Newsletter Combined Issue, May/June and July/August, 1998, No. 3

Editor's Note: Because of vacations and other hectic time schedules, we are combining these two issues. Please note that the Halsey Registration Form is in this issue. Be sure to save it, or register now so as not to misplace!

Scottsbluff Meeting A Great Success

By Betty Allen and Robin Harding

At least 93 persons ranging in age from three months to 92 years, attended the Scottsbluff annual meeting in May. Total species of birds counted were 157.

Alice Kenitz, Board Member of NOU, and her wonderful assistants, most from the Audubon Society, provided us with wonderful western hospitality at Camp Kiwanis in Riverside Park. Audubon was very generous and paid for the building rental. Alice and cohorts provided snacks and arranged for wonderful field trips and a great banquet. Those attending provided the camaraderie. I will not mention names, but you all know who you are, and we are exceedingly grateful.

Banquet speaker Steve Dinsmore gave us an overview of birds in the area that can currently be found and a look into what birds might appear in the future. I believe he mentioned a White-winged Dove might be one of them, and in July this Dove was observed around a feeder in Kearney. Steve also informed us of places to find the Mountain Plover, the bird species whose population dynamics and genetics he is studying. Thanks, Steve, for your interesting lecture.

Annual Business Meeting 1998

An ad hoc committee was appointed to study the feasibility of starting an endowment fund. Wayne Mollhoff reported that his work on the Breeding Bird Atlas was progressing nicely, with the help of the Game and Parks staff led by John Dinan. Completion and printing should be expected early in 1999. Thanks to those who contributed to this project both physically and financially.

New Officers for 1998-99 were elected: President - Betty Allen Vice-President - Lanny Randolph Secretary - Robin Harding Treasurer - Sue Amiotte Librarian - Mary Lou Pritchard Director - Tom Labedz Editor of Bird Review - Bill Clemente

$$$ New dues structure was approved. One active member $15.00 One sustaining member $25.00 Student member $10.00 Family active $20.00 Family sustaining $30.00 Life member $250.00 Bird Review - U.S. Subscriptions $14.00 Foreign Subscriptions $18.00 These changes are effective January 1, 1999. All dues are due at that time. We can prorate the price if need be for the remainder of the year 1998. New NOU brochures are printed and reflect the change in dues structure.

The new editor of the Bird Review, Bill Clemente, was unable to attend the meeting. Thank you to Rosalind Morris for doing such a great job as editor for the past several years.

George Brown announced the death of Margaret Bliese, long-time NOU member and supporter.

A vote of thanks was made to the Scottsbluff conference committee, and a standing ovation expressed our pleasure for their work.

Members were asked to help recruit interested youth to attend the Fall Field Days meeting in Halsey October 16-18.

Dr. Robert Price, University of Nebraska at Kearney Physics Department, was introduced. He proposed setting up a web site for NOU. He requested members to discuss with him after the meeting or send him what they would like to have on the Web. Much enthusiasm was generated. Editor's Note: Web site has been created: http://rip.physics.unk.edu/NOU/

The next annual meeting will be the 100th anniversary, held in Lincoln May 14-16, with the banquet at Morrill Hall May 15, 1999. Linda Brown from Lincoln is chairing a committee to coordinate activities. John Sullivan is organizing the field trips; his list of sites will make you want to come early and stay late. Ross Silcock will be the keynote speaker at Saturday's banquet. An Historical Committee has been formed, with Dr. Paul Johnsgard as coordinator and writer. Rusty Cortelyou has added some material. You are invited to write about your involvement in NOU, including anecdotes of events meaningful to youĞĞrecord birds, meeting someone who shaped your lifeĞĞin plenty of detail. Send personal statements to Mary Lou Pritchard, 6325 O St, #515, Lincoln NE 68510 and/or any suggestions we might use for this event to Linda Brown, 3745 Garfield, Lincoln 68506, 402-489-2381 or @1b14735@navix.net.

The Library Committee of Mary Lou Pritchard, Neal and Izen Ratzlaff and Tom Labedz are computerizing books and pamphlets in the NOU library. They are about half finished. Additional new shelving will be contributed by Neal and Izen and Clyde and Emma Johnson.

Please remember to send in any Occurrence Reports you want listed in the Bird Review to Ross Silcock. See below for address. See previous issues for deadlines.

Do you have a county life list of 125 birds or more? Send to Records Committee c/o Mark Brogie. See his address and phone # below.

Roger and Solde Cutshall celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June. Congratulations!

Extra copies of the Bird Review are available from the Library. Call Mary Lou Pritchard, (402) 472-3334 (state museum) or (402) 486-2428 (home).

The Belize Audubon Society is organizing its first International Bird Fest to be held October 2 - 8, 1998. The program will showcase the country's rich biodiversity and culture and will highlight the importance of birdwatching to the conservation and ecotourism objectives of Belize.

Trips to their four major regions include River & Coastal Encounters, Maya Mountain Experience, Reef & Rainforest Odyssey, and Birds of the Maya Safari. If interested, contact Belize Audubon Society at P. O. Box 1001, Belize City, Belize, or their Web site: http//www.belizeaudubon.org.

Bird News

by Lanny Randolph

Friday, July 3, we saw a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at our home, three Upland Sandpipers south of Franklin, and a Blue Grosbeak a half-mile east of Highway 10 and just north of the Kansas State line. Near Limestone Bluffs WMA we saw Turkey Vultures, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, at least nine Bell's Vireos, a Black-headed Grosbeak, 12 Grasshopper Sparrows and two Orchard Orioles. Everything we've read leads us to believe Sharp-shinned Hawks are winter visitors only and early spring migrants in Nebraska. We tried very hard to turn this one into anything but a Sharp-shinned but were unable to do so. Northeast of Limestone Bluffs WMA, we saw a Northern Mockingbird, two more Upland Sandpipers, and about one Grasshopper Sparrow every half-mile along the southern and eastern borders of Franklin County. In Kearney County south of Norman we saw a Loggerhead Shrike and a Bobolink south of the Gibbon I-80 exit.

The Clark's Grebe's Salute

by Lanny Randolph

June 21 in Buffalo County at our home, Robin and I heard a Sedge Wren and Spotted Towhees. We heard an Eastern Phoebe south of the Gibbon I-80 exit and saw an immature Common Loon at the Union Pacific SRA, along with at least seven Cedar Waxwings and an Orchard Oriole. In Phelps County between Johnson WPA and Funk Lagoon, we saw a Blue Grosbeak; at Johnson WPA an Eared Grebe, about 12 Ruddy Ducks, a Swainson's Hawk, two Sedge Wrens, a Grasshopper Sparrow, at least three Bobolinks and nine Great-tailed Grackles; and east of the Johnson WPA a Burrowing Owl. Also at Funk Lagoon, we saw the Clark's Grebe, six Green-winged Teal (one a partial albino), a female Hooded Merganser, Cooper's Hawk, Virginia Rail, two Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, two Marbled Godwits, nine Wilson's Phalaropes, about 40 Franklin's Gulls, Swamp Sparrow and about 15 Great-tailed Grackles. We had an enormous amount of fun yesterday. Why did the Virginia Rail cross the road? To give Robin and Lanny good looks and many belly laughs. But the Clark's Grebe outdid the rail when it waved at us with its foot. I've seen Common Loons and Common Mergansers flap their feet around, rolling onto their side to reach a foot up, grabbing their toes with their bill. The Clark's Grebe swam straight ahead and reached its leg straight up like a flag pole to wave its foot, repeating this several times!

Fall Field Days

Halsey - October 16-18, 1998
Registration starts at 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 16, 1998. Dinner is at 6:00 P.M. Deadline to register is October 1, 1998. Members' slide show begins at 7:00. Please bring your vacation pictures and let us enjoy your excitement and pleasures. If you have nature photos, scenics, birds, animals, insects, or others, bring them and tell us the story of where and when you took them. Bub Blake will show his slides on Saturday night. We will need articles for door prizes, other things to raffle off. Do you have something to contribute? Field trips will be led on Saturday and also on Sunday morning. You will have a chance to explore on your own, participate in guided field trips, or join a group going on an agreed upon route. Maps will be available to help you. Sunday noon at lunch, Lanny Randolph, Vice-President, will conduct the count tally. NOU Board Meeting: 8:30 p.m. (?). The board will convene Friday evening, October 16, after the slide show. We need to choose a nominating committee and review plans for 100th anniversary. It is hoped that Dave Sands, Executive Director of Audubon Nebraska, will be present for the board meeting to discuss our participation and copartnering with the Inportant Bird Areas Project.

Our new brochures will be available at this meeting. Or you may request them now. For three copies, send a self-addressed envelope with a .32¢ stamp.

Lodging for Fall Field Days: Information about lodging at the 4-H Camp and Administration Building in the Forest is given on the registration form. Accommodations are also available in the town of Halsey (about 4 miles away) at the Keeney Motel (308) 533-2240, or in Thedford (about 15 miles away) at the Rodeway Inn (308) 645-2284. Make your reservations early.

Young persons of junior high and high school age are invited to attend with a parent or guardian at the expense of the NOU Youth Scholarship Fund, with board and room plus a one-year membership provided. Travel funds are not included. Contact Mark Brogie, Box 316, Creighton NE 68729 (402) 358-5675. Requests must be submitted by September 15.

NEBRASKA COUNTY LIFE-LISTS

(As of end of 1997) (125 species-minimum)
Adams:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 135

Antelope:
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 217
* Scott Buss - - - 171

Arthur:
* Richard Rosche - - - 129

Box Butte:
* Richard Rosche - - - 163

Brown:
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 169
* Richard Rosche - - - 126

Buffalo:
Robin Harding - - - 191
Lanny Randolph - - - 191

Burt:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 149

Cass:
* Gertrude Wood - - - 263
* Babs Padelford - - - 165
* Loren Padelford - - - 165

Cedar:
* Dave Stage - - - 233
Mark A. Brogie - - - 197

Chase:
* Richard Rosche - - - 145

Cherry:
* Richard Rosche - - - 186
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 173
* Joel Jorgensen - - - 146
* Babs Padelford - - - 127
* Loren Padelford - - - 127

Cheyenne:
* Richard Rosche - - - 131

Clay:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 171
Stephen Dinsmore - - - 156

Cuming:
Mark A. Brogie - - - 159
Dave Stage - - - 153

Dakota:
Bill Huser - - - 249
* Dave Stage - - - 137

Dawes:
* Richard Rosche - - - 285
Mark A. Brogie - - - 154

Dawson:
* Kathryn Kaufman - - - 141
* Mark M. Peyton - - - 133

Deuel:
* Richard Rosche - - - 127

Dixon:
* Dave Stage - - - 157
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 136

Dodge:
Don Paseka - - - 219
Janis Paseka - - - 219
* Joel Jorgensen - - - 128
Mark A. Brogie - - - 126

Douglas:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 237
Babs Padelford - - - 236
Loren Padelford - - - 232
Neal Ratzlaff - - - 206
Izen Ratzlaff - - - 180

Dundy:
* Richard Rosche - - - 136

Fillmore:
Stephen Dinsmore - - - 171
Joel Jorgensen - - - 169

Frontier:
* Richard Rosche - - - 127

Garden:
* Richard Rosche - - - 223
* Larry Malone - - - 191

Grant:
* Richard Rosche - - - 145

Hamilton:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 130

Harlan:
* Richard Rosche - - - 132
Joel Jorgensen - - - 152

Hitchcock:
* Richard Rosche - - - 134

Holt:
Dave Stage - - - 173
Mark A. Brogie - - - 171

Hooker:
* Richard Rosche - - - 133

Kearney
Lanny Randolph - - - 168
Robin Harding - - - 166
Pat Dornhoff - - - 149

Keith:
* Richard Rosche - - - 247
Stephen Dinsmore - - - 224
Joel Jorgensen - - - 178
Mark A. Brogie - - - 167
* Babs Padelford - - - 155
* Loren Padelford - - - 155

Keya Paha:
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 136

Kimball:
Stephen Dinsmore - - - 162
* Richard Rosche - - - 129

Knox:
Mark A. Brogie - - - 270
Ellen Brogie - - - 256
* Dave Heidt - - - 189
Dave Stage - - - 176
* Lona Schreier - - - 156
Bill Huser - - - 147
Scott Buss - - - 142
* Babs Padelford - - - 140
* Loren Padelford - - - 140

Lancaster:
John Sullivan - - - 224
Kevin Poague - - - 215
Joe Gubanyi - - - 205
Joel Jorgensen - - - 198
Babs Padelford - - - 195
Loren Padelford - - - 194
Dave Stage - - - 172
* Gertrude Wood - - - 134
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 133
Neil Ratzlaff - - - 126

Lincoln:
* Richard Rosche - - - 189
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 135

Madison:
Mark A. Brogie - - - 164
* Scott Buss - - - 148
Dave Heidt - - - 127

McPherson:
* Richard Rosche - - - 129

Morrill:
* Richard Rosche - - - 187

Otoe:
* Gertrude Wood - - - 215
Laurence Falk - - - 206

Phelps:
Lanny Randolph - - - 205
Robin Harding - - - 201
Joel Jorgensen - - - 170
Mark A. Brogie - - - 130
Babs Padelford - - - 127
Loren Padelford - - - 127

Pierce:
* Scott Buss - - - 240
Mark A. Brogie - - - 216
* Dave Stage - - - 189
* Dave Heidt - - - 148

Platte:
Mark A. Brogie - - - 152
Joel Jorgensen - - - 136

Saunders:
* Thomas A. Hoffman - - - 209
Mark A. Brogie - - - 132
* Neil Ratzlaff - - - 130
* Izen Ratzlaff - - - 129
* Gertrude Wood - - - 128

Sarpy:
Babs Padelford - - - 278
Loren Padelford - - - 277
Ruth Green - - - 274
Neal Ratzlaff - - - 208
* Gertrude Wood - - - 204
Izen Ratzlaff - - - 196
* Joel Jorgensen - - - 181
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 176
Dave Stage - - - 174

Scotts Bluff:
Helen Hughson - - - 254
Alice Kenitz - - - 242
Stephen Dinsmore - - - 192
* Larry Malone - - - 189
* Richard Rosche - - - 180
* Lynne Landon - - - 158

Seward:
Joe Gubanyi - - - 221

Sheridan:
* Richard Rosche - - - 250

Sioux:
* Richard Rosche - - - 216
Mark A. Brogie - - - 168
* Bill Huser - - - 135
Joel Jorgensen - - - 127

Stanton:
* Duane Wolff - - - 230
Dave Heidt - - - 201
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 171

Thayer:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 132

Thomas:
* Babs Padelford - - - 144
* Loren Padelford - - - 143
* Richard Rosche - - - 141

Thurston:
Bill Huser - - - 150

Washington:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 246
* Babs Padelford - - - 159
* Loren Padelford - - - 159
* Gertrude Wood - - - 130

Wayne:
Norma Brockmoller - - - 203
* Mark A. Brogie - - - 189
* Dave Stage - - - 156

York:
Joel Jorgensen - - - 155


* - (Same as 1996 record, not updated, or no additional specied added to county total in 1997)

Top Ten---Species/County

1. Richard Rosche---285--Dawes
2. Babs Padelford---278--Sarpy
3. Loren Padelford--277--Sarpy
4. Ruth Green-------274--Sarpy
5. Mark A. Brogie---270--Knox
6. Gertrude Wood----263--Cass
7. Ellen Brogie-----256--Knox
8. Helen Hughson----254--Scottsbluff
9. Richard Rosche---250--Sheridan
10. Bill Huser-------249--Dakota

Top Ten---Counties over 125 species:

1. Richard Rosche----24
2. Mark A. Brogie----23
3. Joel Jorgensen----18
4. Babs Padelford----10
5. Loren Padelford---10
6. Dave Stage--------10
7. Gertrude Wood------6
8. Stephen Dinsmore---5
9. Scott Buss---------4
10. Bill Huser---------4
11. Neal Ratzlaff------4

Safe Bird Feeding

In their Newsletter, Backyard Chatter, Sandy and Bill Seibert of Backyard Birds, Omaha, included the following taken from Bird Conservation, American Natl. Fish & Wildlife Foundation: A survey by Cornell Lab of Ornithology has documented the spread of this disease in suburban Washington D.C. in 1994 to the entire eastern half of the U.S. and Canada by the end of 1996. All of these diseases can lead to death... by making birds more vulnerable to the stresses of inclement weather, nutritional deficiencies and concurrent infections. You can spot sick birds in a crowd. They are less alert, less active, feed less, their feathers look unkempt, and they are often reluctant to fly away. The pleasures associated with bird feeding should not be jeopardized by disease. By taking the following eight relatively easy steps, you can prevent or minimize disease problems at your feeders. Backyard Birds sells Feeder Fresh for $4.50 a quart. During wet, humid weather once or twice a month should do, but weekly cleaning could help more if you notice sick birds at your feeders. The best way to keep a birdbath clean is by using a stiff-bristled brush on it daily and adding fresh water.

Nebraska Ornithologists' Membership Renewal Form

One Active Member
$ 15.00

One Sustaining Member
$ 25.00

Student Member
$ 10.00

Family Active
$ 20.00

Family Sustaining
$ 30.00

Life Member
$ 250.00

Name_________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________ City, State, Zip_____________________________________________ Phone ( )___________________ Internet Address______________ Please make checks payable to NOU and return with this form to: Sue Amiotte, 11 City Dam Road, Chadron NE 69337

Current Officers


Since spammers glean e-mail addresses from web sites, please replace the 'at' symbol for the (at).

President and Newsletter Editor:
Betty Allen
9628 Emmet Street
Omaha, NE 68134
lizprints(at)webtv.net

Vice-President and web site contact:
Lanny Randolph
50370 24th Road
Gibbon, NE 68840
RandolphL(at)platte.unk.edu

Secretary and web site contact:
Robin Harding
50370 24th Road
Gibbon, NE 68840
HardingR(at)unk.edu

Treasurer:
Sue Amiotte
11 City Dam Road
Chadron, NE 69337
samiotte(at)bbc.net

Directors:

Mark Brogie
508 Seeley, Box 316
Creighton, NE 68729
mbrogie(at)mother.esu1.k12.ne.us

Alice Kenitz
190648 County Road 22
Gering, NE 69341
akenitz(at)aol.com

Tom Labedz
724 Glenarbor Circle
Lincoln, NE 68512
tlabedz(at)unlinfo.unl.edu

Past President:
Neal Ratzlaff
536 Brentwood Road
Omaha, NE 68114-4269
nratzlaff(at)aol.com

Editor of The Nebraska Bird Review:
Bill Clemente
Department of English
Peru State College
Peru, NE 68421
Clemente(at)bobcat.peru.edu

Librarian:
Mary H. Pritchard
University of Nebraska State Museum
Lincoln, NE 68588-0514
mhp(at)unlinfo.unl.edu

Seasonal bird report compiler:
Ross Silcock
P.O. Box 300
Tabor, IA 51653
silcock(at)sidney.heartland.net

Records Committee Chairman:
Mark Brogie (see above)

Back to the N.O.U. home page.

[Return to Physics Department]  This web site courtesy of the Department
 of Physics and Physical Science
In cooperation with the [UNK Home] University of Nebraska at Kearney