A Most Beautiful Trumpeter Swan at the Mill Pond

One of the most wonderful birds of our earthly world recently lingered at the Valentine Mill Pond. It was an adult Trumpeter Swan that was present for a few days from October 23^rd to 27^th. During its daily routine it walked about on sandy flats or stood in shallow waters just west of the pond pier. This occurrence is significant because this great swan was an adult and alone. Trumpeter Swan do not typically occur alone. They mate for life, and are very dedicated to their family. Perhaps this adult bird lost its mate and the Mill Pond was a mourning place?

The occurrence of this bird was the fifth time this species has been known to occur at the pond in the past three years. While this beautiful bird continues to survive, it has been a wonder of nature notably enjoyed at the suitable habitat of the mill pond, along with the several Canada Goose, some transitory gabbling Gadwall amidst the pondweed and a Greater Yellowlegs busy in its foraging. At least my looking around meant the Pied-billed Grebe was seen on its day. A special sighting also during the weekend was a dark-phase Red-tailed Hawk perched in a tree that was not pleased with my hiking about intrusion amidst nature lands, and then a bit later, soaring above in a cerulean autumn sky was another bird wonder, a juvenile Golden Eagle.

A swan was once again present on the morning of November 1.

Addition to Cardinal Occurrence in Niobrara Valley of Cherry County

A singular sighting of a male Northern Cardinal is indicative of further occurrence at its western range along the Niobrara River valley of Cherry county.

On October 20, 2018 a male cardinal was seen flying across the river just south of the county road bridge along the South Eli Road. This may not seem to be significant, but it is a westernmost occurrence known of this species in the Niobrara valley.

In 2004, this species was observed at the Jim Gray Place situated at the Niobrara River at the Highway 61 crossing south of Merriman.

To the eastward it was recorded at Mogle Falls, about 12 miles distance. Other previous sightings dating originally to 2004 are known for three locations on the northern side of McKelvie National Forest, including Anderson Bridge WMA with multiple dates through 2017, Chat Canyon WMA through 2010 (a.k.a. Circle J Reserve as previously designated prior to its purchase by the State of Nebraska) and the Hand Exclosure on the northern edge of the forest. The cardinal is regularly seen near Valentine.

At the Niobrara Pasture locality, along the river south of Gordon in Sheridan county, there were no cardinal seen during the mid-2000s.

It is very likely that this species has been present at this locality for some time, but just not seen since no birders have visited the locality and recorded their observations.

September Survey of Lakeland Wildbirds

It had been many years since the numerous lakes and wetlands in the Lakeland district of southwest Brown county had been visited so the gathering of Nebraska birders and knowing that they would visit the district prompted a Saturday outing on September 15th. It was a morning with fog prevalent, but reaching the first locale of Clear Lake at 8 a.m., conditions for observing wildbirds on the lakes became okay. Each site was visited and records kept for each during the primary observation time of two hours. Two spotting scopes as individually used were essential for getting distant views during a fine birding outing. After noon, white cap waves and heat shimmer occurred as conditions deteriorated for bird watching activities.

This is a list of the placenames in their entirety as used for personal database record keeping. Sites are listed in the order visited:

• Clear Lake, Philbrick Lake Quadrangle; permission to take a look around provided by a cabin owner mowing the lawn as he wanted chores done before the start of the Big Red football game.
  
• Chain Lakes, Koshopah NE Quadrangle; a series of three lakes that can be readily viewed from a distance from a vantage point or two along the county road to the south of the lakes.
  
• Willow Lake Brown County WMA; numerous gulls were floating in the center of the lake but their distance made it difficult to determine identifications, but general characteristics indicated that the majority were the same species. Further observations by the NOUers added records of occurrence for additional species, during and after the lunch break. The latrine structure here was decrepit and people present had to wander into the trees and grass to take care of business. This place can be a nice place to camp or visit but the lack of attention to an essential and necessary maintenance — especially of the latrine — by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission diminishes any appreciation. At least the picnic tables were not anchored so they could be moved together so the group could congregate and talk among ourselves.
  
• Enders Lake
  
• Enders Basin; the depth of water was exceptionally greater than had ever been observed, with the usual shallow water channel between this lake and Enders Lake several feet underwater. There was no shorebird habitat present as has been appreciated during multiple previous visits.
  
• Schoolhouse Marsh; prominently open water with associated species mostly along its western upland extent.
  
  
• Long Lake, Philbrick Lake Quadrangle; along the drive along the south side of the lake and towards the recreation area, there were hundreds of Monarch butterflies gathered in the cedar trees, and were getting active in the sunshine during our passage along the trail road. It was an amazing sight to see them gathered on the foliage or as bunches in short airborne flights dramatic in contrast against the blue sky.
  
• Long Lake SRA; visited after an intrusion through the yard of the resident rancher that knows that people can drive through his yard anytime as they traverse an indicated route to the state property.
  
• Philbrick Lake; water birds not present.
  
• AGA Marsh WMA (American Game Association Marsh WMA, which is one of the earliest designated wildlife management areas in the state of Nebraska); butterflies were also prevalent and some of the NOUers took pictures but their attempt was not something of any significance but at least they tried to get a photographic memory.
  
• Philbrick Valley Meadow
  
• Clapper Lake; only very obvious species as seen from a distance.
  

There was a dearth of waterfowl with the most significant sighting being five Trumpeter Swan at AGA Marsh WMA which included a pair and a large cygnet. Ducks were most often associated with small, ephemeral wetlands alongside county roads. The big flock of Wild Turkey were at the Wales Ranch, on the southern edge of AGA Marsh WMA. Pelicans and cormorants were common, with the latter species most numerous roosting on snags at Enders Basin and Willow Lake.

The prevalence of Bald Eagle may be indicative that the species nests in the Lakeland District? A special observation was a bunch of Killdeer gathered in a small area of recently mowed meadow in Philbrick Valley. In a tree a short distance eastward, was where the many crow were gathered.

Three of the best sightings were the Common Loon, Say's Phoebe and Great Egret. There were several places were flighty sparrows provided only an instant view and then disappeared into the autumn vegetation. Tree snags at Long Lake SRA were an obvious attraction the eight flickers seen.

This is a list of the 52 species observed, with 49 observed by Gordon Warrick and myself and an additional three species subsequently reported by people on the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union outing. Place names have been condensed for space purposes.

Proper Name	Clear Lake	Chain Lakes	Willow Lake	Enders Lake	Enders Basin	Schoolhouse Marsh	Long Lake	Long Lake SRA	Philbrick Lake	AGA Marsh WMA	Phibrick Valley Meadow	Clapper Lake
Canada Goose	9	- -	9	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Trumpeter Swan	5	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Wood Duck	7	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	10	- -
Blue-winged Teal	- -	- -	- -	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Mallard	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	- -
Wild Turkey	12	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Pheasant	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -
Common Loon	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Pied-billed Grebe	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Horned Grebe	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Western Grebe	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4
Great Blue Heron	3	3	- -	- -	1	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Great Egret	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American White Pelican	2	28	11	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	18
Double-crested Cormorant	1	- -	- -	- -	62	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	49
Turkey Vulture	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Sharp-shinned Hawk	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -
Cooper's Hawk	1	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Northern Harrier	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Bald Eagle	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	1
Red-tailed Hawk	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Coot	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Killdeer	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	19	3	1
Wilson's Snipe	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3
Franklin's Gull	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3
Ring-billed Gull	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	35
Forster's Tern	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Black Tern	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Mourning Dove	- -	- -	5	20	- -	12	21	20	- -	1	- -	2
Great Horned Owl	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -
Belted Kingfisher	- -	1	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1
Northern Flicker	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	8	1	- -	1	- -	1
American Kestrel	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	1
Say's Phoebe	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Kingbird	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Blue Jay	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	3	- -	1	- -	- -
American Crow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	32	- -	- -
Black-capped Chickadee	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -
Barn Swallow	6	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	5	- -	- -	- -	- -
Marsh Wren	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -
White-breasted Nuthatch	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Common Starling	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Eastern Bluebird	- -	- -	- -	2	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Robin	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
American Goldfinch	1	4	- -	2	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -
Western Meadowlark	- -	5	3	2	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	5
Red-winged Blackbird	4	75	- -	3	- -	- -	- -	10	- -	5	- -	20
Common Grackle	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	4	1	- -	- -	- -	- -
Song Sparrow	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	1	- -	- -
Chipping Sparrow	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	6	- -	- -	- -	- -
Lark Sparrow	- -	1	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	- -	2	- -

This survey was done in conjunction with the autumn meeting of the NOU at Ainsworth. Their group arrived in the Lakeland area at 11 a.m. and then visited four particular locales within the Lakeland area: AGA Marsh, Enders Lake and Enders Basin as observed from the county road, and then lunch at Willow Lake Brown County WMA. Additional records were kept along Moon Lake Road and a wetland east of the Calamus River crossing on the county road towards Highway 7. There were many ebird checklists submitted by attendees at this meeting and the overall tally was reported as 134 species.

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Situations Noted in Association with Lakeland Ranch

The following details were provided to officials at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on September 17th.

This email is in regards to several items noted during the weekend in association with the Moon Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (a.k.a. Moonlake Wildlife Ranch) at Lakeland, southwest Brown County..

Item 1:

When trying to visit South Twin Lake WMA the morning of September 15, the access road was blocked by a large gate at the boundary of the MLWS. There were two chains with a padlock on each which obviously prevented any further travel. The attached photographs show the signage on the gate and adjacent fence as well as other signs, including one indicating this was a public access trail to the WMA.

How is it that the landowner can prevent access to public property? When will this situation be changed so the WMA can be readily visited? The landowner seems to think they can keep out the public, but this is simply wrong and needs to be immediately corrected!

Also, the public access signs need to be replaced with signage in proper condition to convey that the trail is a public travelway. I have visited this area multiple times in the past, and want to visit it again in the near future.

Item 2:

In the photo showing the portion of the gate and adjacent fence, it is obvious that the wire mesh fence extends from ground level to 7 or 8 feet in height. This type of fencing extends along the entire perimeter of the MLWS here and as also noted at the primary gate to the ranch headquarters. The character of the fence does not allow any ingress or egress by larger mammals including white-tailed deer, coyote and antelope. The landowner has effectively fenced out a portion of natural range of these species, while the fence also does not allow any natural movement of these species.

How is it that the landowner can effectively "take" a public resource ... that being the large mammals trapped within the fenced ranch area?

Item 3

The landowner has introduced prairie dogs, as evident on an aerial photograph showing the large residence on the south side of the fish pond. There are multiple burrows present. Does the landowner need to have NGPC permission to introduce this species onto private property?

When Audubon of Kansas introduced prairie dogs at the Hutton Ranch, they had to go through approval by NGPC as evident by the public meeting which I attended some years ago.

Item 4

With the MLWS completely fenced and any access inhibited by locked gates, how will NGPC ensure that quick and ready access is available if there is a need to fight a prairie fire in the vicinity of the WMA. This also applies to access that would be needed by any local fire department.

Item 5

How is the NGPC making sure that livestock associated with the MLWS do not go through the South Twin WMA fencing and graze the area? There are likely bison on the adjacent range, and a barb wire fence is not sufficient to stop their movement. Is the vehicular access point to the area suitably fenced or have a barrier to make certain livestock of the adjacent property owner cannot get onto the site. It is only through agency vigilance as well as that of the public that the area can be monitored to ensure its quality.

Further Details of South Holt County Wildbirds

Another survey of distinct wetlands along the southern boundary of Holt County provide additional details on the value of these habitats for wildbirds. The observations were recorded on September 3^rd by Jason Thiele at the local wetlands, most of which are associated with the headwaters of Clearwater Creek, thus the CC designation. Each of these site names have been designated to the specific site indicated by the ebird checklists, but are a geographic locality rather than a roadway site name as originally given. Some of the wetland habitat areas are part of the same area, but were designated as different localities because they were in either of the two counties ... Holt or Wheeler. Road 846 is the county boundary.

This is the list of the 47 species observed. Note the prominence of waterfowl, including the ibis (glossy or white-faced) and the number of pelican that utilize Goose Lake WMA. Shorebirds noted were other important finds. Many of these species may forage at the smaller wetlands area and then return to the wildlife management area for an overnight stay. This survey effort was also valuable in denoting songbirds present in the area during late summer and after the breeding season.

Proper Name	Goose Lake WMA	CC Meadow	CC Wetlands	CC Wetlands North	Clearwater 502 Meadow	Clearwater 846 Meadow	Clearwater Wetlands	Clearwater Wetlands North	Deloit Meadow
Canada Goose	--	--	--	40	--	--	--	--	--
Wood Duck	--	6	9	3	--	--	--	--	--
Blue-winged Teal	--	40	30	15	--	30	10	--	--
Mallard	--	12	2	2	--	8	--	--	--
Ibis	--	15	--	--	--	--	1	--	--
Great Blue Heron	--	--	--	1	--	--	1	1	1
American White Pelican	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	150
Turkey Vulture	--	--	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Cooper's Hawk	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Red-tailed Hawk	1	--	--	1	--	--	--	--	1
Killdeer	1	--	--	8	--	6	--	--	--
Least Sandpiper	--	--	--	--	--	8	--	--	--
Wilson's Snipe	--	--	--	--	--	1	--	--	--
Solitary Sandpiper	--	--	--	--	--	2	--	--	--
Forster's Tern	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Eurasian Collared Dove	--	--	--	2	--	--	--	--	--
Mourning Dove	2	--	--	30	--	2	1	3	1
Belted Kingfisher	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	--
Red-headed Woodpecker	--	--	--	3	--	--	--	--	1
Northern Flicker	--	1	--	1	--	1	--	--	1
American Kestrel	1	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	--
Eastern Kingbird	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	1
Warbling Vireo	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Red-eyed Vireo	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Black-capped Chickadee	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Barn Swallow	1	--	--	30	--	2	--	--	--
Marsh Wren	--	1	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
House Wren	--	--	--	--	--	1	--	--	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Grey Catbird	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	5
Brown Thrasher	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
Common Starling	10	--	11	30	--	--	20	--	--
American Robin	--	--	--	1	--	--	--	--	2
American Goldfinch	1	--	--	3	--	2	--	--	--
Nashville Warbler	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
American Yellow Warbler	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	2
Wilson's Warbler	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
Yellow-headed Blackbird	--	--	--	3	--	--	20	--	--
Bobolink	--	--	--	30	--	--	--	--	--
Western Meadowlark	3	--	--	6	--	4	--	--	--
Baltimore Oriole	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1
Red-winged Blackbird	--	8	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Brown-headed Cowbird	--	--	--	--	--	--	40	--	--
Common Grackle	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	5	--
Song Sparrow	--	--	--	1	--	--	--	--	1
Chipping Sparrow	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	5
Northern Cardinal	2	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--

The overall tally of 47 species for this survey effort compares to 40 species as recorded on August 12^th. The combined total is 57 species for both dates.

These records are especially valuable as they provide further details on the occurrence of a great variety of wildbirds that occur at wetlands habitat present along the proposed corridor of the r-project. This industrial powerline would bisect some of the wetland settings. It would also impose a powerline across the flight path used by wildbirds as they fly from the overnight roost at Goose Lake WMA to the wetlands just to the south.

Late Summer Birds Noted in the Valentine Vicinity

These are the various bird species noted during July and August, 2018, in the immediate vicinity of Valentine, NE.

The overall number is typical for the post-breeding season during a time of the year known as the summer doldrums. The most prominent feature of these two months was the occurrence of fledged young, most notably those that visited the bird seed buffet at the shack. Many of the species listed are year-round residents. Some notables included:

* Wild Turkey: a female with six young originally arrived in mid-July, but the number of young soon decreased to five and this number was consistent through the remainder of the period. In early august a second female was present, but it had only one youngster.

* Turkey Vulture: daily residents seen as they soared over the North Lake Shore Hills.

* Mourning Dove: the notable increase in August certainly reflects the occurrence of fledged young and as the birds gathered in post-breeding flocks.

* Western Kingbird: certainly present in Valentine during the entire period.

* Eastern Kingbird: associated with the north side of the Mill Pond and the Water Tanks Tract during the entire period.

* Yellow-headed Blackbird: a single male occurred with the many blackbirds at the seed buffet. This is the first time this species has been seen during either of these two months in recent years.

* Red-winged Blackbird: following the occurrence of many of these birds including adults and fledglings, the numbers were very reduced as the species left the area.

* Common Grackle: similar occurrence as the Red-winged Blackbird; the 35 were the last occurrence of significance at the horse pens and bird seed around the shack on August 1^st.

* Indigo Bunting: lesser occurrence than expected.

The sixty species listed are indicated in taxonomic sequence as defined by the International Ornithological Council, 2018.

Proper Name	192	199	210	213	220	230	230
Canada Goose	--	7	6	--	--	--	--
Wood Duck	--	--	1	1	--	--	2
Wild Turkey	6	10	10	16	17	14	14
Great Blue Heron	2	--	--	--	--	--	1
Turkey Vulture	10	8	28	--	5	5	9
Red-tailed Hawk	1	1	2	--	--	--	1
Killdeer	--	--	1	--	1	1	--
Spotted Sandpiper	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Rock Dove	5	2	7	--	7	--	--
Eurasian Collared Dove	8	7	7	3	6	4	3
Mourning Dove	7	6	16	7	21	12	12
Common Nighthawk	--	1	--	--	--	--	--
Chimney Swift	5	9	26	--	--	12	--
Belted Kingfisher	--	1	2	--	--	1	1
Red-headed Woodpecker	1	1	2	--	--	--	--
Downy Woodpecker	1	1	--	--	1	1	1
Hairy Woodpecker	--	--	--	--	1	--	--
Northern Flicker	--	1	4	--	1	1	1
American Kestrel	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Eastern Phoebe	1	2	1	--	1	--	1
Western Wood Pewee	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Eastern Wood Pewee	--	1	5	--	1	1	--
Western Kingbird	4	--	7	--	6	--	--
Eastern Kingbird	1	2	2	--	1	2	--
Great Crested Flycatcher	3	5	6	--	--	3	--
Bell's Vireo	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Red-eyed Vireo	1	1	3	--	--	1	--
Blue Jay	--	2	8	--	1	3	4
American Crow	--	2	2	--	--	--	--
Cedar Waxwing	4	2	4	3	2	11	3
Black-capped Chickadee	--	5	2	--	2	--	--
Purple Martin	6	6	11	21	--	--	--
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	10	5	--	2	--	--	--
American Cliff Swallow	20	--	2	--	--	--	--
House Wren	6	9	16	--	3	4	3
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
White-breasted Nuthatch	--	1	2	--	1	--	--
Grey Catbird	1	2	2	--	1	1	1
Brown Thrasher	1	--	--	--	--	--	--
Eastern Bluebird	--	1	1	--	--	--	--
American Robin	5	10	14	--	6	20	15
House Sparrow	10	20	15	--	10	15	--
House Finch	3	4	4	4	3	6	4
American Goldfinch	3	3	5	--	3	4	3
Common Yellowthroat	2	2	4	2	--	--	--
American Redstart	--	1	2	--	--	--	--
American Yellow Warbler	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Yellow-breasted Chat	--	--	2	--	--	--	--
Yellow-headed Blackbird	--	--	--	1	--	--	--
Orchard Oriole	1	--	2	--	--	--	--
Red-winged Blackbird	20	25	23	30	1	--	--
Brown-headed Cowbird	5	5	7	--	2	--	--
Common Grackle	5	10	7	35	4	--	--
Chipping Sparrow	5	4	12	--	4	6	8
Field Sparrow	1	--	2	--	--	--	--
Lark Sparrow	--	2	5	4	4	4	--
Spotted Towhee	1	1	7	--	--	--	--
Black-headed Grosbeak	--	--	1	--	--	--	--
Northern Cardinal	1	1	3	1	1	1	1
Blue Grosbeak	1	--	1	--	1	--	--
Indigo Bunting	--	--	2	--	--	--	--

New additions to the tally for these months were the American Kestrel, Western Wood Pewee, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, American Redstart and Yellow-breasted Chat in July, most notably at Government Canyon.

The tally for 2018 differs from 2017 (70 species on 11 dates) and 2016 (70 species on 16 dates. Obviously the number of dates when records were kept can make a difference in the over number of species recorded, which totals 81 overall for these two months since August 2015.

Bird Survey of Summer Avifauna in Goose Lake District

An unusual bird survey effort occurred on Sunday, August 12 at several wetlands in the vicinity of Goose Lake, WMA in southeast Holt county. Jason Thiele visited the wildlife management area, Detters Lake to the west and also kept notes of occurrence for wetlands present at the headwaters of Clearwater Creek (which eventually empty into the Elkhorn River) along county road 846.

What is notable is that the largest extent of waterfowl were at the small wetlands rather than at Goose Lake. The results are also valuable for indicating songbirds of the later part of the breeding season. This is a list of the 39 species recorded — with most of the songbirds from the wildlife area — according to records available at ebird.org:

Proper Name - Indicated Number

Canada Goose - 55 Wood Duck - 20 Blue-winged Teal - 120; 70 at one spot and 50 at another Northern Shoveler - 4 Mallard - 10 These five species of waterfowl were at a wetland complex which is a portion of the headwaters area of Clearwater creek, a waterway hydrologically connected to the Elkhorn River which then connects to the Platte River that has a known designation as "waters of the United States" Northern Bobwhite - 2 Pied-billed Grebe - 1; also at a Clearwater Creek headwaters wetland Great Blue Heron - 3; seen only at the Clearwater wetlands Turkey Vulture - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 1 Killdeer - 6; only at the Clearwater wetlands Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Solitary Sandpiper - 1 Franklin's Gull - 1 at the WMA lake where there is a fisheries resource Belted Kingfisher - 1 Eurasian Collared Dove - 1 Mourning Dove - 9; either at the WMA or one of the Clearwater Creek wetlands surveyed

Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 4 American Kestrel - 1 Eastern Kingbird - 16; a dozen at Clearwater wetlands Warbling Vireo - 1 Blue Jay - 1 American Crow - 6 Black-capped Chickadee - 2 Barn Swallow - 6 House Wren - 1 Grey Catbird - 1 Common Starling - 5 American Robin - 8 American Goldfinch - 9 Common Yellowthroat - 1 American Yellow Warbler - 1 Western Meadowlark - 8 Baltimore Oriole - 1 Red-winged Blackbird - 49 Song Sparrow - 2 Field Sparrow - 2; actively breeding at the WMA Northern Cardinal - 2

Notably missing is any indication of the Eastern Meadowlark, which is typically a regular resident in the extensive wetland meadow habitat in the area.

The proposed r-project industrial powerline would be placed along county road 846, and which would basically create an artificial skyline barrier between Goose Lake WMA and important marshland southward along the county road that includes habitats in northern Wheeler county.

There are historic records for this region available from August 1990 and 1993, as well as a some additional results from July and more in September in different years.

Ineffective Roadside Erosion Repairs Along Park Lane at Minnechaduza Creek by the Cherry County Roads Department

Presented July 31, 2018 at the Cherry County Commissioners meeting.

There is an ongoing erosion problem along Park Lane at the bridge crossing over Minnechaduza Creek. Water runoff from the street has been diverted by the Cherry County Roads Department (CCRD) – the entity responsible for maintenance of this roadway – onto Valentine City Park property and which then drains into the creek.

Gully erosion at failed spillway.

An obvious extent of erosion was occurring in early July so the situation was reported to the CCRD office, with a request that a repair be done. The following steps by CCRD were then taken, as personally observed:

1. 1) A smallish berm of some sort of unknown aggregate was placed to move water southward to where it could pour off the bridge and into the creekway; the berm at the gully was washed out by a subsequent rain
   
2. 2) A larger berm of aggregate was placed at the problem site, which washed out during the next rain
   
3. 3) An asphaltic mix was strewn over the repaired berm to divert the water southward
   
4. 4) The asphaltic mix berm was modified so there would be a “spillway” into a gully to direct water runoff into the creek; a portion of the spillway was washed away during the rainfall on July 23rd, and the problematic situation was once again reported to the CCRD office. At this time it was mentioned the CCRD employee indicated that some sort of repair would occur on August 1, so a request was made for further details with findings requested to be heard later in the week.
   
5. 5) On July 25 a bunch of large rocks were dumped into the erosional gully to seemingly thwart erosion. It was another effort of failure as there are too many voids that will allow the unchanged route of the runoff water to erode beneath the rocks.
   
6. 6) Upon asking on July 26 at the CCRD office about the repair to supposedly occur on August 1, no information could be provided.
   The dump of big rocks occurred following an apparent consultation with a City of Valentine official (this situation has been discussed at least twice with the city manager).
   

This situation is problematic for at least these reasons:

Park Lane at North Lake Shore Drive. Erosional problem at the lower right of this photograph.

1. A. The problem has not been suitably fixed despite five attempts by county employees.
   
2. B. The runoff is being conveyed down the creek bank so erosion is occurring next to the bridge abutment, which might eventually result in a threat to its integrity?
   
3. C. Stormwater runoff from a county road is being forced upon a western extent of Valentine City Park, diminishing this public property. Why should a county issue become a city problem!
   
4. D. Sediment resulting from the runoff gully is going into the creek, and thus is a situation where fill is being illegally placed into waters of the United States, according to Section 404 regulations as dealt with by the Army Corps of Engineers. Runoff sediment is obvious in the creek at this site, thus there is a violation of this federal mandate. A sediment fence was placed along the creek-side on July 30.
   
5. E. Runoff water and erosional material is allowed to get into Minnechaduza Creek, degrading its water quality (as regulated by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality) by adding automotive road debris into the creek, as well as allowing roadside trash to get into the creek waters thus contributing to unacceptable pollution.
   

When will a long-term, permanent solution be placed here? An example of one solution is obvious on the west side of the street, where there is a drainage culvert. There are other solutions available (reshaping the street surface to establish a less-concentrated runoff pattern; perhaps a pond or wetland for runoff from Lake Shore Drive at the northeast corner of the Mill Pond, or maybe a bioretention garden at the park?).

The bottom line is: Why do Cherry county residents have to continue to pay for ineffective work associated with a roadway? Who is accountable for this obvious failure, thus far?

Rocks dumped by the Cherry County Roads Department at the erosion problem aside Park Lane, and within Valentine City Park.

Erosional material and can trash below the drainway failure at Minnechaduza Creek and Park Lane. June 30, 2018.

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County Fails Again With Repair While Valentine Street Department Does Right

August 20, 2018

The City of Valentine is attentive to roadway issues and their reaction and action was very obvious on the north side at Minnechaduza Creek on Friday, 17 August.

There is an ongoing and unacceptable situation along the Park Lane where it crosses Minnecheduza Creek. Maintenance along this roadway is the responsibility of the Cherry County road department. Cherry county officials and employees had repeatedly failed in their repair efforts, as despite five useless repair efforts the erosional problem continued. Even after the situation was presented at a Cherry County commissioners meeting where a document with details and photographs was presented, nothing changed. The only thing heard at the meeting was bloviating by a particular commissioner about this or that in previous years and how great the results had been during past times. There was an indication that the problem would be dealt with, yet it was not. Whatever county employee responsible for this failure needs to be held accountable as he has wasted multiple hours of employee time and thus money on doing worthless things.

Because of the big rain on Wednesday, August 15th, the sediment fence placed by the street crew of Valentine to prevent material from getting into Minnechaduza Creek was overloaded and there was a stream of the sediment that flowed beyond the fence but thankfully did not pollute the creek. Next to the street, there was a safety hazard as the roadside dropoff was more than 12 inches and the creekward incline fell off even more dangerously.

Upon reporting the situation to staff in the Valentine city office on Friday morning, the entire situation changed. The city of Valentine street crew took control. The office staff conveyed my message. A city worker quickly assessed the problem. A suitable and effective crew arrived, including heavy equipment and they were focused and seen to be quickly working to solve an ongoing problem, within the morning to provide a temporary repair.

City of Valentine staff and its street crew quickly arrived on last Friday morning – after having left a brief message in city hall – and addressed a situation which was actually the responsibility of the county. The current diversional situation is quite fine to avoid further erosion. It is however quite unknown when the county will provide a permanent solution to an obvious and ongoing problem. There would be no more stormwater runoff causing erosion on the bank along a county road. The creekbank in west Valentine City Park was being given attention and work done to ensure that sediment would not get into Minnechaduza Creek. The Friday repair was more than enough to make certain the fill, overlying asphaltic mix and temporary curbing would replace a worthless county effort.

The current repair is, however, only temporary. There has been no indication of a permanent repair by the county. The works needs to be acceptable to the City of Valentine and local residents. Perhaps commissioner Jim Van Winkle should pay attention to happening now, rather than speaking of past times which mean so little at their monthly meetings. Thankfully in January he will no longer be able to publically convey his historic haze of events which mostly now have only a slight significance. Perhaps commissioners Tanya Storer and Martin DeNaeyer should pay attention to local concerns rather than travel to Washington D.C. during these August days. Do they think their presence meant anything to people that have actual, significant national accomplishments? It seemed to have just been a photo opportunity?

City of Valentine employees listened and acted. My hearty thanks to them!

P.S. There was no change at this locale following the rainfall on the 19th. So there appears to be an adequate, temporary repair until the county does an actual permanent repair.