Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley
of Nebraska
Craig A. Faanes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
and
Gary R. Lingle, Platte River Whooping Crane Trust
The Platte River Valley in central Nebraska is known throughout North America for its concentrations of sandhill cranes and waterfowl during spring migration. Fully three-quarters of the world's population of lesser sandhill cranes, nearly all of the Central Flyway population of greater white-fronted goose, and over one million Canada geese spend most of the period from mid-February to early April along the Platte River. The yearly spectacle makes the Platte River a birdwatcher's paradise.
The main objective of this study was to determine the numbers and kinds of bird species nesting in the area, their populations, habitat preferences, and the geographical distribution of each species across the area. Included are information about species status (including nests, fledglings, and nesting attempts), distribution, habitat use during the breeding season, the effect of habitat alteration on species distribution and abundance.
This resource should be cited as:
Faanes, Craig A. and Gary R. Lingle. 1995. Breeding birds of the Platte River Valley of Nebraska. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.govindex.htm (Version 02SEP99).
Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Methods and Terminology
- Introduction
- Species Accounts (Includes maps)
- Hypothetical Species
- The Physical Setting
- Climate
- Geology
- Topography
- Hydrology
- Geology
- Habitats for Breeding Birds
- Grasslands
- Forests
- Aquatic Habitats
- Man-made Habitats
- Forests
- Changes in Habitat Quality
- Summary of Habitat Changes
- Summary of Impacts
- Biogeographic Distribution of Breeding Birds
- Populations of Breeding Birds
- Acknowledgments
- References
- Summary of Habitat Changes
Tables
- Table 1 -- Population densities (pairs/km2) and
diversity of breeding species among major habitat types in the Platte River
Valley.
- Table 2 -- Areal extent (in ha) of various land uses by county in the Platte River Valley.
- Table 3 -- Changes in area (in ha) of channel and vegetation between 1938 and 1982 at 3 locations of the Big Bend reach of the Platte River compared with 1860. Data from Currier et al. (1985)
- Table 4 -- Effects of wooded vegetation encroachment on abundance and distribution of various species ofbirds breeding in the Platte River Valley.
- Table 5 -- Zoogeographic distribution of breeding birds in the Platte River Valley. Data adapted from Johnsgard (1979).
- Table 6 -- Differences in relative abundances among selected breeding birds in the Platte River Valley recorded on Breeding Bird Survey routes. Refer to Figure 4 for route locations.
- Table 7 -- Mean breeding populations of major bird families or subfamily, 1979-80.
- Table 8 -- Population estimates among the most numerous breeding bird species in the Platte River valley.
- Table 2 -- Areal extent (in ha) of various land uses by county in the Platte River Valley.
Note: The authors may be contacted at the following addresses:
Craig Faanes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arlington, Virginia 703-358-2161 x 5492 Craig_Faanes@mail.fws.gov Mr. Gary R. Lingle Univ of Nebr Cooperative Extension Buffalo County 1400 E 34 St, Kearney, NE 68847-3998 Phone: (308)236-1235 FAX: 234-6319 Email: glingle@unlvm.unl.edu
platte.zip (1.1M) -- Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley of NebraskaInstallation: Extract all files and open index.htm in a web browser.