Desoto Bend & Henry Doorly Zoo Trip

saturday, february 21, 2026

Contradicting the very meaning of the term, our February outing was to the indoor venues of Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha on Saturday, February 21. There, we intended to study the birds of the Leid Jungle, Desert Dome, Scott Aquarium and Grewcock Butterfly Pavillion.

The Zoo’s avian collection includes species from all seven continents that were mostly unknown to Chapter members making the trip. We all willingly enlisted in this experiment knowing that we had no experience with these species and that we did not have the proper field guides. We would have to rely on the zoo’s signs and online sleuthing to identify nearly all the species found. We would also try to photograph many and identify them later.

Once on site, we found the birds in enclosures easy to study and well-marked with identifying signs. However, the uncaged mysteries were hard to study and wandered far from ‘their signs’ in the large, open spaces of the Desert and Jungle. The free flying flew, the grounded hid and we struggled.

All in all, we found and identified 32 species using techniques such as photographing the signs, searching with binoculars, photographing all we could see and then matching up birds with signs or online sleuthing results. Fortunately, we were accompanied by full-time photographer Jerry Menninga who waited and crawled for the best possible shots, all greatly helping our identification efforts.

13 Participants: Sharon & John Polifka, Jerry Probst, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Rex & Maria Rundquist, Kayla Sheehan, Robert Sophere, Jerry Mennenga, Tim & Vikki Jacobs and Bill Huser.

Species:

Cape Teal (Africa) Common Murre (North America)

Yellow-billed Duck (Africa) Tufted Puffin (North America/ Pacific)

Baer’s Pochard (E. Asia) Atlantic Puffin (North America/ Atlantic)

Victoria Crowned Pigeon (New Guinea) Gentoo Penguin (Antarctica)

Nicobar Pigeon (SE Asia) Rockhopper Penguin (Antarctica)

Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove (Philippines) King Penguin (Antarctica)

White-winged Dove (N. America) White-cheeked Turaco (Africa)

Argus Pheasant (SE Asia) Honey Creeper (Hawaii)

Sun Bittern (C., S. America) Azure-winged Magpie (E. Asia)

Hadada Ibis (Africa) Speckled Mousebird (Africa)

Masked lapwing (Australia, N.Z.) White-headed Buffalo Weaver (E. Africa)

Roadrunner (N. America) Chestnut Weaver (Africa)

Kookaburra (Australia) Blue-gray Tanager (C., S. America)

Turkey Vulture (N. America) Yellow-rumped Cacique (C., S. America)

Tawny Frogmouth (Australia) Red-billed Hornbill (Africa)

Eagle Owl (Eurasia) Burrrowing Owl (North America)

Outing Report by William F Huser, Vice-president and Outing Coordinator

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

On the way down to the Zoo, we stopped at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge for a quick view from the observation windows. 22 species of birds were observed. A variety of sparrows under the feeders provided us with an opportunity to test our sparrow ID skills. Bufflehead and Merganser entertained us with their swimming and diving skills.

Marla Kerr

Show & Go Outing

saturday, january 10, 2026

owego wetland area & broken kettle grasslands area

Knowing that birds are hard to find in midwinter, we had previously decided that the January outing would be a ‘Show & Go,’ where we would decide that morning what would be the most interesting destination. Reports of Trumpeter Swans at Blue Lake, Trumpeter Swans and a Long-tailed Duck at Gavin’s Point Dam, Short-eared Owls at Owego and a Townsend’s Solitaire at Broken Kettle Grasslands were all considered, but the intrigue of raptors won out; Short-eared Owls at Owego and Golden Eagle and the Solitaire at Broken Kettle was our plan.

The eight members assembled hustled southward to try to see the Owls before they retired for the day. We apparently were too late despite the heavy cloud cover that darkened the morning. However, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks were busy starting their day, as were Northern Harriers. Several light phase Rough-legged Hawks exhibited their standard field marks: heavy, dark belly band, dark patches at the bend of the wing, light-colored head, a white tail with a distinct dark terminal band and their hovering hunting technique. Another individual was an interesting dark phase Rough-legged Hawk with the previous marks obscured save for the tail pattern and hunting technique.

After the trip northward to Broken Kettle Grasslands we converged on the site of the Townsend’s Solitaire found earlier in the week by Tucker Lutter. We used a recording of the Solitaire’s winter call note to coax the bird from the dense stand of cedars and deciduous trees where the bird has been feeding and using for cover. Almost immediately, we noted a solitary bird at the very top of a cottonwood across the road. A quick look with binocs revealed a slender, gray bird with a relatively long tail. The bird cooperated and stayed on this perch while we set up a spotting scope for a better view that confirmed the gray color and revealed a small head and bill, eye ring and long tail. Though we did not see the salmon wing stripes on the extended wing, one of Jerry Mennenga’s photos captured that definitive field mark. The Solitaire was a life bird for 5 of the 8 participants.

While all this transpired an immature Golden Eagle soared overhead. This large dark raptor showed a smaller head and bill, relative to a Bald Eagle, and more distinct white on the base of the tail and primaries. Again, Jerry got a definitive photo!

For a complete list and Jerry’s photos of the Golden Eagle and Townsend’s Solitaire see

https://ebird.org/tripreport/462966

Participants: Sharon & John Polifka, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Kayla Sheehan, Robert Sophere, Jerry Mennenga and Bill Huser.

Twelve Species (and Meadowlarks): Rock Pigeon, Golden Eagle, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Merlin, American Crow, Townsend’s Solitaire, American Tree Sparrow.

Narrative Report by Bill Huser, Outing Coordinator and Vice-President

Jerry Mennenga: “Some photos from the LHAS outing this weekend. I brought a shorter lens with me for the trip so didn't have the reach for the Golden Eagle and the Solitaire birds. As well as for rhe Rough-legged hawks perched around The Square.
Did find some Bald Eagles along the Big Sioux River as I made my way back for lunch and upon a return, only found one willing to cooperate for a moment of two to get a couple pics of it.”
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/

Birds Rural Plymouth County 2026 01-10_0101_DxO.jpg

Birds Rural Plymouth County 2026 01-10_0141_DxO.jpg

After leaving the Broken Kettle Grasslands area, we all headed to Harvey’s Restaurant in Riverside for lunch. Hot Beef Sandwiches and plate sized pancakes were popular lunch choices. After lunch, six birders headed to Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center to participate in the Loess Hills Wild Ones Winter Sowing Seeds Workshop (starting cold-hardy native seeds outdoors in recycled plastic containers during winter). The other two birders headed back to Highway 12 and the Big Sioux River area in search of Bald Eagles to photograph.

by Marla Kerr, Loess Hills Audubon Society President