Dedicated to the Study, Appreciation and Protection of Birds
New Members
Karen and James Baird
Nancy Herhahn
Clay Center, NE
Business Beyond the Farm
710 4th Ave. Suite 11
Roger Dietrich
Holdredge, NE 68949
506 Applewood Drive
308-995-4601
Yankton, SD 57078
neherhahn(at)busnessbyondthefarm.c o m
Ann Duey
Scottsbluff, NE
Change of Information
Blake Hatfields new e-mail address ibhbirds(at)ya hoo.co m
Urban Lehner and Nancy Leonard life membership
In Memory Of...
Since the last newsletter, we have received word that Jessamine McMullen
and Henry E. Baumgarten (coathor of NOU occasional Papers 5 and 5A and
artist of the version of the Burrowing Owl that appeared on the Nebraska
Bird Review from 1953 to 1968) passed away. Our thoughts are with their
families and friends.
Upcoming Events
2006 Fall Conference September 15th-17th in Lincoln
(information starts on
page 6)
2007 Spring Conference North Platte May 18th-20th
2007 Fall Conference Nebraska National Forest-Halsey TBA
President’s Notes
I apologize for the information for the fall conference being this late in arriving (this is what happens when one has the organizational skills of a tornado going through a trailer park). The Fall conference is scheduled for September 15-17 in Lincoln. The meeting site is the Howard Johnson on 5250 Cornhusker Highway. The Howard Johnson is giving a discounted rate of $49 a night for a single and $79 a night for a double if you contact them early. Be sure to mention you are attending the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union conference to receive the discount (402-464-3171). The Sunday compilation will be held at Spring Creek Prairie, not at the Howard Johnson’s, so Sunday lunch will be on your own. There are several field trips planned including Joe Gubyani leading a tour of Seward County and Kevin Poague giving a Sunday tour of Spring Creek Prairie (other field trips hadn’t listed specific locations yet).
The membership directory will be sent to all members later this fall. We will attempt to e-mail the directory to those of you with a listed e-mail address. If you do not have an e-mail address or are unable to access the e-mailed version of the directory, you will be sent a directory through the mail. We ask that you respect the privacy of your fellow members when it comes to keeping their contact information safe. If you receive your directory via e-mail, please do not leave it stored on your hard drive (print it or store it on a secondary disk then delete it from the hard drive) as some internet “viruses” will target this type of information.
I am going to need a couple of volunteers for Nominating Committee and Program Committee (or if you want to save time, you can volunteer to run for office in Spring of 2007 and save the nominating committee the time and effort of contacting you to share your talent and wisdom with the group).
For those of you who did not get the opportunity to participate in the
breeding bird atlas project II, there is still time (4+ years). See the
information on the next page and contact Wayne Mollhoff if interested (402-944-2243
or wmollhoff(at)nets cape.ne t)
Breeding Bird Atlas Project II
The Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas Project II is underway and needs volunteers. The project will update and refine the information collected during the first bird atlas project (1984-1989). In addition to basic information mapping the breeding ranges of all wild birds in Nebraska, this project will collect detailed data about the habitat used by each species. As with the first atlas project, volunteer field workers are planning to collect data for the next 5 years. The end result will be publication of an atlas, with individual maps showing the current breeding distribution.
To accomplish the goals of the project, volunteer workers will survey
520+ priority blocks scattered across the state. Each block is a quarter
of a township- 3 x 3 miles. The workers will visit the blocks at various
times during the breeding season to develop a list of the species that
breed in each block.
During the first project, more than 125 observers drove more than 75,000
miles and logged nearly 6000 hours of observer time to complete the project.
Those numbers will probably be exceeded this time around, despite the
current gas prices.
Due to our continually changing environment, the breeding ranges and numbers of Nebraska birds are also constantly changing. Bald eagles, which built only one nest in the state during the first project, now breed nearly statewide. Eurasian collared-doves, never seen in Nebraska until the late 1990s are now found throughout the state. House finches, great-tailed grackles, and some other species have increased their ranges as well. The list of changes goes on, with the extent of change unknown until completion of the project.
The project is co-sponsored by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union and
the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, with funding by the Nebraska State
Wildlife Grant Program and the co-sponsors.
You can volunteer for as much or as little time as you want, but any
assistance would be appreciated. For more information, contact Wayne Mollhoff
(402-94-2243
wmollhoff(at)nets cape.ne t)
Business Meeting
May 20, 2006
Ponca State Park
1. Meeting was called to order.
2. Minutes were not read, so minutes
from the fall 2005 and spring
2006 meetings
will be read at the next meeting.
3. Treasurer’s balance sheet was
read to audience.
4. Nominating Committee provided
slate of officers for next year’s NOU.
The list
was read and nominations were opened to the floor. With no
new candidates
offered, the slate of officers was accepted.
5. Programs Committee reported that
Ross Silcock has agreed to be a
field trip
leader for the fall meeting.
6. Nebraska Bird Review-reported
that Janis is doing an excellent job
getting the
Review caught up with the backlog of publishing, to the
delight of
the members.
7. Old Business
a. The fall 2006 meeting in planned for southeast Nebraska.
Auburn, if details can be worked out. The spring
2007 event is
scheduled for North Platte.
b. Loren Padelford, the state coordinator for the Breeding Bird
Survey, mentioned some of the routes are open
and to see him
if any member would like to participate.
8. New Business
a. The compilation of data for a new Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas
is underway. Wayne Molhoff said he needed help
from anyone
who would like to contribute their time and expertise.
Packets
of information were handed out. This project
is funded through
the State Wildlife Grant process.
NOU Board Meeting Minutes
May 19, 2006
Ponca State Park
1. The meeting was called to order by the president, Dave Heidt, at
8:30 pm.
Present were Alice Kenitz, Steve Lamphere, Urban
Lehner, Janis Paseka,
and Kevin Poague.
2. The minutes from the fall meeting were not read as the current secretary
was unable to attend and did not have a copy of
the minutes. the minutes
will be read at the fall 2006 meeting.
3. Treasurer’s Report-The treasurer was unable to attend the meeting
but did
submit a report. The current total cash
on hand is $57,357.21. There was
a comment to check the disbursements for the Ponca
meeting, specifically
whether the down payment to the Park was made in
one or two payments.
The treasurer’s report was accepted.
4. Committee Reports
a. Editor-Janis reported she is making
good progress on catching up on
publishing past issues of the Nebraska Bird Review. The Board
was pleased
to hear that the backlog is being diminished and that
new articles
are being sought. Janis also made a motion for her to
be reimbursed for expenses she incurred. The motion was seconded and approved.
b. There was no report from the librarian
or the records committee.
5. Breeding Bird Atlas-Wayne Molhoff reported that data for a new atlas
will
begin to be complied. The contract with the Nebraska
Game and Parks
Commission was signed, which will pay for Wayne’s
time plus travel and
supplies as editor and supervisor. Instruction
booklets have been printed
and were handed out at the meeting for interested
NOU members to
participate. Maps will be sent out soon.
6. Mark Humpert of the NGPC wants the NOU Board to sign on to a new
version
of Teaming With WIldlife. The Board took no action
at this time.
7. The fall meeting is still planned for southeast Nebraska and Indian
Cave
State Park. There is no place in Peru to hold the
meeting, so Dave will
check for facilities in Auburn. If this does not
pan out, Lincoln may be the
next option. People are needed to lead field trips.
The spring 2007 meeting
is scheduled for North Platte during the weekend
of May 18-20. For the
fall of 2007, the panhandle area around Rushville
is being considered, as
several ranchers in the region are trying to promote
ecotourism
businesses.
8. NOU Membership Directory-There is a need to send out another directory
to
members soon. Dave will coordinate this effort
with Neal Ratzlaff. There
was a motion on how to distribute it. Members with
an e-mail address will
get the directory through e-mail, and those without
one will receive it
through the postal mail. The motion was seconded
and passed.
9. Kevin Poague gave an update of Audubon’s Important Bird Areas project.
After two public nomination rounds with 24 sites
being chosen, the effort is
on hiatus until further funding can be found.
NOU Fall 2006 Conference-Lincoln
Howard Johnson 5250 Cornhusker Hwy
Schedule of Events
Friday September 15th
4:30 pm Registration
6:30 pm Dinner-Roast Beef, Tossed Salad, Steamed Vegetable,
Mashed Potatoes, and Dinner Rolls
7:15 pm Daniel Kim-Platte River Whooping Crane Trust
8:00 pm Board of Directors meeting
Saturday May 20th
6:30 am Breakfast--pick up sack lunch at this time
Saturday Breakfast-Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar Cheese;
Hash Browns, Biscuits, Homemade Sausage Gravy;
Grilled Bacon; Fresh Fruit; Assorted Rolls and Donuts;
Orange juice; coffee.
Saturday Box Lunch-Sandwich; chips; fruit &/or cookies;
bottled water.
7:15 am Field trips leave
Selected Sites in Lancaster and Seward Counties
6:30 pm Dinner---Chicken Breast, Tossed Salad, Steamed
Vegetable, Mashed Potatoes, and Dinner Rolls
PLEASE INDICATE ON REGISTRATION FORM IF YOU WANT
TERIYAKI CHICKEN BREAST OR PLAIN CHICKEN BREAST
7:15 pm Dr. Paul Johnsgard-Nebraska Birding Trails Project
Sunday May 21st (LUNCH ON YOUR OWN)
6:30 am Sunday Breakfast-Scrambled
Eggs with Cheddar Cheese;
Hash Browns, Biscuits, Homemade Sausage Gravy;
Grilled Bacon; Fresh Fruit; Assorted Rolls and Donuts;
Orange juice; coffee.
7:15 am Field trips leave
Selected Sites in Lancaster County
12:00 pm Meet at Spring
Creek Prairie for Weekend Tally
The Howard Johnson is holding a limited number of rooms ($49 single,
$79 double). Identify yourself as a participant of the Nebraska Ornithologist
Union to receive the discount. The phone number is 402-464-3171. Please
reserve the room early if you are interested.
Registration for 2007 Fall Meeting at the Howard Johnson’s in Lincoln
Meals Price # of Persons Cost
Friday Dinner
$9.95
X ________ =
________
Saturday Breakfast $8.95
X ________ =
________
Saturday Sack Lunch $4.95
X ________ =
________
Saturday Dinner
$9.95
X ________ =
________
please indicate whether you want:
teriyaki ____ or plain ____ chicken
breast
Sunday Breakfast $8.95 X ________ = ________
Registration Fee $8.00 X ________ = ________
Total Enclosed with this form
$__________
PLEASE INDICATE ANY SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS _____________________
__________________________________________________________
Names ____________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________
City, State, Zip ______________________________________
Phone # ______________________ e-mail ______________________
Make checks payable to NOU and mail with this form before August 31
to:
Betty Grenon, Treasurer
1409 Childs Road East
Bellevue, NE 68005
For those of you who haven’t renewed your memberships yet, here’s your chance. Please enter my membership in the category checked below:
___ One Active Member
$15.00 ___ Family Active
$20.00
___ One Sustaining Member
$25.00 ___ Family Sustaining
$30.00
___ Student Member
$10.00 ___ Life Member
$250.00
(E-mail addresses have been altered to fight spam. Replace (at)
with the appropriate symbol
and remove the blank spaces.)
President and Newsletter Editor:
David Heidt, 1703 Hilltop Drive, Norfolk, NE 68701-2031
Phone: 402-371-3412
daveh(at)northeastcollege. c o m
Vice-President:
Urban Lehner, 15526 Pierce Circle, Omaha, NE 68510
Phone: 402-330-3888
urban.lehner(at)dtn.c o m
Secretary:
Kevin Poague, 4274 'A' Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
402-489-1418
kpoague(at)audubon.o r g
Treasurer:
Betty Grenon, 1409 Childs Road East, Bellevue, NE 68005
402-731-2383
grenon925(at)aol. c o m
Editor, Nebraska Bird Review:
Janis Paseka, 1585 Co. Rd. 14 Blvd, Ames, NE 68621
402-727-9229
paseka(at)tvsonline. n e t
Librarian:
Mary Lou Pritchard, 6325 'O' Street, Lincoln, NE 68510
402-486-2428
Past President:
Alice Kenitz, 190648 Co. Rd. 22, Gering, NE 69341
Phone: 308-436-2959
E-mail Address: akenitz(at)prairieweb. c o m
Directors:
Jan Uttecht, Box 823, Stanton, NE 68779 (2007)
402-439-2114
jautek(at)stanton. n e t
Loren Padelford, 1405 Little John Road, Bellevue, NE 68005 (2008)
402-292-5556
lpdlfrd(at)juno. c o m
Steve Lamphere, 3101 Washington St., Apt. 98, Bellevue, NE 68005 (2006)
402-291-9149
kingfisher65(at)aol. c o m
Breeding Bird Atlas and Nest Records Committee:
Wayne Mollhoff, 2354 Euclid St., Ashland, NE 68003
402-944-2243
wmollhoff(at)netscape. n e t
Occurrence Reports:
Ross Silcock, P. 0. Box 57, Tabor, IA 51653
712-629-5865
silcock(at)rosssilcock. c o m
Nebraka Birdline:
Josef Kren
402-721-5487 ext. 6490
800-642-8382 ext. 6490
nebraskabirds@yahoo.com
NOU Website: http://rip.physics.unk.edu/NOU/
Nebraska Birding Trails: http://www.nebraskabirdingtrails.com
NOU Online Store: http://www.withoutbricks.com/NOUStore
Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
3745 Garfield
Lincoln, NE 68506