Bird Species Sightings.

This table is a list of the 94 species recorded at the survey sites. Species are listed in taxonomic sequence. An xx indicates an occurrence.

Nearly all of the species noted would be breeding season residents. The ubiquitious species of the survey were: American Goldfinch (20 of 20 surveys), House Wren (19), Mourning Dove (19), Northern Flicker (18), American Robin (17), Eastern Kingbird (17), Indigo Bunting (17), Common Yellowthroat (16), Barn Swallow (15), American Crow (15), Gray Catbird (15), Blue Jay (15), Black-capped Chickadee (14), Northern Cardinal (14), European Starling (13), White-breasted Nuthatch (11), Dickcissel (11), Wild Turkey (11), Baltimore Oriole (11), Eastern Wood-pewee (11), Red-winged Blackbird (11), Downy Woodpecker (11), Wood Duck (10) and Yellow-billed Cuckoo (10).

These are some notes on breeding activity:

• Blue Jay adult feeding young at Hummel Park
• Eastern Bluebird fledglings at Gifford Point
• Eastern Wood-Pewee adult feeding young at the Krimlofski Tract
• House Wren adult carrying food at Hummel Park
• Mallard ducklings at Carter Lake
• Mourning Dove nestlings at De Soto Flats
• Red-winged Blackbird female feeding fledged young at Nathans Lake
• Scarlet Tanager with juvenile at north Hummel Park
• Wood Duck ducklings at the Great Marsh

The Forster's Terns would certainly be transient's. Swallows were also in groups for the seasonal migration.

Species noted that certainly would not have been present two centuries ago are the pesty House Sparrow, European Starling and Rock Dove, for example.

Birds that utlize the riverine habitats were especially missing in the modern-era survey. There is no suitable habitat to provide the setting necessary for this seasonal component of the avifauna.

Additional species known to be present in the Omaha area during the survey but not noted include the Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech-owl, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Ovenbird and Summer Tanager (breeding at south Hummel Park).

Records Analysis

There were more than 600 records of bird sightings during the surveys. Nathans lake had the most observations - representing 50 species - while Boyer Chute NRW had fewer records but 53 species.

Lewis and Clark Expedition Birdlist.

These species were noted in expedition narratives for what is now the Nebraska region in the summer of 1804 and autumn of 1806.

The Great Egret is a signature species for the expedition visit. During the stay at the Council Bluff a specimen was taken and vividly described in the expedition journal. This species was near the Great Marsh and at Nathans Lake during the survey period.

Summary

It is easily possible that there could have been about 100 bird species present in the region when visited by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804. Especially obvious historically would be early season migrant shore and water birds that would have used the prevalent riverine shallow-water and sandbars.

Also add in others probably present including the Bald Eagle, Osprey, maybe the Swallow-tailed Kite, Passenger Pigeon and various water birds for the species list to easily reach one hundred.

A detailed analysis of all species - using all available historic records - would be needed to develop a fact-based bird list for the Missouri River area from Camp White Catfish to The Council Bluff 200 years ago.

A special thanks to the volunteers that helped with this fine project.