We welcome back Thane Dinsdale! Thane is based in Omaha, NE. He says that he started "real birding" in 2020, and enjoys seeing different habitats, interesting behaviors and adaptations. He is active in bird ID and photography groups on FB. and has lead bird walks, field trips, and taught bird ID classes for various local clubs.

Thane will present a Sparrow Identification Program:

Many beginning birders who are used to seeing house sparrows at their feeders think of "Sparrows" (non-native House Sparrows) as a nuisance bird, but there are over 40 species of sparrows native to the U.S., including beloved birds like Dark-eyed Juncos and Towhees.

The focus of this program is on learning how to identify the approximately 30 species of sparrows found in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota with a focus on key field marks and habitats.

Hopefully this program will help demystify this group of "little brown birds" and encourage birders of all experience levels to get out and enjoy our native sparrows.  The timing of this program is a great time should be around when some of our most prized species such as LeConte's Sparrow and Harris's Sparrow should be arriving during fall migration.

Lark Bunting Image Copyright 2026 by Thane Dinsdale, used with permission.

Taken in the NE Panhandle