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Spring birds in the Sandhills

I spent a good chunk of time in the Nebraska Sandhills the past two weeks and below are a few avian photo highlights from the foray as well as a couple landscape shots.

Sandhills Sandhills with early morning fog near Antioch

Western Meadowlarks are as common as dirt in the Sandhills. Eastern Meadowlarks can also be found in the wet meadows of the Sandhills.
Western Meadowlarks are as common as dirt in the Sandhills. Eastern Meadowlarks can also be found in the wet meadows of the Sandhills.
A number of Say's Phoebes were seen.
A number of Say’s Phoebes, a flycatcher that inhabits open country, were seen.
These lingering Sandhill Cranes were found in Grant County.
These lingering Sandhill Cranes were found in Grant County.
A Ferruginous Hawk in Garden County.
I never grow tired of seeing Ferruginous Hawks. This one was in northeastern Garden County.
Wilson's Snipe making a living in a roadside ditch.
Wilson’s Snipe making a living in a roadside ditch.
Mourning Dove.
Mourning Dove on a fencepost.
Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Horned Larks are ubiquitous but don't often pose for a picture.
Horned Larks are ubiquitous but don’t often pose for a picture.
One of my favorite birds, the Long-billed Curlew.
One of my favorite birds, the Long-billed Curlew.
Sandhills lake in Morrill County at dusk (with a full moon).
Sandhills lake in Morrill County at dusk (with a full moon).

Spring is here and there are all sorts of birds to see and experience.  Get out there, and, good birding!

Nongame Bird Program

About Joel Jorgensen

Joel Jorgensen is a Nebraska native and he has been interested in birds just about as long as he has been breathing. He has been NGPC’s Nongame Bird Program Manager for eight years and he works on a array of monitoring, research, regulatory and conservation issues. Nongame birds are the 400 or so species that are not hunted and include the Whooping Crane, Least Tern, Piping Plover, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. When not working, he enjoys birding.

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