By Linda Brown
The Nebraska Ornithologists' Union Centennial meeting held in Lincoln May 14-16, 1999 at the University of Nebraska State Museum brought us back to our founders. About 50 people attended the Friday night Open House hosted by Thomas Labedz, collections manager for the State Museum. We had fun looking at old photographs and seeing bird specimens collected by the founders of N.O.U.
John Sullivan organized field trips for Saturday and Sunday morning to Fontenelle Forest, Schram State Park, Branched Oak Lake, Wilderness Park, Chet Ager Nature Center, Rain Water Basin, and the Saline Wetlands on the east side of Capitol Beach lake. Even though we had heavy rains during the night and gray dawns, the warblers were thick. I am eager to get the totals from Lanny Randolph who arranged to get final count information sent to him via e-mail on NeBirds.
Saturday afternoon we gathered in the auditorium at Morrill Hall to hear Charles and Mary Bomberger Brown's research on Cliff Swallows in Keith County. Next R. George Corner, on staff at the State Museum, showed slides and discussed the history of the State Museum. The Museum featured an exhibit of work by Nebraska wildlife artists which was put together by Paul Johnsgard.
We dined with the mammoths and mastedons in Elephant Hall. After the banquet we went back to the auditorium to see slides Paul Johnsgard prepared in order for us to understand some of the history of N.O.U. Ross Silcock, our banquest speaker, discussed the history of birds in Nebraska. Sunday morning we gathered at Spring Creek Ranch, the new Audubon property.
Each person who registered received a 77 page souvenir program entitled 'History of
the N.O.U. and the Birds of Nebraska' prepared by Paul Johnsgard. In addition to the
meeting agenda, Paul included N.O.U. history, check lists, maps for local birding sites,
Nebraska Bird Artists' exhibit information, current directory of N.O.U. members, and a
personal essay entitled 'The Age of Birds in Nebraska.'
by Betty Allen
As past-President of N.O.U. I would like to encourage you to attend our fall meeting
in Halsey. For those of you who have never been to one of our meetings, you can bird,
bird, bird till you drop. The group is congenial, the meetings are few - only two per
year - and it only costs $15 for a full year of membership. Why not join us in Halsey
at the 4-H Camp this fall?
By Joel Jorgensen
May 31st I observed undeniable proof that "greater" Sandhill Cranes are breeding in Clay County in the eastern Rainwater Basin. I am not disclosing the exact location but will say that it is very inaccessible and it is in a rather unexpected pasture/basin. Regardless, it is totally amazing how secretive they are. I know now why it has taken so long to find actual evidence of breeding, if not there mere presence at this time. This concludes the saga that began 3 years ago when Jerry Jorgensen and I observed a pair of adults and 2 immature birds at a private pasture/basin in August of l996. At that time their presence was baffling and presumed to be a freak incident.
In 1997, I observed a pair of cranes in the area (at various locales) during July and August. In l998, I observed a pair and single birds on and off during early May. I was not in the state from late May-early August, but upon my return I observed a pair and 2 immatures at the same pasture/basin as my dad and I first saw them in l996. So it appears certain now that breeding was taking place since at least l996 and the 4 birds seen in August of that year was a family group. In l997, conditions were not favorable for breeding, or the young didn't survive. In 1998, breeding was again successful and I was observing the results.
Sandhill Cranes do NOT breed in South Dakota or Kansas. The nearest breeding area is
in eastern Iowa, about 400 miles away. They also breed in the intermountain region of
northwestern Colorado and western Wyoming, as well as central Minnesota.
by Clem Klaphake
The following are a few of the interesting sightings from around the state. Joel Jorgensen reports that the shorebird species totals from the eastern Rainwater Basin were good (34) this year, but overall numbers were down 30% from the previous two years. The biggest drops were in Semipalmated Sandpipers and White-rumped Sandpipers. At the new Walnut Creek Lake Recreation Area just south of Papillion a number of us observed a pair of Old Squaw for about a two week period. Just across the Missouri River at Forney Lake in Iowa many of us had a great opportunity (2 weeks time) to observe a Garganey up close. Another wonderful birding opportunity occurred when I saw Loren Paddleford's NeBirds message on April 9th that there were Whooping Cranes just east and south of DeSoto Wildlife Refuge north of Omaha in Harrison County, Iowa. My wife Bette and I immediately headed out and found 6 Whooping Cranes about a half mile from the nearest road. After a while we were able to get somewhat closer to watch them dance and catch frogs. Always a wonderful experience to watch Whooping Cranes in the wild!
Alice Kenitz reported a female Brambling in Scottsbluff April 14 through the 19th.
She also reported an injured Peregrine Falcon near Morrill on May 7 and a Lesser
Goldfinch in Cedar Canyon southwest of Gering on May 26th. Wayne Mollhoff reported
some good birding over the June 11-13 weekend. In the Monroe Canyon/Gilbert Baker WMA
he saw Pinyon Jays, Violet-green Swallows, Western Tanagers, Pygmy Nuthaches, and lots
of Red Crossbills with their young. Then in West Ash Canyon he added White-throated
Swifts, Poorwills, Lewis Woodpecker, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Plumbeous and Red-eyed
Vireos. Loren "Bub" Blake reported a Bewick's Wren at the Ashfall Rhino Barnā location
in northeast Nebraska. Joel Jorgensen recently reported seeing and photographing a
White Ibis in the Rainwater Basin (a bird certainly out of its "normal" range). On a
Fontenelle Forest Nature Center birding trip to Wyoming 10 of us observed nesting
Piping Plovers and Least Terns at Lake McConaughy on June 29. Some of the young
Plovers had just recently hatched and looked like little fuzz balls with legs as they
scooted around the sandy beach area. We also observed several of the Mississippi Kites
on the north edge of the town of Ogallala. On July 4th at the Gering cemetery we
observed a number of Yellow-breasted Chats, a Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Bobwhite
Quail, Bullock's and Orchard Orioles (with nests), Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee,
Yellow Warbler and numerous Pine Siskins.
by Ruth Green
A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is not a species that I see every year even in the best of habitats. So when one appears in my own backyard, I consider that pretty special. Not only did I see it, I had it in my hands and banded it. This is not the first one I have banded but the first in my yard.
This little flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris, measured 5 inches long with a wing measurement of 70 mm. And tail measurement of 55 mm. It was a bright greenish color on the back with two bright yellowish wingbars, white eye ring and was a bright lemon-yellow color from the throat, breast, belly and undertail coverts. Its bill was pinkish color and it had black legs. According to the banders manual - Identification Guide to North American Birds by Peter Pyle - this bird was aged and sexed as an After Second Year-Male. This bird was banded on May 7, l999 at 506 West 31st Avenue, Bellevue, Sarpy County, Nebraska.
by Betty Allen
To all NOU members who were not at the annual meeting, or missed some of the inside stuff because the birding was so great. I just want to express my thanks to all of you who worked on any committee or project during the two years I was president. I don't dare start naming you because you and I know who did so much to get the organization on track.
I think the highlights have been the two spring meetings, the work of organizing the NOU library, and the introduction of the NOU Web page and all that goes with it.
I started the presidency trembling and with fear, but now leave with fond memories of a group of people who worked their hearts out. You will be glad to know that the Breeding Bird Atlas is in the final editing and then goes to the printers. Thanks to all of you who have contributed to that massive effort.
I know you all will give our new president a big NOU welcome as he takes over this year.
Due to the popularity of the NOU Anniversary T-shirts, which were on sale at the spring meeting in Lincoln, we are going to have another batch printed up. These will be available at the fall Halsey meeting for the budget-friendly price of $10.00 each.
These 100% cotton shirts feature the George Miksch Sutton Burrowing Owl and indicate that this is the 100th anniversary year of the organization. They are available in sizes M,L,XL, and XXL in natural, sage green or stone-washed blue. (If you don't fit into one of those sizes or have your heart set on a day-glo magenta, let us know. Other sizes and colors may be available.)
Rather than guess what sizes and colors will be most in demand, we're encouraging
anyone interested to order exactly what they want NOW. If you would like to order a
shirt, please contact Janis Paseka at: 1585 Co. Rd. 14 Blvd, Ames, NE 68621;
ph 402-727-9229; e-mail paseka@tvsonline.net. A few shirts will be available at
Halsey for all you impulse shoppers.
There still are a number of you out there who have not renewed your membership for 1999. This is absolutely the last newsletter that you will receive. Unless you renew your membership you will be dropped from the NOU name roster and mailing list. Dues are very minimal at $15.00 per individual and $20.00 for a family membership. Send all correspondence for membership renewals to Sue Amiotte, 11 City Dam Rd., Chadron, NE 69337; e-mail samiotte@bbc.net.
Present at the meeting were Betty Allen (President), Clem Klapahke, (nominee for President), Neal Ratzlaff (past President), Lanny Randolph (Vice-President), Janis Paseka (nominee for Vice-President), Sue Amiotte (Treasurer), Robin Harding (Secretary), Mitzi Fox (nominee for Secretary), Mary Lou Pritchard (Librarian), Wayne Mollhoff (Chair of Breeding Bird Atlas Project), Joel Jorgensen (Chair of Records Committee) and Steve Dinsmore (Guest).
Absent from the meeting were Bill Clemente (Editor of The Nebraska Bird Review), Tom Labedz (Director), Mark Brogie (Director) and Alice Kenitz (Director).
The meeting was called to order by Betty Allen at 9:10 pm. She established that a quorum was present. The Secretary's report was given and accepted with no corrections. The Treasurer's report was given and accepted with no corrections.
The Library Committee's report was given by Mary Lou Pritchard. She reported that the committee has finished cataloging all of the items and the new shelving has been installed. She expressed special thanks to Neal and Izen Ratzlaff for all of their work. Mary Lou made a motion to organize the library's material in such a manner to make it easier to put it on the internet web site. Neal seconded the motion and it passed by unanimous vote.
Neal suggested an item for the agenda of the next meeting of the Executive Committee. That item being a discussion of making the Chairperson of the Records Committee an official member of the Executive Committee.
Special thanks to the members of the Nominating Committee were given.
Betty announced that our next meeting will be October 8-10, l999 at Halsey, Nebraska. There was a discussion of the fall meeting in the year 2000. Steve Dinsmore proposed to organize the fall 2000 meeting in Ogallala rather than at Halsey. Lanny moved that the fall meeting be held in Ogallala in the fall of 2000 and in Halsey in the year 2001. Sue seconded the motion. After some discussion it was decided to schedule the fall 2000 meeting in Ogallala and the fall 2001 meeting in mid-September at Halsey.
Wayne Mollhoff gave a report on the Breeding Bird Atlas Project. He reported that the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission now has all of the information. A publishing date should be at the end of l999.
Locations for the NOU Spring 2000 meeting were discussed. Chadron, Alma, and Holdrege were each considered. Sue Amiotte was asked to look into facilities in Chadron. It was agreed to present it to the general membership. (Chadron looks like the place for the NOU Spring 2000 meeting after the general meeting was held).
It was agreed that Sue would send notices to persons whose memberships expired.
Betty adjourned the meeting at 10:35 pm.