114th CBC North Dakota/South Dakota/Nebraska/Kansas/Oklahoma Regional Summary

By Sebastian T. Patti
 

The winter of 2013/2014 was characterized by harsh conditions from North Dakota to Oklahoma; "brutal" was an adjective used by several compilers.  Temperatures were well below average and precipitation was higher than normal.  In the northern reaches of the Great Plains this, of course, meant more snow, but in the southern parts, it manifested itself as damaging ice.  The bitter temperatures did not seem to produce any major incursion of northern/montane species, and the historic invasion of Snowy Owls the year before in the central United States was a distant memory, although a few individuals were found here and there, and the Northeastern U.S. was visited by historically-large numbers of Snowies.

North Dakota birders submitted only 16 counts this year, down last year's total of 19.  Several counts were cancelled because of dangerous conditions presented by the extreme weather.  High species honors went to the Fargo-Moorhead counters who recorded 50 species, and who just edged out the Bismarck and Garrison Dam counts with 49 species each. This year, no outstanding rarities were found in the state.  Snowy Owls were recorded in the count period in North Dakota from Des Lacs N.W.R., Fargo-Moorhead, Garrison Dam, Grand Forks-East Grand Forks, Minot, Tewaukon N.W.R., and Upper Souris N.W.R.  While Grand Forks birders did find an impressive nine birds on count day, and both Des Lacs and Upper Souris found three birds each, the 20 Snowies found state wide pales by comparison to last year's winter seasonal numbers.  Bohemian Waxwings were noted at Des Lacs, Garrison Dam, J.Clark Salyer N.W.R., Lostwood, Medora, and Minot, but the only redpolls (Common) found in the entire state were tallied at Arrowwood N.W.R., and NO crossbills were reported during the count period.   Purple Finches, by contrast, were noted on seven counts, and both the Varied Thrush at Grand Forks and the Northern Saw-whet Owl found at Medora were nice treats, indeed.

South Dakotans participated in 19 counts this past winter with Yankton birders recording 78 species on count day and Pierre birders recording 71 for first and second place respectively for top species honors.  The only Snowy Owls this CBC count period were reported from Sand Lake N.W.R. and Waubay N.W.R.; each count reported single birds.  Northern Saw-whet Owls (4 birds), however, treated participants at Canton and Shadehill.  Other interesting finds across the state included a nice selection of waterfowl at Pierre, Shadehill, and Yankton, while California and Iceland gulls were tallied at Pierre and a CW Thayer's was noted from Yankton.  Bohemian Waxwings were sighted on count day at Piedmont, Pine Ridge, Rapid City, Shadehill, Spearfish, and Sturgis, but Common Redpolls were only seen on two counts (Aberdeen and Spearfish) and Red Crossbills were reported from three: Piedmont, Pine Ridge and Sturgis.  Neither Hoary Redpoll nor White-winged Crossbill was recorded this past CBC season from the state.  As with North Dakota, Purple Finches were a little more widely reported with sightings from eight counts.  Piedmont, Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sturgis counters reported their usual western/montane specialty species, but the Brown Thrasher at Yankton was a CW-only bird.

Twelve counts were submitted this past year from Nebraska, with Lake McConaughy taking top honors with 101 species recorded on count day.  Omaha counters took the silver place honors with 70 species.  The ONLY Snowy Owl to have been reported state wide was a CW bird from Lake McConaughy.  Lake McConaughy also had its usual nice selection of waterfowl, including five grebe species (Horned Grebe CW only) as well as seven gull species (Mew Gull CW only); the count also had a CW Say's Phoebe.   Speaking of large white birds, swans were found across the state as follows:  Trumpeters from Calamus-Loup (60 birds), Lake McConaughy (53 birds), Omaha, and North Platte, with North Platte also reporting the season's only Tundra.  Crawford counters reported both Pinyon Jay and Pygmy Nuthatch while Scottsbluff birders were treated to their western/montane specialties, as well:  Barrow's Goldeneye, Steller's Jay (CW), Pygmy Nuthatch, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, and Cassin's Finch as well as the state's only Red Crossbills.   Purple Finches were reported from four counts on count day, but Common Redpolls were largely absent in Nebraska this past season, having been reported only from the Lincoln and Ponca State Park counts. 

Kansans submitted 26 counts this past season.  Udall-Winfield participants recorded 102 species on count day, with Manhattan birders tallying 101 species.  A state-wide survey of some of the more interesting finds includes: Arkansas City with Yellow-headed Blackbird (NC); Baldwin with Trumpeter Swan and Lesser Goldfinch (GD); Cheyenne Bottoms with Barrow's Goldeneye (CW) and Snowy Owl (CW); Cimarron N.G. with both Chihuahuan and Common ravens; Emporia with Trumpeter Swan and Smith's Longspur; Linn County with five Sedge Wrens; Manhattan with Trumpeter Swan; Olathe with Trumpeter Swan (CW); Oskaloosa-Perry Lake with Trumpeter Swan (CW); Parsons with Mute (EX), Trumpeter, and Tundra (CW) Swans; Quivira N.W.R. with Black-crowned Night-Heron (PH) and Sedge Wren; and Red Hills with 2018 Mountain Bluebirds.  Additionally, Topeka with Peregrine Falcon; Wakefield with Pacific Loon (CW) and Snowy Owl (CW); Webster Reservoir with Trumpeter Swan; Wichita with White-winged Dove and Pine Warbler; and finally Wilson Reservoir with Pacific Loon, all three scoters, and Snowy Owl.

Birders completed and submitted 18 counts from Oklahoma this past season, with seven counts breaking the century mark, and with a new count submitted from Chickasaw N.R.A.  Among these, Tishomingo N.W.R. recorded the most species with 116 noted on count day, while Oklahoma City tallied 113. Here's a selection of some of the better birds found this past season from around the state: Broken Bow Reservoir had Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (CW); Kenton had Western Screech-Owl and Steller's Jay; Norman reported Little Gull and White-winged Dove (HC); Oklahoma City had Red-throated Loon (CW), Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night-Heron, Solitary Sandpiper (CW) and an impressive six gull species on count day as well as CW California.  Elsewhere, Saltplains N.W.R.  had the state's only Long-tailed Duck, as well as Black-crowned Night-Heron and over 10,000 Sandhill Cranes; Tishomingo N.W.R. recorded American Woodcock and Yellow-headed Blackbird (NC); Tulsa had Dunlin and Little Gull; Washita N.W.R.  reported a single Sprague's Pipit; and Wichita Mountains a Mute Swan (EX). 

As a final matter, let me make note of the efforts of all the count compilers, and to each extend my appreciation.  The CBC data base is a huge resource for researchers, but this is largely because of the editorial efforts of the count compilers to ensure the quality of the data submitted to National Audubon in the first instance.  As an editor in Chicago, I am not in the best position to review, question or approve of sightings from Bismarck, Rapid City, Omaha, Wichita or Norman; rather it's the compiler of each of those counts.  I am always impressed at the level of effort by each compiler to ensure the highest quality and completeness of the data and information submitted!  Thanks.