Great Kiskadee in South Dakota, Scarlet Tanager (CW) in North Dakota, and Purple Sandpiper (CW) in Kansas were the marquee species in an extraordinarily mild winter in the Great Plains. Almost to a person, the compilers in this part of the country agreed that the past winter was one of the mildest on record, especially in the Dakotas. A very warm fall was followed by an equally warm early winter, with almost no snow. This led to a number of species lingering far longer than usual or normal, and road conditions that allowed for unrestricted access to all count circle areas and varying habitats.
This season, North Dakota birders completed and submitted 17 counts. Garrison Dam led the pack this year for high species count at 62 species tallied on count day, with Fargo-Moorhead taking second place with 60. The Garrison Dam count had a nice selection of waterfowl, and the only gulls in the state, five species, including Ring-billed, Herring, Thayer's, Lesser Black-backed, and Glaucous. The Fargo count had a Northern Mockingbird, as well as the male Scarlet Tanager (CW) that was visiting a heated bird bath; the bird, present for some time, was last seen the day before the count. Bismarck-Mandan also had a CW Northern Mockingbird.
Speaking of lingerers, Grand Forks-East Grand Forks participants found a late Gray Catbird and Brown Thrasher on count day, as well as the state's only Northern Saw-whet Owl and Varied Thrush. This was not a banner year for northern invaders with Gyrfalcon recorded on only two counts (of 17), Snowy Owl on seven, and Bohemian Waxwing on six. So too, northern finches, while present, were not that widely-distributed. Pine Grosbeaks were located on Denbigh, Garrison Dam, and Upper Souris N.W.R. Red Crossbills were located on Denbigh, Grand Forks (CW), Hazen (CW), Lostwood, and Upper Souris, while White-wings showed up only at Bismarck-Mandan and Hazen. Purple Finches were reported on nine counts, while Hoary Redpolls were sighted on nine counts as well, and Des Lacs N.W.R. had the only Evening Grosbeak report this season. Finally, worthy of special mention was Denbigh's Black-backed Woodpecker (PS) and Minot's Chipping Sparrow (EO, AF).
South Dakotans finished 19 CBCs this past season, with Pierre out-distancing the competition to take first place honors with 80 species recorded on count day; Yankton took the silver medal with 72. Both counts reported a nice assortment of waterfowl this year, with Pierre birders reporting the state's only Western Grebe, and Yankton counters finding the only Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Ducks, and Common Loons. But the bird of the year, decade and maybe even century was, without question, the Great Kiskadee (FS, PS, PH, MO) found on the Brookings count. The bird was originally found at the South Dakota Ornithologists' Union fall meeting in the small town of Volga in mid-November. The home owners who hosted the kiskadee fed it on a diet of suet, meal worms and cat food. The bird was last seen alive in January, and found dead on January 7, 2016. Needless to say, many birders made the trek in the late fall and early winter to see this colorful tropical species.
Elsewhere around the state, Snowy Owls made appearances at Huron, Lake Andes, Sioux Falls (CW), Sand Lake N.W.R. (3 individuals), and Waubay N.W.R. (3 birds). Northern Saw-whets were located at Canton (5 birds!), Pierre, and Rapid City. Mitchell birders found a CW Tufted Titmouse, as did folks at Sioux Falls, while Piedmont participants had a nice variety of Black Hills specialty species including Back-backed Woodpecker (with one at Sturgis, as well) and Pacific Wren. Other counts reporting Black Hills specialties include Pine Ridge, Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sturgis; it's nice to have this part of the state so well represented in the CBC database. Bohemian Waxwings were only sighted at Aberdeen and Brookings (CW). Finally, as with North Dakota reports, this was not a great year for finches in South Dakota. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was reported on the Sturgis count, while Pierre participants found the only Pine Grosbeaks reported in the state. Purple Finches were located on six counts, and Red Crossbills were found on six (Badlands, Piedmont, Pine Ridge, Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sturgis), while both White-winged Crossbill and Evening Grosbeak went unreported as a CBC species in the state this past winter.
Nebraska CBCers completed 12 counts this past winter with Lake McConaughy recording 107 species on count day. Lake McConaughy has always produced waterbird species of almost all kinds. This year's production included a good variety of geese and ducks, both dabbling and diving, Surf and White-winged scoters, Barrow's Goldeneye, all three mergansers, Red-throated Loon (NC, ED), all five "expected" grebes, and seven gull species including Black-legged Kittiwake (NC). Among landbirds, White-winged Dove (NC) and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch were nice treats.
A survey around the Cornhusker state confirms some other good finds: Cassin's Finch at Crawford; Mew Gull in Harlan County; and Lincoln reported two late Least Sandpipers. North Platte submitted Common Raven (DD) with multiple observers and Ponca S.P. had a decidedly out-of-range Mountain Bluebird and the state's only Bohemian Waxwing. Finally, Purple Finches were only reported on six counts this year, Lake McConaughy found the state's only two Red Crossbills, and Common Redpolls were reported on three of Nebraska's CBC: Ames, Crawford, and Lake McConaughy.
Kansans completed and submitted 29 counts this year with the Lawrence count just reaching the century mark with 100 species. Wichita observers were able to tally 95 species on count day to take second place in the total species contest. The bird of the season was the Purple Sandpiper that was found at Wilson Reservoir the week of the count by Brent Galliart and Dave Klema, where it was photographed. The Kansas Bird Records Committee as already accepted the record, and the species has been added to the state list. Improvidently, the bird exercised its power of flight and could not be found on count day. Elsewhere, some of the better birds located in Kansas this past CBC season included Arkansas City's Greater Yellowlegs and two American Woodcocks (NC), Franklin's, California, and Glaucous gulls at Cheyenne Bottoms, Red-shouldered Hawk (well out-of-range) and Common Raven on Cimarron N.G., Osprey at Emporia and Manhattan, Great Egret at Junction City, Tree Swallow at Lawrence, Least Sandpiper and Sedge Wren from Parsons, Sora at Quivira N.W.R., Black-throated Sparrow (NC) on Red Hills, and Black-legged Kittiwake, Pacific Loon, and Snowy Owl all at Wilson Reservoir. The often-hard-to-locate Greater Roadrunner was reported from three counts this season (Dodge City, Red Hills, and Sawyer) with an impressive total of 10 individuals, eight alone from Red Hills. Finally, Purple Finches were reported from nine counts this year.
Oklahoma birders submitted 18 counts this winter season, with eight of them touching or exceeding the century mark. Both Oklahoma City and Tishomingo N.W.R. tallied 116 species seen on count day to share the top prize for most species identified in their tallies. Norman took second place honors with a not-too-shabby 112 species. A survey from around the Sooner State confirms some careful sightings of some excellent birds. Hulah Reservoir participants were treated to a Northern Saw-whet Owl, a tough species to find in the state, and Kenton (Black Mesa) birders found BOTH Western and Eastern screech-owl as well as Black-throated Sparrow. Norman CBCers found a tardy Grasshopper Sparrow and Stephens County observers had a Sedge Wren. Salt Plains observers had a truly impressive listing of lingering waders, but all were CW only: American Avocet, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, and Western Sandpiper. Speaking of waders, the American Woodcock at Tishomingo and the Spotted Sandpiper at Tulsa were excellent finds. The Neotropic Cormorant (ED) was also a highlight species at Tishomingo N.W.R. Purple Finches were fairly evenly distributed geographically around the state, though not in huge numbers. The 76 individuals were recorded on eight counts in most parts of the state.
As a final matter, let me extend my thanks to all the compilers for their editorial efforts to ensure data integrity and accuracy; this not only makes my job easier, but it ensures the utility of the CBC data base for any number of scientific purposes as well. Citizen scientists, indeed!