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Platte River Status: A fairly common permanent resident within our study area. Northern cardinal nests along the North Platte River to the Wyoming border and along the South Platte River to Colorado (Johnsgard 1980). Rosche (1979) recorded northern cardinal in the lower North Platte River Valley during all months except December, January and July. Tout (1947) considered northern cardinal not common in streamside forests in Lincoln County.

Breeding Range: A fairly common nesting species along the eastern reaches of the Platte River west to Dawson County, and on the Eastern Plain. Uncommon and local in the Platte River Valley west from Dawson County. Rare and highly local in most regions not directly adjacent to the Platte River system from Lincoln County west. Northern cardinal was found west along the Platte and South Platte rivers to Big Springs, Deuel County in 1956 (Short 1961).

Breeding Population: The 1979-1980 population was estimated at 5,475 breeding pairs, which made up 0.2% of the total bird population in the study area.

Habitat: We found the highest mean breeding densities in lowland forest (4.2 pairs/km²) followed by river channel island (2.2 pairs/km²) and residential (1.5 pairs/km²). Most northern cardinals found during the nesting season are in heavy shrub growth associated with edge situations, and in residential areas where ornamental plantings and park vegetation are used heavily. Rising (1974) stated that northern cardinal is extending its range westward across trans-plains watercourses. Graber and Graber (1963) reported 400 birds per km² from edge shrubs and 57 km² from forests in Illinois.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: The northern cardinal has benefited from de-watering of the Platte River system, and the subsequent encroachment of wooded vegetation within the stream channels. Vegetation establishment has apparently encouraged the westward expansion of this species across the breadth of Nebraska, as evidenced by nesting occurring to the Wyoming and Colorado borders. Development of cities and the establishment of ornamental plantings in residential areas has also proven positive for this bird. Graber and Graber (1963) believed that the population increase observed in Illinois northern cardinal between 1909 and 1958 was due to an increased area of wooded vegetation there.

Nesting Data: We have found five nests containing eggs or young in the study area; mean clutch size was 4.0 eggs. Egg dates in Kansas range from 1 April to 20 September. The latter dates are indicative of multiple broods. Most nesting in Nebraska occurs from early May to early June.