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Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley

Chihuahuan Raven -- (Corvus cryptoleucus)


Nebraska Status: A rare and irregular nesting species; status is questionable (Johnsgard 1980). Previously an uncommon resident and nesting species in Adams and Kearney counties.

Platte River Status: A rare and irregular nesting species, known to have nested in Adams, Hall, and Kearney counties. The last sight record from the study area was an adult observed by Faanes 16 km south of Oshkosh, Keith County, (T. 12 N. - R. 38 W.) on 17 June 1979.

Breeding Range: Rare, irregular, and local on the Eastern Plain and Western Plain.

Breeding Population: We were unable to obtain an estimate of this species nesting population because of the small numbers and irregular occurrence in the study area. Our best estimate is that no more than five pairs occupy the Platte River Valley during any particular year.

Habitat: Johnsgard (1979) described Great Plains nesting habitat of this species as open and arid grasslands with scattered trees, cactus, and soapweed yucca; Chihuahuan raven is not generally associated with river valleys. The Keith County record was of an adult perched on a telephone pole overlooking an area of remnant shortgrass prairie.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Chihuahuan raven occurs too sporadically and in too small numbers to be impacted by habitat alteration in the Platte River Valley.

Nesting Data: Brooking (1944) reported an active nest near Wilcox, Kearney County (T. 5 N. - R. 16 W.) that contained three young on 11 June 1944. Brooking mentions an earlier, probable, nest record for Adams County involving a pair collected 25 April 1927 near Holstein. Brown (1947) described a nest containing five eggs on 18 April 1947 near Axtell, Kearny County. Coons (1976) reported a pair of Chihuahuan ravens and a nest near Camp Augustine, Hall County, on 24 April 1976. Six young were in the nest 8 May, and were ready to fledge by 15 May.


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