Birding in a Winter Wonderland
With my cheeks rosy-red, a sniffle in my nose and my knuckles white from stressful winter driving, it hit me to do a story about birding in the poor conditions of winter. Snow, ice and arctic winds can make it absolutely miserable for birdwatchers, but the good thing about frigid weather and snow is that these conditions can really concentrate birds into areas that are accessible and easily viewable. Take a look at these winter habitats in the bird watching region of the Chicken Dance Trail in southwest and south central Nebraska.
Roadsides
When Old Man Winter covers the landscape with snow, he also covers up the food and “grit” that birds need to survive. As the snow plow comes along and removes the snow from the road for us, it also exposes the edge of the roadside. In that narrow little grass strip, many species find seeds to eat, grit (gravel and sand that their gizzards need to crush seeds) and a drier place to sit. These are actually the best conditions to get a good look at winter birds like Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs, and often provide an opportunity to find other longspurs or even Snow Buntings. Roadsides are also popular for meadowlarks, blackbirds, starlings and our winter sparrows (American Tree Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and others). You may even find game birds, such as Ring-necked Pheasants, Northern Bobwhite (quail) or even prairie grouse along the roadside. The snowplow may also uncover other valuable treasures for scavenging raptors and crows, such as road-killed animals.
Spring seeps
There are not a lot of these around, but if you can find a “spring seep” or other warm-water area in winter, you will find lots of birds there. These pockets of warm-water won’t freeze despite single-digit temperatures and are very attractive to ducks, geese and other water birds. These are also great locations to find wintering Wilson’s Snipe or Killdeer and also good spots to find a variety of songbirds needing a drink. Any spot of open water anywhere is worth checking for birds once Old Man Winter declares it time for ice-skating and ice-fishing.
Out-of-the-wind spots
A thicket, sunflower patch, shelterbelt or small grove of trees can hold good diversity and numbers of birds when the winter winds blow, especially on a cold but sunny day. When you have a north wind and the sun lying low in the southern sky, watch closely on the south sides of these spots. If there aren’t any birds there, look for bare dirt patches – bowl shaped spots in the bare dirt – that means that birds are “dust-bathing” there. Watch for game birds, raptors, sparrows and finches in these locations as well.
And, of course, the bird feeder...
Don’t forget to fill the feeders. Sunflowers, suet and other feed offered up by thousands of people in their back yards help get a lot of our little feathered friends through the winter months. The best part is that you can watch from the warmth of your home while drinking a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate and still observe the birds in the winter wonderland outside your window.
Enjoy the holiday season everyone, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
— T.J. Walker
District Manager
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
North Platte
About the Chicken Dance Trail
The Chicken Dance Trail is actually a collection of great bird watching locations in southwest and south central Nebraska, between the Platte and Republican Rivers. Because the area includes the narrowest section of the hourglass-shaped Central Flyway, the Chicken Dance Trail is uniquely situated for birders. Millions of different birds come through here during spring and fall migrations, making the Chicken Dance Trail one of the best places in the country to see a wide variety of species in a relatively small area.
Our bird watching sites were developed by local naturalists and birding experts and are collected into a series of bird watching “adventures” which are described in detail, along with interactive maps, on our Web site at www.chickendancetrail.com. Other resources include a birding chart, useful birding links, and guides to restaurants, lodging and activities in the area.
Our wildlife and bird watching sites were developed by local naturalists and are collected into a series of “adventures” which are described in detail, along with interactive maps, on our Web site at www.chickendancetrail.com. Other resources include a birding chart, useful links, and guides to restaurants, lodging and activities in the area.
Come and visit and learn why we say, “Birds love this part of Nebraska...and you will too!”
Special Thanks to:
Nebraska Game and Parks, Birds of Nebraska
www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/guides/birds/findbirds.asp