Nebraska Ornithologists' Union
Date of this Version
3-2024
Document Type
Article
Citation
Nebraska Bird Review, volume 92, number 1, March 2024, pp. 2–17.
Abstract
As was the case for winter 2022–2023, the big general story was the large number of reports of tardy fall migrants and unexpectedly northerly occurrences in midwinter, an apparent residue of relatively mild early winter temperatures. These reports involved at least 50 species, many of them waterbirds and native sparrows, but including several other passerines as well. Notable were about 12 waterfowl species, five grebe species, an interesting late Dec peak in each of the last three years of Sandhill Cranes, record late Whooping Cranes, a 4th winter record of Dunlin, high numbers of Double-crested Cormorants, a wintering Rock Wren, Winter and Marsh Wrens north and west, eight sparrow species, numerous Brown-headed Cowbirds, and a Dec Northern Parula. Also likely in this category were early spring arrivals of American Woodcock and Turkey Vulture.
In a few cases likely related to a warmer fall and early winter were high numbers of various species, including record high midwinter tallies of both Trumpeter and Tundra Swans, record high numbers of Green-winged Teal, 3000 Common Goldeneyes at Gavins Point Dam in both Cedar and Knox Cos, eight Glaucous Gulls, a record tally of Rock Pigeons, 12 Red-shouldered Hawks, 30 Long-eared Owls, 197 Northern Shrikes, record midwinter tallies of European Starling, and high numbers of American Goldfinches.
Quite spectacular was a major influx of around 120 Pine Grosbeaks, the first occurrence in such numbers since winter 1969–1970; reports were mostly in the west, but one reached Lancaster Co. Also of interest was a minor influx of Bohemian Waxwings, also mostly in the northwest.
On the other hand, some lower numbers were surprising, notably of the usually abundant Snow Geese, Canada Geese, and Common Mergansers, all of which were relatively scarce. Perhaps more concerning was the lack of reports of Gray Partridge and Pinyon Jay, and of Black-billed Magpie in the northeast. Purple Finches were also present only in low numbers.
State level rarities were few, most notably Brant, with about 20 previous Nebraska records. Others were Mute Swan, some sightings of which are now agreed to be of wild birds, a Great Black-backed Gull, only the 3rd state record of the Rocky Mountains subspecies of Downy Woodpecker, a Clark’s Nutcracker, a Common Raven as far east as Keith Co, a Varied Thrush, and a Dark-eyed (Gray-headed) Junco.
Included in
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Comments
Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc.