NEBRASKA CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS (CBC)
FOR DECEMBER 2007 - JANUARY 2008

E-mail addresses have been altered so that spammers won't steal them.  Just change
(at) to the appropriate symbol and remove the blank spaces.

Counts scheduled on the same day are listed in alphabetical order.

GRAND ISLAND CBC:  December 15, 2007

Grand Island is planning on 12/15 with participants meeting at 7:00 AM at Tommy's restaurant on South Locust Street.

Connie McCartney (308)384-0129 or
Contact Eric Volden at ericv_1(at)charter. n e t

KEARNEY CBC:  date unknown

NORFOLK CBC:  December 15, 2007

150    Cackling Geese
265    Canada Geese
  1    Wood Duck
181    Mallards
  1    Scaup species
  1    Common Goldeneye
323    Ring-necked Pheasants
 48    Wild Turkeys
 30    Northern Bobwhite
  8    Bald Eagles, adults
  2    Northern Harriers
  5    Sharp-shinned Hawks
  3    Cooper's Hawks
  4    Accipiter species
 85    Red-tailed Hawks
  4    Rough-legged Hawks
  3    Buteo species
 19    American Kestrels
  2    Merlins
  1    Prairie Falcon
  1    Wilson's Snipe
1208    Rock Pigeons
 28    Mourning Doves
 47    Eurasian Collared-Doves
  3    Eastern Screech-Owls
  6    Great Horned Owls
 16    Red-bellied Woodpeckers
 11    Hairy Woodpeckers
 21    Downy Woodpeckers
 12    Northern Flickers
  5    Northern Shrikes
 47    Blue Jays
  2    Black-billed Magpies
 44    American Crows
409    Horned Larks
 35    Black-capped Chickadees
 22    Red-breasted Nuthatches
 26    White-breasted Nuthatches
  1    Brown Creeper
  4    Golden-crowned Kinglets
  2    Eastern Bluebirds
 28    American Robins
7456    European Starlings
154    American Tree Sparrows
  2    Song Sparrows
  6    White-crowned Sparrows
 26    Harris's Sparrows
893    Dark-eyed Juncos
  2    Lapland Longspurs
 48    Northern Cardinals
  2    Red-winged Blackbirds
 40    Western Meadowlarks
  1    Common Grackle
  1    Rusty Blackbird
  6    Purple Finches
 44    House Finches
 49    Pine Siskins
 38    American Goldfinches
424    House Sparrows

59 total species
12,306 total individuals

Participants:  Duane Wolff, Dave Heidt, Mark Brogie, Ed Brogie, Gene and Mary Ellen Kincanan,
Matt Stanley, Bill Flack, Donna Christiansen, Phyllis McCain, Joyce Eucker, Jean Rumsey and
Joyce Borgelt

Contact Duane Wolff, (402)841-0130

OMAHA CBC:  December 16, 2007

The Omaha CBC, is centered on the Base Lake in Bellevue and extends into
Lake Manawa and down towards Plattsmouth and Glenwood.

The CBC was postponed from Saturday, December 15 to Sunday, December
16 because of the snow and most of us were really happy with the change. We
lost several of our steadfast counters due to conflicts, but the roads were
passable and we did quite well.

Even with the water being almost totally frozen, we found a few ducks and
geese, scored a few owls and what with the winter migrants, came up with 71
species. That is our second highest ever and included a new species, Eurasian
Collared-Dove.

I suspect the total number of birds will be low both due to weather and
fewer counters.

Betty Grenon
Bellevue - Compiler
(402)731-2383, grenon925(at)aol.c o m
 

   1    Great Blue Heron
   2    Snow Geese
1282    Canada Geese
   5    Cackling Geese
   6    Wood Duck
   1    American Black Duck
 218    Mallards
  16    Green-winged Teal
   5    Canvasback
  cw    Redhead
   8    Common Goldeneye
  cw    Common Mergansers
  21    Duck species
  10    Bald Eagles
   2    Northern Harrier
   2    Sharp-shinned Hawks
   5    Cooper's Hawks
   1    Red-shouldered Hawk
 102    Red-tailed Hawks
   9    American Kestrels
  11    Ring-necked Pheasants
 126    Wild Turkeys
   3    Ring-billed Gulls
   1    Herring Gull
 140    Rock Pigeons
   5    Eurasian Collared-Doves
 167    Mourning Doves
   5    Great Horned Owl
   3    Barred Owls
   2    Belted Kingfishers
   1    Red-headed Woodpecker
  62    Red-bellied Woodpeckers
   3    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
  87    Downy Woodpeckers
  16    Hairy Woodpeckers
  21    Yellow-shafted Northern Flickers
   1    Pileated Woodpeckers
 192    Horned Larks
  75    Blue Jays
  61    American Crows
 274    Black-capped Chickadees
  34    Tufted Titmouses (titmice?)
  19    Red-breasted Nuthatches
 126    White-breasted Nuthatches
  10    Brown Creepers
  22    Carolina Wrens
   3    Winter Wren
   2    Golden-crowned Kinglets
   2    Ruby-crowned Kinglets
  33    Eastern Bluebirds
   5    American Robins
 212    Cedar Waxwings
1273    European Starlings
  cw    Yellow-rumped Warblers (Myrtle)
 206    Northern Cardinals
 305    American Tree Sparrows
   6    Fox Sparrows
  22    Song Sparrows
   1    Lincoln's Sparrow
   9    Swamp Sparrows
   5    White-throated Sparrows
   1    White-crowned Sparrow
  23    Harris's Sparrows
1010    Dark-eyed Juncos (Slate-colored)
   2    Lapland Longspurs
  74    Red-winged Blackbird
  57    Meadowlark species
   3    Rusty Blackbirds
   2    Great-tailed Grackles
   2    Common Grackles
  51    Purple Finches
   6    House Finches
  60    Pine Siskins
 177    American Goldfinches
 420    House Sparrows

 7,135    Total individuals
    71    Total species

SCOTTSBLUFF CBC:  December 15, 2007

We had 66 species on count day plus 3 during count week and 17,304 individuals. 

    1    Snow Goose
    5    Cackling Goose
 2876    Canada Goose (lowest since 1992)
    3    Wood Duck
   84    American Wigeon
 1303    Mallard
   21    Northern Shoveler
   61    Northern Pintail
    5    Green-winged Teal
   26    Ring-necked Duck
  200    Common Goldeneye
    1    Barrow's Goldeneye (2nd time)
    2    Hooded Merganser
    1    Red-breasted Merganser (1st time)
   17    Ring-necked Pheasant
    4    Wild Turkey (lowest since 1987)
    1    Pied-billed Grebe (2nd time)
    1    Osprey (2nd time)
   11    Bald Eagle adult 8, immature 3
    3    Northern Harrier
    1    Sharp-shinned Hawk
    1    Cooper's Hawk
    6    Red-tailed Hawk (including one Krider's)
    1    Ferruginous Hawk
         Rough-legged Hawk count week
    1    Golden Eagle immature
   19    American Kestrel
    1    Prairie Falcon
   11    American Coot
    1    Wilson's Snipe
  284    Rock Pigeon
  101    Eurasian Collared-Dove (high)
    5    Mourning Dove
    4    Great Horned Owl
    3    Belted Kingfisher
   12    Downy Woodpecker
    2    Hairy Woodpecker
         Northern Flicker (Red) 8
                          (Yellow) 1
                          (Orange) 3
                          (Unknown) 15
    1    Northern Shrike
   79    Blue Jay
   26    Black-billed Magpie
    5    American Crow
 4788    Horned Lark (high)
   26    Black-capped Chickadee
    4    Mountain Chickadee
   12    Red-breasted Nuthatch
    4    White-breasted Nuthatch
         Pygmy Nuthatch count week
    1    Marsh Wren
    1    Golden-crowned Kinglet
   30    Townsend's Solitaire
   86    American Robin
 1522    European Starling
    4    Cedar Waxwing
    2    Spotted Towhee (high)
   81    American Tree Sparrow
   18    Song Sparrow (high)
  136    White-crowned Sparrow
         Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 120
                         (Pink-sided) 21
                         (Slate-colored) 106
                         (White-winged) 2
                         (Unknown) 209
    1    Northern Cardinal
 4224    Red-winged Blackbird
    7    meadowlark species
    1    Brewer's Blackbird
    1    Purple Finch (2nd time)
  130    House Finch
         Red Crossbill count week
   89    Pine Siskin
  111    American Goldfinch
  351    House Sparrow
 

Alice Kenitz
Gering
(308)436-2959, akenitz(at)prairieweb.c o m

SEWARD/BRANCHED OAK LAKE CBC:  December 15, 2007

Our circle includes all of Branched Oak Lake, the west
end of Pawnee Lake, most of Twin Lakes, and all of Meadowlark Lake.
There are also two Bur Oak WMAs and lots of good roads to drive by
creeks, private ponds, wooded areas, and prairies.
 

The 15th Seward-Branched Oak Lake Christmas Bird Count was held
Saturday, December 15 in less than ideal conditions. Fresh snow (2-4
inches) had fallen the night before and continued to fall throughout the
morning. Although winds were ideal, seldom above 5 mph, the temperature
only reached a high of 21 F in midafternoon. Except for a few holes in
the ice here and there, all bodies of water were frozen over. The real
problems were the driving and walking conditions. Several participants
got their vehicles stuck on roads most of which were covered with snow
on top of a layer of ice. The field conditions were worse. The
overnight snow covered the ice layer from the recent ice storm and that
was on top of an earlier frozen layer of snow. Walking in these
conditions was exhausting and limited our ability to effectively cover
our territories. A saner count coordinator would have postponed the
count. Nevertheless, 15+ volunteers braved the conditions, and the
count turned out to be a success with a tally of 69 species plus 5 count
week species that included a number of interesting sightings.
Surprisingly, the few small holes in the ice produced 8 species of
waterfowl plus 3 American Coots (4th time on the count). Two more
waterfowl species were seen the evening before the count and added as
count week birds. The highlight of the count was the first ever
sighting of a white-winged scoter at Branched Oak Lake. In contrast to
the waterfowl, for only the third time in the count history, no gulls
were recorded. Raptors were more abundant than usual with four species
at or near all time highs on the count. Count results follow including
comments by selected observations.

Joe Gubanyi
Concordia University
800 North Columbia
Seward, NE 68434
402-643-7316
Joseph.Gubanyi(at)cune.e d u

   42     Canada Goose (all time low; previous low was 432)
    3     Gadwall
   66     Mallard
    1     Northern Shoveler
    1     Northern Pintail
    1     Green-winged Teal
    1     Lesser Scaup
   cw     Common Goldeneye (only missed on two previous counts)
    1     White-winged Scoter (first time on count)
   cw     Ruddy Duck
  110     Ring-necked Pheasant
  129     Wild Turkey (all time high, previous high 40)
   21     Northern Bobwhite (below 15 year average of 44.8)
    3     Bald Eagle
    7     Northern Harrier
    4     Sharp-shinned Hawk
    5     Cooper's Hawk (ties all time high)
   88     Red-tailed Hawk (all time high, previous high 84 in 2006; 15 year average 49.9)
    1     Harlan's Hawk
    4     Rough-legged Hawk (second highest count)
    5     Buteo sp.
    8     American Kestrel
    5     Merlin (all time high, previous high 4)
    3     American Coot
   47     Rock Dove
   39     Eurasian Collared Dove (all time high, previous high 26 in 2006)
   42     Mourning Dove (all time high, previous high 25 in 1993, 2003)
    2     Eastern Screech Owl
   12     Great Horned Owl
    2     Barred Owl
    3     Long-eared Owl
    1     Short-eared Owl (third time on count)
    1     Belted Kingfisher
   44     Red-bellied Woodpecker
    1     Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
   65     Downy Woodpecker
   16     Hairy Woodpecker
   31     yellow-shafted flicker
    1     red-shafted flicker
    6     Northern Flicker (race?)
    4     Northern Shrike
  148     Blue Jay (highest count since 1999; 15 year average 131.0)
    1     Black-billed Magpie
  355     American Crow (third lowest count; 15 year average 659.8)
  127     Horned Lark
   10     Black-capped Chickadee (all time low; previous low 11 in 2004; 15 year average 120.3)
   23     Red-breasted Nuthatch (second highest count; should be no surprise to anyone)
   58     White-breasted Nuthatch
   10     Brown Creeper
    6     Carolina Wren (all time high, previous high 2 in 1993, 2006)
    2     Winter Wren
    9     Golden-crowned Kinglet
   52     Eastern Bluebird
    3     Townsend's Solitaire
    3     Hermit Thrush (all time high, previous high 2 in 2003)
  780     American Robin
 3275     Starling (all time high, previous high 2722 in 1997)
   29     Cedar Waxwing (all time low; previous low 48 in 2003; 15 year average 120.3)
    6     Yellow-rumped Warbler (second highest, fifth time recorded; previous high 9 in 1998)
   cw     Spotted Towhee
  680     American Tree Sparrow
   13     Fox Sparrow (all time high, previous high 4 in 1999)
    3     Song Sparrow (third lowest count; two previous counts of 2; 15 year average 17.1)
   cw     Swamp Sparrow (only seen on two previous counts)
   cw     White-throated Sparrow
  212     Harris' Sparrow (all time high, previous high 202 in 2002)
    4     White-crowned Sparrow
 1142     slate-colored junco
   28     Oregon junco
  400     Dark-eyed Junco (race?)
 1570     Total Juncos (second highest count; previous high 1611 in 1999)
  118     Northern Cardinal
   99     Red-winged Blackbird
   59     Meadowlark species
    2     Rusty Blackbird
   82     Purple Finch (second highest count; previous high 111 in 2003)
   95     House Finch
    2     Common Redpoll (third time on count)
   31     Pine Siskin
  287     American Goldfinch
  361     House Sparrow

 9341     Total Individuals
   69     Total Species plus 5 count week species

BEAVER VALLEY CBC (near Petersburg in Boone Co.):  December 16, 2007

The Beaver Valley CBC (also near Albion in Boone Co.) was held on Saturday,
December 16.

136    Mallards
  7    Ring-necked Pheasants
174    Greater Prairie-Chickens
 54    Wild Turkeys
  8    Bald Eagles
  3    Northern Harriers
  1    Sharp-shinned Hawk
  8    Red-tailed Hawks
  2    American Kestrels
 25    Rock Pigeons
 41    Eurasian Collared-Doves
  1    Great Horned Owl
 11    Red-bellied Woodpeckers
  7    Downy Woodpeckers
  1    Hairy Woodpecker
  8    Northern Flickers
  1    Northern Shrike
  4    Blue Jays
 18    American Crows
247    Horned Larks
  3    Red-breasted Nuthatches
 12    White-breasted Nuthatches
  4    Golden-crowned Kinglets
  3    Eastern Bluebirds
  3    American Robins
 83    European Starlings
 69    American Tree Sparrows
  6    Harris's Sparrows
120    Dark-eyed Juncos
  2    Northern Cardinals
  4    Red-winged Blackbirds
 20    Western Meadowlarks
  2    Rusty Blackbirds
  2    Common Grackles
 30    Brown-headed Cowbirds
  1    blackbird sp.
 41    House Finches
 19    American Goldfinches
173    House Sparrows

Total species  39

Don and Colleen Noecker
Albion in Boone Co.
dcnoecker(at)cablene.c o m
(402)395-6250

PONCA CBC:  December 22, 2007

 25    Canada Geese
  4    Mallards
 11    Common Goldeneyes
  9    Common Mergansers
 52    Ring-necked Pheasants
148    Wild Turkeys
  7    Northern Bobwhite
 17    Bald Eagles
  1    Northern Harrier
 cw    Sharp-shinned Hawk
 26    Red-tailed Hawks
 18    Rough-legged Hawks
  2    American Kestrels
 36    Rock Pigeons
  3    Mourning Doves
  1    Great Horned Owl
  1    Barred Owl
 12    Red-bellied Woodpeckers
  9    Downy Woodpeckers
  5    Hairy Woodpeckers
  5    Northern Flickers
  4    Northern Shrikes
 22    Blue Jays
 32    American Crows
 74    Horned Larks
 23    Black-capped Chickadees
  6    Red-breasted Nuthatches
 25    White-breasted Nuthatches
 50    Eastern Bluebirds
  1    Townsend's Solitaire
  2    American Robins
229    European Starlings
 10    Cedar Waxwings
187    American Tree Sparrows
  7    Song Sparrows
  5    Harris's Sparrows
473    Dark-eyed Juncos
 30    Northern Cardinals
  1    Red-winged Blackbird
  2    Western Meadowlarks
 10    Purple Finches
 19    House Finches
142    American Goldfinches
199    House Sparrows

43 total species

Participants:  Warren Dunkel, Pat Dunn, Jeff Fields, Jan Johnson, Richard Johnson, Bill Morris,
Jerry Probst, Gary Small, Jan Small.

The sky was cloudy in the morning and partly clear in the afternoon.  The temperature ranged
from 18 to 20 degrees.

Bill Huser
140 Oakmont Drive
South Sioux City, NE  68776

home  402-494-1657
bus.  712-258-0638  ext. 3127

DeSOTO/BOYER CHUTE CBC:  December 23, 2007

The count is centered in Washington county Nebraska and includes parts
of Douglas county. In Iowa, it is in parts of Pottawattomie and Harrison
counties. Inclusive in the circle is the Desoto and Boyer Chute Wildlife
Refuges, Neale Woods Nature Center, Dodge and Hummel Parks, Wilson's
island State Park, Hitchcock Nature Center, and upper Cunningham Lake.
There is extensive wildlife habitat in all quadrants.

The DeSoto/Boyer Chute CBC was held December 23rd under clear skies, winds NW
at 10-20 with gusts to 30, crusted snow cover 3-6 inches, and temperatures
between 15-26 F.

15 participants located 54 species plus 3 count week species and 9038 individuals.
Very little open water and strong winds made locating birds difficult.

Highlights:
8 species of waterfowl including 3 swan (sp) seen in flight, 7 species of raptors
including a single rough-leg, and a merlin seen in count week.

1 yellow-bellied sapsucker
1 common redpoll seen during count week.

Missed though usually present:
any gulls
belted kingfisher
carolina wren
yellow-rumped warbler
white-throated sparrow
lapland longspur- largely absent in the area
snow bunting

High numbers:
eurasian collared dove
red-breasted nuthatch
dark-eyed junco
meadowlark sp

Low numbers:
All waterfowl
american crow
A single robin
purple finch
a single pine siskin

Species account:

Snow Goose  6
Canada Goose  856
Swan species  3
Mallard  1859
Blue-winged Teal  2
Lesser Scaup  1
Common Goldeneye  15
Common Merganser  51
Ring-necked Pheasant  85
Wild Turkey  238
Bald Eagle-adult  19
Bald Eagle-subadult  19
Bald Eagle-age unknown  11
Northern Harrier  4
Sharp-shinned Hawk  3
Cooper’s Hawk  1
Unidentified accipter  1
Red-tailed Hawk  91
Rough-legged Hawk  1
Buteo species  1
American Kestrel  12
Merlin  CW
Rock Pigeon  128
Eurasian Collared Dove  10
Mourning Dove  81
Screech Owl  2
Great-horned Owl  1
Barred Owl  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  37
Yelllow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  40
Hairy Woodpecker  15
Northern Flicker yellow-shafted  43
Northern Shrike  2
Blue Jay  63
American Crow  88
Horned Lark  304
Black-capped Chickadee  105
Tufted Titmouse  17
Red-breasted Nuthatch  8
White-breasted Nuthatch  51
Brown Creeper  1
Golden-crowned Kinglet  CW
Eastern Bluebird  22
American Robin  1
European Starling  855
Cedar Waxwing  27
American Tree Sparrow  530
Song Sparrow  4
Harris Sparrow  63
Sparrow species  26
Dark-eyed Junco  2314
Oregon Junco  2
Northern Cardinal  112
Red-winged Blackbird  112
Meadowlark species 143
Common Grackle  5
Purple Finch  8
House Finch  5
Common Redpoll  CW
Pine Siskin  1
American Goldfinch  121
House Sparrow  430
Total Species  54
Total Individuals  9059

Jerry Toll
compiler

geritol48(AT)cox.net

402-453-9239

AMES CBC:  Thursday, December 27, 2007

A total of 53 species were found by 12 participants during the third annual
Ames CBC on December 27. The count circle is centered one half mile east of
Ames, Nebraska, and covers part of both Dodge and Saunders counties.

The temperature ranged between 10 and 20 degrees F. on a calm but gray and
foggy day. There were 6 to 10 inches of crusty snow cover in most areas and
little open water.
 

    1     Snow Goose
  433     Canada Goose
  412     Mallard
   51     Ring-necked Pheasant
  108     Wild Turkey
    2     Great Blue Heron
    5     Bald Eagle
    1     Sharp-shinned Hawk
   cw     Cooper's Hawk
   46     Red-tailed Hawk
    8     American Kestrel
    2     Merlin
    1     Prairie Falcon
  132     Rock Pigeon
    4     Eurasian Collared Dove
   35     Mourning Dove
    2     Great Horned Owl
    1     Barred Owl
    4     Belted Kingfisher
   15     Red-bellied Woodpecker
   27     Downy Woodpecker
    2     Hairy Woodpecker
   14     Northern Flicker
    1     Northern Shrike
   22     Blue Jay
    7     American Crow
  238     Horned Lark
   54     Black-capped Chickadee
    5     Red-breasted Nuthatch
   27     White-breasted Nuthatch
    8     Brown Creeper
    2     Carolina Wren
    6     Golden-crowned Kinglet
   28     Eastern Bluebird
   56     American Robin
 3793     European Starling
  107     Cedar Waxwing
    3     Yellow-rumped Warbler
   85     American Tree Sparrow
    1     Fox Sparrow
    9     Song Sparrow
    3     White-throated Sparrow
   49     Harris' Sparrow
  941     Dark-eyed Junco
    1     Snow Bunting
   52     Northern Cardinal
  211     Red-winged Blackbird
  177     Meadowlark sp.
   17     Rusty Blackbird
   12     Purple Finch
   14     House Finch
    4     Pine Siskin
   31     American Goldfinch
  171     House Sparrow
   
TOTAL SPECIES    53  (a count high, however, we've only done the count 3 years)
TOTAL INDIVIDUALS    7441
 

Don and Janis Paseka
paseka76(at)gmail.c o m

CALAMUS CBC:  December 29, 2007

 165    Canada Geese
   7    Gadwalls
 631    Mallards
  95    American Wigeons
   2    Northern Shovelers
   1    Redhead
  23    Common Goldeneyes
   1    Hooded Merganser
  27    Common Mergansers
   6    Trumpeter Swans
   1    Ring-necked Pheasant
   1    Sharp-tailed Grouse
  40    Greater Prairie-Chickens
  21    Wild Turkeys
  15    Northern Bobwhites
   4    Bald Eagles, adults (no immatures)
   1    Northern Harrier
   4    Sharp-shinned Hawks
   2    Cooper's Hawks
  17    Red-tailed Hawks
   1    Rough-legged Hawk
   9    American Kestrels
   1    Merlin
   1    Wilson's Snipe
   3    Rock Pigeons
  14    Eurasian Collared-Doves
   4    Eastern Screech-Owls
   4    Belted Kingfishers
   2    Red-bellied Woodpeckers
   9    Downy Woodpeckers
   4    Hairy Woodpeckers
  21    Northern Flickers (Yellow-shafted  3)
                          (Red-shafted  2)
                          (hybrids  3)
                          (undetermined  13)
   6    Northern Shrikes
   3    Blue Jays
  55    American Crows
        Horned Larks (count week)
   1    Winter Wren
   5    Black-capped Chickadees
   3    Red-breasted Nuthatches
   5    White-breasted Nuthatches
  16    Eastern Bluebirds
   1    Townsend's Solitaire
1617    American Robins
1073    European Starlings
  60    Cedar Waxwings
 211    American Tree Sparrows
   1    Song Sparrow
  55    Harris's Sparrows
 134    Dark-eyed Juncos  (Slate-colored  33)
                          (Oregon  5)
                          (undetermined  96)
   4    Northern Cardinals
   1    Red-winged Blackbird
   1    meadowlark species
  45    Pine Siskins
   9    House Finches
 124    Purple Finches
 161    American Goldfinches
  87    House Sparrows

  56 Total species plus one count week
4815 Total individuals

Participants:  Duane Wolff, Bob Gerten, Kathi Gerten, Lanny Randolph, Robin Harding and Dave Heidt

Contact Dave Heidt (compiler) at (402)371-3412, daveh(at)northeastcollege. c o m

CRAWFORD CBC:  Saturday, December 29, 2007

The Crawford CBC was conducted on December 29, 2007, with three people in the field and
four feeder watchers.  Weather conditions were favorable, clear skies but cold (8 to 23
degrees) with snow depth varying from 4 to 9 inches on the ground.  Twenty-nine species
were counted along with two count week species.  1,239 individual birds were counted.
A record number of Horned Larks were found, but no Snow Buntings or Longspurs could be
located.  Eurasian Collared-Doves continue to increase in numbers since first counted
in 2003.  Raptor numbers were low, this year, possibly because of the continued drought
and lack of associated prey base.  Below is the complete list:

    2     Bald Eagles, adult
    1     Red-tailed Hawk
    1     Rough-legged Hawk
   cw     Golden Eagle
    1     American Kestrel
    1     Prairie Falcon
    4     Ring-necked Pheasant
   49     Wild Turkey
   28     Rock Pigeon
   60     Eurasian Collared-Dove
    1     Eastern Screech Owl
    6     Downy Woodpecker
    1     Hairy Woodpecker
  442     Horned Lark
    5     Blue Jay
   cw     Pinyon Jay
    5     Black-billed Magpie
   49     American Crow
   26     Black-capped Chickadee
    7     White-breasted Nuthatch
    6     Pygmy Nuthatch
    5     Townsend’s Solitaire
    6     American Robin
   cw     Bohemian Waxwing
   73     European Starling
   70     American Tree Sparrow
   63     Dark-eyed Junco-unknown
    3     Slate-colored Junco
    2     Pink-sided Junco
    1     Western Meadowlark
   15     House Finch
   20     Pine Siskin
   71     American Goldfinch
  215     House Sparrow

Bruce and Donna Walgren
Casper, WY
Piranga(at)bresnan.n e t
(307)234-7455

LAKE McCONAUGHY CBC:  Saturday, December 29, 2007

The thirteenth annual Lake McConaughy Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday,
December 29, 2007. There were 17 field birders and 15 feeder watchers and they
counted 93 species and 34,576 individuals.
Field participants on this year’s count included Elliott Bedows, Mary B. Brown,
Stephen J. Dinsmore, Joey Hajda, Tim Hajda, Luke Hamilton, Roger Hamilton,
Alice Heckman, Bill Huntley, Joel Jorgensen, Bette Klaphake, Clem Klaphake,
Roger Lawson, John Murphy, Justin Rink, W. Ross Silcock, and Gabriel Wilson.

List of species

1        Snow Goose
370      Cackling Goose
2,334    Canada Goose
1        Wood Duck
6        Gadwall
13       American Wigeon
815      Mallard
1        Northern Shoveler
3        Northern Pintail
116      Green-winged Teal
2        Lesser Scaup
7        Bufflehead
222      Common Goldeneye
5        Hooded Merganser
9,792    Common Merganser
2        Red-breasted Merganser
22       Ring-necked Pheasant
6        Sharp-tailed Grouse
83       Greater Prairie-Chicken
12       Wild Turkey
57       Northern Bobwhite
1        Common Loon
1        Western Grebe
5        American White Pelican
9        Great Blue Heron
63       Bald Eagle
15       Northern Harrier
6        Sharp-shinned Hawk
5        Cooper’s Hawk
25       Red-tailed Hawk
1        Ferruginous Hawk
4        Rough-legged Hawk
1        Golden Eagle
18       American Kestrel
1        Merlin
2        Virginia Rail
7        Killdeer
9        Wilson’s Snipe
53       Ring-billed Gull
6        California Gull
200      Herring Gull
4        Thayer's Gull
1        Lesser Black-backed Gull
58       Rock Pigeon
122      Eurasian Collared-Dove
22       Mourning Dove
1        Eastern Screech-Owl
7        Great Horned Owl
14       Long-eared Owl
1        Northern Saw-whet Owl
5        Belted Kingfisher
5        Red-bellied Woodpecker
26       Downy Woodpecker
13       Hairy Woodpecker
78       Northern Flicker
11       Northern Shrike
16       Blue Jay
25       Black-billed Magpie
16       American Crow
2,051    Horned Lark
28       Black-capped Chickadee
37       Red-breasted Nuthatch
18       White-breasted Nuthatch
5        Brown Creeper
1        Marsh Wren
2        Golden-crowned Kinglet
42       Eastern Bluebird
94       Townsend's Solitaire
1        Hermit Thrush
10,712   American Robin
2,635    European Starling
47       Cedar Waxwing
18       Bohemian Waxwing
2        Yellow-rumped Warbler
396      American Tree Sparrow
3        Field Sparrow
30       Song Sparrow
8        Harris’s Sparrow
27       White-crowned Sparrow
1,494    Dark-eyed Junco
6        Lapland Longspur
27       Northern Cardinal
4        Red-winged Blackbird
36       Western Meadowlark
180      meadowlark sp.
5        Rusty Blackbird
20       Common Grackle
1        Brown-headed Cowbird
33       Purple Finch
134      House Finch
2        Cassin’s Finch
665      Pine Siskin
662      American Goldfinch
427      House Sparrow

93 species and 34,576 individuals

Steve

Stephen J. Dinsmore
Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management
339 Science II, Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-1348 (office)
cootjr(at)iastate.e d u
<http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cootjr/>http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cootjr/

SIOUX COUNTY/HARRISON CBC:  December 30, 2007

The Harrison CBC was conducted on December 30, 2007, with three people in the field and
scouting assistance for count week from Steve Dinsmore.  At 8:00 AM, it was clear, calm
and 15 degrees; by 10:45, skies were mostly overcast and the temp had gone up 1 degree.  
Snow cover generally ranged from 5 to 10 inches (with “challenging” drifts in many areas
? some of the canyon/butte areas were unaccessible).  By 1:30 PM, the temperature was
up to 29 degrees, the wind picked up and light snow was falling, creating reduced
visibility.  By 3:00, falling temps and blowing snow persuaded us that it was probably
time to finish things up.  Thirty species were counted along with three count week
species.  1,099 individual birds were counted.  Horned Larks were numerous, but as
with the Crawford CBC, no Snow Buntings or Longspurs could be found.  We didn’t find
any buteos or eagles this year.  The Mountain Chickadee, Redpoll, and Purple Finches
were new for the count.  Below is the complete list:

   3     Mallards
  cw     Great Blue Heron
   1     American Kestrel
   1     Wild Turkey
  12     Northern Bobwhite
   1     Wilson’s Snipe
   3     Rock Pigeon
  24     Eurasian Collared-Dove
   1     Great Horned Owl
   5     Downy Woodpecker
   6     Hairy Woodpecker
 191     Horned Lark
   6     Blue Jay
  44     American Crow
  13     Black-capped Chickadee
   1     Mountain Chickadee
   3     Red-breasted Nuthatch
   1     White-breasted Nuthatch
  35     Pygmy Nuthatch
   5     Townsend’s Solitaire
  47     American Robin
 325     Bohemian Waxwing
  cw     Northern Shrike
  10     European Starling
   1     American Tree Sparrow
   1     Song Sparrow
  81     Dark-eyed Junco-unknown
   2     Oregon Junco
  74     Slate-colored Junco
   2     Pink-sided Junco
  32     White-winged Junco
  cw     Purple Finch
   6     House Finch
   1     Common Redpoll
   5     Pine Siskin
 106     American Goldfinch
  50     House Sparrow

  30 Total Species
  1099 Total Individuals

Bruce and Donna Walgren
Casper, WY
Piranga(at)bresnan.n e t
(307)234-7455

LINCOLN CBC:  Rescheduled for Saturday, January 05, 2008

The NWS issued a winter storm warning for Lincoln from 3 AM to 6 PM
December 22. I hate to do it, but it sounds like the weather in Lincoln
is going to be pretty bad, so the Lincoln CBC will have to wait.
It's not so much the forecasted snow, but the 40mph wind gusts that may
cause white-out conditions. Dangerous to drive in and hard to see birds in
that! I don't know what the wind chills will be but temperatures in the 20's
and north winds at 20-40 mph doesn't sound like nice or productive weather
for birding.

The center of the circle is the intersection of Coddington Ave. and West A
Street. Areas included in the circle are Wilderness Park, Holmes Lake,
Yankee Hill Lake, Pioneers Park, part of Pawnee Lake, Nine-Mile Prairie,
UNL campuses, Oak Lake, and Capitol Beach/Salt Lake. A nice mix of habitats
and good birding, especially if the lakes don't freeze over. Yankee Hill
Lake has water in it for the first time in several years, so that may be a
good spot for a change. We can always use more help, so please contact me
if you'd like to participate.

We saw 71 species and 14,934 individuals.
35 field watchers and 7 feeder watchers participated.

Snow Goose cw
Cackling Goose 86
Canada Goose 5335
Wood Duck 8
Mallard 748
American Green-winged Teal 33
Hooded Merganser 3
Ring-necked Pheasant 6
Wild Turkey 7
Northern Bobwhite 24
Pied-billed Grebe 1
American White Pelican 1
Northern Harrier 6
Sharp-shinned Hawk 8
Cooper's Hawk 6
Accipiter sp. 2
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 66
Buteo sp. 3
hawk sp. 1
American Kestrel 22
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Coot 3
Ring-billed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 554
Mourning Dove 138
Eastern Screech-Owl 2
Great Horned Owl 8
Barred Owl 4
Belted Kingfisher 9
Red-bellied Woodpecker 62
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 109
Hairy Woodpecker 15
Northern Flicker 22
Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker 18
Loggerhead Shrike 1
Northern Shrike 4
shrike sp. 1
Blue Jay 229
American Crow 117
Horned Lark 5
Black-capped Chickadee 80
Red-breasted Nuthatch 49
White-breasted Nuthatch 80
Brown Creeper 34
Carolina Wren 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 22
Eastern Bluebird 31
American Robin 392
European Starling 2675
Cedar Waxwing 26
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
Spotted Towhee 1
American Tree Sparrow 577
Chipping Sparrow 1
Fox Sparrow 7
Song Sparrow 39
Lincoln's Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 5
Harris's Sparrow 109
White-crowned Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 610
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco 21
Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 466
Northern Cardinal 150
Red-winged Blackbird 43
Eastern Meadowlark 2
Western Meadowlark 35
meadowlark sp. 80
Common Grackle 2
Great-tailed Grackle 65
Purple Finch 96
House Finch 113
Red Crossbill 5
Pine Siskin 44
American Goldfinch 284
House Sparrow 1097

Rick Eades
Lincoln
Rick.Eades(at)ngpc.ne.g o v

Christmas Bird Counts can also ve viewed at http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc