Banner image copyright 2025 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission

Great Backyard Bird Count

friday, february 13 - monday, february 16, 2026

The Great Backyard Bird Count is one of the National Audubon Society’s partnerships with the Cornell (University) Lab of Ornithology to assess bird populations and distributions. This international effort seeks to estimate populations when breeding and migration activities are low and population levels are most unchanging. By harnessing a huge number of citizen volunteers, population data from many areas can be gathered simultaneously by these citizen scientists, yielding a snapshot of bird population trends.

Participation in this citizen science is one of our Chapter’s top priorities. Participants can submit multiple lists over multiple days to eBird. Loess Hills Audubon Society members are encouraged to create their own teams in the field, hiking and car birding, and record the birds at their home feeders.

All these observations are submitted to the Cornell Lab’s huge database by entering eBird checklists.

Loess Hills Audubon Society Backyard Bird Count Results - 2026

As of today, all your fine efforts during the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) have been shared with the Loess Hills Audubon eBird account. Seventeen chapter members and guests submitted a total of 23 checklists to this global citizen science project to document occurrence and numbers of all species of birds. This project of The Cornel Lab, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada has been collecting occurrence and count data each February since 1998. This data helps researchers identify trends in populations and changes in species’ ranges worldwide.

Our local efforts included surveying sites in Dakota, Thurston and Dixon Counties in Nebraska, Union County, SD and Woodbury, Monona, Plymouth and Polk Counties in Iowa. Member Randy Williams, now hailing from Johnston, IA, and birding the Saylorville Dam area in Polk County, added some species not usually seen in Siouxland during February. Those species are marked below with an asterisk*. Also adding to the count was the early arrival of many waterfowl species, especially at Snyder Bend.

Highlight species: Greater White-fronted Goose (large numbers), Cackling Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Blue-winged Teal (early), American Coot (early), Great Blue Heron*, American White Pelican*, Eastern Screech Owl, Tufted Titmouse*, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren*, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Spotted Towhee and Brown-headed Cowbird.

For a complete list of the species recorded and the 23 contributing checklists, see

https://ebird.org/tripreport/480958  

Participants: Sharon & John Polifka, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Dotty & Bill Zales, Tim & Vikki Jacobs, Kayla Sheehan, Robert Sophere, Jerry Probst, Randy Williams, Rex Rundquist, Rich Huser, Ed Brogie, Jeanne Bockholt, Jan Null, Jerry Von Ehwegen and Bill Huser.

Participants observed over 66 species!

Compiled and Reported by Bill Huser, V.P. and Outings Coordinator

GBBC Adventures with Jan and Jerry

Jan Null and Jerry Von Ehwegen birded all 4 days of the GBBC and recorded 38 species! The highlight was 2 Short-eared Owls at Owego.

Below images copyright 2026 by Jan Null, used with permission.

 Jerry Mennenga’s GBBC Images 

saturday/sunday - snyder bend, woodbury county

Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission

https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

monday, desoto national wildlife refuge, ia and ne

A nice variety of birds (waterfowl) back toward the larger viewing blind. Actually it was best on that trail that takes one to the small wooden bird blind past that shelter and porta potties. No birds, well, 10-15 near the visitor's center. A fair number of Trumpeter Swans, Mergansers, Greater White-fronted Geese, Canadian geese, mallards and such. Didn't hear much in the way of song birds, except an occasional Robin.  Saw two eagles at a distance perched in trees along the river just past the visitor's center and at that turn out. Jerry Mennenga

https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission

monday, owego wetland area, woodbury county, ia

Afew photos from Owego. Got there later than I wanted and the light failed pretty fast. Not any Harriers this time around and only 2-3 Rough-legged hawks.  Jerry

https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission

Kevin’s GBBC Images

1. Stone State Park Trail Sign; 2. At Home - Robins with a Cedar Waxwing enjoying a drink; 3-5 Red-winged Blackbirds at Adams Nature Center & Preserve, SD; 6. Robin at Adams; 7-10. Golden-Crowned Kinglet at Adams; 11. Mallard pair at Bacon Creek Park, Sioux City; 12-14. Brown Creeper at Bacon Creek Park; 15. WITCC Loess Arboretum Trail Sign

Images below copyright 2026 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission

GBBC Bike and Bird Adventures in central Iowa with Randy Williams

GBBC Day 1 - february 13

Saylorville Reservoir, Cottonwood Recreation Area, Polk County, IA

20 species

Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission

gbbc day 2 - February 14

Terra Park, Polk IA

14 species

Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission

gbbc day 3 - february 15 - walking

Walnut Woods SP, Polk County, IA

20 species

Bicycles are not allowed on the dirt trails at Walnut Woods. This was all walking. Really hoped for a Pileated and a Barred. But I did find Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Wren.

Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission

gbbc day 4 -february 16

Sycamore Access, Sycamore North Trail, Polk, Iowa, US

19 species

Really hoped for the Barred Owl I’ve documented here on two previous times. First time I’ve found Tufted Titmouse here. Glad to also pick up Carolina Wren and Pileated Woodpecker.

Quite a change from hundreds of geese a few days ago as well as other waterfowl and Bald Eagles. It looks like they’ve moved to other areas. I probably will not be back here until the trail dries a bit more. Several tire-sucking mud spots along the route.

Oh, and how did I forget! This happened Sunday evening. I had a 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM meeting in Ankeny on Sunday. On my way home on NW 26th ST (see map) — in between the “t” in “NW 26th ST” and the “Signature Self [Storage]” — I spotted a Short-eard Owl perched on a road sign right next to the street. The street is 4-lane with speeds between 35 and 50 mph along the stretch between NW 66th AV and NW 70th AV. I could slow down but not pull over. The owl and sign looked out over fallow cropland to the west with other fallow cropland to the east of the 4-lane NW 26th ST. There is private marsh / pond at the grey tear drop in the “Heartland Roofing, Siding, Solar” label. The bird was close to appropriate habitat.
Randy
Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission

 Lapland Longspur banner image copyright 2025 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

Great Backyard Bird Count

Friday - Monday, 2/14/25 - 2/17/25

The Great Backyard Bird Count is one of the National Audubon Society’s partnerships with the Cornell (University) Lab of Ornithology to assess bird populations and distributions. This international effort seeks to estimate populations when breeding and migration activities are low and population levels are most unchanging. By harnessing a huge number of citizen volunteers, population data from many areas can be gathered simultaneously by these citizen scientists, yielding a snapshot of bird population trends.

Participation in this citizen science is one of our Chapter’s top priorities, so it was not surprising that 15 teams, consisting of 27 or more volunteers submitted 66 checklists of bird observations over the four days of the GBBC. Most submitted multiple lists over multiple days. One additional team, Dotty & Bill Zales, vacationing in Gulf Shores, AL, submitted a checklist of very different birds! All these observations are submitted to the Cornell Lab’s huge database by entering eBird checklists.

Siouxland Findings: 54 species and 3 additional taxa; highlights were Golden Eagle (1), Sharp-shinned Hawk (4), Short-eared Owl (7), Northern Shrike (1), Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), Purple Finch (1), Lapland Longspur (many), White-crowned (2), Harris (8), White-throated (3) and Song (8) Sparrows, Spotted Towhee (1) and Brown-headed Cowbird (2).  For a complete list of birds and numbers found, see below or go to: https://ebird.org/tripreport/332166. One notable non-bird finding was a River Otter.

Alabama Findings: 32 species; highlights were Laughing Gull, Brown Pelican, Sandhill Crane, Black Vulture, Red-shouldered Hawk, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, Pine Warbler.

Volunteers: Leesa McNeil & Jon Nylen, Jan Null & Jerry Von Ehwegen, Kayla Sheehan & Robert Sophere, Steve & Laurie Zarych, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Maria & Rex Rundquist, Sharon & John Polifka, Dotty & Bill Zales, Kari Sandage, Pam & Kathy Pfautsch, Randy & Vickie Williams, Jerry Mennenga, Tucker Lutter, Gracie Wagonner, Jerry Probst, Rob Towler, Ed Brogie and Bill Huser.

Bill Huser, GBBC compiler

Friday, 14 February 2025

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center

Nine intrepid birders braved cool temperatures and a brisk breeze to wander the trails around the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center with Kari S. and Randy W. Ten species typical of the area and season were found around the trails. Pam P. kept vigil at the DPNC feeders from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and produced a list of 11 species.

Below images copyright 2025 by the respective photographers, used with permission. Three images on left by Randall D. Williams, two images on right by Kevin Kerr.

Backyard Birding

Some images for the Great Backyard Bird Count from a Sioux City back yard.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Below images copyright 2025 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

Owego Wetlands Complex

After the GBBC hike at the DPNC in the morning, Kevin and I decided to search for the Short-eared Owls (two images on right, below) towards evening at the Owego area. On the way there, we saw a group of Horned Larks (image on left, below) and several groups of meadowlarks.

Saw several Ring-necked Pheasants (second from left, below), Northern Harriers, American Tree Sparrows, and a Rough-legged Hawk (center image, below). It didn’t seem like we were going to see the owls this evening, but as we were leaving the area, we saw two that were hunting. A rare treat every time!

Marla & Kevin K., Sioux City, IA

Below images copyright 2025 by Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

saturDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2025

Owego Wetlands Complex

Some photos from Owego Wetland on Saturday. Most of the pics are of a Rough-legged Hawk (two left images and two right images, below). The one image of a bullet flying through the air had a yellow belly and a pointy beak of a slightly soft image I got which I am guessing is a meadowlark (center left, below). I saw a few of these, but they were moving about and not stationary. Along with some smaller birds nestled along the roadway that were dark and with light colored bellies.

Also, I am certain there were some sparrows but I couldn't get close enough for pics. Then I found a number of exposed "winter rentals" that were unoccupied (center right, below). Imagine that. Plenty of skiing opportunity.

I did see a couple smaller, dark and narrow shaped hawks flying about. One hung with a rough-legged for a bit then took off on its own.

Driving out to Owego on K-45 between Sergeant Bluff and the D-51 turn off was a bald eagle perched on one of the high line poles, its feathers ruffled out as it was scanning the surrounding area.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Below images copyright 2025 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

Sioux City

On Saturday, several species arrived at the feeders. A Cooper’s Hawk spoiled their fun for a bit, but left empty handed on this visit.

We bundled up and took a chilly hike in Stone State Park. Saw the usual suspects, with the highlight being a Brown Creeper. Kevin then headed down to the Big Sioux River, and saw Common Goldeneye and lots and lots of Canada Goose.

Below images copyright 2025 by Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

A few pics from my backyard Saturday. I didn't see any "exotic" birds any of the days I was out and looking.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Below images copyright 2025 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

I decided to try several places around Sioux City due to the weather and road conditions for the day. I knew others would cover the interior of Stone Park so I started my day at the west entrance and walked across Highway 12 for some observations along the Big Sioux. This was my best site of the day with Common Goldeneye, adult and immature Bald Eagles and other birds typical of the location and time of year. The highlight was not a bird: a River Otter. This made my day.

I then moved to Adams Homestead and discovered Jody M. shoveling snow from the sidewalk of the visitor center. I spent a little time at the newly-filled feeders then walked the Donkey Run Trail around the Homestead area. The best bird sightings were around the feeders.

My last stop for the day was the Cone Park mountain bike trails south of Singing Hills Trail. Aside from one small pocket of birds, not a lot of activity. But the trails and snow were pristine.

Randy W., Sioux City, IA

Below images copyright 2025 by Randall D. Williams, used with permission.

sunDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2025

Rural Thurston County, NE along the Missouri River

• Top Row: American Tree Sparrow, Bald Eagle, White-breasted Nuthatch

• Bottom Row, left: Mourning Dove

Owego Wetland Complex

• Bottom Row, center and right: Lapland Longspurs, Meadowlark species.

Jerry M., Sioux City, IA
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ or https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Below images copyright 2025 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

Stone Park

Eastern Bluebirds were a highlight on Sunday and Monday. Kevin and I took another brief walk in Stone Park from the Hwy 12 entrance. As we were leaving, the water in the stream was open near the entrance to the park. A small group of bluebirds were flying down to get a drink.

Marla & Kevin K., Sioux City, IA

monDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2025

This morning, we were surprised to see a group of three Eastern Bluebirds drinking from our heated bird bath, a first at our house. They returned for a drink several times, and each time we couldn’t take our eyes away from such a lovely site.

Marla & Kevin K., Sioux City, IA

Below images copyright 2025 by Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

Stone Park

Even though this is the last day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, I was curious to see if the River Otter remained in the same area. It was! Bird sightings were typical for the location and season. One immature Bald Eagle posed for me.

Randy W., Sioux City, IA

Below images copyright 2025 by Randall D. Williams, used with permission.

Banner image copyright 2024 by Jerry L. Mennenga, used with permission.

 2024 Great Backyard Bird Count

February 16-19, 2024

Twenty-seven Chapter members and guests took on the role of citizen-scientists as they participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) this past weekend. Twelve teams monitored feeders or took to the field locally while a 13th team surveyed near Reno, NV.

In all, 79 species of birds were identified and their numbers counted. The local observers recorded 54 species, while the Nevada team located 49, including 25 not seen here. Teams entered their findings  and counts directly into eBird, the vast avian database housed at Cornel University. There, these species and their abundance will be analyzed for population trends, range expansions or contractions and changes due to habitat change and climate.

The biggest surprise to local counters was the early influx of waterfowl. In addition to the expected wintering Canada Geese, Mallards, Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers; Trumpeter Swans, White-fronted, Cackling, Ross’s and Snow Geese, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintails, Gadwalls, American Wigeon, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers were recorded, many for the first time on our GBBC. Local birders appreciated finding Northern Shrike, Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated and  Harris’s Sparrows.

Locals will also appreciate some of the findings in Nevada of our itinerant Bill and Dotty Zales, who led by their daughter Amy Marincic, a resident of Reno, recorded such species as California Quail, Black Phoebe, California Scrub Jay, Stellar’s Jay, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Bewick’s Wren, Cassin’s Finch and Lesser Goldfinches, all species never seen in Siouxland.

Thank you to all our volunteers who counted birds and entered their data into the eBird database for inclusion in the Loess Hills Audubon GBBC.

Siouxland Group

Nevada Group

Snyder bend county park — thursday, 15 February 2024

• Migrating Geese at Snyder’s Bend (left)

• Geese on the Ice at Snyder’s Bend (center)

• A Bald Eagle keeping watch (right)

Below images and video copyright 2024 by Jan Null and Jerry VonEhwegen, used with permission.

Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center — Friday, 16 February 2024

Top Row: Snowy Trails, left and center by Randall Williams; Snowy Stairs, right by Marla Kerr

Bottom Row: All by Kevin Kerr, Deer (left) and Barred Owl (center and right)

All images copyright 2024 by the respective photographers as listed above, used with permission.

great backyard bird count — saturday, 17 February 2024

• A Surprise Peregrine Falcon!

• A lonely Horned Lark.

Below images and video copyright 2024 by Jan Null and Jerry VonEhwegen, used with permission.

Little Sioux Park — saturday, 17 February 2024

All below images copyright 2024 by Randall D. Williams, used with permission.

blue lake — sunday, 18 February 2024

• Geese at Blue Lake.

• Trumpeter Swans clearing the trees!

• Red-tailed Hawk in the woods.

• Ring-necked Pheasants showing their colors!

All below images copyright 2024 by Jan Null and Jerry VonEhwegen, used with permission.

snyder bend county Park — sunday, 18 February 2024

Top Row: All images by Kevin & Marla Kerr, left and center, Red-winged Blackbirds; right, White-throated Sparrow

Bottom Row: left, White-throated Sparrow by Kevin & Marla Kerr; center and right images by Randall D. Williams, Trumpeter Swans and Snow Geese Overhead

All images copyright 2024 by the respective photographers as listed above, used with permission.

Bacon Creek — monday, 19 February 2024

Banner image copyright 2023 by Marla and Kevin Kerr, used with permission.

 GBBC Outing Report – February, 2023

by Bill Huser

The Loess Hills Audubon Society participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on Saturday, February 18th. Twenty members and guests surveyed local hotspots such as the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center; Sioux City’s Bacon Creek and Riverside Parks; Snyder Bend and Little Sioux County Parks; Ponca State Park (NE), Blue Lake and Stone State Parks (IA) and the exotic locations of St. Louis County, MN and Castle Pines, CO.

Our findings were then electronically entered into the eBird database for the GBBC. By doing so, the Chapter participated in one of the largest citizen science projects in the world, one that provides researchers with a huge avian database to analyze for rare sightings, range expansions, population trends and climate change effects, among others.

Local birders recorded 44 species on Saturday the 18th, while wayward members added 6 Minnesota species and 5 Colorado species for a total of 55! The Chapter recorded another 15 species during the other three days of the 4-day GBBC period (Friday, Feb. 17 to Monday, Feb. 20) to total 70 species, in all.

The local highlight was the leading edge of waterfowl migration that included an unprecedented 107 Trumpeter Swans, thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese, Cackling and Snow Geese, Mallards, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Redhead and Ring-necked Ducks.

Raptors such as Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Rough-legged, Red-tailed and Harlan’s Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrel and Merlin, Golden Eagle and many, many Bald Eagles added to the Count’s excitement.

The even more exotic species of Ruffed Grouse, Common Raven, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks and Hoary Redpoll were uncovered at Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog by our itinerant Bob Livermore.

Dotty and Bill Zales added Steller’s Jay, Woodhouses’s Scrub-Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Chickadee and Pygmy Nuthatch during their visit to Castle Pines, CO. What a tally!

And I would like to close with a great big THANK YOU to all you participants who entered your own data through your eBird accounts. Only by each of you doing so is it practical to enter this vast amount of data in a timely manner. Also, such eBird entries record more exact locations for your sightings, something that even the long standing, meticulous Christmas Bird Counts cannot do. So, I, as well as GBBC and Global Big Day organizers, state ornithologists’ union seasonal record reporters and your fellow birders, all urge you to get on board with this universal data gathering program. Not only that, but I think all of you will be very pleased with eBird’s versatile record keeping process for your own personal records and lists, too.

List of participants (35): Bob & Phyllis Nickolson, Katie Hail-Jares, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Bob Livermore, Bill & Dotty Zales, Randy Williams, Jerry Probst, Keith Weaver, Pam Pfautch, Jerry VonEhwegen, Jan Null, Rex Rundquist, Ed Brogie, Bill Huser and 3 Ponca S.P. staff plus 15 of their Breakfast & Birds guests.

Bill Huser, LHAS Vice-President & Outings Coordinator; 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com

All above images copyright 2023 by the respective photographers as listed below, use with permission.

Marla and Kevin Kerr

• Sharp-shinned Hawk above feeders at DPNC (all the other birds disappeared)

• Canada Geese and Cackling Geese - Sioux River Bike Trail

• Red-tailed Hawk - Perry Creek Bike Trail

• Song Sparrow - Perry Creek Bike Trail

• Canada Geese - Perry Creek

• Mink in Perry Creek (2 images, from the Bike Trail)

• Cedar Waxwings - Stone Park and Talbot Road - they were beautiful! (3 images)

Jan Null

• Counting Starlings: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - ….

• A Lonely Cardinal

• A Regal Eagle

• Warming Their Feet

• Northern Harrier: Where’s the Prairie?

• Good Lunch, Dad!

• Off We Go!

• Specklebellies (Greater White-fronted Geese)

Randall D. Williams (all images from Little Sioux Park and Union Bridge Trail)

• Little Sioux River

• Adult Bald Eagle

• Immature Bald Eagle

• Sharp-shinned Hawk

Below videos copyright 2023 by Jan Null, used with permission.

Great Backyard Bird Count Chapter Outing, Saturday 13 February 2021

by Bill Huser, LHAS Outing Coordinator

Twenty Chapter members counted birds during our February outing for National Audubon’s Great Backyard Bird Count. In all, over 16 sites in four states were surveyed and found to contain 101 species and over 3500 individuals…..WHAT???? 101 species??? 4 states ???

Maybe here I should explain that while 19 members searched high and low for scarce or huddled birds in sub-zero weather, the 20th counted 61 species in 60 degree weather in Arizona. But more about this fair weather birder later.

Highlights of the sub-zero effort included two uncommon dark-phase Red-tailed Hawks and the rare Pink-sided form of Dark-eyed Junco. Other less common or unseasonal species found were Brown Creeper, Lapland Longspur, 2 flocks of Rusty Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbird and Spotted Towhee. However, the count’s biggest surprise was a single White-winged Crossbill at a local feeder. After waiting nearly an entire winter for this species, which had been reported widely in small numbers across the region this season, we had our first crossbill of the winter.

Now, that brings us back our itinerant birder, Paul Roisen, who forwarded his list from Arizona.

Totaling 61 species, his report included some of our summer residents plus the following not to be seen in our area at any season:  Inca Dove, Gambel’s Quail, Neotropical Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Common Gallinule, Anna’s and Costa’s Hummingbirds, Monk Parakeet, Harris’s Hawk, Greater Roadrunner, Gilded Flicker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Vermillion Flycatcher, Phainopepla, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Lesser Goldfinch and Abert’s Towhee. A few lifers for some of us there!

All in all, the Count went well with very good participation, tolerable temperatures and over 3400 cooperative birds. However, data submission was a bit problematic with all data going to eBird. They did allow for individuals and groups with a leader, but did not allow, as far as I could determine, for a single compiler submitting for several groups at several different locations. So, I was not able to submit for others, as I had planned. Therefore, I urge each of you to set up an eBird account for such occasions when you are birding on your own or seeing birds the rest of us are not. I assure you it is quite painless to set up an account. In fact, an upcoming Chapter program is planned to show you the power and fun of eBird. Go to eBird.org to get started.

Our list from IA, NE & SD - Totals: 40 species, 3419 individuals