Nebraska Bird Review (April 1961) 29(2), WHOLE ISSUE
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Nebraska Bird Review Nebraska Ornithologists' Union 4-1961 Nebraska Bird Review (April 1961) 29(2), WHOLE ISSUE Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebbirdrev Part of the Poultry or Avian Science Commons, and the Zoology Commons "Nebraska Bird Review (April 1961) 29(2), WHOLE ISSUE" (1961). Nebraska Bird Review. 908. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebbirdrev/908 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Bird Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Nebraska Bird Review (April 1961) 29(2), WHOLE ISSUE. Copyright 1961, Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. Used by permission. The Nebrdskd Bird Review A Magazine of Orn.ithoLogy of the Nebraska Region VOLUME XXIX APRIL,1961 NUMBER 2 0'(00 Published by the NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS'UNION, INC: ,r:' Founded 1899 0 TABLEo OF CONTENTS .~. ' Wintering Bald Eagles in Nebraska, 1959-1960 ___________________________ _ 26 1956-1960 Nesting Reports ___________________________________________________________________ _ 31 Dr. George Miksch Sutton ______________________________________________________ -- ___________ _ 35 Dr. Olin Sewell Pettingill, Jr. ___________________________________________________________ _ 36 Fall Field Trips and Winter Meeting _______________________________________________ _ 37 Treasurer's Report ______________________________________________________ , ________________________ _ 38 General Notes __________________________________________________________________ ------------------,-- 39 Letter To The Editor ___________________________________________________________________________ _ 40 Book Reviews ___________________________________________________________ ---------------------------- 40 Published quarterly in .January, April, .July, and October by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues_ Subscriptions at $3_50 per volume in the United States and $3_75 in all countries, payable in advance_ Single numbers, $1.00 each_ All dues and subscriptions should be remitted to the Treasurer, R_ G_ Cortelyou, 5109 Underwood Ave_, Omaha 32, Nebraska_ Orders for back numbers should be sent to the Custodian, Miss Bertha Winter, University of Nebraska State Museum,o Lincoln, Nebraska_ All manuscripts for publication o should be sent to the Editor, Doris B_ Gates, NebraskaoState Teachers College, Chadron, Nebraska_ 26 Nebraska Bird Review Wintering Bald Eagles In Nebraska 1959- 1960 Cooperative Survey by Nebraska Ornithologists' Union by Gail M. Shickley The survey of Bald Eagles in Ne building of diversion dams on Ne braska during the winter months of braska rivers. These provide more 1959-1960 was undertaken to gain a open water throughout the winter fairly close approximation of the and, hence, more opportunities for number of eagles using the state for the eagles to obtain fish. and other winter feeding grounds, to determine suitable items of food. the areas supporting the birds, and Observations of Bald 'Eagles were to learn what items constitute their reported from 14 separate locations food. It was also the hope of the in Nebraska. The sites ranged the members participating in the survey full width of the state, from the that the data acquired would be of Missouri River on the east to the value to the National Audubon Lake Minatare and the Walgren Lake Society in the projected continent refuges in the panhandle. There were wide study of Bald Eagles and that 24 observers who participated in the thereby they eould make a contribu survey. Even so,. it is realized there tion to the efforts of that group to are eagles in some -areas' of the state save America's national bird from where there are no NOU members extinction. to serve as observers; consequently The story of the declining numbers there are some unfortunate gaps in of Bald Eagles, of their unsuccessful the survey. nestings, and- of the organized efforts Some of the reports covered a to discover the reasons for the decline single observation of an eagle or a have been published many times. small group of eagles. Others covered There will be no attempt to repeat observations of the birds in a certain any of that material in this l'eport. area over a per-joel of several days The data given are fimitlid to the or weeks. The extreme case is -the survey of a single season. report on the population of the roost This was the first time an effort near North Platte from October 31, had been made .to keep records cover 1959, to May 5, 1960. This area was ing the entire state for a full season reported cooperatively by several by members of the Nebraska Orn members, with observations made ithologists' Union. Lack of similar often enough to give a fairly com records for past years makes any plete picture of the population fluct comparison impossible, but observers uations at the roost over the entire -- who -make frequent field trips seem season. to be agreed that the wintering pop One outstanding feature of the Ne ulation of Bald Eagles has been in braska survey is the high percentage creasing in recent years. Probably of juvenile eagles noted. Reports from they are more plentiful now than at over the state, aside from the North any time since the early history of Platte roost, recorded almost as many the state, when they were said to juveniles as adults. At the roost near be rather common and to nest within North Platte a plumage count was the state. This increase would appear made whenever the light permitted. to be due to the establishment of A season average showed approxi numerous artificial lakes and to the mately 35% adults and 65% juvenlies .. Nebraska Bird Review 27 inhabiting this roost. As one studies of the observers making the reports: the records over the state there seems Site # 1 : west bank of Missouri to be some evidence of more juveniles River at Aspinwall townsite, in the western part of the state. This about two miles downstream observation is interesting in view of from Nemaha. Reporter: Ruth the small number of juveniles ob Wensien, Brownville. served in states east of Nebraska. December, 1959. Two adults and In a survey made along the Missis one juvenile feeding in this area sippi River near the tri-cities area daily. (Davenport, Iowa; Rock Island and February, 1960. Three adults Moline, Illinois) only about 15% feeding at the same location. juveniles were discovered among the Site #2: along Platte River between Bald Eagles observed ("A Survey of North Bend and Ashland. Wintering Bald Eagles" by Elton Reporter: Carl J. Gruener, U. S. Fawks, Iowa Bird Life, September, Game Management Agent, Lin 1960). The small number of success coln. ful nestings in the Florida nesting March 16-23, 1960. Seven adults areas has been a matter of deep con and ten juveniles. Observations cern to those interested in the sur were made from a plane while vival of the Bald Eagle. There is no making food drops to game birds known reason for a higher percentage during severe weather. of juveniles in the western areas. Site #3: Platte River, eight miles It will be most interesting to note west of Columbus. Reporter: future surveys to see if this pattern Columbus Daily Telegram, No continues to prevail. vember 18, 1959. Following is a summary of the ob November 17, 1959. One adult, servations reported in this first Ne with broken wing, captured by 'braska survey, including the names hunters. Sites from which observations of Bald Eagles were reported in the 1959-60 survey. 28 Nebraska Bird Review Site #4: south of Polk. Reporter: M. F. Shickley, all of North Lee Morris, Bradshaw. Late Platte. March, 1960. One adult, flying In this area the North Platte north. Two probable juveniles, and South Platte rivers meet a also flying north, but too far short distance east of the town away for positive identification. of North Platte, forming the Site # 5: 13 miles northwest of Platte River, which flows east Central City, between the Platte ward toward the Missouri River. River and the Loup River. Re Downstream from the confluence porter: Donna Ferris, Central of the north and south rivers a City. diversion dam raises the level of March 13, 1960. Two adults and the water so that it can be turn one juvenile. ed into a canal of the Central March 23, 1960. Three. Nebraska Public Power and Ir March 27, 1960. Two. Plumage rigation District. In the hills at was not specified on the last the south rim of the valley there two dates. is an artificial reservoir, Lake Site #6: vicinity of Newark, south Maloney, with the canals leading of Kearney and near Platte into and away from it. At these River. Reporter: Norma Rad two locations there is some open ford, North Platte. water throughout the winter, November and December, 1959. except during extended spells of One to three adults frequently extremely cold weather, thus seen either perched or in flight. providing suitable winter habitat The birds probably remained in for some of the fish-eating birds. the area longer, but there was An old timber claim on the no further opportunity ob to bank of the Platte River is used serve them. as a roosting area by Bald Site #7: near Elm Creek, about one Eagles wintering in the vicinity mile north of Platte River. and, apparently, since there are Reporter: Marvin Schwilling, notable fluctuations in the pop Burwell. ulation, it is also a roost for March 25, 1960. One bird, flying eagles migrating through the over open fields. area. Frequently a few birds Site #8:along Platte River near may be seen feeding on fish in Phelps and Dawson County line. the trees during the daytime, Reported: H. B. Guyer, Lexing or hunting in the area, but it ton. is about sundown when the February 21, 1960.