Nebraskaland

50 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2017 prairie specialists. Particularly worrying is the fact that Nebraska represents the core breeding range for many grassland species experiencing population declines. Even though dickcissels, western meadowlarks and lark buntings remain common in Nebraska, their overall numbers are shrinking. Other prairie species with relatively small breeding ranges are known to be undergoing substantial declines. Two small sparrow-like species, McCown's and chestnut-collared longspurs, have declined by more than 80 percent across their ranges, which include small portions of western Nebraska, over the last 40 years. Similar to grassland species, wetland species are also suffering notable declines. Among this group are black terns, northern pintails, marsh wrens, eared grebes, American avocets, and even the common American coot ("mudhen"). Wetlands in certain regions of the state, such as the Sandhills, remain relatively intact and provide excellent nesting habitat, but the quantity and quality of wetlands in other regions in Nebraska, such as the Rainwater Basin, and outside of the state, such as the Prairie Pothole region of the Dakotas, have been reduced by factors associated with surrounding land use. As wetland quantity and quality decline, so do the populations of many of the birds who rely on these important habitats. Habitat loss is usually the most important cause of bird species decline, but it is not the only one. In the early 2000s, a novel disease was big news as it first arrived in the United States and spread across the continent. West Nile virus was potentially lethal to humans and affected many birds; some species were especially susceptible to West Nile virus. Raptors, black-capped chickadees, and especially corvids (jays, crows, and magpies) were hit the hardest by West Nile virus. Very likely, West Nile virus hurt black-billed magpie populations in the state more than any other species. While black- capped chickadee populations and others seem to be recovering from West Nile virus, magpies continue to decline. It is possible that magpies, which once were found over all but far eastern Nebraska, could disappear from the state in the not-too-distant future. Interestingly, two introduced species that once increased rapidly and quickly became abundant statewide are among the declining species. Ring-necked pheasants have declined in numbers along with native grassland birds. House sparrows, which compete with native songbirds and are considered a pest species, have experienced big population declines in Nebraska and across their range in recent years. House sparrows build their nests on human structures, and the fact that there are fewer farms and farm buildings across the state may be one explanation for their decline. However, there is compelling evidence showing house finches, a species mentioned in the previous section, may be out- competing house sparrows and causing their decline. The notion of halting and reversing declines of some species seems daunting; particularly for those grassland and wetland species where SANDHILL CRANES BY ERIC FOWLER SHORT-EARED OWL BY BOB GRIER

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