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Platte River Status: A fairly common migrant and nesting species. Occurrence dates at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 20 April to 23 September. Tout (1947) recorded spotted sandpiper commonly in Lincoln County during 30 April to 29 September. Rosche (1979) found this species in the lower North Platte River Valley 5 May to 3 October.

Breeding Range: A fairly common and widely distributed nesting species within the Platte River Valley physiographic region. Rare and localized on the Eastern Plain where apparently restricted to the Rainwater Basin area.

Breeding Population: The population was estimated at 830 breeding pairs in 1979-1980.

Habitat: We found the highest mean breeding density in prairie wetlands (6.2 pairs/km²), followed by river channel islands (4.9 pairs/km²). In 1983, nesting was observed in wet meadows at the Mormon Island. High water levels in the Platte River precluded nesting on riverine sandbars and sandy shoreline areas that year. Johnsgard (1980) stated that throughout Nebraska, nesting spotted sandpipers are associated with exposed or sparsely vegetated shorelines, or islands in streams or natural wetlands.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: The loss of sandbars in the open river channel through vegetation encroachment, and wetlands in the uplands through drainage, have produced a negative impact on this species across the study area.

Nesting Data: At least 10 nests have been located at the Mormon Island. Egg dates there range from 7 June to 12 July. Peak hatching occurs in late June; dependent young have been observed from 21 June to 23 July. Tout (1947) found a nest in Lincoln County on 13 June 1931 located in sandy soil within the channel of the South Platte River. Egg dates in North Dakota extend from 30 May to 30 June (Stewart 1975).