Tree Management To Improve Woodlands of Central Niobrara Valley

Planning is underway for tree management to improve woodland resources on the Niobrara National Scenic River east of Valentine.

The project - one of the first on state managed property in the area - will occur at the leased Krzyzanowski Tract with the renowned Smith Falls along a spring-branch creek, to the south across the river from the state park.

"With the fuels treatment effort, we are getting back to general forest management and providing avenues to increase forest health through proper stocking densities," said Jessica Yahnke, a forest fuels management specialist with the Nebraska Forest Service.

"Increased forest health means a healthier ecosystem," Yahnke said, and will enhance "wildlife habitat for deer, elk, turkeys and other animals. Snags will be left at a minimum of 2-5 per acre, to provide bird habitat."

The clearing will reduce the extent of "ladder" fuels and improve the vitality of the remaining trees.

"The Niobrara woodlands are growing 10-20 times the number of trees per acre than were present historically," Yahnke said. "If there is no fuel treatment by thinning or controlled burns, then there will eventually be a catastrophic wildfire, which could destroy whole woodland stands or large areas and thus, remove habitat for birds adapted and dependent on the horizontal and vertical edge that forests provide along the Niobrara River valley.

"The upper slopes that consist of ponderosa pine and eastern redcedar understory, will have both of these species mechanically removed. On the lowlands, most of the invasive redcedar trees will be removed from among the hardwood tree growth. Some hand thinning will occur on the midslope areas.

"Most of the understory trees consist of eastern red cedar, but also include ponderosa pine and hardwoods. Of these understory trees, most are considered 'ladder' fuels, which means they provide a means for a surface fire to gain easy access to tree crowns and a higher potential for fire spread. These ladder fuels combined with flashy fine fuels - such as grasses and yucca - in mountainous type terrain creates a volatile situation and thus, proposes a high risk threat for stand replacing wildfires."

The Big Rock Fire in mid-July 2006 on the north side of Valentine, is an example of this type of destructive fire which burns the trees and destroys the woodlands.

"A thinning project may cause the numbers of some bird species to decline to historic levels of occurrence in localized areas, as birds - American robins, for example - that utilize the cedar berries are displaced," Yahnke said, "but other redcedar trees are located both up and down river from the project area. Isolated patches of redcedar may still also remain where ladder fuel characteristics are not a concern and a break in fuel continuity can be accomplished to reduce the threat of unmanageable wildfire."

An evaluation visit with potential contractors will occur in mid-summer, Yahnke said.

Eradication of invasive Redcedar trees has been carried out elsewhere in the area along the Niobrara National Scenic River, especially by controlled burns and/or mechanical removal at the Niobrara Valley Preserve, owned by The Nature Conservancy, and to a lesser extent by private landowners.

Burning is also used as a grassland management tool at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, just east of Valentine.

Birds of New Spain Recorded by Mocino ca. 1800 Identified by Researchers

Least Bittern. Images courtesy of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation. Used through news reporting fair use condition as given on terms of use page. Images have been cropped to reduce file size.

A detailed investigation of records for birds noted more than 200 years ago in New Spain indicate the importance of historic ornithology in determining the former occurrence of birds in different regions.

A group of international researchers studied records from the 1787-1803 Real Expedicion Botanica a Nueva Espana (Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain), under commander Martin de Sesse. Jose Mariano Mocino was the scientist that joined the expedition in 1790.

Adolfo G. Navarro-Siguenza, of the Museo de Zoologia at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, collaborated with A. Townsend Peterson of the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Miguel Angel Puig-Samper of the Instituto de Historia of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas in Madrid, and Graciela Zamudio of the Laboratorio de Historia de la Biologia at UNAM, identified Mocino's efforts as a "stellar example of inventory and analysis of bird fauna" with "an impressive level of detail and scientific commentary," and "consistent and mostly complete" information," according to their recently published journal article.

"We definitely consider Mociño as the greatest Mexican ornithologist of his times, and one of the greatest of all times," Adolfo said.

"It was very rewarding to collaborate closely as ornithologists with personnel working on the history of biology at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid that found the manuscripts and, as experts in the Sesse and Mociño expedition, invited us to do a deeper analysis of the ornithological results," Adolfo said. "Our ornithology groups at the Museo de Zoologia and University of Kansas have been interested in history of science, especially ornithology, for many years" and this study was a chance to contribute to a better understanding of the birds present more than two centuries ago, especially in southern North America.

Gray-necked Wood-Rail.

The primary reference works used included images of paintings previously published in other sources, and photocopies of the two volumes of the ornithological manuscripts preserved at the museum in Madrid, Spain.

"The greatest challenge was to put together the different pieces of evidence in the texts and paintings, all of which were dispersed among several institutions on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean," Navarro-Siguenza said. "Then, it was a challenge to accurately identify the species involved based on the original descriptions given in Latin."

The different species had been identified, and were named according to a variety of historic nomenclature. Mocino used sources such as the Systema Naturae of Carl Linnaeus and works by J.F. Gmelin. Many of the names matched the names used in later-era publications by William Swainson, William Bullock, Charles Lucien Bonaparte, for example.

One of the major tasks of the researchers was to update the historic scientific names to match those of currently accepted, modern nomenclature. The journal paper specifically notes how nomenclature was "unstable" during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

List of bird species determined for the Royal Botanical Expedition (Navarro-Siguenza et al., November 2007, Condor 109: 808-823). The 262 species recognized, are listed in modern taxonomic sequence. Numerous other bird types with vague description or unrecognizable nomenclature could not be identified to a modern equivalent.
• Black-bellied Whistling-Duck • Greater White-fronted Goose • Muscovy Duck • Gadwall • Blue-winged Teal • Green-winged Teal • White-winged Scoter • Plain Chachalaca • Crested Guan • Red Junglefowl • Wild Turkey • Scaled Quail • Elegant Quail • California Quail • Northern Bobwhite • Montezuma Quail • Least Grebe • Double-crested Cormorant • Anhinga • Magnificent Frigatebird • American Bittern • Least Bittern • Bare-throated Tiger-Heron • Great Blue Heron • Great Egret • Snowy Egret • Green Heron • Black-crowned Night-Heron • Yellow-crowned Night-Heron • Boat-billed Heron • Roseate Spoonbill • Wood Stork • Turkey Vulture • King Vulture • Osprey • Northern Harrier • Cooper's Hawk • Common Black-Hawk • Harris's Hawk • White-tailed Hawk • Red-tailed Hawk • Harpy Eagle • Crested Caracara • Laughing Falcon • American Kestrel • Merlin • Aplomado Falcon • Prairie Falcon • Virginia Rail • Sora • Common Moorhen • Sandhill Crane • Black-bellied Plover • Semipalmated Plover • Killdeer • Black-necked Stilt • American Avocet • Spotted Sandpiper • Willet • Upland Sandpiper • Least Sandpiper • Wilson's Snipe • Laughing Gull • Marbled Murrelet • Tufted Puffin • Rock Pigeon • Red-billed Pigeon • Band-tailed Pigeon • White-winged Dove • Mourning Dove • Inca Dove • Common Ground-Dove • Blue Ground-Dove	• Orange-fronted Parakeet • Military Macaw • Thick-billed Parrot • Barred Parakeet • White-fronted Parrot • Lilac-crowned Parrot • Red-lored Parrot • Yellow-headed Parrot • Squirrel Cuckoo • Yellow-billed Cuckoo • Lesser Ground-Cuckoo • Lesser Roadrunner • Greater Roadrunner • Groove-billed Ani • Great Horned Owl • Whip-poor-will • Canivet's Emerald • Broad-billed Hummingbird • White-eared Hummingbird • Berylline Hummingbird • Amethyst-throated Hummingbird • Blue-throated Hummingbird • Lucifer Hummingbird • Costa's Hummingbird • Rufous Hummingbird • Black-headed Trogon • Citreoline Trogon • Violaceous Trogon • Mountain Trogon • Elegant Trogon • Russet-crowned Motmot • Blue-crowned Motmot • Belted Kingfisher • Green Kingfisher • Emerald Toucanet • Collared Aracari • Keel-billed Toucan • Acorn Woodpecker • Black-cheeked Woodpecker • Golden-cheeked Woodpecker • Ladder-backed Woodpecker • Hairy Woodpecker • Strickland's Woodpecker • Smoky-brown Woodpecker • Golden-olive Woodpecker • Northern Flicker • White-striped Woodcreeper • Black Phoebe • Vermilion Flycatcher • Great Kiskadee • Social Flycatcher • Scissor-tailed Flycatcher • Fork-tailed Flycatcher • Masked Tityra • Loggerhead Shrike • Rufous-browed Peppershrike • Steller's Jay • White-throated Magpie-Jay • Green Jay • Brown Jay • Purplish-backed Jay • Azure-hooded Jay • Western Scrub-Jay • Mexican Jay • Common Raven • Horned Lark • Purple Martin • Gray-breasted Martin • Mangrove Swallow • Northern Rough-winged Swallow • Barn Swallow	• Mexican Chickadee • Bushtit • Brown Creeper • Band-backed Wren • Gray-barred Wren • Boucard’s Wren • Rock Wren • Canyon Wren • Bewick's Wren • Golden-crowned Kinglet • Black-tailed Gnatcatcher • Eastern Bluebird • Brown-backed Solitaire • Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush • Clay-colored Robin • American Robin • Gray Catbird • Northern Mockingbird • Ocellated Thrasher • Curve-billed Thrasher • Blue Mockingbird • Gray Silky-flycatcher • Phainopepla • Nashville Warbler • Yellow Warbler • Yellow-throated Warbler • Black-and-white Warbler • Louisiana Waterthrush • Common Yellowthroat • Hooded Warbler • Wilson's Warbler • Red Warbler • Painted Redstart • Slate-throated Redstart • Yellow-breasted Chat • Red-breasted Chat • Hepatic Tanager • Western Tanager • Yellow-winged Tanager • White-collared Seedeater • Rufous-capped Brush-Finch • Spotted Towhee • Canyon Towhee • Stripe-headed Sparrow • Striped Sparrow • Chipping Sparrow • Black-chinned Sparrow • Yellow-eyed Junco • Black-headed Saltator • Black-faced Grosbeak • Crimson-collared Grosbeak • Northern Cardinal • Yellow Grosbeak • Black-headed Grosbeak • Blue Grosbeak • Indigo Bunting • Red-winged Blackbird • Yellow-headed Blackbird • Great-tailed Grackle • Slender-billed Grackle • Bronzed Cowbird • Black-cowled Oriole • Orchard Oriole • Streak-backed Oriole • Audubon’s Oriole • Yellow-winged Cacique • Yellow-throated Euphonia • House Finch • Red Crossbill • Lesser Goldfinch

The detailed analysis identified 78 of the paintings to a particular species of bird, with 242 species determined from the manuscripts. Overall, more than 260 species were identified.

Nearly fifty different locales are represented in the sites where a particular species was noted to occur. Most of the locales are in the area of modern Mexico, with a few from the coastal area of the northern Pacific Ocean near Monterey and Nootka Sound.

Sites with birds records as recorded during the Royal Botanical Expedition. These locales are based on a compilation of the records for the species listed in the published article, with the site designation based on locality information given for a particular species.
• Acaponeta • Acapulco • Acayucan • America • Amoles • Apatzingan • Cayenne • Coahuayana • Cuernavaca • Desierto de los Leones • Guadalajara • Gulf of Mexico • Huasteca • Huasutepeque • Huauchinango • Huehuetla	• Hueytlalpan • Lake Texcoco • Lake Tixtla • Los Tuxtlas • Malacatepec • Martinica • Mazatlan • Mexico • Mexico City • Monterey • Nootka Sound • Paramita • Puebla • Queretaro • San Agustin • San Angel	• San Blas • San Felipe del Obraje • San Nicolas • Santo Domingo • Sinaloa • Temascaltepec • Tepic • Tepic Lakes • Toluca • Tropical Mexico • Tulancingo • Uruapan • Valle de Mexico • Zacatlan • Zacatlan de la Manzanas • Zitacuaro

"This analysis fills a large gap on the knowledge of scientific ornithology in Mexico," Navarro-Siguenza said. "It also demonstrates the high level of scientific skills of naturalists of this epoch in New Spain and is a good glance at the impressive biodiversity of the region. And personally, this was a fascinating challenge, a kind of research done just because it is outstandingly fun."

Tri-colored Heron.

In addition to documenting the occurrence of many species in historic Mexico, the records also indicate variations in distribution when site records by Mocino are compared to modern range of a species. Changes were especially notable for the Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Sandhill Crane, Boat-billed Heron, and Slender-billed Grackle. The species occurred in areas where they are no longer present.

Navarro-Siguenza further emphasized the importance of natural history chronicles from this expedition: "Mariano Mociño has been 'venerated' as a major contributor to the botany of Mesoamerica. After this research, we are almost sure that his heart was more closely related to ornithology, and were surprised about the detail and care of his ornithological contributions. It is sad that the work was never published in the 1800s, otherwise nomenclature of North American birds would be really different."

If Mocino's findings had been published soon after the expedition returned from New Spain, the scientific names for many of the species he observed would be based on the names he would have designated, since his citation would have been the first in the historic record. Modern nomenclature is typically derived from the genus and species name given in a published work by the initial observer of a particular species.

"The history of ornithology is important for the history of the science in general, given that many general thoughts in biology - biogeography, conservation, systematics, evolution and ecology - have been based in the study of birds," Navarro-Siguenza said.

"As museum people, we are really aware of the importance of recovering historical information and we hope more people can get involved in this kind of analyses. We have learned through the years that birds are one of the best studied groups at the beginning of any natural history survey in the ancient times in every part of the world, so comparing bird distribution from different periods in time can give a hint on changes of biodiversity in any region.

"Through these records we witness environmental changes, populations health, and geographic structure of faunas. But besides that, we use those records as base data for developing many research projects on avifaunas, including future projections of bird diversity as a result of climate change, emergent diseases" and other factors which influence the distribution of bird species.

"For several years my research group, and others we have worked with in the U.S.A. and Europe especially the University of Kansas and the Natural History Museum in Britain, have stressed the value of scientific collections and historical records as a source of information valuable for conservation, biogeography and systematics of birds and other taxa."

Wind Farm Developers Proactive in Minimizing Threats to Birds

Measures to minimize the threats to birds are an essential part of the planning and construction process by Midwest Wind Energy for a wind farm facility in Knox County, northeast Nebraska.

"We have a proactive approach to addressing environmentally sensitive issues," said Patrick Dalseth, a project coordinator with the Chicago-based company. "We are an environmentally conscious company, so we contacted state and federal agencies early in the planning process while preparing our proposal to the Nebraska Public Power District. The agencies preliminary feedback on environmental concerns were included in the proposal."

The power district had requested proposals to evaluate from which they could select a project that would increase their use of wind-generated power.

The Elkhorn Ridge Wind Project was chosen from among ten proposals submitted, Dalseth said.

Wind turbines at the Ainsworth Wind Energy facility.

In March, NPPD signed an agreement with Midwest Wind Energy to purchase the 80 megawatts of electricity that would be generated on an annual basis by a turbine farm in the rolling hills near Bloomfield.

"The environmental assessment for this project was relatively easy," Dalseth said. "There were hardly any environmentally sensitive issues" such as wetlands or concerns with turbines being placed along an apparent bird migration corridor.

An avian assessment - step #6 in the companies 12 steps to building a wind farm - was carried out by consulting partners. "Sites undergo thorough ornithology studies to ensure migratory routes stay safe," according to the company web site.

Results indicated there are no state or federally listed species on the project site, which is also east of the migration corridor for the Whooping Crane, a species of special concern in regards to potential impacts of wind farm placement. About 58 different species of birds were noted in the area during site visits.

Two leks of the Greater Prairie-Chicken were present, including one in a crop field.

Their occurrence prompted the company to agree to contribute $37,000 to the Nebraska Land Trust. The funds - $1,000 per turbine plus administrative fees - will be used to "benefit the conservation of grassland nesting birds through acquisition of conservation easements in the Verdigre-Bazille Creek Watershed Biologically Unique Landscape area in conjunction with the Nebraska Legacy Project," according to letters of understanding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

An agreement of understanding on this contribution is expected to be approved by the end of May.

Several other measures to protect avian resources are being included with the project, according to the letters of understanding by the two agencies in late April:

"In acknowledgement that the wind project and ancillary facilities can have an adverse affect on state trust fish and wildlife species including threatened and endangered species and migratory birds, the project proponent has made the following items a part of the proposed project:"

1) Power lines between turbines and to substations at the project site will be buried.

2) Bird flight diverters will be installed on the existing transmission lines that extend through the project area. Midwest Wind Energy will work with NPPD on installing these devices, Dalseth said.

3) All facilities within the project site will be constructed in a manner consistent with guidelines set forth by the Avian Powerline Committee to reduce and avoid mortality and injury to migratory birds.

4) Post-construction monitoring will be conducted for two years to determine the affect of operations on wildlife species. Results will be provided to the oversight agencies for evaluation, and discussion of results, if necessary, Dalseth said.

The company also received a nationwide permit, through a Section 404 evaluation with the Army Corps of Engineers, for underground transmission lines that will cross both natural wetlands and one man-made pond on the project site.

Including the cost of the contribution for protecting habitats for grassland species, about $65-70,000 dollars was spent on environmental review and assessment activities, Dalseth said.

It will cost $140 million to construct the Elkhorn Ridge Wind Project, which will have 27 wind turbines with a height of 410 feet spread across about 8,355 acres, which is about 95% cropland, Dalseth said. Each turbine - except for one - will be placed in tilled cropland, generally along a preexisting, high-voltage transmission line. Red-flashing lights will be placed atop the turbine hubs, to mark their location for planes, following regulatory guidelines of the Federal Aviation Authority.

Construction of the project is currently underway, and expected to be completed about December, 2008.

The steps used to develop the Elkhorn Ridge Wind Project are the same procedures that will be utilized for the construction of any other facilities to generate power from wind, Dalseth said. Midwest Wind Energy is currently evaluating the construction of two other wind facilities in Nebraska, and elsewhere within its area of operation.

Land Donation and Federal Grant to Help Waterfowl Conservation in Louisiana

A donation of 71,300 acres by British Petroleum and an additional grant of more than $1 million will conserve coastal wetlands and prairie in southwest Louisiana.

Funding of nearly $1 million was awarded to Ducks Unlimited through the North American Waterfowl Conservation Act, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with an additional $2.1 million - including a $2 million land donation from BP America Production Company - in matching funds provided by Stream Companies and a private land-owner.

The BP grant is based on a donation of 71,300 acres of habitat, that will be managed by the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There will be 850 acres restored and 1,487 acres enhanced, according to the NAWCA grant summary, to provide "dependable, seasonal habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife" by:

1) enhancing 1,458 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands;

2) enhancing 29 acres of coastal freshwater marsh; and

3) restoring 850 acres of coastal prairie uplands that provide critical nesting habitat for breeding Mottled Ducks.

Management efforts will be completed at several locales:

White Lake Wetland Conservation Area - 71,300 donated acres.

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge - wetland enhancement on 570 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice) via replacement of existing pumping station with a new surface pump and renovation of 3,900 linear feet of existing levee.

Goose Lake Site

* upland restoration on 361 acres of prairie habitat, using aerial application of herbicide to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees;

* wetland enhancement on 375 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice), with the installation of a groundwater well and renovation of 16,250 linear feet of existing levee;

* wetland enhancement on 177 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice) by refurbishment of an existing surface water pumping station;

* upland restoration on 148 acres of prairie habitat, with an application of herbicide spray to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees; and

* wetland enhancement on 29 acres of freshwater marsh wetlands via installation of two water control structures.

Ranch Site

* upland restoration on 90 acres of prairie habitat be mechanical clearing of vegetation to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees;

* wetland enhancement on 182 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice), with the installation of a groundwater well and renovation of 13,000 linear feet of existing levee; and

* upland restoration on 251 acres of prairie habitat by an aerial application of herbicide to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees.

"This proposal represents a continuation of long-term efforts to protect, restore and enhance important wetland habitats in the Gulf Coastal Prairies," according to the NAWCA grant summary. "The coastal prairie region within southwestern Louisiana has lost more than 99% of its native grasslands due to intensive agricultural practices and urban development."

"These native prairie grasslands are critical habitat for several priority species of grassland birds. Grassland restoration herein should specifically benefit Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, assorted other raptors, Loggerhead Shrikes, several species of wintering sparrows, and perhaps Sprague's Pipit which occurs in southwestern Louisiana in winter on grazed wet prairies. In addition, resident Mottled Ducks will directly benefit from improved nesting opportunities within restored prairie upland habitat. Wet and/or flooded areas within these grasslands offer foraging habitat for a host of other landbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl.

"Conservation projects included in this proposal will partially compensate for the region's loss of emergent wetlands and coastal prairie grasslands and will maximize waterfowl and other migratory bird values by increasing breeding, migration and wintering habitat. This proposal will provide breeding habitat primarily for Mottled Ducks, as well as wintering/migration habitat for Northern Pintails, Mallards, Gadwalls, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, and other waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and grassland dependent landbirds.

"Ten priority waterfowl species and an additional ten wetland-dependent migratory bird species were identified as benefiting from the habitat conservation results. Other birds that utilize the coastal wetlands and prairie area will also benefit."

The project will restore "wetland functions and values on private lands that make the Louisiana coastal wetlands a sustainable ecosystem that provides economically valuable and ecologically significant goods and services to humans, including improvements to water quality, storage and/or reduction of flooding associated with tropical storms and hurricanes, and a host of fish and wildlife habitat-related aspects. All of these goods and services are beneficial to the general public."

Expedition in 1853 Notes the Importance of Aransas Bay for Fowl in the Winter

During 1850-1853, an expeditionary force was assigned to define the northern boundary of Mexico. The leader of the United States-Mexican boundary Commission, 45-year-old John Russell Bartlett, kept a personal narrative of explorations and incidents in Texas, New Mexico, California, Sonora and Chihuahua.

The preface to the lengthy account said: "...of the botany and zoology I have endeavored to keep before the reader a correct idea of the character of the country throughout which he was to follow me, without lists and descriptions, scientific or otherwise, of every plant, quadruped, bird, and reptile that came in my way."

Notes about local birds among the daily diary entries, started soon after the party got underway. A first notation in September 1850, referred to prairie fowl, curlew and quail at Indianola, on the gulf coast of Texas. Subsequent mentions - only periodically in Bartlett's ongoing narrative - typically only cited one or two generic types of birds such as ducks, teal, plover, sparrows and blackbirds.

In one instance on October 20, 1850, when traversing a plateau near Bradys Creek in west-central Texas, a vast prairie dog town - including "small brown owls" that flitted about - was enough of an inspiration that Bartlett drew a sketch which also depicted the Burrowing Owls. The men and their wagons marched for three hours through the "dog-town," with it extending onward far enough to be present during the entire next day. On the 22nd, the day's entry said: "The community and domain of the prairie dogs, which we entered two days ago, continues." The locale may have been a wintering habitat for the owls. On the 23rd, more owls were noted when beyond "Potato Spring" and near Antelope Creek.

The brief mentions of birds for this expedition account are interesting records, but certainly are not a significant contribution to historic ornithology for the region visited.

However, near the end of the survey expedition early in 1853, Bartlett remarked on the conditions where a great number of fowl were present on the eastern extent of Corpus Christi Bay. This notation is exquisite for the inference of the presence of a particular species.

"January 5th. The morning found us on the opposite side of Corpus Christi Bay, a light breeze wafting us eastwards towards Aransas Pass. The navigation here is carried on with boats of light burden through the shallow bays or lagunas, which line the west and north-west shores of the Gulf of Mexico. These bays are exceedingly shallow, sometimes presented a breadth of ten or fifteen miles, by a hundred or more in length. Yet these broad spaces of water are often not more than three or four feet deep, even in the middle. This depth would admit flat-bottomed vessels of large capacity, were it not for the numerous bars which intersect them, sometimes leaving but a few inches of water; hence, none but flat-bottomed boats can navigate these waters, and even these may be suddenly arrested in their progress, should a norther occur and drive the water out of the bays.

"Our course lay through a channel less than twenty yards wide for miles, with bars of sand on both sides but an inch or two above the water. These were covered with myriads of water-fowl, including cranes, swans, herons, ibises, geese, ducks, curlews, plover, sand-pipers, etc. The large cranes and swans stood in lines extending for miles, appearing like a light sandy beach or white cliff; and it was impossible to dispel the delusion, until the vast flock, with a simultaneous scream that could be heard for miles, rose from their resting place. Occasionally, we would round a point which concealed a bay the surface of which was filled with ducks and geese; these, taking the alarm, would rise in one continuous flock, making a noise like thunder, as they flapped their wings on emerging from the water. Notwithstanding the vast numbers of these birds, I shot but few; for the water was so shallow that we could not get within gun shot of them with our boat. With a light skiff, and a few bushes or a bunch of grass, a gunnder would have such sport as no other portion of the world can surpass."

Their route continued until entering Aransas Bay, later in the day's boat trip, just days before Bartlett explorations were to end, and he returned to the east coast.

This entry is certainly notable for its mention of the large cranes, with its additional notation to their appearing as part of a "white cliff" with the swans.

This can be interpreted as referring to a large white crane, which can be readily distinguishable as the Whooping Crane, rather than the smaller, gray crane, which would be the Sandhill Crane. And the notation is about cranes, not herons, or egrets. It is possible that the Great Egret and Snowy Egret were also among the species present, since this is an area where the species would occur in January.

Bartlett's notes obviously indicate an extensive number of the particular cranes, spread along a distance given in "miles" rather than for just a short distance. There must have been a very large number present, indicating the importance of the locale as wintering habitat.

The scene was obviously remarkable, presenting an impression dramatic enough for Bartlett to mention a greater variety of bird types than he noted on any other occasion during the 2.5 years of the boundary survey.

More than 150 years later, Aransas Bay is still the winter home for the remaining remnant - compared to historic numbers - of the interior population of Whooping Cranes.

Peregrine Falcons First Nested Sixteen Years Ago in Omaha

Sixteen years ago the Peregrine Falcons began a flight to new heights when they laid the first eggs in a hack box atop the Woodmen Tower.

The nesting was the culmination of a release effort that had started in 1988.

Eastward view from the hack box location atop the Woodmen Tower.

Their introduction to a new home and nesting locale, was the result of months of meetings and fund raising necessary for an initiative that would be a soaring success.

Planning meetings for the Nebraska Peregrine Falcon Project were well underway in the late-summer of 1987, as representatives from the Audubon Society of Omaha, Fontenelle Forest Association, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Raptor Recovery Center collaborated on bring the majestic falcons to the Omaha urban scene.

Raising the $15-20,000 needed to finance the project was the initial focus, and was enough of a success to continue with the reintroduction effort.

Each of the five birds to be released from the hack box were expected to cost at least $1500. Funds for their purchase and other project expenses were provided by the Papio Natural Resources District, Nebraska Wildlife Federation, the state income tax nongame checkoff program of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and numerous donations from individuals, school classes, sportsmen clubs and other sources.

A visit to evaluate two potential release sites occurred in late autumn of 1987. The two prominent options were the Woodmen Tower and Mutual of Omaha building. The Woodmen Tower - the "best cliff in Omaha" - was the obvious choice, and once the project people agreed upon the site, things were well on their way to bring the swift falcons to the city.

The Woodmen organization was an avid supporter from the start, according to information published at the time. The Alfred G. Thomsen Company, the building's manager, was also instrumental in insuring the successful placement of the hack box on the tower roof.

A primary reason for releasing falcons at the Woodmen Tower were that the 30-story Woodmen building mimicked a natural cliff, according to Bruce Lund, a project leader, in a January 1988 article in Shavings, the newsletter of the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society. Also, "the rooftop was clear of obstructions, such as air vents and fans, which cause injury of problems for the falcons. Pigeons and starlings are also abundant, providing the falcons with a food supply. Finally, the building overlooks the Missouri River Valley which should make a good imprint on the birds for their return the following spring."

Ken Seger, of Omaha, carefully crafted the painted white, wooden hack box - about five feet wide, three-four feet high, and with a depth of four feet - which was put in place near the edge of the east side of the building's rooftop by several volunteers in latter May, 1988.

Volunteer crew preparing the hack box for placement.

Jerry Toll, Ken Seger and Mike Gilbert putting together the hack box.

Five falcons were placed in the hack box a few weeks later, then fed domestically raised quail for a several weeks to provide a reliable source of food as they grew and once fledged, learned to fly and soar above the canyons of downtown, and then to survive on their own, in the wild environs of the river valley.

In addition to hired attendants for the hack box, many people were volunteer helping with public education or willing to be an emergency contact. Each individual involved helped make the project a success.

An office window facing west at the Northwestern Bell telephone building a couple of blocks east, was used as an observation point, where the daytime attendants kept an eye on the fledgling falcons.

The goal at the time of release was to establish a self-sustaining population by 1993.

The first wild progeny were raised in 1992 by two falcons named Woody - a bird released at Woodmen in 1989 - and Windy, released at Des Moines in 1991, according to an article published in the Nebraska Bird Review.

Between May 7th and 9th, three eggs were laid in the hack box, according to the article by Rosalind Morris. Hatching took place between June 11-13.

The three chicks named Aerial, Zenith and Skywalker successfully fledged, according to records kept by project watchers whom work at the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society.

This was the first known hatching of Peregrine Falcons in eastern Nebraska. Adults and young had been noted in Dawes County, west of Fort Robinson in 1903.

The tower falcons now nest on a simple platform, still atop the best cliff in town.

During the twenty years the project has been underway at the Woodmen Tower, 46 chicks have hatched, according to the records kept by the Society personnel. A genealogy of the falcons - with identity of the birds based, when possible, on leg bands - is available at the project website.

Bruce Lund getting a falcon's eye view.

The hack box installation crew, including Bruce Lund, Ken Seger, Jim Ducey, and Jerry Toll.

Mississippi Valley Mecca for Wintering Birds to be Enhanced

Habitat which provides a winter mecca for waterfowl other migratory birds in Arkansas, will be enhanced through a project funded by a federal grant and local conservationists.

View of project area wetland. Images courtesy of Richard W. Johnson.

A recent grant of $909,138 from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act will be used for habitat management at Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area. Partners in the grant proposal include Ducks Unlimited, Wetlands America Trust, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, M.E. Black Farms, Bear Bayou L.L.C., Arkansas Audubon, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Rich-N-Tone Duck Calls, Mack's Prairie Wings, Benny Petrus Chevrolet, 5-Oaks Lodge, Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Co., Hardly Able L.L.C., and private individuals. They provided about $200,000 in matching funds and another $1.9 million of in-kind contributions.

Activities that will result include easements donated on 5,200 acres, restoration of 4,874 acres, and enhancement of 2,730 acres. A portion of the funds will also help a habitat enhancement project at the White River National Wildlife Refuge.

"This proposal is the first of at least two to restore and enhance the Bayou Meto Basin (BMB) of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) to meet conservation objectives for migratory birds and other wetland dependent fish and wildlife," according to the NAWCA grant summary.

The "proposal secures perpetual protection of 4,066 acres of palustrine forested wetlands, 26 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, 117 acres of palustrine scrub-shrub wetland, 472 acres of riparian habitat, and 519 acres of agricultural-upland habitats via donated conservation easements. The proposal also will restore 5,442 acres, including 844 acres of palustrine emergent or seasonally-flooded wetlands, 4,393 acres of palustrine forested wetlands, and 205 acres of palustrine scrub-shrub wetlands, and it will enhance 2,730 acres, including 586 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands, 376 acres of palustrine forested wetlands, 96 acres of lacustrine wetland, and 1,672 acres of seasonally-flooded rice field. Forest restoration and enhancement in this project will help ameliorate for the estimated 80% loss of this wetland resource in the LMAV.

"This grant will provide an estimated 869,607 Duck Use Days (a measure of carrying capacity or the number of waterfowl a given area of land can support in terms of forage) on wetlands restored and enhanced by this grant. Collectively, this represents 3,794,705 DUDs toward the LMVJV goal of providing approximately 490 million DUDs that will benefit at least 19 species of waterfowl, including five NAWCA high priority species and five NAWCA other priority waterfowl species. Restoration, enhancement, and protection of 9,307 acres of forested wetlands and riparian habitats in or near three LMV joint venture-designated Forest Bird Conservation Areas (FBCA) will benefit at least ten NAWCA priority species for the LMAV (Bird Conservation Region 26) and 15 other wetland dependent forest bird species using the proposal area. At least three NAWCA BCR 26 Priority Species of shorebirds and 20 other species of shorebirds that migrate through or winter in the LMAV also will benefit directly from work proposed herein. Protection, restoration and enhancement activities proposed herein will benefit the NAWCA BCR 26 priority species Little Blue Heron and at least 8 other species of marsh or wading birds.

Waterfowl use of wetland habitat.

“The Halowell Project will benefit numerous species of waterfowl, primarily the Northern Pintail, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, American Wigeon, Green-winged teal, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall and Northern Shoveler,” said Richard W. Johnson, wetlands program coordinator with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “Other species that will use moist-soil habitat occasionally but not exclusively include Lesser Scaup, Greater Scaup, Wood Duck, Redhead, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck and the Hooded Merganser. Although the wood duck and hooded merganser use forested areas more often than moist-soil and the others are most often associated with deep open water habitats, they can be seen in the moist-soil areas, just not in the great numbers as with the other species. Greater White-Fronted Goose, Lesser Snow Goose and Ross’ Goose will use moist-soil areas as well. Some other birds that will utilize these areas include the Stilt Sandpiper, American Woodcock, White Ibis, Least Bittern, King Rail, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper and Least Sandpiper.

“The moist-soil areas provide habitat to a wide variety of birds throughout the year. They provide a suite of natural vegetation that provides a “balanced diet” for waterfowl and a substrate for invertebrates that are important to egg-laying hens. Shorebirds will use them and during the summer other species will use them like deer, turkey, rabbits and other small mammals, reptiles and amphibians,” he said.

Wetlands conserved by this proposal provide significant ecological goods and services, especially water quality benefits. The 3,102 acres of seasonally flooded wetland and rice fields to be enhanced and restored by this work will prevent an estimated 47-1,551 tons of topsoil being lost to streams and rivers in the proposal area."

Wetland and forest habitat.

"Plans for the enhancement project call for Halowell's west and central units to be divided into two units each, for a total of four units," Johnson said. "The reservoir's east unit will be used as a storage compartment for surface water. Other enhancements include the installation of a tailwater recovery system and water-transfer canals that will allow each unit to be flooded and drained independently.

"Until recently, Halowell had never been actively managed as a moist-soil unit," Johnson said. "Moist soil management is a lot like farming - the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. This grant will improve management efficiency and enable us to actively manage this area and create more food for ducks and other migratory birds.

"Basically, we're setting up Halowell as a small-scale farm to grow beneficial plants for waterfowl," Johnson said.

"Ducks don't just sit on one area and never move," said Luke Naylor, AGFC waterfowl program coordinator. "They're going to get up and move into the timber to loaf and feed. Improving habitat at Halowell Reservoir should also be beneficial to duck hunters in Bayou Meto WMA."

Johnson said the projects will increase and enhance waterfowl habitat in one of the Mississippi Flyway's most important wintering areas, help Arkansas meet its habitat goals under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and help attract ducks and other migratory birds to the state.

The project partners "fully endorse implementation of long-term wetlands conservation strategies to meet regional goals and objectives of this proposal. This proposal integrates important public lands with those of dedicated private landowners who sought to restore or enhance valuable wetlands on their property in the Bayou Meto Basin."