Fall Field Report, August–November 2024

Authors

W. Ross Silcock, Nebraska Ornithologists' UnionFollow

Date of this Version

12-2024

Document Type

Article

Citation

Nebraska Bird Review, volume 92, number 4, December 2024, pp. 142–164.

Comments

Published by the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union, Inc.

Abstract

First off, I should reiterate that records are only mentioned in this Introduction and in the text when they add to or fine-tune data included in BONO (Birds of Nebraska – Online (outdoornebraska.gov). It was my expectation that as the number of birders and in particular those reporting to eBird continue to increase, gaps in the database will be filled and my job will become simpler. However, this expectation is yet to be realized, likely due to increasing movements and activity among birds that appears to be due to increasing severity of weather events, such as heat, cold, and drought, that affect habitat and especially food supply, not necessarily only in Nebraska.

Perhaps the best indicators of weather-related activity are early and late dates, and “eastern” birds west and “western” birds east. Also contributing are high counts and, possibly more importantly, low counts. Sometimes rarities reflect changes as well.

This fall, 38 species arrived early in Nebraska, and 57 departed late. There were four record or near record early arriving species, and 12 record or near record late departing species. Taxonomic patterns were minimal, and within groups like wood-warblers and sparrows both early and late dates were common. Noteworthy among early arrivers, however, were three wintering Red-tailed Hawk forms, Swainson’s Thrush, whose two record early fall dates were of calling flyovers, and three forms of Dark-eyed Junco. Among late departers, shorebirds were prominent, five species record or near record late. Least Bittern was record late, and White-faced Ibis nearly so. A record late window strike Wood Thrush may have been waiting for its headache to clear.

Reports of eastern birds westward and western birds eastward were numerous this fall, 14 of the former and seven of the latter. Notable eastern birds west were a 2nd Panhandle record Connecticut Warbler, 2nd fall Panhandle Gray-cheeked Thrush, and 4th fall Panhandle American Woodcock. Western birds east were headlined by the 2nd eastern record of Brewer’s Sparrow, 2nd of Dark-eyed (White-winged) Junco, 2nd of Townsend’s Warbler, and 5th Lark Bunting. A Rock Wren appeared in Hall Co for the 3rd year in a row.

High counts probably result from a convergence of mostly unrelated factors, such as observer presence at peak migration, a weather event, increasing species numbers, etc. A quite spectacular record count this fall was 4000 Greater Scaup at Gavins Point Dam; other record fall highs were 120 Red-breasted Merganser, 11 Western x Clark’s Grebe hybrids, 625 Blue-winged Teal, 175 Great Blue Herons, and 25 Common Terns. There were excellent tallies of Gadwall, American Wigeon, and Redhead, and an impressive 50,000 Sandhill Cranes were still present at the end of November. Interesting counts of presumed non-breeding waterfowl summering at Crescent Lake NWR were 50 American Wigeon and 20 Bufflehead. The 800 Chimney Swifts estimated over a single Lincoln city chimney apparently filled it, while another 90 seemed to be “shut-outs.”

More concerning are low counts. Western Grebes peaked at 6000 at McConaughy, where in several previous years counts have exceeded 30,000 at fall staging peak. There were no reports of Henslow’s Sparrow or Louisiana Waterthrush, and only one of Gray Partridge, all likely due to environmental effects.

Black-billed Magpie showed some positive tendencies in the southwest, and Pygmy Nuthatch staged a minor dispersal in the Panhandle. Perhaps most encouraging was the return of Pinyon Jays to a favored Morrill Co feeding station after a year-long absence from the state. This group is probably the only Pinyon Jay “family” group persisting in Nebraska. Common Ravens continued; most sightings were in two main areas in Sioux and Scotts Bluff Counties.

The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies bander at Wildcat Hills Nature Center, Camille Blose, posted some data that suggested movements of certain species are more extensive than often understood. Of 83 House Finches banded Sep–Oct, only one was a recapture, and during the peak week for Spotted Towhee banding in late September, 153 were banded with only four recaptures; a total of around 600 were banded during September. Even Black-capped Chickadees exhibited an apparent migration uptick in mid-September: of 17 banded, only four were recaptures.

Lastly, and perhaps most exciting, were the rarities. Way out in front was Nebraska’s first Couch’s Kingbird, which appeared in a North Platte yard 28 November but was not identified conclusively until mid-December (look for the Winter Seasonal Report). There were two reports of Mexican Duck to add to two previous reports that were not accepted by the NOU Records Committee; perhaps their review of the latest two reports will be positive, adding another new state species. An Arctic Tern was the state’s 7th, a Black-throated Gray Warbler the state’s 10th, and reports of two Long-tailed Jaegers were the 12th and 13th for the state. Two reports of Hudsonian Godwit were the 7th and 8th for fall in Nebraska.

Finally, thanks to the estimated 200 people who contributed to eBird, Facebook, and/or NEBirds, and to the Nebraska eBird reviewing team, whose decisions in large part determine what is included in these Seasonal Reports.