The Region
Featured Bird
Burrowing Owl:
True to its name, the Burrowing Owl often nests in a hold in the ground provided by prairie dogs, coyotes or badgers. It is most active in the morning and evening, hunting for insects during the day and mammals at night. Look for it especially in the Sandsage Prairie and Loess Canyons of the Chicken Dance Trail.
Recent sightings and notes of interest
Check here frequently to see what birds are being seen along the Chicken Dance Trail. Click here to add your own sightings.
Next Last
Posted By: Tim Smith
Here is a rare visitor to this part of the world. An Inca dove! These little doves are very rarely seen this far north and to the best of my knowledge this may be the first documented summer sighting of an Inca in Chicken Dance country.
Sorry about the quality of the photo (I took it through the kitchen window), but at the time I felt that it was more important to document the sighting than to get a great photo. My concerns were proven correct as when I tried to get a really good picture, the little dove took flight.
How about it, anybody else out there have a rare or unique sighting to relate? Let's hear it.
Later, Tim
Date Posted: 6/8/2009
Posted By: diane
Hi there, just had to send something today. I have 3 lazuli male buntings at my feeder this afternoon, quite a nice suprise for me. Yesterday while going out the end road(that's what we always called our driveway when I grew up on the farm). I had to stop and get out to see baby killdeer. What a sight to see. They looked like their parents but just in minature form. They looked so funny with their long legs and a little puff of a body. They clumsily ran into the grass---sure made me laugh. We need some rain up this way had to start watering some of the vegetable garden and farmers got the pivots running too--way to early for this.
Date Posted: 5/17/2009
Posted By: diane
HAPPY MAY DAY!! My sightings have been somewhat of a surprise. I have numerous rufous-sided towhee's this spring and seen numerous white crowned sparrows. The male harris sparrows are really gettings their colors on. The wrens are back along with the brown thrasher--haven't really seen them but I can hear them. Do you think spring is finally here????
Date Posted: 5/1/2009
Posted By: christensen
fly casting in my back yard at 11pm with an audience
Date Posted: 4/15/2009
Posted By: diane
Kim, that photo is a American Kestrel. Wish old man winter would go to bed and let spring come!!! Really nothing new here. Some turkeys went strolling by the marsh this afternoon. Had some visits from ducks and geese there too. There is a pair of bald eagles nesting in a tree down the pasture some and they will swoop the marsh once in a while looking for a duck or two. Few weeks ago one of them must have gotten a snow goose anyway the carcass was white and he would come back and eat on it for awhile till it was gone. Been having a few skunks visiting the feeders at night. One night I had a coon up in the feeder and a skunk and possum down below. Hope things warm up so they will spread out. Got my tomatoes and peppers started and some flowers so I am ready for spring.
HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!! diane from southern Boone county.
Date Posted: 4/10/2009
Posted By: Kim Woods
Testing the photo upload feature here after reports of problems. And if any of you knowledgeable birders can tell me what this is, that would be great...!
Date Posted: 4/9/2009
Posted By: T. J. Walker - District Manager, Wildlife Division - Partners
Tom, Betty and Nancy forwarded this to me for an answer.
Eastern Bluebirds are fairly common in Nebraska during winter, typically in areas with cedar trees (they feed on their berries in winter). While they may not be incredibly common in your area, they could be expected to be found along the Dismal or Loup River systems and are commonly found in winter in Custer and Lincoln Counties in the canyon landscapes with lots of cedars, as well as along the North Platte, South Platte and Platte Rivers.
Keep your eyes open and you may even find Mountain Bluebirds (all sky blue) and Townsend's Solitaires (like a slightly smaller all gray robin) in the same area.
Thanks
Date Posted: 2/9/2009
Posted By: Name: Tom Witt
Hi Ladies, How common is it to see Eastern Bluebirds in the Sandhills this time of year? I think I saw 5 males this am. Tom
Date Posted: 2/9/2009
Posted By: Don Brockmeier
Eagles are getting more active as the ice go out and ducks and geese miagrate.
Date Posted: 2/8/2009
Posted By: Don Brockmeier
Reason to get up early
Date Posted: 2/8/2009