29 March 2012

Newspaper Article on Parks and Stormwater Project

The local newspaper featured on its front page on March 29th, an article on the CSO! project and its influence on the parks of eastern Omaha.

Reporter Nancy Gaarder was the author of "Sewer project targets Omaha parks" which included a picture of work at Elmwood Park.

A personal quote was included:

"In each of these instances, they're looking at parks as city property that they can do whatever they want with," Ducey said. "They're not looking at it like a park, but rather as free space to address storm water runoff. I can't necessarily say that what they are doing is completely negative, but there needs to be more respect given to the parks and some of the features they're changing."

Quite telling was this quote: "'We're not doing anything that hasn't been done throughout time,' Mayor Jim Suttle said."

This is a ridiculous comment. Just because something was done one way at some point in time, that does not mean it should be done now in the same manner. This is 2012, not 1912 and since there are not going to be any new parks in eastern Omaha, the parks need to be actively managed to conserve their resources.

This comment shows an obvious indication of why the park spaces are being targeted by city officials.

26 March 2012

Parkland Erosion Caused by Stormwater Project

On March 9th, while visiting in Elmwood Park, a severe condition of erosion was noticed near the bridge over Wood Creek. The slope southward of the "mosquito box" had erosion of several inches of soil in some places. Pictures were taken and sent to the City of Omaha Public Works Department that is responsible for the CSO! Project.

A meeting was held on site to discussion the situation on the 19th. The city representatives and the construction company foreman agreed that there was a problem. It was the result of water runoff from the street extending up the hill to the east.

Without any curb, the runoff was leaving the pavement and eroding the hill.

On the 19th, waddles were put in place to divert the runoff and to direct it westward.

Common sense would have meant that the project plans would have included a curb and a stormwater drain. They weren't included — due to inadequate consideration and lack of design attention to the matter — so now this problem occurred and will continue, especially during any heavy rain events. Diverting the runoff westward, as has been done, will only cause move the problem to another place, and cause erosion there.

There needs to be a curb installed and something put in place to properly handle any runoff.

Note the sediment that has accumulated at the stormwater construct (i.e., "mosquito box, because of permanent accumulation of standing water). Sediment barriers have been put in place to prevent any material from reaching Wood Creek. Any continuance of sediment runoff will increase the amount present. Any large rainfall event with any large amount of associated runoff would likely overwhelm the barriers.

The green shoots of vegetation now sprouting are a cover crop to stabilize the hillside until the permanent vegetation of warm season grasses get established. The species used included deep-rooted big bluestem and Indian grass.

22 March 2012

Final Fontenelle Park Plan Misrepresents Public Input

The final design plan presented for Fontenelle Park misrepresents the expressive input provided by people advocating for change at three public meetings.

A primary feature included that was strongly suggested by one person, and that was at a non-public meeting hosted by the Parks Department, was a disc-golf course. This is being included because of decisions not representing public comment. Providing this precludes other items which had a much greater public interest.

The lagoon is being increased in depth and size, as was a stricture given at the start of the public meeting process. Nothing was said about removing the island, which is not shown in the lagoon.

Improving fishing is an intent, which will be accomplished in accordance with requirements to getting funds from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The concept plan indicates the placement of seven fishing points, because — as heard before, again and again — people do not like fishing from the bank. There will probably also be riprap placed along the bank, which is another common feature of so-called habitat improvement.

What sort of quality fishing experience can be provided by a relatively small lagoon in an urban setting where street runoff will be the primary source of water? It will likely be a place where a few unlucky fish will get dumped in early in the season, and it will be a great media event to snag a fish which if not caught very soon, would otherwise end up dead. Maybe they will put in a trash fish such as carp, but spin it as being a fine fishing experience.

The fishing points will ensure that any resident or transient waterfowl will be subject to regular and consistent bother. Good-bye Wood Ducks and Canada geese...

The constucts will also provide a spot where trash can be thrown into the lagoon waters. There should be no more than four fishing points.

There has been nothing said about the quality of the water within the lagoon. But there is a defined focus on water-based canoeing or kayaking. Consider what the water would taste like if an inadvertent capsizing occurred soon after a rainfall event, where the stuff on the streets is all washed into the park ponds to the south, with the dirty water into the lagoon. Ewww!!

To ensure complete disturbance, a walking path is shown that will follow the entire lagoon boundary, making sure that one walker with intent will disturb any and all fowl on the waters.

Removal of the island will remove the last safe haven for birds which here-to-fore have appreciated the place.

Riprap or "bank improvement" will remove the small bit of cattails where Red-winged Blackbirds find a seasonal haven.

The entire design for the lagoon does not give any recognition to the current bird resources associated with the park space. Instead, the lake is being industrialized to suit a politicians "pet" project, where the City of Omaha or other government entities will pay to provide useful pastimes for a private group.

The abhorrent situation regarding the Logan Fontenelle memorial has been previously discussed.

There are no details available on what the "naturalistic plantings" would be, as shown for east of Fontenelle Boulevard. This is within the area where commentators at the public meeting wanted plantings of showy wild flowers, and where there was supposed to already be an urban prairie-scape created. These items though specifically requested were mostly ignored by the concept plan.

There was no request for a parking lot at the southwest corner, though it is better to place it here, rather than where proposed on an eastern hilltop, as shown in a draft concept plan.

There was no request for an access drive northwest of the lagoon. The plan shows a partial access drive, with an intent to create a drive that will cut off the corner of the park. A 20-car parking lot along the west edge of the park would suffice.

Creating a road through a park is ridiculous. It creates an obvious safety hazard, as cruisers will have to drive through and make their mark. There will be an increase in noise and trash. It will also add an unnecessary maintenance burden.

Elmwood Park had such a drive removed and it vastly improved the setting of this urban green-space.

The trail system with neighborhood connections is basically ridiculous. There are so many curves in the path, that a walker or bicycle rider could get dizzy and fall over. It seems that the design represents someone playing on a computer with a particular intent to provide the longest route to get the shortest distance. Each linear foot of pathway costs money, so the overall expense is greatly increased.

Having riden a bicycle to and through the park, the only actual trail connection is eastward, and it is an uncared for path almost too rough to ride comfortably. There is nothing going south but a street or uneven sidewalk.

There are no real elevational challenges that would require the numerous switchbacks as especially indicated in the northwest corner of the park. There is nothing wrong with the current walkway in this area.

There does not have to be an established trail bisecting the proposed stream way. Requiring two bridges increases the plan expense and maintenance requirements. One cross-bridge would suffice. Anywhere there is some sort of oasis, there is a trailway.

How are these routes going to be kept clear of snow in the Omaha winter. Perhaps the city will just say that it is not possible to keep them clear, as they have expressed in association with Memorial Park.

Most of the items that people wanted to see are not shown by the concept plan released March 14th.

Those that are included are a lowland area with bioretention ponds and an open stream. Rather than incorporate woody vegetation such as willows or cottonwoods, the indicated intent is to have a prairie setting.

The concept plan indicates there would be a restored prairie. It would be impossible to "restore" a prairie as it could not be reestablished from golf course turf. It is readily possible to create a new prairie-like setting.

An interest in more trees is shown by an expansion of "forest areas along the park perimeter." There may be more trees planted, but there certainly will not be any sort of a forest, which is a large area of tree growth, not a bunch of trees in a single row as shown.

This plan was given to the public at a "closed" presentation at the park. On Monday, when an official of the Omaha mayor's office was asked about whether there would be a public presentation, the reply was that there would most likely be just a news release. There was no followup to this request, which included an inquiry a week earlier.

The politicians and bureaucrats obviously did not want any diversion to their controlled message. They were intentionally exclusive.

Mayor Jim Suttle was there to convey how he was working to improve the city. Omaha city council member was there to express how he was working for the people in his district. Interim parks director Brook Bench said how the plan represents the comments derived from the public meetings, according to a terse press release.

An official of the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department said why only a few people were told of the event at the park: there might be heckling such as occurred a time or two at the public meetings at the Fontenelle Park pavilion. It would not be proper if the mayor was disturbed while presenting his comments.

Completely missing was the public, especially anyone that took the time to attend the public meetings. The only people about, as shown on the television segment, was some passer-by that could be caught on video to present a perspective for the press too intent on immediacy, and indifferent to get the real details.

The City of Omaha paid Big Muddy Workshop, Inc. a total of $19,330 for their work associated with the meetings and to develop concept plans for Fontenelle Park, according to a Parks and Recreation spokesman.

The initial park changes currently underway will cost $175,000.

20 March 2012

Mid-March Birds of Select East Omaha Parks

Warm temperatures have brought the arrival of new birds to local places, so a select few local parks were visited to determine their situation and get details derived from an accurate survey.

Five parklands were visited during March 16-19. Not even a fume of gasoline was burned in the effort, as a bicycle was the primary mode of transportation, or else some shoe leather was worn away while walking a way among midtown, sometimes in a slight rain.

Park places given a birdly scrutiny were shown in ascending order, and grouped according to districts as one particular area may include several distinctive places, in order to improve the tally:

  • Fontenelle Park, which also provided an opportunity to observe the first steps of the parks transition, including tree removal
  • Levi Carter Park, which includes Carter Lake and Kiwanis Park
  • Adams Park, with its forlorn pond
  • Elmwood Park and all of its distinct localities, with one species added while talking about an erosion situation with an official of Omaha Public Works and the contractor; and
  • Memorial Park, which also has different places which some birds appreciate; and becuase of riding in a light rain, the song of the Harris's Sparrow was oart of the orchestra of birds experienced at the start of the first week of true spring.

There were 44 distinctive species indicated by the data details for these few days afield in an urban setting when the weather was mostly suitable to being under the changing skies of the eastern plains. This is the tally with particulars ...

Common Name

Fontenelle Park District

Carter Lake District

Adams Park District

Memorial Park District

Elmwood District

Canada Goose

41

37

- -

- -

4

Wood Duck

29

40

- -

2

13

Gadwall

- -

18

- -

- -

- -

American Wigeon

- -

1

- -

- -

- -

Mallard

8

88

2

- -

5

Blue-winged Teal

- -

19

- -

- -

- -

Northern Shoveler

1

14

- -

- -

- -

Green-winged Teal

- -

19

- -

- -

- -

Redhead

- -

19

- -

- -

- -

Ring-necked Duck

- -

44

- -

- -

- -

Bufflehead

- -

14

- -

- -

- -

Pied-billed Grebe

1

6

- -

- -

- -

Turkey Vulture

- -

- -

- -

- -

27

Cooper's Hawk

1

- -

1

- -

1

Red-tailed Hawk

- -

- -

- -

1

- -

American Kestrel

- -

1

- -

- -

- -

American Coot

- -

625

- -

- -

- -

Killdeer

1

6

- -

- -

- -

Herring Gull

- -

1

- -

- -

- -

Rock Pigeon

4

4

- -

- -

- -

Mourning Dove

1

9

- -

- -

2

Red-bellied Woodpecker

- -

1

- -

- -

2

Downy Woodpecker

1

2

1

1

4

Northern Flicker

1

1

1

1

1

Eastern Phoebe

- -

- -

- -

- -

3

Blue Jay

- -

- -

- -

- -

2

American Crow

1

- -

- -

1

- -

Black-capped Chickadee

- -

2

2

2

10

White-breasted Nuthatch

1

1

1

1

2

Brown Creeper

1

- -

- -

1

- -

American Robin

20

108

24

76

71

European Starling

2

100

26

1

18

Cedar Waxwing

2

- -

- -

- -

- -

Fox Sparrow

- -

2

- -

- -

12

Song Sparrow

- -

2

- -

- -

- -

Harris's Sparrow

- -

2

- -

2

- -

Dark-eyed Junco

9

13

- -

4

20

Northern Cardinal

3

4

- -

4

9

Red-winged Blackbird

6

14

6

- -

- -

Common Grackle

11

123

2

12

37

Brown-headed Cowbird

1

- -

- -

1

- -

House Finch

1

- -

- -

3

3

American Goldfinch

- -

- -

2

- -

- -

House Sparrow

- -

- -

- -

- -

2

At each place, there were the following number of species, based upon multitudional observations and pencil notations on one sheet of paper:

  • Fontenelle Park: 23 species; new additions to the park bird list were a Northern Shoveler with transitional plumage, a Pied-billed Grebe, a flyby Cooper's Hawk, Cedar Waxwing and a Brown-headed Cowbird; the additions indicate the value of lingering in a green space.
  • Carter Lake district: 32 species, with nothing unique associated with the Iowa side of this oxbow lake, as riprap transforms it into an industrial lake
  • Adams Park: 11 species; a pair of Mallards at the Gabrielle Union Pond provided a new species for this place, which always has few species present
  • Elmwood Park: 21 species
  • Memorial Park: 16 species, with 26 species represented among these two adjacent parkland parcels

The overall variety of waterfowl has transitioned at Carter Lake. A fine variety does still continue, with diminutive teal are the newest arrivals. The grand bunch of Canvasback have gone elsewhere, with their former occurrence fondly remembered, though indicated only by numbers for dates of the calendar.

Especially notable were the number of Fox Sparrow at Elmwood Park. The numbers surpass a tally from the renowned Fontenelle Forest, during the same weekend. This is one of the largest counts for this species among the chronicles of Nebraska ornithology. The various reports indicates they are somewhat pervasive in suitable environs of the Missouri River valley.

Turkey Vultures have returned to their place within Omaha City, and on Monday before any sun light had broached the eastern horizon, the buzzards were floating on the winds, moving southward. They did not roost on the UNO communications tower, which has been their usual routine. They started the week, early in the season's visit, as if they just wanted to get going to elsewhere. This is a significant count for so early in their season about the city.

If there is any personal interest in seeing a robin, step outside. The relative "hoard" of this songbird, as well as grackles and starlings meant giving a lot of attention to bird presence which might have been ignored in deference to others of lesser occurrence.

Flickers are being especially vocal in the neighborhood.

There is a wonderful bunch of birds about, now at the spring equinox, and on the three previous days. The sweat and toil of riding a bicycle on too-warm days of pre-spring were worth the results of discovery.

It can only be a grand time to watch the boisterous Canada Goose males defending their place. Watching the behavior of the exquisitely colored Fox Sparrow reps was a sublime experience, best viewed from a suitable distance.

It is a nice time now to get out beneath the sky, among the bits of green land, and look about at the grandeur expressed by an endless variety of wild birds about their business.

A Grand Example of Omaha Bureaucracy

Because of a personal interest in how many dollars were spent to devise a tepid and inconsiderate plan for the future of Fontenelle Park, one phone call was made to determine the cost of the endeavor.

It was the first step in an ongoing saga as there was no accurate response. Instead the lack of an answer from one city employee or official, meant that another phone call was required, then one more phone call, and then another, and again, many times repeated during several days.

These are the particulars as noted during an effort of unsuccessful communication, with a final reply days after the effort was started:

On March 15th, two calls were made to the office of Mayor Jim Suttle.

Then, the interim director of the Parks and Recreation Department was reached via phone, but he did not know, as he was newly appointed, according to his explanation.

Nothing was mentioned to answer the primary question.

The Finance department of the City was then called, but they said to call the City of Omaha Purchasing department.

City of Omaha Purchasing did not know -- there were too many details to consider and without particulars the specifics could not be determined -- and said that someone in the Parks and Recreation Department should be contacted. The name they suggested was not in the office.

There were two more calls made, one to a rep of the mayor who was out of town, and to the contractor, who was out on a long lunch.

The tally of calls at this point is eight!

Continuing this effort before the weekend, the next respondent tried to pass my inquiry to someone else, a common response to people that are ignorant of the item of interest.

At least they were aware of the situation, saying that: "nothing is so consistent as bureaucracy" and then suggesting that the clerk of the City Council should be called.

This clerk was not in the office on Friday, so the person answering the phone said to call the Finance department or the Parks Department.

Finance was called. There was no answer. The name of a suggested person in the Parks department was then called, and they were out of the office.

The tally of calls at this point is twelve, at least.

Finally at early the end of the week someone in the Finance Department took some responsibility and found a suitable name and said they would call back. They did respond and said the person could be called on Monday.

By now the phone call tally was at 14...

The phone call roulette started later on Monday afternoon. The first attempt was to get the number of the unknown John Williams, in the Parks department. The city directory operator could not provide his number as no number was listed.

An alternate call to an official of the mayors office meant contact with an answering machine.

Call number 17 was once again to the Finance department, were they once again tried to be helpful. This particular effort resulted in a multi-line effort with a parks planned in the Parks and Recreation Department and where the number of the person that apparently in the know was provided.

Though this person had already been asked to call-back, nothing of the sort had yet happened.

With the number known, a direct phone call was made. The call went directly to a message machine.

Finally, late on the afternoon of Monday, March 19th, the proper person was contacted in the Park Department. The specific dollar amount was given. The respondent, when told of the many previous calls made to determine this value, said something in the sense of that it would have only taken one call if you called the right person.

No kidding! Basically, at least twenty calls were required to reach the one person that knew the particular detail of interest.

What a grand example of City of Omaha bureaucracy.

19 March 2012

Disband Carter Lake Advisory Group

Due to personal concerns regarding the Carter Lake Advisory group and its regular meetings in secret, an email was sent to the Nebraska Attorney General office to get a legal perspective.

A response was recently received from the Director of Constituent Services, which said:

"Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act applies to governing bodies of all political subdivisions of the State, including state agencies, boards and commissions. However, they do not govern the meetings of non-profit organizations.

This reply might indicate that the CLAG does not have to adhere to the OMA, but this reply actually indicates just the opposite.

It is a false premise that because the CLAG is non-profit the Act does not apply. The Act applies to a myriad of other non-profit groups...

  • Niobrara Council: this non-profit advisory group has meeting notices in the area newspapers and also sends out emails with the same details; minutes are published on the council webpage and summaries are given in the area newspapers.
  • Nebraska Environmental Trust: a non-profit group which allows anyone to attend the regular meetings announcing decisions on the grants being provided funds.
  • Nebraska natural resource districts: monthly meetings are open to the public, with a notice of the meeting place, date and time given in the local newspapers.
  • City of Omaha: this is a non-profit entity and the city council has their meetings on television!

It is not a valid argument to say that the Act does not apply to one group, when numerous other with a similar status ensure they follow the provisions of the Act.

Other than an intermittent public meeting, the separate group on meeting are not announced to the public, so they are held in secret. Also there is no information given anywhere, including the project website, of the meeting minutes.

"Under § 84-1409(2), meetings, for purposes of the open meetings statutes, are defined as "all regular, special, or called meetings, formal or informal, of any public body for the purposes of briefing, discussion of public business, formation of tentative policy, or the taking of any action of the public body." — Nebraska Attorney General

This certainly applies to the actions of the CLAG. It also appears that there are legal options possible that would make any group actions void (i.e., the selection of a contractor):

"1. Any motion, resolution, rule, ordinance, or formal action of a public body made or taken in violation of the public meetings statutes shall be declared void by the district court if the suit is commenced within 120 days of the meeting of the public body at which the alleged violation occurred. Any such motion or other action taken in substantial violation of the public meeting statutes shall be voidable by the district court if the suit is commenced after more than 120 days but within one year of the meeting of the public body in which the alleged violation occurred. A suit to void any final action shall be commenced within one year of the action." — Nebraska Attorney General

There is also the option of legal actions against the members...

"Section 84-1414(4) provides that any member of a public body who knowingly violates or conspires to violate the Open Meetings Act, or who attends or remains at a meeting knowing that the public body is in violation of any provision of that Act, shall be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor for a first offense, and a Class III misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense."

The Carter Lake Advisory Team does not provide public information to the public in a suitable manner. Instead decisions are made by a group of public officials and then given to the public at meetings, after decisions are seemingly already made. The group also does not allow open dialog and and common discussion at the occasional public meetings. Comments or questions are allowed only person-to-person, not in a common forum.

The Carter Lake Advisory Group should be disbanded immediately as it has either violated the Open Meeting Act or the intent of the Act.

Details of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act can be found online.

Demolition Pending for Florence Home Chimney

Demolition is pending for a roost chimney in the Florence area of Northeast Omaha. The Florence Home at 7900 North 30th Street is slated for demolition.

The destruction would remove a chimney that has been known to be used as a roost by chimney swifts at least back to 1991, according to a neighborhood bird watcher. He indicated that more than hundred have been seen using the large 6x6 bricks chimney.

These pictures were taken to document the structure, and that another important chimneys for swifts is being lost.

This rooftop vantage point would provide a perfect spot on a fine evening to watch the arrival and descent of the swifts into their night's roost.

It is not known at this time when the building will be razed.

18 March 2012

Omaha Weeds and Litter Challenged by Cleanup

The Weeds and Litter Division of the Omaha Parks and Recreation has been unable to clean up city and private property on the north side of Levi Carter Park.

Despite two known visits for trash removal the items shown in the following pictures remain, the first two showing the city property and the others, stuff on the private property. All of this material has been present for months.

Pictures of the remaining trash were sent to the mayor of Omaha and interim director of Parks and Recreation, yet no reply was received.

It is obvious that the crew sent to remove the trash has serious challenges as they have been unable to get the job done right. Perhaps if the crew could actually get out of their trucks to look around to see everything that should be removed, or to pick up items, the result would be much more satisfactory!

Upon calling Weeds and Litter the 13th and 14th to indicate the need for further cleanup, a supervisor was finally reached. When asked why the trash remains, he indicated that the trash still there was the result of people continuing to dump additional material. This was a mantra also heard earlier by the Weeds and Litter crew. When told that the trash had been there all along he immediately got defensive. He then resorted to a personal attack on my integrity, saying that perhaps there should be a charge of trespassing for being on private property. When told they knew about my being there, he then resorted to another threat. this time: "maybe you should be cited for littering."

This were two unacceptable comments by a city official trying to blame the messenger rather than accepting the message.

If the job would be done right, there would be no issue to even discuss, but the inept effort means that the trash remains.

After being informed of the trash on the city property, the former director Melinda Pearson indicated that her maintenance staff would take care of the problem.

A first visit occurred where trash was removed from the city property. At this time, Weeds and Litter determined there was also trash on the adjacent private property, so they were subsequently cited. A second visit occurred on January 31st.

The situation is certainly not being helped by the paper stock business on the north side of the area. There are piles of trash, and items such as plastic bags are being blown off their property to hither and yon.

They should address the situation or get cited for littering.

Adjacent Private Property

The following items are on private property adjacent to the city property. These items have all been present for months, and were not removed when Weeds and Litter took away other trash and rubble on January 31st. The city had to send the cleanup bill to a billion-dollar corporation in Omaha, that could not take care of the problem themselves.

There is the carcass of a deer on the right side of the photo.

These pictures have been sent to a company representative, but no reply has been received, nor is one expected.

There is some progress, but when the place will be trash free is unknown, and may never reach that basic goal?

17 March 2012

City Officials Disrespect Omaha Tribal Heritage

When officials of Omaha issued their edict - at a closed presentation - for revising Fontenelle Park features, the decision included an affront to the legacy of a iconic tribal leader and the Indian nation for which the city was named.

The park was named in honor of Logan Fontenelle, who was prominent as the tribe dealt with officials of the U.S. government during a time of change in the mid-1800s as settlers arrived to lands that were considered a frontier.

Portion of a General Land Office map showing Omaha Creek and the marshy area where Fontenelle Park was established. The park is in section 5.

For Omaha, the river city took the name of the tribe as a moniker for a bit of a settlement on the west bank of the Missouri River in the mid-1850s. A General Land Office map of 1856 shows the route of Omaha Creek, which once flowed through the current site of Fontenelle Park. Through the years, Omaha Creek was obliterated by urban development.

The site still certainly has a legacy that can be associated with the Omaha, and indirectly with Chief Fontenelle, and not only because of its selected name.

A plan to alter the park after the golf course was officially closed, a Fontenelle monument was shown to be included, as announced on site by Jim Suttle, Omaha mayor, Ben Gray, member of the Omaha city council, and Brook Bench, interim director of the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department.

The "memorial" would get placed upon a hilltop in the northwest section of the park. The idea for this recognition was one specific item presented at community planning meetings, though the preferred site was on a hilltop at the eastern edge of the park space. So rather than place the Chief Fontenelle memorial at a site where suggested, and as presented in an interim plan, it was moved to accommodate a disc-golf course. At the three public meetings, there was little or no interest in disc-golf, yet a decision was obviously made that this feature would get preference over what had been specifically requested by people attending the public forum.

Instead, because the bureaucrats wanted to have this course, the monument site was moved to the northwest corner of the park place.

The park was recently visited on a wonderful spring morning. The obvious, primary features of the indicated monument site were:

1) incessant noise from traffic on Ames Street; and
2) placement within a grove of a few pine trees which are dying due to disease, along with a few newly planted evergreens.

Another item to consider, based upon the plan issued by the city, is that a parking lot will be constructed just to the south, and in the future might be expanded eastward, to "cut-off" the northwest corner of the park from the remainder of the green space. The lot would be the prominent feature seen southward from the hillside, and encroach upon the view of the pending rip-rapped lagoon.

City officials have been disrespectful to the Omaha tribal legacy in their decision. Any monument to a great Omaha chief should not be placed where traffic noise, exhaust fumes, a soon-to-be nonexistent area of old trees and a parking lot are the prominent features of the setting.

The monument should be placed on the east side of the park. A site here would represent the eastern horizon, an important aspect to tribal lore. There should be flora which reflects the tribal culture, such as bur oak trees, wild plum, dogwood, cone flower and blazing star. None of these plants would be included in the "replanted pine forest" proposed in the park plan. Pines are not very prominent in the tribe's lore.

If the city is going to adhere to its errant site selection for the monument, it should not even be included since the site would be disrespectful to the legacy of the Omaha people. If the tribe cannot be suitably respected, there should not be anything done, by officials including primary features based on political whims.

A monument in a pine forest filled with traffic noise would also reflect an ignorance of perspective.

The same situation has recently occurred regarding the placement of a sign recognizing the Sandy Griswold Bird Sanctuary at Carter Lake. A Nebraska Game and Parks official suggested that the marker could be placed at the end of a fishing groin, i.e., a riprap construct dumped into the waters of the oxbow lake. This suggestion also vividly shows a lack of awareness or respect.

It is a disgrace that a disc-golf course would get precedence over suitable recognition of the source of the city's name. This is another example of disrespect of the native people of the Omaha area.

Any memorial setting for Chief Logan Fontenelle should be placed at an optimum site within the park, and not moved around to suit bureaucratic whims.

15 March 2012

Birds of a Religious Text Described

A lifelong study of the religious text of the Torah has led to a book describing the species and their significance.

"As I child I knew about birds and wanted to know about those I was reading about in the Torah," said Rabbi Pinchus Presworsky, of New York City.

Many years later, his book "Birds of the Torah" readily accomplishes this goal. It includes many color illustrations, typically of historic provenance, of the species discussed.

The Torah is the named for the first five books of the Jewish bible. According to tradition, it was given to Moses at Mount Sinai, in the Jewish year 2448, or about 3760 years before present.

Example page from "Birds of the Torah."

There are four sections to this volume:

1). a pictorial guide to the birds of the Torah, with an illustration of each of the twenty major groups of non-kosher birds;
2). a detailed description of the signs of kosher and non-kosher birds;
3). a discussion of the birds were specifically identified; and
4). a demonstration of the "parallels" between different sorts of kosher and non-kosher animals.

Six types of birds are identified as being kosher, "with a tradition of being eaten" and they include the quail, pigeon, goose, chicken, mallard and turkey.

There are 24 types of non-kosher birds, some which are included in this category because of their physical characteristics or type of species, such as being a raptor.

The bird identity chapter is especially intriguing, as it presents the a graphic of the particular bird type, an English name and a discussion of how an identification was determined.

It must have taken many hours by Rabbi Presworsky to evaluate the clues and sort through them to determine an identity.

"Everything I found during my research was exciting," Rabbi Presworsky said. "I marveled at every one of God's creatures," especially noting how the swift spends so much of its time living in the sky.

During his decades long research, he made notes, made more notes and even more notes. Particular highlights were visiting with different ornithologists and visiting the Museum of Natural History to see the bird specimens.

"I am always trying to work on bird history in the context of the Torah," Rabbi Presworsky said. If new or additional details are found, he plans to update his book.

If there are any quibbles, they pertain to relatively minor details.

On page 10, there is reference to the Pas'yon, which is identified as the pheasant. A footnote indicates a spoken word source for this attribution. As the list of species known from Egypt does not include any species of pheasant, it is probable that the term actually applies to one of the several species of sandgrouse known from the area. In the early written chronicles, the term pheasant was regularly used when referring to a grouse.

On page 59, in a discussion of the screech owl, a great horned owl is included as an illustration. There is a paradox in referring to the screech owl that "screams at night" and then mentioning how the owl is "renowned for its nocturnal hooting." The screech owl does not hoot.

On Page 10, among the pictures of birds considered non-kosher, an Accipiter hawk is used to illustrate the montion of the sparrow hawk, whereas an actual kestrel would have been more suitable.

"Birds of the Torah" is a finely presented study of birds of an ancient era, and well worth locating -- buy your own copy or Worldcat lists the libraries where it is available -- and enjoy reading about how birds were had so much importance as to be mentioned in an essential religious text.

This book is significant not only because of its detailed investigation of a document thousands of years old, but also as it conveys how a close evaluation of a particular source can contribute to the ancient history of wild birds.

13 March 2012

Rare Hybrid Geese at Squaw Creek NWR

A rare occurrence of a hybrid goose was first reported at Squaw Creek NWR on March 4th. The Wachiska Audubon Society of Lincoln, Nebraska was visiting the the goose was first observed and reported.

The Ross's Goose x Blue Goose hybrid was noted by the group and identified by ornithologist Paul Johnsgard, according to a member of the society. This was the first time he has seen this sort of hybrid during his decades of observing waterfowl.

The goose was about the same size as a Snow Goose but "had the head shaped like Ross's with some blue 'warts' on the bill, according to an Audubon member.

This one goose was among the throng of Snow Goose present.

On March 10th, two birders from Missouri visited the refuge and noted several hybrid geese.

"While Steve Kinder and I were observing a small flock of Snow Geese beside the auto tour loop around Squaw Creek NWR we noticed that among these Snow Geese were four/five of the geese that were intermediate in size between the regular Snow Geese and the nearby Ross's Goose. Also, their bills were intermediate, showing a pinkish tinge and a reduced 'grinning patch.' It looked to us as though they were hybrids (Snow X Ross's)." — Larry Lade

The descriptions do not quite match, especially in regards to size, so it is possible that different birds were seen on the two occasions.

There have been several previous reports of this hybridization mix having occurred.

Accounts of White Cranes on the Plains

Among the historic chronicles there is an occasional mention of the white crane. Most times it refers to the demise of these large birds, and a few details of how it occurred.

With some of the accounts, there may be enough to indicate that the white crane was the Whooping Crane. One item of particular significance was the bird's wingspan. Cranes and egrets have the following length from tip to tip of the wings:

Whooping Crane: 7.5 feet
Sandhill Crane: 7 feet
Great Blue Heron: 5.5 to 6.5 feet
Great Egret: 55 inches

With this measurement known, it is possible that among the following news accounts, there are previously unknown records indicating the occurrence of the large Whooping Crane. Other details are also helpful in making an evaluation.

1880s

"A white crane was recently caught at Hickory Grove, Iowa and on its bill there was a young turtle firmly fastened. The bird was a huge specimen, measuring seven feet from tip to tip, but it was almost starved to death. While stalking around on the prairie it had stuck its bill completely through a small turtle, but could not get the turtle off again, and in this condition had remained for days. When discovered it was fed, but it died within two days." — June 24, 1880; Saline County Journal 10(21): 4.
"Two large sea birds or cranes, white as the driven snow, sailed over the city this forenoon with tail feathers pointing northward." — August 10, 1881. Waco Evening News 1(24): 3. In the City News column.
"Mr. C.H. Crawford succeeded in shooting a large white crane a few days ago. As a practical shootist our friend C. is hard to beat." — April 9, 1884; New Ulm Review 7(14): 3. From Minnesota.
"Mr. George Sheidle, one of our old settlers, shot a white crane of a very rare kind on his place southwest of town. He presented it to I. Niemoller. It measured from tip to tip of wings, 7 feet, six inches, from beak to tip of claw, 5 feet, 9 inches; weight 16 pounds.— May 7, 1884; Columbus Journal 15(2): 3. From Nebraska

This bird report was included in the Platte Center community news column as submitted by "T" the correspondent. It is another example of a likely report of the whooping crane.

"Wm. Walker has a white crane that measures ten feet from tip to tip of wings." — May 20, 1885. Columbus Journal 16(4): 3. From Nebraska.

This locality is near the central Platte River, a known migratory stopover for the big cranes.

"A large white crane is on exhibition in the window of a Lincoln drug store. The bird was found on the prairie north of that city by W. Messenger, who dispatched it with his buggy whip, it having been previously wounded by hunters, evidently. It measured 8½ feet from tip to tip of wing, and has been mounted." — May 20, 1886, McCook Tribune 4(51): 2. From Nebraska.
"All crops look fine over the Frisco, and consequently everybody feels good. Today an immense white crane was killed two miles southwest of Leon by Mr. Pettitt and brought to town. It was a beautiful specimen of the long-legged family. An Eagle representative was in town and as the folks thought him somewhat of a bird man they presented it to him. It will be prepared and stuffed." — July 12, 1889; Wichita Eagle 11(47): 1. From Kansas.

1890s

"Lemuel S. Bennett living on the farm of W.D. Wyman three miles east of Cambria last week shot a large white sand hill crane on the ponds near his house. It measured seven feet six inches from tips of wings, stood five feet six inches in height and weighed eighteen pounds; this is the largest one ever captured by any one in this vicinity and was therefore quite a curiosity. — April 17, 1890; Saline County Journal 20(16): 3.

This readily fits the description of a Whooping Crane. The account was in the "New Cambria Chatterings" column submitted by the Jewell, the community correspondent.

"A white crane measuring eight feet from tip to tip was shot and brought into Guthrie, Monday." — November 6, 1891; Wichita Daily Eagle 15(147): 4. From Oklahoma.
"A.N. Reed shot a crane at his place, three and a half miles northeast of Central City, Monday, measuring eight feet from tip to tip of the wings." — April 26, 1897; Omaha Daily Bee, page 3.

1900

"White Crane Killed at Orlando.
"Guthrie, O.T., Nov. 6. — The Oklahoma aid says Thursday evening of last week Rev. R.L. Morton shot and killed a white crane. It was the largest ever seen in this country. From the tip of one wing to the tip of the other it measured over eight feet and from the end of the beak to the feet it measured over five feet. It was a very fine bird, pure white except the tips of the wings, which were black. Mr. Morton gave the bird to Sheriff Rinehart, who was here Friday to take to Guthrie to have it mounted." — November 7, 1900; Wichita Daily Eagle 33(148): 3.

Undoubtedly a Whooping Crane, based on size, feather coloration, and the date and location of occurrence.

This sample gives an intriguing glimpse of what other items may still be lurking among the pages of papers from the Great Plains region.

09 March 2012

Lakeside Rocking Underway at Carter Lake

The industrialization of Carter Lake is well underway. Massive amounts of rock are now being dumped along the shoreline. Its a noisy place, diesel fumes are prevalent and access points are closed.

At least there are no boats yet, so a fine variety of waterfowl remain. This will probably change this weekend with warmer weather!

Significant Bibliographic Milestone Achieved in Bird Research

A significant new milestone has been reached in research underway on the history of birds of America northward from Panama. The 4000th bibliography item was entered into the database late on the afternoon of March 6th, while adding another newspaper record for the Passenger Pigeon, of wild pigeon as they were more typically called.

There were three more items then also added as some other found articles were also integrated into the recordset that includes more than 450 items from historic papers of North America, starting -- thus far -- in 1724.

Other interesting facts can be considered, as given here in a terse manner.

There are 134,000+ records in the dataset, from 11473 sites, though there are duplicates for a similar locale to allow temporal differentiation.

The records date from ca. 10000 B.C. to about 125 years ago, and convey details for 1748 recognized species.

More than 1400 narrative sources with bird records are included, which represent travelogues, journals, diaries, etc.

More could be said about the early records from the first bird journals, and how Forest and Stream needs further consideration because of the minutiae in those pages which are difficult to deal with because of the entire magnitude, where an item of significance might comprise just a few lines of typeset. An early index indicates the items of particular interest.

The 450+ items from a myriad of newspapers provides 1407 distinct records thus far, representing 179 distinct valid species with the vast majority for passenger pigeons, with some many tidbits of unique history. There are 41 states represented. Especially valuable have been issues of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, the Farmer's Cabinet, the Jeffersonian, Liberty Tribune and Pittsfield Sun. Don't forget the various New York City rags and their asundry mix.

There needs to be some recognition given to the editors of these papers which presented a fine variety of bird-related stories.

There is a story of when a penguin (great auk) was shot in New England in 1732, and as the shootist Ebenezer Hovey tried to retrieve his prize, he fell into the water and drowned, but was remembered by a report of the event issued on a page of the Rhode Island Gazette.

How many notes regarding birds got an editor's attention and were published because one or another of the hunters got shot and died afield?

Have you read about how telegraph wires caused the deaths of many wild pigeons as reported in the autumn of 1873? There are almost 1750 distinct records amongst this compilation, which can convey a time when the first actual observation of the species occurred.

Did you see the story about the albino Bobolink singing in the meadow above Amherst?

Is Boggy Swamp still extant on Long Island?

Etc. Etc. and so forth and so on.

The compilation of information is not available anywhere else in the world, other than one personal computer. This project was started in 1996.

What an unsurpassed endeavour of profound interest it has been! It has been possible only because of the grand effort by many librarians and others to provide digital versions of historic newspapers in a format that can be easily searched and seen online.

If only the observations as documented could be mapped according to the county of known occurrence. Now that would be grand indeed.

There are though, further treasures of bird lore to find and consider despite whatever ...

Wildbird Articles in a California Weekly

Intermittently during a few years, the Pacific Rural Press presented a feature article about wild birds. The brief text typically gave only a few details on the natural species and some descriptive information. An decent-sized illustration was included with each.

This weekly was published by Dewey & Co., with W.B. Ewer the principal editor in 1874, and at least through September 1878.

There were 23 articles of interest found during a review starting with the January 4, 1873 edition, and through the December 25, 1880 edition. Some issues were not available at the online archive. Featured on the front page were:

Crow blackbirds. — 10/10/1874 — Pacific Rural Press 8(15): 225.
The passenger pigeon. — 11/21/1874 — Pacific Rural Press 8(21): 321.
Common magpie. — 12/12/1874 — Pacific Rural Press 8(24): 369.
California condor. — 1/30/1875 — Pacific Rural Press 9(5): 65.
The king-bird. — 2/27/1875 — Pacific Rural Press 9(9): 129.
Wilson's Snipe. — 5/22/1875 — Pacific Rural Press 9(21): 337.
A desirable ally [rose-breasted grosbeak.] — 8/7/1875 — Pacific Rural Press 10(6): 81.
Our bird illustration [blue grosbeak]. — 9/18/1875 — Pacific Rural Press 10(12): 177.
The blue-jay. — 7/22/1876 — Pacific Rural Press 12(4): 57.
Red-headed woodpecker. — 10/21/1876 — Pacific Rural Press 12(17): 265.
Purple-grackle. — 11/25/1876 — Pacific Rural Press 12(22): 345.
Broad-winged buzzard. — 12/9/1876 — Pacific Rural Press 12(24): 337.
Large-horned owl. — 1/13/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 13(2): 18.
Reed-bird, or bob-a-link. — 2/10/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 13(6): 81.
Great red-breasted rail. — 2/24/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 13(8): 114.
Ruffed grouse. — 3/24/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 13(12): 178.
Red-tailed buzzard. — 5/5/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 13(18): 273.
The fish-crow. — 6/2/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 13(22): 337.
The snowy owl. — 7/21/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 14(3): 33.
The shrike, or butcher bird. — 9/8/1877 — Pacific Rural Press 14(10): 145.
The hairy woodpecker. — 9/28/1878 — Pacific Rural Press 16(13): 193.
A group of penguins. — 5/3/1879 — Pacific Rural Press 17(18): 289.
The Australian bustard. — 6/14/1879 — Pacific Rural Press 17(24): 385.

Articles about domestic fowl are not included.

These articles are not a significant contribution to bird history of the region, but still obviously indicate an increasing interest people had in various birds during these years.

06 March 2012

Mysterious Two-headed Eagle from 1723 Mexico

A newspaper report from 1724 conveys an intriguing account of a mysterious "spread-eagle" from Mexico. The bird was shot, captured and then mounted which is nothing unusual. The significance of its abnormal anatomy meant it was sent to the King of Spain. Other indicated details convey a unique situation, which was eventually indicated by a newspaper article.

The reality is either a figment of a rich imagination or a condition of genetic mutation never since denoted in annals of the myriad of sources about birds which comprise any consideration of historic ornithology.

This is the actual account as published. The letter S replaces the archaic use of the letter F as was the norm in print topography during this era, with a couple of other trivial and obscure edits:

"Extract of a Letter from Cadiz, dated Sept. 8, 1723.

"The Vice King of Mexico, who came on board the Azougue Ships, brings to the King of Spain a dead Spread-Eagle, which was shot thro' the Right Wing and Side by a Spaniard, as it was talloning a Faun near a Place called Gaxaca, who sent it to this Vice King, Eighty Leagues to Mexico. It remained Four Days alive. The Vice King ordered above 500 Indians well-skilled in Game, to ply all the Country for the flown Spread-Eagle, and promised a Thousand Pieces of Eight to the Person who brings it alive. This is a young Bird, not bigger than a middling Turkey, of the common Colour of an Eagle, but a larger Breast and Shoulders than ordinary, out of which spring Two Necks Seven or Eight Inches long asunder. On each Neck there is a perfect Head of an Eagle, nearly proportioned to each other, save that the Right Head has the Beak something stronger and sharper towards the Extremity. It was seen he watcher with one Head, while he fed and preyed with the other, and used both either Way. It has its Feathers still, except what fell off from the Right Head and Neck, through the Mismanagement of the Person who endeavoured to cure it. The Right Head faces, thro' his Blunder, to the Left Side, otherwise it would form as it lies the Imperial Arms. As no History makes mention of such a Bird, the Admiration is very great, it having always been supposed that the Eagle was first painted with Two Heads on the Devision of the Roman Empire, with out any Intention to allude to the reality of such a Creature. It made so much Noise In America, that the Notaries Publick lived on the Attestations taken of it for some Weeks."

If the bird taken was actually capturing a fawn, it must have been a large species of raptor, especially as it reached the size of a mid-sized turkey.

It is possible that Gaxaca could refer to Oaxaca.

Whatever the truth, the account is certainly a profound bit of lore conveyed by a relative few words on a the page of a newspaper published nearly 29 decades ago in Pennsylvania. This is one of the earliest articles about birds available from the newspaper chronicles of America.

There are numerous depictions of the two-headed eagle from past times.

Chimney Swallows Captured for Shootists

Though wild pigeons were prominently used as targets for shootists during the latter 1870s, a bit of an article indicates another species that was obviously also suitable. It was smaller in size and would have a completely different response upon release from capture, but they were still of enough interest to be captured by devious means. The little bblack birds were especially vulnerable during the autumn when they congregated while migrating southward.

A bit of news in a regional paper reveals a glimpse of the taking of the chimney swallow.

"At Bowling Green, Ky., recently two men secured 3,576 chimney-swallows in one evening, to be used at a shooting match. Modus operandi: Put an empty bed-tick over the top of the chimney and start a fire below."

These details are from a news item issued in September, 1878 which gave no indication whether or not this was a normal endeavor. Further details could have provided a unique perspective on this completely distinct report regarding the taking of Chimney Swifts at this time in Kentucky.

This is just one more detail of historic ornithology to appreciate, as issued in a newspaper decades in the past.