NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION

SPRING CONFERENCE AT CHADRON MAY 19-21

By Clem Klaphake

NOU members are heading to Chadron in the beautiful Pine Ridge region in the northwestern part of the state. Birding opportunities to see such species as Lewis' Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, Salpinctes obsoletus, Sialia currucoides, Piranga ludoviciana, Prairie Falcons, Golden Eagles, Bullock's Oriole, or a Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus are possibilities. None of these species are in the form of fossils and can be found in any birder's guidebook.

You will find a registration form in this Newsletter (the print version) that will give you the information about the costs for lodging, meals, and registration fee. There are a number of lodging options to choose from. Chadron State Park is right next to Camp Norweska also and there are motels in Chadron. Since some of you may not have kept your March Newsletters I'm including the lodging information again on page 4 of this Newsletter. I hope as many of you who can will come and join us May 19-21 in one of the most beautiful areas of our state. See you there.

Nominating Committee Submits List of Candidates

By Jim Kovanda, Nominating Committee Chair

The nominees to be voted on by the general membership at the Spring Meeting in Chadron are as follows: President and Newsletter Editor Clem Klaphake, Bellevue, NE; Vice-President Janis Paseka, Ames, NE; Treasurer Jan Uttecht Norfolk, NE; Secretary Mitzi Fox, Albion, NE; Editor of Nebraska Bird Review Bill Clemente, Peru, NE; Librarian Mary Pritchard, Lincoln, NE; Director-at-Large Steve Lamphere, Omaha, NE.

Proposed Changes to the NOU By-Laws

A number of proposed changes to the NOU By-laws were recommended by the Board of Directors at the Halsey, Nebraska meeting in October of 1999. These will be voted on by the general membership at the Spring Meeting in Chadron on May 20.

Publication of The Birds of Nebraska Near

By Clem Klaphake

Ross Silcock, one of the authors of the soon to be published The Birds of Nebraska, has asked me to pass along the following information regarding this book. The University of Nebraska Press has indicated that the publication price of the upcoming The Birds of Nebraska can be kept at a reasonable level and use of color can be increased if additional funds ('subvention') can be provided to the Press. The Press has estimated that to keep the cost of the book at $40 would take about $19,000 in subvention funds. It has been suggested that individual NOU members may see fit to making donations toward this goal. The authors have been looking (with some success) at various sources of subvention funds also. It should be noted here that the authors have indicated that most of their royalties from the book will be donated to NOU. If anyone would like to comment on Ross's statement or request please do so individually or at the Chadron meeting. Ross and my phone numbers and e-mail addresses are on the last page of this Newsletter.

Second Annual Winter Birding Trip to Lake McConaughy

By Stephen J. Dinsmore

On February 26, 2000, 22 birders met at 7:00 a.m. at Lake Ogallala for the second annual Lake McConaughy field trip. We birded around Lake Ogallala for much of the morning, then birded Lake McConaughy, the Clear Creek marshes, and Ash Hollow State Park after lunch. The focus of the trip was to look for gulls, but there were very few around this year. However, the birding was very good despite gusty northwest winds for much of the day. Some of the highlights included the male Tufted Duck and an Oldsquaw at Lake Ogallala, 10+ Long-eared Owls at a ranch north of Keystone Lake, a Common Loon and a Thayer's Gull at Lake McConaughy, a Merlin and a Northern Mockingbird at the Clear Creek marshes, and 2 very cooperative Winter Wrens at Ash Hollow State Park. I'd like to thank everyone who made the trip for a great day of birding and I hope to see you again next year.

April 1 Scotts Bluff County Birding Trip

By Alice Kenitz

On Saturday, April 1, 2000 we had a little outing to the North Platte NWR. Very few birds were on Lake Minatare, but there were lots of birds at Winters' Creek Lake. Despite the low water at Lake Alice there were quite a few birds anyway. Overall we had 46 species. Of interest were Eared Grebe, American White Pelican, Cinnamon Teal, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Bald Eagle (at their nest at Lake Alice - at least one chick had hatched which makes 18 chicks from that nest in the last 8 years or so), Sandhill Crane, Greater Yellowlegs, and American Tree Sparrow. That afternoon in Scottsbluff we also saw a Common Redpoll and a Brown Creeper. At the Wildcat Hills Nature Center there was a pair of Mountain Bluebirds, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches and several Red Crossbills.

Breeding Birds to Again Be Surveyed in June

By Loren Padelford

The U.S. Geological Survey sponsors the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), an annual event that surveys breeding bird populations throughout North America. Nebraska has 46 BBS routes of which several are available and in need of an observer. These routes are fun to do and you can feel confident that you are contributing to our knowledge about birds. Here is how the survey works. The survey route is run once, any day in the month of June beginning 30 minutes before sunrise. The routes are 24.5 miles long with a stop every half mile. At each three minute stop the observer counts all birds seen or heard within a quarter-mile radius. The route takes about four hours to complete. It works better when two people can do the route, one to be the observer and the other to be the time keeper and record the birds seen at each stop. Observers should be able to identify birds by sight and recognize common birds by song. Expenses associated with running the routes are tax deductible. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please contact Loren Padelford, 1405 Little John Road, Bellevue, NE 68005, 402-292-5556, lpdlfrd@juno.com

Lodging Information For the Spring Conference

Camp Norweska has 10 cabins sleeping 106 people (quite primitive), a dorm wing which sleeps 10 (less primitive), and a new retreat center with 16 rooms sleeping 32 people (much like the rooms in the administration building at Halsey).

Other options: Best Western 308-432-3305 Economy 9 308-432-3119 Western Motel 308-432-5577 Super 8 308-432-4471 Roundup 308-432-5591 Microtel 308-432-3000

Olde Main Street Inn (old hotel with much character) 308-432-3380 Fort Robinson State Park (lodge and camping) 308-665-2900 Chadron State Park (cabins and camp ground) 308-432-6167

Fort Robinson State Park (about 35 miles from Camp Norweska) and Chadron State Park (right next to Camp Norweska) are very popular, so call soon if you would like to stay at either of these two parks. The city of Chadron is approximately 9 miles from Camp Norweska.

'Thus with the year seasons return' - Milton

johnsllvn@juno.com

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