MARCH 2017 • NEBRASKAland 49
breeding in Nebraska in 2015 (Clay
County). It is not entirely clear why
these two species are now increasing so
dramatically.
A handful of other increasing species
are not included in the BBS analysis
because they are not numerous enough
to be detected in sufficient numbers.
The bald eagle is an example. Prior
to 1990, Nebraska hosted no nesting
pairs; in 2016, 159 active bald eagle
nests were counted. Trumpeter
swans are slowly increasing in the
Sandhills. Pileated woodpeckers have
infiltrated the largest woodland tracts
in southeastern Nebraska after being
absent for most of the 20th century.
Ospreys and sandhill cranes have
recently started nesting in the state.
Species slowly moving into the state
from the south are likely capitalizing
on habitat changes directly made by
humans as well as those brought about
by a warming climate; these species
include Mississippi kite, white-winged
dove, lesser goldfinch, and blue-gray
gnatcatcher.
Declining Species
Generally, grassland birds, and
in particular those requiring large
unbroken tracts of prairie, show the
biggest population declines. Brewer's
sparrow, short-eared owl, loggerhead
shrike, eastern meadowlark, long-billed
curlew, grasshopper sparrow, and lark
bunting are all grassland dependent
species experiencing notable long-
term declines. Land use changes have
reduced the expansive prairies that once
dominated the state; ongoing changes
are continuing to reduce and fragment
the remaining prairie tracts. The
absence of fire has allowed eastern red
cedar and other woody plants to invade
many of the remaining grasslands,
which makes the habitat unsuitable for
TRUMPETER
SWANS
BY
ERIC
FOWLER
WHITE-FACED
IBISES
BY
JULIE
GEISER
CLIFF
SWALLOW
BY
JOEL
JORGENSEN
