High Species Count at Annual Sarpy County Spring Bird Count

On May 14, 2011, participants in the Annual Sarpy County Spring Bird Count tallied 174 species, besting the previous high count of 143 (in 2006 and 2010) by 31 species. There were a few more counters this year than in most previous years, but it was just a good year for many families of birds. There were 28 warbler species seen (previous high was 23 in 2008). Also found were 4 terns, 9 flycatchers, 7 woodpeckers, 12 ducks, 14 shorebirds and 3 grebes. There are often unusual species that show up on the count, as illustrated by a Eurasian Wigeon this year

An Unexpected Sandhill Crane Experience

On April 24, 2012, I spent some time birding in Saunders County at Memphis SRA, Lake Wanahoo, and various other lakes in the Malmo, Nebraska, area. . . . I headed over to Redtail WMA in Butler County. While watching . . . activity, I was facing north on a north-facing hillside. I briefly stopped to turn around and look behind me to the south, and I saw a large bird . . . and realized it was a Sandhill Crane. It came in on quite a high flight, and I quickly put my spotting scope on it. I realized it was not a migrant when it began to circle over the lake and tilt its wings to let air out from underneath so it could reduce its height. It continued to drop until it landed on the north side of the lake; I was on the south side. While it was coming down I could see it had something in its beak, but I couldn\u27t determine what it was. It looked a little like a frog, but I never did get a good enough look to determine exactly what it was. After it landed I watched it through my scope from approximately 250–300 yards away. The crane slowly began to walk to the west along the water\u27s edge next to cattails. It was very slow in its movement and stopped numerous times. . . . The crane continued to walk to the west for approximately 60–70 yards, stopping frequently en route. Never once did it vocalize. The crane was very brown looking; I suspect this was because it had applied rust-colored mud to its feathers for camouflage. Throughout all of this time it held its prey in its beak. Occasionally it even preened feathers on its back with the morsel in its mouth. Finally, it stood still for at least 5 minutes in one place and then turned and disappeared into the cattails. . . . My total observation of the crane was approximately 45 minutes from when I first saw it approach to when it finally disappeared into the vegetation. . . . [S]eeing this bird in late April in southeastern Butler County only 45 miles from the Omaha metro area was unexpected and exciting, especially since its behavior indicated possible nesting. . . . I returned to the lake several times after this sighting until the middle of May, but I never saw or heard a Sandhill Crane in that area again

Horizontal and Vertical Coordination in River Basin Management: German Experiences and New Challenges [abstract]

2 pages

Horizontal and Vertical Coordination in River Basin Management: German Experiences and New Challenges [abstract]

2 pages

High Species Count at Annual Sarpy County Spring Bird Count

On May 14, 2011, participants in the Annual Sarpy County Spring Bird Count tallied 174 species, besting the previous high count of 143 (in 2006 and 2010) by 31 species. There were a few more counters this year than in most previous years, but it was just a good year for many families of birds. There were 28 warbler species seen (previous high was 23 in 2008). Also found were 4 terns, 9 flycatchers, 7 woodpeckers, 12 ducks, 14 shorebirds and 3 grebes. There are often unusual species that show up on the count, as illustrated by a Eurasian Wigeon this year

Eucalyptus calidissima (Myrtaceae), a new ironbark species from the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia

Eucalyptus calidissima (Myrtaceae), a new and highly restricted ironbark species from the Hunter Valley of New South Wales is described and illustrated. The new species had previously been included in E. nubilis Maiden & Blakely (syn. Eucalyptus nubila L.A.S.Johnson, orth. var.), but differs in the ribbed hypanthia, hemispherical to bluntly-conical calyptra which are shorter than the hypanthia, and the slightly larger, globular to obconical ribbed fruit. At present, E. calidissima is known only from a single population occurring across c. 200 ha and is considered rare, but it is not under immediate threat. Amendments to relevant sections of the New South Wales and Australian identification keys are provided