees used as nesting habitat might have been a limiting factor for the summer occurrence of this heron. The cottonwoods were planted decades ago to create shelterbelts. The growth of these larger trees would also provide habitat for birds such as the American Kestrel, American Crow, American Robin, Warbling Vireo, and Northern Oriole. Other differences in woody habitat species are the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Gray Catbird which were recorded only historically and utilize available shrubby habitat.

The Red-tailed Hawk and Black-capped Chickadee were noted in 1990 but not in either of the historic visits. The Burrowing Owl and Short-eared Owl were not recorded in 1990 whereas they were present historically. The Sharp-tailed Grouse also was not present though it has historically nested in Holt County (Ducey, J.E., Nebraska Birds: Breeding Status and Distribution) and occurs elsewhere in the Sandhills region.

The Rock Dove and House Sparrow were not present historically but occur now. Their presence can be attributed to nesting habitat provided by barns and other buildings that were not formerly present. The House Sparrow probably did not occur until about 1940 when this introduced species spread westward from eastern Nebraska. The Ring-necked Pheasant is also an introduced species.

Fewer species would have been recorded if migratory birds were not recorded. Migratory species that would not have occurred during the summer time period when Bruner also did his field work include the Greater White-fronted Goose and Rough-legged Hawk.

There have been changes in the birdlife of the Sandhills region around Bruner Lake. Tree plantings and the growth of woody plants has increased the available habitat. Despite the increase in species diversity, the loss of nesting species such as the Sandhill Crane indicates very obvious changes in Sand hills avifauna. No sightings of the Burrowing Owl and Short-eared Owl could indicate changes in the summer distribution of these species, especially the latter owl. The Short-eared Owl has had a decrease in range and has not been recorded as nesting in Nebraska in recent years.

We would like to thank Jim, Cliff, and Bob Taylor of Taylor Land and Cattle Inc. for permission to visit this area.

Loren Blake and Jim Ducey. December 1990. A comparison of historic and modern birdlife at an eastern sandhills lake in Nebraska. Nebraska Bird Review 58(4): 100-104.

High Plains Population of Trumpeter Swan Increases

The population of Trumpeter Swans continues to increase among the sandhills and the high plains region.

The High Plains Flock in 2012 showed an increase to 664 swans, compared to 573 in 2011. The increase of 93 was attributed to "an increase in the number of white birds in groups," according to a report issued by Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge.

White birds are more readily observed during the aerial surveys, according to biologists. The increase "could be credited to a relatively high number of cygnets produced in 2009 and 2010."

Despite an increase in the number of swans counted, the "number of successful breeding pairs declined," as did the average brood size, according to the report.

There was a decrease in the number of cygnets, or young swans. In 2012, 120 cygnets were observed, compared to 161 in 2011, 174 in 2010 and 171 in 2009. In 2008, there were 115 cygnets observed, according to the report, authored by Shilo Comeau, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Mark Vrtiska, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

During the 2012 survey, the "majority of wetlands in the survey area appeared to contain less water and subaquatic food resources than the previous four years," they said.

It was hot and dry during the breeding season. Precipitation levels were below normal, according to numerous indicators. Drought conditions meant a lesser extent of suitable water habitat for swans and other wetland-dependant species.

Management objectives for this species are based upon particular parameters. Drought has an obvious influence, as it alters the extent of available habitat.

The Trumpeter Swan's current status is now dramatically different in comparison to the occurrence of these magnificent birds fifty years ago. In the early 1960s, a reintroduction program was initiated to bring them back into a region where they were known to occur historically.

The High Plains Flock includes the sandhills, western South Dakota, and the extreme northeast corner of Wyoming, with the latter area not surveyed in 2012.

The annual fall survey was conducted September 4-6, 2012 during an "aerial cruise survey" using a Cessna 182 airplane, and is done to "determine production and distribution" of the High Plains flock.

Bird Man - Professor Johnsgard

The personal world of birds for Paul A. Johnsgard has been a passion of study, writing and artistic expressions of a life-time.

"Birds are an ecological and evolutionary phenomenon that offer so many opportunities for observation and research," Dr. Johnsgard said. "I have always loved birds first and foremost. With about 10,000 species world-wide, a person can't live long enough to get tired of them," citing his tally of 5-600, as a "tiny drop in the bucket."

Johnsgard's efforts have brought world-wide recognition. In March, he received the National Conservation Achievement Award in Science, from the National Wildlife Federation at Washington D.C. in recognition for efforts to conserve the Platte River. He received the Loren Eiseley Award in 1988, and the Mari Sandoz award in 1984 for his contribution to the literature of Nebraska. There have been academic awards of distinction.

This love-affair with birds began in the Red River valley of southeast North Dakota. He knew wild places outdoors, and his interests were nurtured by Yvonne Johnsgard, his mother, and his father Alfred, taking his son out to hunt game. Young Paul started drawing when he was five on the northern prairies. As a Boy Scout, he carved neckerchief slides, which were mostly ducks. A camera bought in high school soon meant a picture for the cover of the North Dakota outdoor magazine. Taking pictures was as much a passion as drawing, Johnsgard explained.

In the early 1940s, the family bought a lake cottage adjacent to square miles of beech/maple forest to discover and roam. A camera became his companion as he studied waterfowl in the marshes of Lake Traverse. His uncle, Bud Morgan, a game warden, was also a big help in introducing the youngster to the world of waterfowl.

Paul Johnsgard was becoming an ornithologist. His undergraduate major was in zoology and botany at North Dakota State University. From 1953-55, he studied waterfowl behavior to get an M.S. degree at Washington State.

Some of the research results were published in Condor, a national bird journal. Then Charles Sibley, at Cornell University and well-known for avian biogeography studies in Nebraska, suggested the student might also consider Konrad Lorenz's interpretations of bird behavior. The letter included an invitation to pursue a PhD; investigate further the evolutionary value of waterfowl studies.

A post-doctoral stint followed at the Waterfowl Trust, in England. There were about 125 species of swans, ducks or geese from throughout the world to watch. It was birdology for a future monograph on waterfowl behavior.

Johnsgard came to Nebraska after a phone call interview. He accepted a position — without any visit — at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to teach and research in the biological sciences. Paul and his wife Lois, whom he met in graduate school came to town in 1961.

A great diversity of world fowl brought about wide-spread travels. The National Science Foundation funded trips from 1963-1966 to study water fowl in Alaska (eiders), Australia, South America (torrent ducks of the mountains) and the Caribbean (masked duck). Later trips were made to Hudson Bay, Africa, Costa Rica and Europe.

The South America trip was most exciting, "Johnsgard said. "It was arduous and dangerous." The rented jeep lost its brakes once when the bird man and guide were descending a narrow mountain road. "I ran into a road-side brush clump to get stopped." They retied a shoestring to repair the brake pedal, and continued along.

At Oaxaca and Yucatan in Mexico from 1970-72 he went to study quail. His travels included a stop in every town to ask if any of the bearded tree quail, a bird of the eastern Mexico cloud forest, were kept in captivity. Five were found in a pen over a pig sty, and bought for $1 apiece, the price higher since these birds sing loudly in the morning and evening. While going through the countryside on the return to Chiapas, the birds were quiet.

There was a dearth of rooms for a night's lodging, so Johnsgard took a room at the gated Hotel Paradiso, on the outskirts of town. His rate for the night was not the normal hourly scale and did not include the girls with other visitors. At sunrise, the birds voiced a "tremendous chorus," Johnsgard said. His tape of the boisterous bird vocalizations sent to the Cornell University Laboratory of Natural Sounds included the noise of "Homo sapiens" mating behavior in an adjoining room.

Fowl behavior was a central area of interest, since it provided insights in the evolutionary relationships of various species. His books of waterfowl behavior features hundreds of illustrations drawn from photographs. "My studies of waterfowl behavior brought significant contributions to bird taxonomy," he said. "It was also more interesting that the DNA comparisons now used to determine bird taxonomy confirmed my work."

Quotes: "It is a rare, almost sensual, pleasure to be able to stroll among the almost cathedral-like trees of Fontenelle Forest during the warbler fallouts of early May." — "The Nature of Nebraska" "The sights and sounds of cranes roosting on the Platte are immeasurable old, but also forever new and variable." — "Earth, Water and Sky" "Holding the hand of a small grandchild, as a flock of cranes passes overhead, and telling her that is she is very lucky she might also one day show these same sights to her own grandchild is a powerful lesson in faith, hope and love." — "Earth, Water and Sky" "All wonderful and rare things in this world carry a significant price tag; otherwise they would be neither rare nor so highly valued. The price tag on our cranes is simply this: we must be willing to protect from destruction the wonderful river that crosses Nebraska like a beautiful quicksilver necklace, the Platte River." — "Earth, Water and Sky"

Words, drawings, photographs and wood carvings are Johnsgard creations. "Aesthetics are a driving force for expressing myself," he said. Several years of wood carving was initiated to consider bird decoys as art objects. He carved decoys as fine art, doing 40-50 ducks, geese, swans or hawks. A wood carving of the Trumpeter Swan became part of the Sheldon gallery collection in 1971.

His publication list has about 50 books — the first one in 1965 — and 100 scientific papers. His sketches and photographs illustrate many these. They books are educational references. There are also books that tell a story to inform and interest the reader, or to bring an awareness of birds and their environment.

"My second book was so easy and successful," Johnsgard said, "that I decided to carry on." In the mid-1970s, he worked on two or three books at a time, using a typewriter.

The popular "Dragons and Unicorns: A Natural History" was authored with Karin Johnsgard, his daughter. This book has been in print since the early 1980s, with 30-40,000 copies sold. "This is a children's story that gets into the yin and yang of the world," Johnsgard said. "The message is to protect the sweet and beautiful, and dangerous animals."
"Those of the Gray Wind: A story of the Snow Goose" has been translated into several languages. "My popular stories will live on," he said, "but I am driven to do serious reference books."

In the mid-1980s, while seven books were underway, Johnsgard had a heart attack. While recuperating, he learned word processing on an Apple II computer he had purchased for his son Scott. But health considerations forced a cut-back in the number of books being done at a time, considering also the duties of teaching classes.

During a mammalogy field trip, the errant professor was chased and nearly gored by a bison at the state park in the Black Hills. Students watched Johnsgard stalked for a good view for his camera. The beast got irritated and charged. There was time enough for one exposure. The buffalo charged. The professor ran, dropping his camera, and eventually falling to the prairie to avoid a dangerous pair of horns. "It was very, very scary," Johnsgard said. The episode became a part of class lore, while the picture was used for the cover of his book, The Nature of Nebraska.

Johnsgard is a wordsmith, using a typewriter in the early years, saying "an article or letter to the editor will reach thousands." His sage comments are often included in the newspaper.

About 1995, a teacher called "the big honcho of birds in Nebraska," Johnsgard said. Jo D. Blessing taught 4th grade in Elwood, and wanted some bird books. She offered to trade books for a gooseberry pie. Johnsgard visited the school, leaving with the decision to write a book on Nebraska useful to teachers.

His interest gradually broadened to include other wildlife and insects. In the 1990s, his focus turned upon the Great Plains region. "Prairie Birds" and "Great Wildlife of the Great Plains" followed. Teaching ornithology at Cedar Point Biological Station by Lake McConaughy, led to doing "This Fragile Land, A Natural History of the Sandhills," illustrated with classic sketches of grebe antics, dune flora and other special things.

After about 6,000 students in 40 years, Johnsgard officially retired in the spring of 2001. He continues his bird work as emeritus Foundation Regents Professor at the University. He laughs at the moniker emeritus, which is Latin for worn out, just the opposite of Dr. Johnsgard's continued writing and publishing. "I just couldn't stop," he said.

He wrote books about grouse, owls, and other birds; about Great Plains wildlife and the Lewis and Clark expedition. "Prairie Dog Empire, a Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie" was issued in April, 2005. His last Nebraska book, about the Niobrara River, was written in memory of the legacy of reporter Fred Thomas, has its publication pending. A popular-style book about how the Ogallala Sioux relate to the natural world is being written by the professor, still working at his office less than 200 feet away from the essential Manter Hall library. Johnsgard contributes his expertise to state efforts on wild bird conservation and developing bird trails.

After decades of observing the natural world, Professor Johnsgard has a distinct and unique view of birds in Nebraska. "There is no other state with such a variety of features," Johnsgard said. On the Platte River are vast flocks of migratory fowl — especially sandhill cranes — a concentration known throughout the world. The Sandhills of west-central Nebraska are the largest grassland in the western Hemisphere. The Rainwater Basin is along an amazing migratory route. The transition from eastern to western species on the Platte and Niobrara rivers is unique in avian biogeography.

"Birds are wonderfully beautiful," he said. "Preservation of habitats such as the Platte River, tallgrass prairie and wetlands is the challenge for conserving birds for the future."
June, 2005. Bird man. L Magazine, volume 3, pages 38-39. Contributed photos.

Birding and the Paranoid Perspective of People

After another checkup last night [July 14, 2005] by law officers in Lincoln, there came back reminiscences of other similar events of the past two years while birding. Each interrogation was apparently brought about by someone noticing my presence at a locale. Since they did not know what my real activity was, they called in the officials to check out what they figured was illegal.

Each time I was watching birds.

The first recall is from Spring Lake Park, in April 2003 at Omaha. Was there a terrorist on the loose?

During an outing about the wonderful park, my pencil was lost. When going back to the truck to get something to keep bird notes with, I noticed a police cruiser coming to stop at my truck parked at the swimming pool entry at Spring Lake park. The officer said they had a call concerning someone with a gun in the park. The had been looking around to find me for some time — though less than an hour. He said that I would suppose would they would get the call because of my gunstock mounted spotting scope being carried around. I mentioned my bird watching and showed the visit list. Then showed him how the scope worked. The officer finally got a look through and then asked if the black truck was my truck. After my yes, he got back in this cruiser and called to inform others that the so-called "guy with a gun," the proverbial "shootist" was a bird watcher with a spotting scope, or something to that effect. I got another pencil, made some survey notes on the parking place and then went back into the ancient woods for some more looking around.

The interesting aspect of this confrontation, was three days later. I was pulled over for so-called "loud pipes" on my ride, a classic aged, and flat-black paint Chevrolet pickup. This instance — a seeming ruse — included a whole series of things. But it was quite grand to see the officer poke at my spotting scope with his batons. I had been looking at birds at Carter Lake and was pulled over — siren and lights going on behind — on North 16th Street, north Omaha. Another couple of days later, I was followed again by some other officials, they were simple University guys behind me in Elmwood Park.

Birder Enforcement

Got going on a Friday a.m. in December 2004 on the highway to Omaha land. First visit — from out-of-town — was to Carter Lake to get the Cackling goose to add. Then a quick check of N.P. Dodge and Hummel parks. A short stop at Nathans lake — NRD property — led to another time of law enforcement action. My route was to drive down a trail along the drainage ditch and parked and looked about from there. This was a place where I had been several times previously. Birding was slow. But the situation quickly changed.

First it was the Washington county sheriff that was there within 15 minutes of my arrival. A call was placed by a nearby resident. Then when I was ready to go, the sheriff had arrived right behind my vehicle. When he noticed I was looking to move, the sheriff car lights came on. I got out and walked towards his car. The first thing sheriff told me was to get my hands out of my pockets. The officer asked for details of identification and vehicle registration. Then the usual many questions. Who are you? Why are you here? Who do you work for on this? A radio-call had already been placed for backup. Soon the guy and gal FWS enforcers from the nearby wildlife refuge arrived to get into the scene. The Feds did not own the property yet but were supposedly helping with management. Helping with enforcing rules seems more the case from my view of the moment. There were no signs saying: Area Beyond This Sign Closed.

There came questions, some repeated. I explained abut getting access through a discussion with the NRD guy and receiving a map of the area. The subsequent wait included idle chit-chat about birds and the new road. There was no mention of the removed willows or the complete lack of parking places which there had once been present.

The guy asked if he could look inside and I said ok since the door was hanging open anyway. Then when I approached him to point out the gunstock scope he first told me to back away. I then showed him the scope stock and what it was and then he looked inside. and was able to proceed. The glove compartment was opened, something which I would have thought required a warrant. The cop going to open the driver side back door but that was locked. He walked around and tried to look through the darkened windows.

Both enforcers reps asked several times if I was hunting. "I don't hunt" was the repeated and standard answer. The FWS guy suggested I could bird at nearby Boyer Chute NWR but I explained my aversion to that scene of regulation if not on the boring trails. Eventually my freedom to roam returned. Elapsed time until I could go was 15-20 minutes in the sun, keeping my hands out of the bib-overall pockets.

It was only later I gave thanks for the door being locked. Repeat that again and I give thanks once more.

Swifting With Lincoln Law

Since the end of May 2005, many evenings have been spent looking about urbane Lincoln for chimney swifts and the places where they habitate. There was one evening where a law enforcement official, call them a cop for short, stopped to check if my situation was okay. I was dandy so they left with little fanfare while my spot along mainstreet did not change.

Then came Thursday, July 15, 2005, in the evening. Swifts were out and so there I was. Some chimneys under review just did not have any action in the aerial space. My bicycle trek continued onward to more fruitful realms. It went past two big chimneys just west of the center of Nebraska law. There was nothing there at the places with a structure of 4.5x4.5 bricks. Then came the realization that my writing instrument was missing. Checking out the route did not help to find it. So ... visit the nearby convenience store. That would be south on 13th street.

While in the hood, my route changed in order to bike around nearby. There was a wonderful big chimney on the back of an apartment on south 15th street. It was 8 blocks north of main street and looked to be a grand spot for chimney swifts. In wheeling around, a grand spot was found that presented a view of seven chimneys. Each looked nice for the black bugeaters. So I stopped there, drinking a pop in the evening of a torrid day, after 8 p.m.

Swifts were doing their antics in the sky. They zipped into some of the chimneys. A new pencil wrote fine for keeping notes to document the swift nesting locales. My spot was behind all the residences, near a dumpster placed at the public alley.

Swiftian notes aside, it was real dusk and I noticed a cop car park in the east end of the alley, at 15th street. Then the cop came around. She said hi twice, something to establish what they would probably call rapport. Apparently my first reply was not enough.

Then came the typical confrontation and questions. Apparently someone was paranoid about a guy with a bike lurking about. I must have been a thief scooping out targets for illegal activities.

A law enforcement official will ask the same questions. Conformation norms apply ... just answer the queries. What are you doing? Why are you here? Who do you work for to do this? Then, where do you work? Do you have some identification.

An id is always required. My activity was to see what chimneys were being used by swifts. That meant about as much as visiting with a rock. Then the alternative answer was that bird watching was what was going on. That brought about a certain sense of realization. Kinda-like an oh. They seem to think OK at that time.

The caller had also reported the miscreant — me — had a flask. My answer to that should have said they were delusional. My things did include a plastic coke bottle, thrown away in the dumpster.

It was nice to be able to ask the officer if she had seen the article in the newspaper on Monday. That brought a look of duh! Then more asking. Officers need to know. What is in the bag? Binoculars were in the black bag hanging from the handle-bar. Then they wrote in a small notebook ... noting address and phone number, but the latter does not apply.

Then arrived the big man-cop. His car was also parked in the alley, blocking traffic. He walked a bit to join his comrade, but said nothing while there. After the interrogation, they both walked off in the dusk on an urbane alley. The neighborhood was one of the most decrepit and least-goodly appearing places visited in the star city.

My route to depart was biking up a sidewalk, getting addresses for the places watched, and then onward. The cops had to explain to someone there what was going on.

My goings were home to chill and have some ice-cream and appreciate the evenings findings. Several new chimneys were added to my documentation of places used by swifts. And it was quite nice to be able to watch seven chimneys at once. My project does include pictures, so maybe I should visit again, this time with some camera that would be suitable.

It was a nice thing that the swifts cooperated. They had already gone to their residence of the night so there were no vital observations missed.

This weekday was the most enforced outing of my 30-evening affair with the lovely swifts in the skies of developed Salt valley.

I look forward to further instances! Perhaps I should prepare a handout, with some details.

What would happen if out in the city — on a bicycle — without any identification. Is that a requirement for birding in this modern era of homeland security and certain limitations on birding activity?

Perhaps more could be said, but it is time to go swifting in urban Lincoln. Young birds should be about, and there has yet to be a sweet sighting of the fledglings about their chimney. There is a parking garage in the Haymarket that provides a fine perspective of some substantial chimneys. Loitering to watch swifts, there I go.

Originally posted Friday, July 15, 2005 on the NEBirds online forum. Also in the August 2005, Lueshens Birders Newsletter. Pages 75-78.

Open Houses Held for Powerline Project

Plans for a new power-transmission line through the central and eastern sandhills are currently being considered, without any public decision on whether or not the line should be built.

The Nebraska Public Power District submitted a proposal stating that a new power transmission line was required, and indicated an approximate route. They got approval from the regional oversight authority, the Southwest Power Pool.

There was no public input involved in the decision.

Public hearings are now being held on the power-line project that will bring an industrial power line 220 miles long through the central and eastern Sand Hills. Known as the "R-Project," the moniker reflects a route which mimics the lower-case letter.

Its origin would be the Gerald Gentleman Station near Sutherland and would continue from there, basically northward into Cherry county, and then eastward to connect with another line near the boundary of Holt and Antelope county.

The currently unknown route would cross the Middle Loup River. Power lines would be strung across the North Loup River. In Cherry county it would go across a wetland area, designated as a "biologically unique landscape" by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. It would then extend eastward across Brown and Rock counties, and through the Elkhorn River headwaters, also a unique landscape.

Starting on January 14th, and continuing to January 22nd, the Nebraska Public Power District held six open houses concerning their plans to erect a 345,000-volt transmission line.

The open houses are "being held to inform the public of the project and collect landowner feedback on the study area," according to a NPPD press release. Company officials were interested in having land-owners indicate, according to their press release, local land use, pivots, wells, planned facilities, and other potentially, pertinent information.

These sessions occurred, for example, at Tyron, Halsey, Mullen, Ainsworth and Chambers. These localities are in close proximity to the potential powerline route, according to NPPD.

An indicated purpose of the transmission line is to "provide opportunities for additional renewable energy generation," according to a NPPD press release.

This statement indicates that the transmission line would provide a high-capacity powerline suitable for local wind turbine facilities to connect to the power grid. Any "wind farms" built within the region, would, at this time, include an unknown number of wind turbines and the requisite power line connections.

There has never been an option presented as to whether the transmission line should be built. The only consideration is a decision of the particular route.

Additional open houses will occur, according to NPPD, along with a final public hearing.

NPPD has already indicated an approximate time schedule for construction of the approximately $290 million project.

Notes on Nebraska Fauna ... Trumpeter Swan

The discovery of swan colonies at Red Rocks Lake, Montana, Yellowstone National Park and several other isolated locations, brought the known population in 1932 to 69 birds. Only the enactment of protective legislation and establishment of a national wildlife refuge at Red Rocks Lake, served to reverse the trumpeter's slide toward extinction.

Adult trumpeters are almost completely white with a rusty stain on the white head and neck from feeding in southern marshes with ferrous-rich soils. The legs and bills are black with the lower bill having a flesh colored strip along the upper portion. Juvenile swans resemble adults but have brownish-gray plumage.

Original art by Neal Anderson.

Adult males have a wingspan of eight feet, females average six feet. A mature cob weighs from 21 to 38 pounds, and the more demur pen from 20 to 25 pounds.

The call of the trumpeter swan is perhaps the most important identifying feature. The loud, clear call has been compared to the notes of a French horn, and is maintained over a wide vocal range. Uttered singly or in widely spaced staccato fashion, a trumpeter's call can be heard up to a mile away.

As with all swans, the trumpeter is monogamous. A pair usually mates for life, though remating will occur if one is lost. The pair bond is usually when the birds are four to six years old, but optimum breeding conditions may permit individuals to pair and breed at an earlier age.

Nests are built in extensive beds of marsh vegetation. Found in water one to three feet deep, the nests are surrounded by open water that results from the uprooting of vegetation by the pair. Sedges, cattails and bulrushes are removed, primarily by the cob, and used by the pen to construct the nest. Nests are impressive, from six to 12 feet in diameter and averaging 18 inches in height. In areas where muskrats are found, the nest is typically placed on a muskrat den. The same nest will commonly be used for several years by the same pair.

Once the nest is prepared, a clutch of four to six off-white eggs is laid, one every other day. Incubation begins with the last egg. Although both parents are present at the nest, only the pen incubates, and in 33 to 37 days, the clutch hatches. The hatchlings are brooded at the nest for 24 hours before the family group moves off to feed and swim in the marsh.

During their early days, cygnets feed on aquatic insects, crustacea, and aquatic plants in shallow water.

Young trumpeter swans hatch out at seven to eight ounces but develop rapidly and may weigh 19 pounds at 10 weeks of age. The steadily growing cygnets are fully feathered in about 10 weeks but are unable to fly until 13 to 15 weeks old. Once the young swans have learned to fly, they spend the winter with the parents in a closely knit family group until driven off by the pen and cob when the mating period begins the following spring.

Since 1968, the largest of Nebraska's waterfowl has slowly made a comeback and is presently found in limited numbers in Cherry and Sheridan counties. With continued expansion, the trumpeter swan's distinctive voice and graceful presence will once again become commonplace across Nebraska's lake and marsh country.

November 1979. Nebraskaland Magazine 57(11): 50.