Nebraska Ornithologists' Union

 

NOTES- Nebraska Bird Review September 1983

Copyright 1983, Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. Used by permission.

Abstract

LATE WOOD DUCK BROODS. I don't know if weather affected the nesting of some Wood Ducks or not, but 8 August (1982) seems a little late for baby woodies. At the Iowa Settling Pond, there were two hens with new families; one hen had two ducklings that were about 5 to 6 days old, and another hen had a brood that was only a few hours out of the nest. The Wood Duck raises but one brood in a season in any part of its wide range, according to Bent, and has always been considered and early nester. I searched several waterfowl books for late nesting records and could find nothing later than the end of July - no mention of August records at all. It takes 60 days for young Wood Ducks to be able to fly, so October will catch these birds unprepared to migrate as early as they should.

-Ruth C. Green, 506 W. 31st Avenue, Bellevue, Nebraska 68005

CATTLE EGRETS. On 20 September 19d2 I saw 7 Cattle Egrets and on 5 October 3, both times on Highway 34, about 1.4 miles east of spur 93 to 1-80.

-Harvey L. Gunderson, 1200 Superior, Lincoln, Nebraska 68521

PEREGRINE FALCON HARASSING GREAT HORNED OWL. The Peregrine Falcon is a rare fall migrant at Mormon Island Crane Meadows (Lingle and Hay, NBR 50:31). At 8:45 A.M. on 12 October 1982 I was driving along the Platte River on Mormon Island Crane Meadows when I heard a series of gull-like calls which I did not recognize. As I approached an open view of the river I saw a Peregrine Falcon scolding and dive-bombing an object on a herbaceous island. I was within 60 m of the Falcon, and its black helmet and large size clearly identified it as a Peregrine. After seeing me, the Falcon flew downriver. As I got out of the vehicle a Great Horned Owl flew from the island area which the Peregrine was harassing. Mobbing behavior of many species of birds on Great Horned Owls is well known, but records of migrant Peregrine Falcons harassing Great Horned Owls are few, although Great Horned Owls are the major predators of Peregrine Falcon eyasses at reintroduction sites.

-Gary Lingle, Platte River Trust, 2550 N. Diers Ave., Suite H, Grand Island, Nebraska 68801