Omaha Hunt Club Accounts Reveal History for Birds of Missouri River Valley

As a river city grew on the west bank of the wild Missouri River, a number of the men were sportsmen with a definite appreciation for being amidst a setting that harbored a vast array of huntable fowl.

Just a short distance from the scant buildings of a steadily growing Omaha - the thriving gateway to the expanses of the west - were habitats for many species which attracted the wrong end of a shotgun. Shootists spent a vast number of hours afield in pursuit of a viable target.

In the first days once Omaha got its start in the mid-1850s, people striving to make a new home in the territory shot grouse, ducks, turkeys, and other abundant fowl that could be taken when it flew within range. Bang and with a puff of smoke, a bird could fell, and usually was gathered for later appreciation! It was a meaty portion of a days' meal to stir into the cooking pot or hang over the fire.

Within a few quick years, sportsmen organized into clubs and the hunts took on a different specter, especially in the spring and autumn when vast flocks migrated along the river valley. In patterns that mimicked time across centuries past, ducks, geese, shorebirds, and many other forms of avifauna make their treks to their breeding places and back to winter havens.

Diversity of the Missouri River provided habitats that were havens. Oxbow lakes were part of the setting. Mid-channel sandbars sufficed as a roosting place for a time. And the species changed with the weeks of the migratory season.

Shootists pursued a multitude of game birds, following a practice that certainly had been part of the tradition of Indian tribes, formerly the predominant residents along the waterway.

One of the first written notices of game club events was in an Omaha newspaper at the end of March 1863. Just a week after being organized, the men had their first celebratory dinner.

"This spirited little association was organized but last week and is composed of the right material for field and kindred sports as the result of their first day in the field, given below, will testify. ... We admire the spirit and zeal with which it is gotten up, and more especially do we admire the geese and other fowls that occasionally find their way to our humble table.

Based on scoring based on the numbers and types of birds taken, the team of R.F. Fletcher were the victors, with a count of 179, versus the William J. Kennedy team's count of 79.

"That our readers may understand the result and appreciate the enormous pile of game we will state that the score or count is graduated to that the common duck counts one making the result of the figures about equal to 270 common duck or nearly 20 to each man."

In May, 1867 there was just a brief notice of the shootist's take: "Game. - We are under many obligations to the Sportsman's Club of Omaha for a large consignment of fine, plump, fat, good looking "Esquimaux Curlew." This present reminds us of the advance of the sniping season when snipe, curlew, &c., fall before the clacking of the enthusiastic sportsmen's shot-guns; while we cannot but with the liveliest gratitude, consider their remembrance of newspaper folk, whose duties preclude the possibility of practising the healthful sport of the field." - Omaha Daily Herald.

The tradition continued and the sporting news was part of the city news for the 1870s.

In November 1870, there were three reports in the city dailies, as there was more than one newspaper being issued.

In the Omaha Daily Herald was a lengthy report, and the article included a transcription of comments by B.E.B. Kennedy, as president of the Omaha Sportsmen's Club, comments by Judge Lake, and even what Hon. John Taffe said, even though he was not a club member.

"A general demand was here made that experience be related. Messrs. Jewett, Frost, Judge Lake, David and Benjamin Smith, Capt. Homan, Mayor Caldwell, Andy McAusland, Capt. Mills, Dr. Peabody, Mr. Hathaway, Dr. Bragg, of Council Bluffs, Col. Litchfield, Gen. Perry, D.C. Sutphen and Dr. Pinney, all spoke briefly and some of them several times each on this topic. There were some good jokes, but they related to the incidents of the hunt and would not be understood by readers not acquainted with them.

The Omaha Weekly Herald obviously noted the victors: party of Captain Henry A. Homan with 556 points, while there were 461 points for the Captain Geo. T. Mills' party. Additional details were given for the several parties and where they went in pursuit of game.

The tally: Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Canada Goose, Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Duck, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Northern Bobwhite, Sora, American Golden-Plover and the Wilson's Snipe. Numbers of each were included, with Mallard and quail having the highest numbers.

In the third report: "They scattered themselves all over the country, and on Wednesday, the day of the hunt, they made a long day of it, and were quite successful withal, which is attested by the large amount of birds that they brought in yesterday. They all report game as very plentiful, but the day was too pleasant, and birds flew very high. Nearly every hunter lost as many birds, by falling into the water where they had not time to follow and capture them, as they secured." - Omaha Weekly Tribune.

1873

The autumn 1873 hunting events were also given in the papers, though there were no birdly details presented. The Omaha Daily Herald noted the hunt and referred to the dinner that evening. Their account the next day had some fine, interesting details.

A Grand Hunt. The Omaha Sportsmen Make the Largest Count Ever Known - Incidents of the Day.

"The member's of the Omaha Sportsmen's Club and other invited guests sat down to a splendid game supper last night at Wirth's. The table was sumptuously arrayed with decorative skill, and the elaborate bill of fare when put to the test was found to be genuine. The company was large, and for the most part ate as hunters should. The meals were mostly game prepared in a great variety of ways. The following is only one divisions of the bill of fare, and comprise but a small portion of it, viz roasts:
"Wild Turkey ala Chipolata, Canada Goose ala Dauphiaise, White front goose ala Eataufinde, Hutchins ala Aberdeen, Snow Goose ala Normande, Dusky Duck ala Provencale, Pentast ala Regence, Gadwal ala Payssane, Teal ala Financlere, and Entrees, Pate chaud of Rabbit ala Perigneux, Carresole of Rice garnished with Puree of Game ala Bellevue, Pate Chawd of Woodcock ala Chasseur, saline of Grouse ala Chuclenna, Blanvuets of Snipe ala Richelleu, Roodins of Red of Red Breast ala Deluynes, Fillets of Quail ala Deluynes, Salines of Widgeon ala Bigarrade Uxeller, Scallops of Balpate ala Ecalarte, Prairie Chicken ala Marergo, Timboles of Macaroni ala Poiyeade, Quail au Gratin ala Finanoure, Kromeskys of Virginia Rail ala Russe, Tourte of Squirrels ala Milanaise."

Obviously there was a fine selection of eats for the gourmands of wild game.

1874

An April, 1874 article in the Omaha Daily Herald was a detailed account, giving results for each party, including where they hunted, and "what game each man killed." This is the tally for hunting grounds on the western edge of Iowa, and eastern edge of Nebraska:

Common Name	Waubonsie Lake	Papillion	Elkhorn	Mosquito Creek Bottoms	Missouri Valley	Little Sioux Bend
Greater White-fronted Goose	8	-	-	-	-	8
Snow Goose	-	-	16	-	-	-
Canada Goose	-	-	8	-	-	32
Wood Duck	28	-	-	-	2	-
Gadwall	14	-	8	-	4	4
American Wigeon	8	4	8	4	-	6
Mallard	3	-	15	-	6	3
Blue-winged Teal	5	-	2	-	-	-
Northern Shoveler	12	2	1	1	2	13
Northern Pintail	2	-	-	-	-	-
Teal	17	-	9	5	4	6
Scaup	6	4	9	-	1	-
Bufflehead	3	1	-	-	-	-
Hawk	10	6	5	-	5	1
Sandhill Crane	-	30	30	-	-	-
American Golden-Plover	-	9	-	-	-	1
Killdeer	3	2	7	-	4	-
Lesser Yellowlegs	6	2	-	-	-	3
Eskimo Curlew	-	60	32	2	-	10
Long-billed Curlew	-	-	10	-	-	75
Curlew	-	-	20	20	-	-
Godwit	-	6	-	-	-	-
Marbled Godwit	16	8	20	8	-	10
Sandpiper	6	16	8	21	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	44	34	56	18	22	54

Some examples of the value the shootist's designated for each species were: Sandhill Crane - 15, Snow Goose, white-front goose and Hutchin's goose - 8, sickle-bill curlew - 5 and hawk - 5. Ducks counted for 2, and shorebirds were worth one point.

The report for the October hunt was bland in regards to the bird information, but conveyed how the sportsmen were helping the community:

"It is a custom for the losing side to get up a game supper for the club, but this year they turned their game to a better purpose by donating it to the Nebraska Relief and Aid Association, for the grasshopper sufferers, and as will be seen by a notice elsewhere, it will be sold at auction at Gray & Allen's, on Douglas street, and we hope those of our citizens who are lovers of game will not fail to attend as there is a splendid lot and great variety." - Omaha Daily Herald

The losing side was led by Captain H.A. Homan; the other side by Captain George T. Mills.

1875

As temperatures cooled, leaves turned colors and fell beneath the vast woods on the bluffs of the river, and birds were following their migratory paths, sportsmen made plans to pursue their favorite targets. In downtown Omaha, they bought shells for their weapons, and other gear to ensure proper preparation for whatever conditions prevailed for the October hunt in those places where the men expected the best results - the number of birds taken and a count which would mean the top count for the team.

Shootists' bagged these birds out in the wilds: Snow Goose, Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, teal, Redhead, scaup, merganser, grouse, Bald Eagle, hawk, Clapper Rail [species id questionable], Virginia Rail, American Golden-Plover, plover, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, sandpiper, dowitcher and Wilson's Snipe.

Apparently anything that flew within range was an appropriate target. With the pull of the trigger and the blast of shot, there was another bunch of dead feathers to include in the days' count.

The hunter's grand feast was held on the evening of October 15th, at the Grand Central Hotel, at 8:30 o'clock. A reporter for the Omaha Daily Republican conveyed some basics of the event:

Hunt Supper. Annual Game Hunt of the Sportsmen's Club.
At the Grand Central Last Evening - Their Bill of Fare - Ladies Present for the First Time.

"There were two very prominent features connected with the supper, to-wit: it was the best hunt supper ever given by the club, and it was the first one within our recollection that was graced with the presence of the ladies. it has been our pleasure to attend every supper given by the club since we came to Omaha, and we can fairly say that this supper eclipsed them all. It was the first supper given by the club in the Grand Central hotel, and the success that attended it will ensure the serving of future suppers in the same place."

This was the menu of eats to enjoy to the fullest, along with jovial camaraderie:

Oyster Soup.

Roast ducks with jelly - Mallard, pin-tail, gadwall, dusky, merganser, wood, red-head, widgeon, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal.

Assorted game - Snow goose, apple sauce, pinnated grouse, clapper rail, Virginia rail, yellow-shank snipe, golden plover.

Entrees.

Pate of Small Game, a la Chasseur, Compote of Mallard Duck, Salmi of Wood Duck, Wilson Snipe on Toast, Chaux Froid of Prairie Chicken, Red-breasted Snipe on Toast.

Vegetables.

Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Boiled Onions, Stewed Tomatoes, Hubbard Squash.

Pastry and Dessert.

Snow Pudding with Vanilla Custard, Lady Cake, Sponge Cake, Victoria Biscuit, Maraschino Jelly, Rum Jelly, Neapolitan Ice, Nuts, Raisins, Fruit, Coffee.

"We tackled the above, and got along down the list as far as we could, but had to give up at last. It was too much for one time. We are unable to give this feast the proper notice. If it was ten hours later, we could write a better notice, for we are not feeling just right at the present writing."

1876

The spring hunt of the year was again reported in detail by the Omaha Daily Republican. "The following is the result of the count, which we publish in detail by request of the members of the club:"

Common Name	Gilmore	Mondamin, Iowa	Waubonsie Lake	Lake Manawa	Elkhorn	Omaha	Herman	Fremont	Shell Creek	Columbus
Greater White-fronted Goose	-	-	-	-	-	-	10	-	-	-
Canada Goose	-	-	-	-	1	-	4	2	7	1
Wood Duck	-	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gadwall	-	5	12	-	11	-	-	4	4	-
American Wigeon	-	1	11	-	10	-	-	4	-	-
Mallard	-	-	-	-	3	-	1	-	1	-
Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-
Blue-winged Teal	1	1	15	-	4	-	9	5	10	2
Northern Shoveler	-	-	4	1	3	-	2	2	1	-
Northern Pintail	-	-	3	-	3	-	1	-	-	-
Green-winged Teal	-	-	5	-	4	-	-	-	6	1
Canvasback	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	-	-
Redhead	-	-	5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lesser Scaup	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-
Bufflehead	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-
Hooded Merganser	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ruddy Duck	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	1
Hawk	-	1	4	-	1	1	-	-	2	2
Clapper Rail [= Virginia rail]	-	-	1	1	-	-	1	-	-	-
Sandhill Crane	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	1	8	-
Whooping Crane	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-
American Golden-plover	-	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Killdeer	1	-	17	-	3	1	1	1	3	2
Lesser Yellowlegs	-	-	2	-	1	-	-	-	1	-
Eskimo Curlew	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	-
Long-billed Curlew	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2	4	-
Godwit	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-
Least Sandpiper	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Sandpiper	8	-	7	-	3	-	-	-	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	15	1	15	15	22	-	10	4	5	-

"The hunters had a fine day for their sport and returning yesterday. Sutphen's establishment on Douglas street, the headquarters of the club, was overwhelmed with the nimrodian trophies," wrote the writer in the Omaha Daily Herald.

Traditions continued in the years closing the 1870s. Migrations continued to present flocks that were consistently the pursuit of shootists, even though this was only rarely reported and recorded in the historic record.

Concise results given for the 1877 spring hunt gave few details of particular interest.

Articles on the autumn outing in October were more interesting, especially those in the Omaha Daily Republican. Birds that were part of the night's fare were: Wood Duck, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, teal, Redhead, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Sora, Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, sandpiper, dowitcher and Wilson's Snipe.

"The annual game supper of the Omaha Sportsmen's Club took place at the Grand Central hotel last evening. The doors of the dining hall were opened at about 8:45 o'clock, and in a few minutes every seat at the table was occupied. There was a goodly representation of ladies. The bill of fare was as follows:

Menu.

Soup.

Non-Insectivorous Game.

Roast Ducks With Jelly.

Mallard. Widgeon. Green Wing Teal. Red Head. Wood. Blue Wing Teal. Pin-tail. Gadwall. Shoveller. Ruddy. Bald Plate.

Entries.

Pate of Small Game, a la Chasseuer. Salmi of Scorp. Compote of Teal Duck. Red-breasted Snipe Gilse, Sauce Chasseur.

Yellow Shank Snipe, a la mode. Wilson Snipe on Toast. Sand-pipers on Toast. Roast Ring-necks P'que.

Vegetables.

Mashed Potatoes. Sweet Potatoes. Boiled Onions. Stewed Tomatoes. Hubbard Squash.

Special Course.

Kennedy's Woodcock, in all Styles. Hughes' Coons, Oppossum Style. Sutphen's Goose, Stuffed with Grasshopper.

Pastry and Desert.

Snow Pudding, with Vanilla Custard. Lady Cake. Sponge Cake. Victoria Biscuit. Marachino Jelly. Vanilla Ice Cream. Rum Jelly. Nuts. Raisins. Fruit."

Hours spent partaking of the cooks results, were certainly more comfortable than those spent afield, and with this menu, more appetizing.

1878

The Omaha Daily Herald continued its coverage with the mid-April, spring shooting event.

"The Grand Spring Attack Upon the Feathered Game.
Counting the Game Yesterday - Major Thornburgh's Side the Victors.

"The spring hunt of the Omaha Sportsmen's Club came off on Thursday, and the game was counted yesterday at Collins & Petty's sportsmen's depot, corner of Douglas and Fourteenth streets. A crowd of the sportsmen and their friends were present to witness the counting and examine the game. The latter was on the whole in fine condition, and made a grand display when laid out for examination. The ground hunted over was about the same as last fall, nearly all the members of the club having their favorite hunting grounds, which they visit at each hunt."

The birds taken, with the number of each were:
Greater White-fronted Goose - 2 Canada Goose - 44 Wood Duck - 4 Gadwall - 5 American Wigeon - 10 Mallard - 1 Blue-winged Teal - 22 Northern Shoveler - 15 Teal - 11 Scaup - 1	Sandhill Crane - 2 Plover - 5 Lesser Yellowlegs - 18 Eskimo Curlew - 86 Hudsonian Godwit - 3 Marbled Godwit - 2 Sandpiper - 22 Wilson's Snipe - 46

For the mid-October hunt, that season, the point scheme was similar to that of previous contests. When the shootists went afield on their days' foray, they were considering these values:

"The game killed, as appearing in the appended record of the hunt, scores as follows: Hawks, 5; owls, 5; mallard ducks, 2; gadwall, ruddy, widgeon, red head, pin tail and wood duck and Wilson snipe and Virginia rail, 2; spoon bill, scaup, shoveller, teal, bald pate, and merganser, ducks, and quail, yellowshank and red-breast snipe, and sora rail, 1." - Omaha Daily Herald

These were the results, giving the number of each bird taken:
Wood Duck - 6 Gadwall - 37 American Wigeon - 41 Mallard - 82 Northern Shoveler - 12 Northern Pintail - 1 Teal - 53 Redhead - 10 Scaup - 5 Hooded Merganser - 6 Merganser - 4 Ruddy Duck - 1	Hawk - 11 Virginia Rail - 1 Sora - 8 Lesser Yellowlegs - 11 Dowitcher - 8 Wilson's Snipe - 29 Owl - 1

The overall tally of species for the 1870s conveys a distinct diversity of avifauna. Eskimo Curlew now thought to be extinct, Long-billed Curlew, and varaible numbers of other species utilized expansive habitats of the decade.

Changes in the pending decades would forever alter the natural setting of the river as further expanse of human developments, modifications in the river channel and other things would mean changes in the occurrence and distribution of those species which were taken by shootists and were the part of an evening's meal in downtown Omaha.

The details for the decade portray an important period for the history of ornithology for the Missouri River valley on the edge of Nebraska.

Online Articles

The articles that were the source of this information were transcribed and are available in their entirety, along with hundreds of other historic articles with details of bird history, are available at the Birds of Nebraska website, provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There is a lot of interesting reading for any aficionado of historic ornithology.

CCC Projects of the 1930s Provide Long-term Benefits to Valentine Refuge

Projects completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s are still providing benefits at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in the sand hills of Nebraska.

When a CCC camp was started in Cherry county during the depression of the 1930s, the men given jobs to improve the refuge started many projects to establish this refuge. Crews were also active at 31 camps at other refuges.

Valentine migratory bird refuge was created by an executive order of August 4, 1935. CCC camp No. 753 with 200 men, was active in April 1835, as approximately 60,000 acres of ranch-land was being purchased - using Duck Stamp funds - to establish and develop the refuge. Additional acreage was later added to create a refuge with nearly 70,000 acres, including many of the prominent lakes of the region and property that had been part of the renowned Hackberry Hunt Club and other sportsman clubs where numerous shootists gathered to celebrate and harvest waterfowl and other game birds abundant about the lakes.

Particular projects, mentioned in news of the mid-1930s, were:

• "The CCC boys have collected more than a ton of flower, grass and other seeds and have sown 215 acres to cover and food plants. In addition, more than two million trees and shrubs have been moved and planted in strategic spots.
• "Forty-five miles of truck trail make points within the refuge easier of access.
• "New fencing around nesting areas prevents livestock from damaging both the nests and cover.
• "New fencing extends more than 100 miles in and around this refuge in the Nebraska sandhills and the boys have marked 183 miles of the boundary.
• "Eighteen miles of telephone line have been completed and 10 wells, including pumps and pump houses, are now available for use.
• "Fire fighting for which the CCC boys must be ready, has been facilitated by 152 miles of fire breaks."
• "Excavation, channel clearing, construction of cattle guards and special gates along the refuge boundaries are some of the additional activities that have employed the time of the camp.

"Such a record, coupled with the achievements is noteworthy of special praise. Migratory and nesting waterfowl, as well as other wildlife at Valentine are finding the improved area increasingly attractive," said Dr. Gabrielson, chief of the U.S. Biological Survey. "Emergency funds for acquiring and developing this and other areas and the help of the CCC have helped advance the wildlife restoration program that only 5 years ago was but a dream."

"CCC boys developing the Valentine Lakes Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in Cherry county, Nebraska, are making an invaluable contribution to the national wildlife restoration program," said Gabrielson in an April 1, 1938 article in the Valentine Republican. "His congratulations to the camp personnel came on the fifth anniversary of the CCC."

CCC Camp No. 753 was phased out in December 1936, but some additional work was done by men that were part of the Works Progress Administration.

Work done by the CCC crews has continued to provide benefits for the refuge through the subsequent decades.

"We are still using some of the buildings the CCC constructed including the refuge office at Hackberry Lake, a storage shed, barn, and residences," said Mark Lindvall, current manager of Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. "A few of the water control structures are still in use, and assist with water management for birds" and to help maintain the fisheries resource.

"The boundary fence built by the CCC secured much of the refuge," Lindvall said. "Some of the fence built is still used although much has been repaired or replaced."

Funding current CCC-type projects would be beneficial to the refuge.

"We have some projects that we could do, such as control of invasive plants, that would benefit long term management," Lindvall said.

Shadow Lake a Bird Haven in Bitter Midwest Cold

Bitter cold weather has languished for a few days in the midwest, and with snows a few days ago, it is a frigid landscape.

At Shadow Lake, ever-flowing springs of warm subterranean water has created a unique haven for a few birds.

This small spot was visited on the 15th of January, when the ambient outside temperature was about 6^o below zero. Three bird species were noted. There were 55 Mallards appreciating the warm waters of the lake as their own tiny refuge, a single Song Sparrow, and the resident Winter Wren foraging about.

Not much else was about, but the dichotomy of green and blue, contrasting with white and brown created a vivid scene that can be appreciated only a few days a year.

With the warming rays of a sunny day - while bundled up in layer upon layer of clothing - it was a pleasant visit to the local park.

Further up Wood Creek, along Happy Hollow, were some White-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadees, a tenacious Red-bellied Woodpecker, and about a dozen Mourning Dove lingering near an open water area, that probably was an appreciated place for a drink of water.

Snow crystals. Note that these pictures have been digitally altered.

Extinct Birds by Rothschild a Pinnacle of Historic Ornithology

A bit of the Rothschild family fortune was spent to produce a first in historic ornithology, when Lionel Walter Rothschild prepared a distinctive and unique volume on extinct birds.

Birds had been of special interest for several years, and his continued lucubration on the subject brought forth information shared through writings and speeches.

Dr. Rothschild - he had a Ph.D. and was a fellow in the Zoological Society of London - also wrote a journal article in 1905, published in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, that described several macaw species. He was able to provide a suitable description - still recognized by modern taxonomy - after decades of efforts by many of the most renowned ornithologists' that had been consistently and regularly recognizing and suitably naming many hitherto unrecognized species that were new additions to earth's known avifauna.

Published in 1907, Extinct Birds was issued in a manner to ensure quality, and Rothschild spent about $100,000 to achieve the results. There were only 300 copies printed for "private circulation," which were to be sold for $125 each; or L25 according to a second source. Foreign editions were to follow.

The preface of the book indicates the basic reason for the work: "When I decided to read a paper before the Ornithological Congress of 1905 on Extinct and Vanishing Birds, I found it necessary to illustrate my paper by a number of drawings. These drawing roused special interest among those who listened to my lecture, and I was asked by many if I could not see my way to publish the lecture and drawings, in book form, as these plates were far too numerous for the proceedings of the Congress. After some hesitation I determined to do this, greatly owning to the persuasion of the late Dr. Paul Leverkuhn."

The book has this stated goal: "An attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those Birds which have become extinct in historical time - that is, within, the last six or seven hundred years. To which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction."

The publishers had "been experimenting for years to obtain an imperishable paper, for Mr. Rothschild wishing the work to endure for all time, because he thinks it improbable that the subject will ever be rehandled," according to an announcement in the Publishers' Weekly (March 30, 1907, p. 1150), with similar details in Pitman's Journal in mid-April. "It is stated that the Hutchisons have now obtained for the plates paper so pure that it will take color printing without any coating and give perfect results. It costs about 36 cents a pound."

The forty-five coloured plates show a wide-variety of former species around the globe.

Now, copy No. 25 of the initial limited edition can be readily enjoyed world-wide.

The first section subsequent to the book's preface is a multi-page list of the "most important literature" that were analyzed, many which were in Sir Rothschild's library at the zoological museum at Tring, north of London.

Several North American species are included within the ruminations for the given species, which are not exhaustive and boring reviews of all pertinent details presented in the burgeoning literature, but short accounts presenting enough details to describe the species, and to refer to its habitat or where it occurred. There is actually little useful information on the distribution and occurrence, but obviously this was not the intent.

Species of interest to the history of ornithology for Northern America, include:

Siphonorhis americanus [Jamaican Pauraque]	Ara guadeloupensis [Guadeloupe Macaw, or, Lesser Antillean Macaw]; there are no known specimens Ara erythrura [Red-tailed Macaw]; Rothschild was the first to describe this species; no known specimens
Anodorhynchus purpurascens [Guadeloupe Violet Macaw]; no specimens; Rothschild is given credit for recognizing and naming this species	Ara gossei [Gosse's Macaw]; described by Gosse, and designated a species by Rothschild; the sole record is from 1765 at Jamaica	Ara erythrocephala [Red-headed Green Macaw]; designated a species by Rothschild
Ara martinicus [Martinique Macaw]; designated a species by Rothschild	Amazona violaceus [Violaceous Trogon]	Amazona martinicana [Martinique Parrot]
Conurus labati [Guadeloupe Parakeet]; no known specimens; designated a species by Rothschild	Carbo perspicillatus [Spectacled Cormorant]	Camptolaimus labradoria [Labrador Duck]
Alca impennis [Great Auk]	Aestrelata caribbaea [cf. Black-capped Petrel]; the species described in Rothschild's work may have been a distinct species, according to modern taxonomists	Some of the these paintings were done by J.G. Kueleman and George Edward Lodge.

Included in the accounts, but not illustrated were the Ectopistes macroura, Passenger Pigeon, and Tympanuchus cupido, Heath Hen.

Additional species were listed because they had reduced populations, and were "threatened and may soon become extinct, if they still exist." There were no further details given for these.

Following the written sections, the profound colour-illustrations were simple in composition and each full-page image nearly always featured a single bird with background features to convey their habitat. They are not refined in endless detail, but showing the prominent features of a species' appearance, or how it might have looked when there were no specimens or other material on which to devise a rendition.

As can be expected with a prominent new book on birds, there was a review, with one in particular written by "C.W.R." in the April, 1908, volume of the Auk. This writer was trite and shallow in the given comments, doing a good job of missing the primary emphasis of the work by Mr. Rothschild.

Concerns were expressed about featuring too many species of fossil birds, or pointing out that a few other soon or recently extinct birds should have been included. The comments went to the extent of saying the research was lacking because there had not been sufficient correspondence with museums that could have contributed information on a limited number of additional, pertinent specimens. And it pointed out - in a concerned manner - the number of blank pages! There were also trivial quibbles about feather coloration shown for an illustration or two.

The entire review was a bland effort of babble that failed due to any effort to convey numerous positive attributes. The writer did a commendable job of missing the primary emphasis of the work by Mr. Rothschild.

Instead, Extinct Birds is a commemorative jewel. And, although this was not the last volume to account for extinct birds, it was a pinnacle in raising awareness about the extinction of species. It was among the first to combine prehistoric species with those of recent history, something which has only been done a few times in the ornithological literature of all time.

The comments by Rothschild were realistic, yet prophetic: "The cause of recent extinction among birds is in most cases due directly or indirectly to man, but we also have instances of birds becoming extinct for no apparent reason whatever.

"Man has destroyed, and is continually destroying species directly, either for food or for sport, but also in many other ways he contributes to their destruction. Some species have been exterminated by the introduction of animals of prey, such as rats, cats, mongoose, etc., and we know that also the acclimatisation of other birds, such as the mynah, etc. has proved to be harmful to the native birds. Again we find that the introduction of domestic creatures or others kept as pets has brought diseases which may prove fatal to the indigenous fauna. Another means by which may causes immense destruction, is by destroying the natural habitat of various species. ... The melancholy fact however remains that man and his satellites, cats, rats, dogs, and pigs are the worst and in fact the only important agents of destruction of the native avifaunas wherever they go."

These comments are as pertinent today as they were in the early 1900s.

Ara tricolor.

Rendering of Building Depicts a Pending Bird Hazard in Omaha

An architectural rendering of building planned for construction in midtown Omaha depicts a building that will is likely be a hazard to migratory birds.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, an insurance company, just announced plans to construct a $98 million, 10-story office building within the mixed-use development at Aksarben village, at the corner of Aksarben Drive and Shirley streets.

Architectural drawing of the Blue Cross Centre, showing the extensive use of glass and landscaping features.

The building design depicts several features that will likely result in bird strikes and subsequent deaths and injuries to numbers of migratory birds, including typical hazards as known from buildings where hundreds of deadly bird strikes have occurred in downtown Omaha.

1) An exterior that is basically comprised of reflective glass, from the ground floor to the top of the structure. The glass is completely within the air-zone of many of the birds that flit through skies of the Missouri River valley flyway.

2) Landscaping that includes trees in close proximity to the structure. The architect's drawing shows trees on three sides. The trees are placed in close proximity to the building, with enough distance that a bird flying from the foliage towards a distracting reflection of greenery, would strike with sufficient force to cause a devastating impact.

3) Close proximity to natural features that are pathways used by migratory birds, including being placed adjacent to the Little Papillion creek, and on a site within a mile southwest of Elmwood Park. More than 180 different species of birds have been recorded as occurring within the park environs, and during their migration, they would be attracted to plant landscaping to the south as they move along during the days when foraging.

4) A widest expanse for the structure for the north and south sides, presenting a maximum exposure to birds moving through in the same directions during migrations.

The rendering also does not indicate any features that are known to help minimize bird-strikes, according to accepted practices for known, bird-friendly designs. This could include use of special types of glass, obstructions to break up reflections, or, perhaps, screening to make reflective surfaces opaque.

Based on the limited details shown in the rendering for the Blue Cross Centre, it is not apparent if there will be plants within the building's lobby or entry area, which would just be an additional threat.

The building may be built with "green" consideration - in this case apparently efficient use of energy - but it is obviously not designed to be bird safe.

In early December, just a few blocks away, there was a community meeting to consider how Omaha can promote a green environment. One topic suggested that should be addressed as a natural resources component was to design buildings that are not hazardous to birds. Two areas being addressed and where bird-friendly design should be considered, were Natural Environment, and Building Construction. Although this effort is just underway, there is no reason buildings can't be built that pose on threat to an integral part of the local environment, the birds.

Architectural drawing of the design for a building that is nearing completion at Arsarben Village, showing the extensive use of glass and landscaping features.

This facet has readily been ignored, based on the building design prepared by Leo A. Daly Co., the same company which was the architect and engineering firm for the Carl T. Curtis National Park Service, Midwest Regional Headquarters along the Omaha Riverfront, where bird strikes are known to occur.

Mortality would be expected to occur when construction is completed in 2011. Visitors to the tall place could expect to see bird carcasses - rugularly during periodic migration season - on the walkway, or over on the grass, although building maintenance personnel will certainly find the feathered remains quickly and throw a once beautiful and vibrant bit of life into the trash for disposal.

The Askarben Village development already has other buildings in its UNO South Campus area and village section with reflective glass exteriors. Once landscaping features - various trees especially - are planted and get some growth, they will attract birds to the area.

These buildings will be hazardous to wild birds migrating through in spring and autumn. And, breeding birds such as mourning doves, common grackles and American robin that would be present in the summer could also get added to the probable tally of fatalities.

Coalition Urges Congress to Fund Jobs for Conservation Projects

More than thirty conservation groups comprising the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (C.A.R.E.) - representing more than 14 million Americans - have asked members of Congress to “support funding for habitat conservation and associated green infrastructure within the economic recovery package being considered by Congress and the incoming Administration.”

Example of a project that could be accomplished on a refuge, in this case, at Tamarac NWR in Minnesota. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph, courtesy of the National Wildlife Refuge Association.

One billion dollars in funding is being requested for use by the Department of Interior and U.S. Forest Service, which includes the Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management, the Department of Agriculture and Corps of Engineers, and other federal agencies.

The “recommendations represent a unique consensus among a wide range of organizations specifically aimed at habitat-oriented projects that benefit fish and wildlife while stimulating local economies, particularly through job creation,” according to a letter sent to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, and Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader. “Most of these programs and projects would be initiated and jobs created within 3-6 months, with the goal of completing obligations within one year.”

The groups estimate nearly 170,000 jobs could be created if the money was provided.

The plan for creating jobs on national refuges, would invest, for example:

• $443 million to combat invasive species and restore native habitat, creating 5,644 jobs
• $243 million to improve energy efficiency, creating 5,103 jobs
• $201 million in new green construction, creating 5,025 jobs
• $60 million to transition to renewable energy sources, creating 1,260 jobs

Another example of a project that could be accomplished on a refuge, in this case, at Tetlin NWR in Alaska. Fish and Wildlife Service photograph, courtesy of the National Wildlife Refuge Association.

Facts sheets for California, Florida, Hawaii, Washington and Wisconsin summarize how funds could be used in each state, and potential projects.

“With at least one national wildlife refuge in every state, the National Wildlife Refuge System conserves and restores vital habitat for fish and wildlife. In doing so, wildlife refuges offer significant economic benefits by attracting 40 million visitors annually, who spend more than $1.7 billion each year, resulting in employment for more than 27,000 Americans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a plan that would put nearly 20,000 people to work throughout the country on shovel-ready projects for habitat restoration in as few as 90 days,” the C.A.R.E. proposal stated.

Other features of the proposal are defined in detail in a 14-page proposal which includes particulars of how funds would be utilized.

Supporters of the proposal are being asked to support this initiative by contacting members of their Congressional delegation, writing letters to editors of local newspapers, and by urging their friends to help spread support for these green jobs.

Some of the groups comprising C.A.R.E. are the American Bird Conservancy, Everglades Foundation, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Refuge Association, The Nature Conservancy, The Wilderness Society, The Wildlife Society, and Wildlife Management Institute.

Identification of a Grouse Species an Ornithological Blunder

When a supposedly new species of was described and named in a newspaper of Cornell University in 1871, it led to an exchange of views that pointedly indicated a profound ornithological blunder.

The new species of grouse was when T.W. Jaycox wrote about Bonasa Jobsii in the December 8, 1871 issue of the Cornell Era (page 182), with further information given in the January 19, 1872 issue of this Ithaca, N.Y. newspaper. The author studied standard works to assist in determining the species identity, including Baird's 'Birds of North America,' Alexander Wilson's 'American Ornithology,' Samuel's 'Birds of New England,' and 'Observation's of Wilson's American Ornithology.' None of these apparently indicated one of the primary facets of referring to a new species - the number of tail feathers, which was sixteen. And, Baird had written that there was more than one species of Bonasa genera grouse.

There was no apparent match recognized, so Bonasa Jobsii became the designated name for a grouse specimen that has to be included in the lore of historic birds of the era.

It was, however, a recognition given in error.

Celebrated ornithologists were quick to respond to the description. Their comments made certain to indicate that the species was not based in the strict specifics needed to properly describe a bird species to the ornithological community dealing with many new additions to recognized species throughout North America and elsewhere.

"It is such a complete fiasco, and at the same time is written with such ingenuousness, that I cannot do what you ask and spare the writer's feeling too. I must say that not one of the 'striking differences' that Mr. Jaycox thinks 'are sufficient to characterize a new species and perhaps a new genus,' are of the slightest consequence," said an article with no given author, in the March issue of the American Naturalist, in the same year. Further details of comparison with the local, well-known species of grouse were also considered.

Subsequent details further clarified rationale for errors in describing a new species, as considered by Burt S. Wilder, of Cornell University, citing comments by bird authorities of the period.

Professor Spencer F. Baird wrote: "... after a careful examination of the account I have no hesitation in pronouncing your bird to be one of the numerous variations assumed by the common ruffed grouse," (May 1872, American Naturalist 6(5): 300-301).

Dr. Elliott Coues, took another practical view: "...the article in which a supposed new species of bird, Bonasa Jobsii is characterized, merely adds to the synonymy with which ornithology is overburdened. So far from conflicting with the genus Bonasa, or forming a new genus, the ruffed grouse that Mr. Jobs was unlucky enough to shoot, and Mr. Jaycox still more to write about, shows nothing of specific consequence."

This article also indicated other items leading to the mistaken identity: "So neither the Era nor the University are in any way responsible for 'Bonasa Jobsii' but the Natural History Society, from the proceedings of which the description was an extract, and by the President of which (and not the President of the University) the specific name was suggested; and since some of your readers may know that the Professors of the University are honorary members of the Society, and often attend its meeting, it is but fair to them to state that none were present when 'Bonasa Jobsii' was introduced; had they been, Mr Jaycox would have been at once referred to the able papers of Mr. Allen (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. i, No. 8, and vol. ii, No. 3) in which the whole subject of specific characters is discussed."

Editorial comments subjoined to the remarks by Mr. Wilder, tempered the entire affray.

"Unquestionably bad as was the work your correspondent was called to pass upon the indiscretion here alluded to was evidently encouraged, if not indeed actually induced, by equally unfortunate 'blunders’ previously made, not by mere tyros, but by recognized ornithological authorities. That this was the case seems evident from the comparisons and precedents cited in the remarks accompanying the description of Bonasa Jobsii. Is not, in fact, Bonasa Jobsii, one of the legitimate fruits of the excessively analytic system followed in the only general works on North American ornithology accessible to students? The authors of these valuable works may have modified their opinions, and even their methods of working since the publication of these works, but as yet the general student has no means of knowing it. It seems to me that as long as species no more worthy of recognition than Bonasa Jobsii have the appearance of being currently accepted, because not yet publicly retracted, mistakes like that make by Mr. Jaycox need not be looked upon as wholly unpardonable. In fact if the author of B. Jobsii could have truthfully added, Hab. 'Columbia River,' or, 'Hudson's Bay Territory,' to his description, his pseudo-species might even now have been less summarily dealt with though none the less untenable."

Even though it was a pseudo-species, the name endured for a time with enough consideration to get mentioned in subsequent classic works in the 1870s and beyond. Dr. Coues refers to Bonasa Jobsii in his checklist of North American birds. Robert Ridgway also mentions it in his expansive work on the birds of North and Middle America that was published decades later.

This was all much adieu about a "somewhat abnormal specimen" of the common Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, and another interesting example of one of the few mystery birds described in the bird history of the middle 1800s.