44 Nebraskaland • June 2019
LEFT and MIDDLE LEFT: Three of the four wrens on the
list have passed in front of the camera, including the
rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) high on the buttes at
Fort Robinson State Park and a rare sighting of a winter
wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) along Little Bordeaux Creek.
BOTTOM LEFT: This lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
visited my yard in 2018. The species was first observed
in Nebraska in 1984 and has been expanding its range
from the West. So far, my observations in Chadron are
the farthest east documented in the Pine Ridge.
MIDDLE RIGHT: The colorful feathers of the mountain
bluebird (Sialia currucoides) are well suited for
photography. Western Nebraskans are fortunate to see
both this species and the eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis).
BOTTOM RIGHT: Although you are more likely to see
gray partridge (Perdix perdix) in northeastern Nebraska,
there are a few in the Panhandle. This is the only one
I've noticed in the wild.
