Appendix E-6: Consultation - Part 1 - Loup Power District

number of areas that possess very limited or
marginal habitat were not included in the
survey. These sites have generally been
surveyed in the past and it has been determined
that there is a low likelihood of birds occupying
them. They include some isolated sandpits and
minor river systems, such as the Little Blue
River. It is believed that inclusion of these areas
would have had minimal impact on totals
recorded during the 2006 Census.
While it serves as a useful baseline, it is difficult
to know whether the survey results represent the
actual number of birds in Nebraska. While this
year’s effort to determine detection probability
is a positive step forward, there is perhaps the
need to standardize other portions of the survey
so that long-term inferences can be made from
the data. This may be difficult, given
Nebraska’s varied habitat types and the various
methods (e.g. airboat, foot, canoe) used to
survey areas. Standardization of some aspects
would be useful, however, particularly when
there are personnel changes.
All survey participants deserve a great deal of
credit for the effort and time that they put into
the 2006 survey. Participants include: Kari
Andresen, Diane Beachly, Mark Czaplewski,
Kathy DeLara, Leslie Farnham, Kristy Hajny,
Robert Harms, Michael Hart, Renae Held, Jim
Jenniges, Joel Jorgensen, Justin King, Elizabeth
Murray, Sean O’Brien, Dan Roberts, Soren
Rundquist, Matt Schwartz, Robin Smith, Dugan
Smith, Martha Tacha, Chris Thody, Gareth
Welke, Erica Wilson, Gabriel Wilson, and
Stephen Wilson.
Comparison of Census Numbers 1
1991 1996 2001 2006
Total
398 375 308 893 2
Adults
1 Missouri River data are included in all totals.
2 This is the total from a single survey at each site; if more than
one survey was conducted, we count only results from the first
survey during the census window.
Detectability Study
Sites Included
First
Count
Second
Count
Central Platte River, Sandy
Channels/Johnson Pit
6 6
Central Platte (RM 230-235) 2 2
Lower Platte River, Cullom
(New Pit)
0 0
Lower Platte River,
Plattsmouth Pit 1
0 0
Lower Platte River, Arps
East Pit
0 0
Lower Platte River, Arps
West Pit
0 0
Lower Platte River,
Lux S&G 1
6 6
Lower Platte River, Western
Fremont Pit 1
6 5
Lower Platte River, Ginger
Cove Pit (Valley #11) 1 3 3
Lower Platte River, Mallard
Pit at Valley 1
1 2
Central Platte River, Central
S&G, Grand Island
0 0
North Platte River, Lake
McConaughy, Dam to Vans E
North Platte River, Lake
127 107
McConaughy, Cedar View to
W end
North Platte River, Lake
0 0
McConaughy, S side Vans to
W end
3 33
Elkhorn River, Central S&G
Norfolk #92
2 2
Elkhorn River, Pilger S&G,
Norfolk Pit
0 0
Central Platte River, Grigsby
Pit
7 4
Lower Platte River, Dolezal
Pit East
0 0
1 Replicate survey was conducted first (outside of Census
window) so second survey was used to calculate official state
total.