Loup Generator — Fall 2020

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Interior Least terns and piping plovers make shallow depressions on sandbars for their nests. Piping plovers typically lay four eggs and line the nest with pebbles (top photo), while least terns lay three eggs (bottom). Photos by Michael Gutzmer. A biological opinion issued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2016 also noted the positive impact of dredging on the bird populations. “Dredging has not only kept the canal open but has resulted in the generation and regeneration of interior least tern nesting habitat through the creation of these sand piles.” The report also noted without the dredging, vegetation would likely encroach into nesting areas, resulting in a loss of habitat. While annual bird surveys and dredging season limits are mandated in the District’s license, Shank said Loup is mindful of our natural resources and wants to be good stewards of those resources. This includes continuing to learn and gather information to better help both species. “We strive for conservation and the sustainability of these ecosystems and our operations,” he said. The Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership, based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is also working to protect the birds along the Lower Platte, Loup, and Elkhorn Rivers. Elsa Forsberg is a lead technician with the group and conducts surveys at the Headworks during the summer, counting birds and checking nests. Numbers last year were disappointing due to flooding caused by a mid- March storm, but have improved this year. “The partnership with the Headworks provides additional off-river habitat and enables us to monitor and protect the nests there,” Forsberg said. “It is very valuable.” SUMMER 2020 BIRD SURVEY SURVEY DATE May 18–20 June 2–3 June 15–16 July 1–2 July 13–14 INTERIOR LEAST TERN Loup River Bypass Lower Platte River 6 14 16 34 17 34 14 28 7 27 PIPING PLOVER Loup River Bypass Lower Platte River 5 1 1 2 3 2 7 0 11 11 Source: New Century Environmental Below left: A piping plover uses the “broken wing display” to defend its nest. Photo by Michael Gutzmer. Below right: A piping plover chick explores. Tern and plover nests, eggs, and chicks are well camouflaged, making them difficult to see. Photo by Kate Asmus. 14 GENERATOR
PIPING PLOVER STATUS: Threatened DESCRIPTION: Small migratory shorebird bird about the size of a robin. Named for the melodic “piping” of its call. Sandy-colored back and white underparts. Single black neck band and a short orange bill with a black tip. NEBRASKA HABITAT: In Nebraska, the habitat of the piping plover has been reduced due to years of humancaused changes to natural river systems. Today piping Photo by Kate Asmus plovers nest along portions of the Missouri, Platte, Niobrara, Loup, and Elkhorn Rivers in Nebraska. They nest on river sandbars, lakeshore housing developments, reservoirs, and sand and gravel mines. NESTING: Piping plovers make shallow scrapes in the sand and line them with small pebbles. The female lays three to four eggs. Both parents share incubation duties. Eggs hatch in about a month and young leave the nests within hours, but remain near parents for a few weeks. The young can fly in 18–28 days. REASONS FOR DECLINE: Heavily hunted in the late 1800s for their feathers, which were used in the millinery (hat) trade. They started to rebound, but dam construction and water diversion changed river flow and reduced nesting habitat in the 1930s and 40s. Humans have also caused changes to the landscape and increased the number of predators. In the wintering grounds in Texas, beach development and sea level rise have also decreased habitat. DIET: Insects and small aquatic invertebrates. DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR: Adults defend nests with a broken wing display. They make alarm calls, limp, and pretend to be injured to lead the intruder away from nest and chicks There are three populations of piping plovers. The Great Lakes population of piping plovers is endangered. The Northern Great Plains and Atlantic Coast populations are threatened. INTERIOR LEAST TERN STATUS: Endangered DESCRIPTION: The smallest members of the tern family, a little smaller than a robin. Deep forked tail. White body, black cap with white forehead, and light gray wings. Yellow bill with a black tip. NEBRASKA HABITAT: Interior least terns were once found in Nebraska throughout the major river systems, but their range has been reduced because of habitat loss. Today they nest along portions of the Missouri, Platte, Niobrara, Loup, and Elkhorn Rivers. They nest on river sandbars, reservoirs, lakeshore housing developments, and sand and gravel mines. NESTING: Nest in colonies. Lay 2 to 3 eggs in a small depression in bare sand. Eggs take about 21 days to hatch. The chicks typically leave the nests within two days of hatching, but depend on their parents for food and protection for about three weeks. REASONS FOR DECLINE: At the time of listing in 1985, the interior least tern was believed to have been eliminated from much of its summer nesting range by the construction of dams and other forms of river engineering, such as channelization, that inundated and destroyed their nesting islands and bars and altered flow regimes. DIET: Small fish. Photo by Platte River Recovery Implementation Program DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR: Adults defend nest and chicks by mobbing, dive bombing, and defecating on intruders. Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | Tern and Plover Conservation Partnership FALL 2020 15
Page 1 and 2: GENERA OR a publication of Loup Pow
Page 3 and 4: PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Covid-19 update
Page 5 and 6: “ Troubles and bubbles notwithsta
Page 7 and 8: The Omaha World-Herald printed a pi
Page 9 and 10: watch out for SCAMS! Utility scamme
Page 11 and 12: Above: The inside of a digital gove
Page 13: Pair of nesting least terns. Photo
Page 17 and 18: NEAL SUESS President/CEO Suess join
Page 19 and 20: THREE DRIVE SYSTEM MODES The Outlan

Loup Generator — Fall 2020

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