Great Backyard Bird Count

Friday - Monday, 2/14/25 - 2/17/25

The Great Backyard Bird Count is one of the National Audubon Society’s partnerships with the Cornell (University) Lab of Ornithology to assess bird populations and distributions. This international effort seeks to estimate populations when breeding and migration activities are low and population levels are most unchanging. By harnessing a huge number of citizen volunteers, population data from many areas can be gathered simultaneously by these citizen scientists, yielding a snapshot of bird population trends.

Participation in this citizen science is one of our Chapter’s top priorities, so it was not surprising that 15 teams, consisting of 27 or more volunteers submitted 62 checklists of bird observations over the four days of the GBBC. Most submitted multiple lists over multiple days. One additional team, Dotty & Bill Zales, vacationing in Gulf Shores, AL, submitted a checklist of very different birds! All these observations are submitted to the Cornell Lab’s huge database by entering eBird checklists.

Siouxland Findings: 54 species and 3 additional taxa; highlights were Golden Eagle (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (4), Short-eared Owl (7), Northern Shrike (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), Purple Finch (1), Lapland Longspur (many), White-crowned (2), Harris (8), White-throated (3) and Song (8) Sparrows, Spotted Towhee (1) and Brown-headed Cowbird (2). For a complete list of birds and numbers found, see below or go to: https://ebird.org/tripreport/332166. One notable non-bird finding was a River Otter along the Big Sioux River.

Alabama Findings: 32 species; highlights were Laughing Gull, Brown Pelican, Sandhill Crane, Black Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, Pine Warbler.

Volunteers: Leesa McNeil & Jon Nylen, Jan Null & Jerry Von Ehwegen, Kayla Sheehan & Robert Sophere, Steve & Laurie Zarych, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Maria & Rex Rundquist, Sharon & John Polifka, Dotty & Bill Zales, Kari Sandage, Pam & Kathy Pfautsch, Randy & Vickie Williams, Jerry Mennenga, Tucker Lutter, Gracie Wagonner, Jerry Probst, Rob Towler, Ed Brogie and Bill Huser.

Bill Huser, GBBC compiler

Friday, 14 February 2025

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

Nine intrepid birders braved cool temperatures and a brisk breeze to wander the trails around the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center with Kari S. and Randy W. Ten species typical of the area and season were found around the trails. Pam P. kept vigil at the DPNC feeders from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and produced a list of 11 species.

Backyard Birding

Some images for the Great Backyard Bird Count from a Sioux City back yard.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Owego Wetlands Complex

After the GBBC hike at the DPNC in the morning, Kevin and I decided to search for the Short-eared Owls (two images on right, below) towards evening at the Owego area. On the way there, we saw a group of Horned Larks (image on left, below) and several groups of meadowlarks.

Saw several Ring-necked Pheasants (second from left, below), Northern Harriers, American Tree Sparrows, and a Rough-legged Hawk (center image, below). It didn’t seem like we were going to see the owls this evening, but as we were leaving the area, we saw two that were hunting. A rare treat every time!

Marla & Kevin K., Sioux City, IA

saturDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2025

Owego Wetlands Complex

Some photos from Owego Wetland on Saturday. Most of the pics are of a Rough-legged Hawk (two left images and two right images, below). The one image of a bullet flying through the air had a yellow belly and a pointy beak of a slightly soft image I got which I am guessing is a meadowlark (center left, below). I saw a few of these, but they were moving about and not stationary. Along with some smaller birds nestled along the roadway that were dark and with light colored bellies.

Also, I am certain there were some sparrows but I couldn't get close enough for pics. Then I found a number of exposed "winter rentals" that were unoccupied (center right, below). Imagine that. Plenty of skiing opportunity.

I did see a couple smaller, dark and narrow shaped hawks flying about. One hung with a rough-legged for a bit then took off on its own.

Driving out to Owego on K-45 between Sergeant Bluff and the D-51 turn off was a bald eagle perched on one of the high line poles, its feathers ruffled out as it was scanning the surrounding area.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Sioux City

On Saturday, several species arrived at the feeders. A Cooper’s Hawk spoiled their fun for a bit, but left empty handed on this visit.

We bundled up and took a chilly hike in Stone State Park. Saw the usual suspects, with the highlight being a Brown Creeper. Kevin then headed down to the Big Sioux River, and saw Common Goldeneye and lots and lots of Canada Goose.

A few pics from my backyard Saturday. I didn't see any "exotic" birds any of the days I was out and looking.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

I decided to try several places around Sioux City due to the weather and road conditions for the day. I knew others would cover the interior of Stone Park so I started my day at the west entrance and walked across Highway 12 for some observations along the Big Sioux. This was my best site of the day with Common Goldeneye, adult and immature Bald Eagles and other birds typical of the location and time of year. The highlight was not a bird: a River Otter along the South Dakota side of the Big Sioux. This made my day.

I then moved to Adams Homestead and discovered Jody M. shoveling snow from the sidewalk of the visitor center. I spent a little time at the newly-filled feeders then walked the Donkey Run Trail around the Homestead area. The best bird sightings were around the feeders.

My last stop for the day was the Cone Park mountain bike trails south of Singing Hills Trail. Aside from one small pocket of birds, not a lot of activity. But the trails and snow were pristine.

Randy W., Sioux City, IA

sunDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2025

Rural Thurston County, NE along the Missouri River

Top Row: American Tree Sparrow, Bald Eagle, White-breasted Nuthatch
Bottom Row, left: Mourning Dove

Owego Wetland Complex

Bottom Row, center and right: Lapland Longspurs, Meadowlark species.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

*Eastern Bluebird image copyright 2025 by Kevin Kerr, used with permission.*

Stone Park

Eastern Bluebirds were a highlight on Sunday and Monday. Kevin and I took another brief walk in Stone Park from the Hwy 12 entrance. As we were leaving, the water in the stream was open near the entrance to the park. A small group of bluebirds were flying down to get a drink.

Marla & Kevin K., Sioux City, IA

monDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2025

This morning, we were surprised to see a group of three Eastern Bluebirds drinking from our heated bird bath, a first at our house. They returned for a drink several times, and each time we couldn’t take our eyes away from such a lovely site.

Marla & Kevin K., Sioux City, IA

Stone Park and the Big Sioux River

Even though this is the last day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, I was curious to see if the River Otter remained in the same area along the Big Sioux River. It was! Bird sightings were typical for the location and season. One immature Bald Eagle posed for me.

Randy W., Sioux City, IA