Norfolk Spring Meeting
by Alice Kenitz

    The annual Spring Meeting of the NOU was held May 17-19 at Norfolk.  Lueshen's Birders were our hosts/hostesses and did a marvelous job with all of the arrangements.  They even managed to order good weather and great birding for the weekend.

    Activities began on Friday evening at the Elkhorn Valley Museum and Lueshen Bird Library.  There were 84 NOU members and friends who attended all or part of the activities.  After registration, we were able to tour the museum and the bird library.  The Lueshen's Birders brought in a delicious meal.  Following supper, Bub Blake took us on a birding trip to Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico last November, the Texas Gulf Coast in February, and the Platte River in March.  All of this was done, of course, by way of his excellent slides.

    The rest of the meals and meetings were held at the Lifelong Learning Center at Northeast Community College.  A continental breakfast was available both Saturday and Sunday morning, as were sack lunches for Saturday noon.  Several field trips were available all day Saturday and Sunday morning.  Some of the destinations were the Niobrara River, Ponca State Park, Wood Duck WMA, Lake Babcock and Lake North, as well as several other areas in and around Norfolk.  Field trip leaders knew just where to go to find 170 species of birds.  Thanks to each of the leaders.

    The banquet was held at the Lifelong Learning Center.  Mitzi Fox and our scholarship recipient, Josh Sok, presided over the presentation of door prizes.   Following the annual business meeting, Neal Ratzlaff gave a very interesting slide presentation and talk about the birds of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  We learned that the scientific observations of the Expedition were remarkable.  Unfortunately, only one specimen (Lewis's Woodpecker) remains.  And the scientific part of the Expedition was never adequately written up.  We also learned the names of some of the species of birds that Lewis and Clark saw--Party Coloured Plover (American Avocet), Butterbox (Bufflehead), Party Coloured Corvus (Magpie), Summer Duck (Wood Duck), Lark Woodpecker (Northern Flicker), Kooskooskie River Bird (Western Tanager), and Old Field Lark (Eastern Meadowlark).  And did you know that the pouch of an American White Pelican will hold 5 gallons?

After field trips on Sunday morning, we gathered at the Learning Center for lunch and for the tally of species.

Again, a huge thanks to Lueshen's Birders for a wonderful weekend.

Future Meeting Dates

Fall Field Days will be held at the Nebraska National Forest at Halsey on September 6, 7 and 8, 2002.

The Spring Annual Meeting will be held at the Rowe Sanctuary Visitors' Center, southwest of Gibbon on May 16, 17 and 18, 2003.

Welcome to the following New Members:

            Paul & Josh Sok        Winside, NE
            Martha Massengale     Omaha

Welcome back to one Returning Member:

            Shirley Noar              Omaha

New Honorary Members Elected

    Two new Honorary Life Members were elected at the Norfolk meeting.  Dr. Rushton G. Cortelyou and Mr. Wayne J. Mollhoff were both nominated in writing by four members, seconded by the Board of Directors and elected by the members at the General Meeting.

    Both nominations were presented by Neal Ratzlaff and were signed by Roland Barth, Alice Rushton, Izen Ratzlaff and Neal Ratzlaff.

    Rusty Cortelyou was recognized in the nomination document for the "time, effort, unsurpassed leadership and continuity" he has given to the organization.  Rusty joined the NOU in 1953 and has been an active, participating member for almost half a century.  During that time he served as President (1962-64) and then as Editor of The Nebraska Bird Review for 25 years.

    Wayne Mollhoff's association with the NOU began nearly 30 years ago.  In 1985, he was charged with the task of establishing a Records Committee.  He subsequently presided over its formation and served as its first chairman.

    Wayne also volunteered in the early 1980's to be the coordinator of the Breeding Bird Atlas project.  As the nomination document states, "The time and effort he put into this ultimately successful project is simply hard to imagine.  Before the project could begin, methods and sites for data collection had to be determined, data recording sheets and instructions created, funding for printing of these instructions obtained and volunteers to survey the blocks recruited.  Blocks for which no volunteers could be obtained were ultimately surveyed by Wayne himself, many of them on weekends."

    Wayne eventually served as editor of The Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas 1984-89, writing all 191 species accounts and other narrative material in the book, which was published in 2001.  Wayne continues his interest in nesting birds, currently serving as the coordinator of our nesting records program.

    Congratulations to Rusty and Wayne, who join Paul Johnsgard and Bill Huntley as Honorary Life Members.

Breeding Bird Information Needed

By Wayne J. Mollhoff

    The NOU Nest Record Program is interested in documenting breeding activities by allwild birds in the state.  Especially valuable is information on species for which few records are available, e.g. Townsend's Solitaire.  For anyone who finds nests, nests with eggs or young, or adults feeding begging young, etc., or is interested in providing breeding records, please contact me at the address on the back of this newsletter for the form used to record the data.

    Virtually any record is of value and will be added to the database; however, most valuable are those reports compiled repeatedly in the same area on the same species over a period of years.  Such compilations can begin to give us a real idea of what is "normal" for a given species at a given location.  Such records probably exist only for some game species and endangered species that have received close scrutiny.

    The data will be used in individual accounts, or in at least summary form, in the annual nesting report in the Nebraska Bird Review, and all contributors will be acknowledged.

Honorary Degree Conferred

    Long-time Nebraska Ornithologists' Union member and current NOU Librarian, Mary Lou Pritchard was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from UNL at its graduation ceremony on May 11 in Lincoln.

    Dr. Pritchard is the former curator of the H.W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology in the University of Nebraska State Museum, and is the current Librarian of the Manter Lab Library.

    She rose through the ranks at the University, starting as a technical assistant, then was appointed as an Instructor, and finally attained the position of Full Professor in 1980. She has published over 50 papers in her field and co-authored three books. She has served on countless professional committees, leading several of them. Over the years she mentored many students, including Ph.D. candidates and post docs. Under her direction the Manter Lab achieved international status and was named one of three National Resource Centers by the American Society of Parasitologists.

    Congratulations to Dr. Pritchard on her accomplishments!  We also appreciate all the hard work she has done for the NOU.

 Board Meeting Minutes

    The NOU Board met May 17, 2002, at the Lueshen's Birders Library, Norfolk.  Present were Alice Kenitz, Steve Lamphere, Clem Klaphake, Loren and Babs Padelford, Jan Uttecht, Kevin Poague, Mary Lou Pritchard, Robin Harding, Lanny Randolph, Wayne Mollhoff, Janis Paseka, and Mitzi Fox.

    Old business included approval of the minutes of the Halsey meeting, September 28, 2001, and discussion of having advertising in the newsletter.  Janis had contacted Eagle Optics, who will pass on advertising for now.  No other companies have been contacted yet.  Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, was recognized for receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree at the UNL graduation ceremony last week.

    Under new business, it was announced that Josh Sok, a sophomore from Winside, NE, is the recipient of the NOU Scholarship.  The Scholarship pays for expenses to the annual meeting and a one-year membership in NOU.

    The Fall Field Days will be at Halsey National Forest on September 6-8, 2002.  Lanny Randolph and Robin Harding invited us to hold the 2003 Annual Meeting at the Audubon Rowe Sanctuary Visitors' Center near Gibbon.  They volunteered to organize the birding trips.  The motion to accept the invitation was approved.

    Bill Huntley, Ogallala, offered to make the arrangements for a meeting in that area for either fall, 2003, or spring, 2004.  After discussion, it was decided try to get a fall, 2003, date at Halsey, and consider meeting in Ogallala in the spring of 2004.

    Betty Grenon presented the Treasurer's report, which was accepted.  She also reported that there are currently approximately 210 members, and that approximately 270 Bird Reviews (including exchanges and subscriptions)  are sent.

    Mary Lou Pritchard reported for the Library Committee.  Neal Ratzlaff has transferred the NOU Library database from his system to the Museum's FileMakerPro system.   Materials on library shelves are in alphabetical order, making them more accessible to casual visitors.  A supply of the Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas is at the library, available when orders are received.  Contributions to the library have been made by the estate of past President Norma Johnson Mueller, Clyde and Emma Johnson, Clem Klaphake, and Paul Johnsgard.

    Joel Jorgensen has resigned from the Records Committee, and Mark Brogie was nominated for Chairman of the committee.   Motion approved.

    An e-mail from Bill Clemente said that he is catching up with the Nebraska Bird Review work.  Steve Dinsmore is co-editing. Printing of the Review is now being done by Service Press, which has been giving us about 50 extra copies, free of charge.

    Regarding the Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas, Neal Ratzlaff reported that approximately 230 copies have been sold.  Possibilities for additional marketing areas were discussed.

    Kevin Poague with Nebraska Audubon reported that the Audubon Society is promoting the Important Bird Areas Program and would like the NOU to assist in gathering information and possibly establish an IBA committee.  He requested a letter stating NOU would be partners.  The motion that NOU would partner in appropriate areas was passed.

    Bruce Eichhorst presented many good ideas and possibilities for updating the NOU website to enhance the educational aspect of the site and result in a greater sharing of information and greater visual impact. Younger people turn first to a  website as a source of information.   Bruce offered to bring a more formal proposal to the fall meeting, to be presented to the membership.

    NOU members Clem Klaphake, Janis Paseka, and Wayne Mollhoff, together with representatives of about 35 other organizations, attended a meeting in May to discuss the uses of monies coming to Nebraska for conservation purposes.  Nebraska is eligible for $950,000 from off-shore drilling.  An organization named Nebraska Alliance for All-Bird Conservation was established  to coordinate the project and partner with other groups. Watch for future activity.

    The membership will be asked to approve transferring $125 remaining in the Birds of Nebraska Fund to the Endowment Fund, as previously approved by the Board.

    Letters from Paul Johnsgard and Linda Brown requesting that the Zoological Record of York, England, be provided with a Nebraska Bird Review subscription were read. Doing this would enable them to receive the Review in a timely manner.  The motion to provide a gift subscription was approved.

    Neal Ratzlaff read documents nominating Rusty Cortelyou and Wayne Mollhoff for Honorary Life Memberships in the NOU.  The motion to accept the nominations was approved.   Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,  Mitzi Fox, Secretary

General Meeting Minutes

    The 103rd Annual Meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union was held at the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast Community College Campus in Norfolk on May 18, 2002.

    It was called to order at 7:15 p.m.  The minutes of the previous annual meeting, as published in the NOU  newsletter, were approved.

    A slate of candidates for office were presented by the Nominating Committee.  Nominated were:

    Janis Paseka, President
    Alice Kenitz, Vice-President
    Mitzi Fox, Secretary
    Betty Grenon, Treasurer
    Loren Padelford, Director (to replace Mark Brogie).

    It was moved and seconded to accept the slate as presented by the committee.  The motion carried.

    Treasurer Betty Grenon reported year-end balances of $5,910.80 in the checking account, and $24,216.99 in 3 CD accounts.  As of  May 15, 2002, there is $6,896.17 in the checking account, and approximate balances of $2,800 in the endowment fund CD, $5,100 in the Breeding Bird Atlas CD (which will be held for a future atlas), and $1,135 in the scholarship CD.  The motion to accept the Treasurer's report was approved.

    The following announcements were made.  Josh Sok, Winside, NE, was presented as this year's winner of the NOU Scholarship.  Expenses for him and his father to attend the meeting were paid, and he received a one-year membership.  Josh expressed his thanks and said that being there was a great experience.

    Mary Lou Pritchard was recognized for receiving an Honorary Doctorate at the UNL graduation ceremonies on May 11, 2002.

    Joel Jorgensen has resigned from the Records Committee.  Mark Brogie was selected to serve as chairman of that committee.  The board approved the selection.

    The 2002 Fall meeting will be at Halsey National Forest on September 6, 7 and 8.  The 2003 Annual meeting will be hosted by Robin Harding and Lanny Randolph, and held at the new visitors' center at the Audubon Society Rowe Sanctuary south of Gibbon.  The date has not been selected, but it will probably be the 3rd week-end of May.

    Thanks were given to members of Lueshen's Birders of Norfolk for hosting this meeting.  The meeting facilities, food, and birding opportunities were most enjoyable.

    Loren Padelford requested help for the Breeding Bird Survey routes.  He needs volunteers in the Dundy and Keith County areas.  He asked that interested people contact him.

    The one old business item was asking for a motion to transfer $125 from the Birds of Nebraska book fund to the Endowment Fund.  The motion was made, seconded, and approved.

    Under new business, Clem Klaphake reported on a newly formed organization, the Nebraska Alliance for All-Bird Conservation.  The organization will be devoted to planning and implementing projects funded by a projected $950,000 in federal funds for use in Nebraska for bird conservation.  The focus in Nebraska will be on all bird species.  About 35 organizations were represented at a meeting held May 8.  The alliance will be an umbrella organization to coordinate activities of the groups.  Matching funds will be involved.  Watch for additional information.

    Neal Ratzlaff presented the two candidates for Honorary Life Membership, Dr. Rushton Cortelyou and Mr. Wayne Mollhoff, who had been nominated by NOU members and seconded by the Board of Directors at the Board Meeting the previous evening.  NOU Bylaws state that the nominees must be elected by a two-thirds majority of members attending an officially called business meeting.  It was moved and seconded to accept both Dr. Cortelyou and Mr. Mollhoff as Honorary Lifetime Members.  The motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45.

Respectfully submitted,       Mitzi Fox, Secretary.

 People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves
of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the
oceans, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves
without wondering.
      --Saint Augustine (354-430)

The Birding Boutique

By Kevin Poague

 Topic for the day:  Do people with similar interests dress alike?  There must be scientists somewhere with nothing better to do who could look into this fascinating subject and delve into the psyche and camaraderie of human congregations and their apparel (a trip to Memorial Stadium on a fall Saturday afternoon would be a good start). Another place they could go is on a field trip with a bunch of birders.

    This revelation came to me early one morning at a recent meeting of the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. The union is made up of birders from across the state who flock together twice a year to go on birding expeditions, attend meetings, enjoy slide presentations, and eat a lot.  Early one morning while sitting in the dining hall at the Halsey 4-H Center awaiting breakfast and observing the gathered crowd, it dawned on me that birders are pretty drab people. Not personality-wise, mind you, although a few could loosen up the shingles a bit. No, it was in their outfits.

    Creativity hits its peak with me when I'm tired and the left side of my brain reappears after being dominated by the right side most of the time. So, it might have been the early-morning fog my head was in (or the hunger-induced state of my stomach, which some people have said is there constantly) that allowed me to make sense of the scene in that room. Seated around were 50-60 people, who were collectively wearing blue denim shirts, brown pullovers, green long-sleeved t's, blue jeans, brown cargo pants, and various dark shades of boots and hats. It was the first time this fall, with no complaints from this corner, that I did not see a red sweatshirt emblazoned with the word "Husker" in a group of
people this size. Hues of yellow, orange, red, and white were apparently anathema to these folks, and it seemed that if they were dropped en masse out in the woods, they'd disappear from view. And that, my friends, is the whole point.

    Proper birding attire (yes, there is such a thing) is a topic covered in birding classes, which I set down here in a list of do's and don'ts:

- Bright colors are a no-no. One is supposed to be camouflaged in order to sneak up on birds and observe them before they take flight, not be a walking neon billboard announcing your presence to everything within two miles.

- Plastic pants should be outlawed. Every little "swish-swish" of plastic rubbing against itself is enough to drive birds away and any birder over the edge-sometimes literally, from a good push by frustrated companions.

- Any birder with half a skull knows one does not wear, on a cold morning, a t-shirt covered with a parka. Sweat builds up walking around, and removing the coat will expose moist skin to the cool morning air, a freezing experience to be sure.  The key word is layering. Think lasagna: start with a pasta layer (t-shirt), then a layer of meat (long-sleeved shirt), and then some sauce (a sweatshirt).  Add several birders and you've got a great meal.  As the morning warms, a layer can come off and you are still comfy.  Don't forget long johns under your pants and some really good, comfortable socks. And because most of the heat lost from the body goes through the head, a hat is a must.

- Pockets, pockets, pockets. What vests accomplished years ago, pants can now do, providing places for one's field guide, check list, extra pencil, car keys, note pad, cell phone, handkerchief, and oatmeal cookie.

- Tennis shoes may be comfortable and fashionable, but grass can be wet and muddy. There is one thing I can't stand, it's wet, cold feet.  Waterproof boots are essential, especially if the birds happen to be around the water or if the dew is so thick it's as if you are hiking in a wading pool.

Banding Report

    The following is from a NEBirds post made by Kathleen Crawford-Rose of Bellevue.

    "Yesterday, 6 May 02, Ruth Green was banding in my backyard.  We had two interesting recaptured birds.  A female House Wren who had first been banded as an adult bird in my yard in 1998 making her 5 years old and a Hairy Woodpecker female who had first been banded in my yard as a hatching year bird in July 1996--making her 6 years old.   I think we must have a reputation as a senior citizens center!"

President and Newsletter Editor:
Janis Paseka, 1585 Co. Rd. 14 Blvd., Ames,  NE  68621,  Phone:  402-727-9229
E-mail Address:  paseka@tvsonline.net

Vice-President:
Alice Kenitz, 190648 Co. Rd. 22,  Gering,  NE  69341,    Phone:  308-436-2959
E-mail Address:  akenitz@prairieweb.com

Secretary:
Mitzi Fox, Rt. 2, Box 36, Albion,  NE  68620,    Phone:   402-395-2395
E-mail Address:  mitzi@albion.net

Treasurer:
Betty Grenon, 1409 Childs Road East, Bellevue,  NE  68005,    Phone:   402-731-2383
E-mail Address:  grenon925@aol.com

Editor, Bird Review:
William Clemente, Box 10, Peru State College, Peru,  NE  68421    Phone:   402-872-2233  Work
402-872-3073 Home,    E-mail Address:  clemente@bobcat.peru.edu

Librarian:
Mary Lou Pritchard, 6325 O St., Lincoln,  NE  68510    Phone:  402-540-9157 State Museum
402-486-2428   Home

Past Presidents:
Clem Klaphake, 707 Garden Ave., Bellevue,  NE  68005    Phone:  402-292-2276
E-mail Address:  cnk@scholars.bellevue.edu

Betty Allen, 9628 Emmet St., Omaha,  NE  68134    Phone:   402-571-9755
E-mail Address:  lizprints@webtv.net

Directors:
Loren Padelford, 1405 Little John Road, Bellevue,  NE  68005,  Phone:  402-292-5556 Home,    E-mail Address: lpdlfrd@juno.com

Steve Lamphere, 3101 Washington St., Apt. 98, Bellevue, NE  68005   Phone:  402-291-9149

Jan Uttecht, Box 823, Stanton, NE  68779   Phone: 402-439-2114

Records Committee:
Mark Brogie, Box 316, Creighton,  NE  68729    Phone:  402-358-5675
E-mail Address:  mbrogie@mother.esu1.k12.ne.us

Breeding Bird Atlas Project and Nest Records Committee:
Wayne Mollhoff, 1817 Boyd St., Ashland, NE  68003,  Phone:  402-944-2243
E-mail Address:  wmollhoff@netscape.net

Occurrence Reports:
Ross Silcock, P.O. Box 57, Tabor , IA  51653,  Phone:   712-629-5865
E-mail Address:  silcock@rosssilcock.com

Nebraska Birdline:
Loren and Babs Padelford, 1405 Little John Road, Bellevue,  NE  68005,  Phone:  402-292-5325 Birdline
402-292-5556 Home,    E-mail Address: lpdlfrd@juno.com

NOU Website:          http://rip.physics.unk.edu/NOU/