Some Notes on Nebraska Birds: A List of the Species and Subspecies Found in the State, with Notes on Their Distribution, Food-Habits, etc.

Authors

Lawrence Bruner, University of Nebraska

Date of this Version

1896

Citation

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1896

Comments

Reprint from the Report of the Nebraska State Horticultural Society for the Year 1896.

132 pages; 51 figures.

Abstract

For upwards of twenty-five years the writer has taken an interest in our birds and made notes relative to their abundance, migrations, nesting, food-habits, etc., simply for personal gratification.

About two years ago, during a conversation in which the relation of birds to horticulture incidentally arose, Professor F. W. Taylor suggested the advisability of devoting a portion of a succeeding annual report to our Nebraska birds. With this object in view both the professor and the writer broached the matter to other members of the Society. Several at once not only became interested in the matter, but suggested its early accomplishment. Our late lamented Secretary, D. U. Reed, was especially in favor of the scheme. Accordingly it was decided that my usual report as entomologist should be omitted from the present volume and its place given to one on birds.

It is on these grounds that I now present for publication some " Notes on Nebraska Birds," and it is to be hoped that they will in a measure, at least, have the desired effect, viz., the protection of our birds, which means the destruction of insect pests in proprotion as the protection reaches out. Just so soon as it was decided that this subject be treated in the present report efforts were at once made to secure all such additional material and information as would tend towards making our knowledge as complete as possible. Correspondence with various persons interested resulted in the bringing together of notes taken by about forty separate workers located in different parts of the state.

By referring to the catalogue on the succeeding pages it will be seen that there are 415 distinct species and subspecies listed. Of these, future more critical examination may eliminate six or seven forms. Perhaps it will also be found that at least twenty-five are only accidental visitors. To counteract these possible eliminations there will undoubtedly be several additions made when we shall be better acquainted with our bird fauna.

These notes, besides definitely extending the recorded ranges of many of our North American birds, will show that at least 227 breed within the state and that more than 100 remain within our borders during ordinary winters.