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Platte River Status: An abundant migrant and locally abundant nesting species throughout the study area. Occurrence dates at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 15 May to 27 September. Tout (1947) considered cliff swallow a rare nesting species in Lincoln County, present 24 April to 14 September. Rosche (1979) reported cliff swallow in the lower North Platte River Valley during 24 April to 25 August. Mohler (1952) mentions a large cliff swallow colony that was active from 1942 to 1950 on the spillway of Kingsley Dam, Keith County.

Breeding Range: A locally abundant and widely distributed nesting species in the Platte River Valley physiographic region. Locally common on the Eastern Plain and Dissected Plain; uncommon and local elsewhere.

Breeding Population: The estimated population in 1979-1980 was 20,000 nesting pairs. Cliff swallow made up 0.7% of the total breeding bird numbers on the study area those years.

Habitat: We found the highest mean nesting density in river channel islands (65.2 pairs/km²), followed by lowland forest (5.2 pairs/km²), domestic hayland (1.0 pairs/km²), upland prairie (0.5 pairs/km²), wet prairie (0.2 pairs/km²), and alfalfa (0.2 pairs/km²). The high densities recorded in habitats within and adjacent to the river channel were undoubtedly made up of birds nesting under highway bridges crossing the river. Rising (1974) found cliff swallow nesting commonly in colonies under bridges, within culvert pipes, on rock ledges, or on old buildings in western Kansas. Faanes (1982) found cliff swallows on a central North Dakota study area nesting almost exclusively beneath highway bridges and on other artificial structures.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Cliff swallow has benefited from the construction of highway bridges and other structures that support nest placement. Alteration of native habitats has probably produced a neutral impact on this species.

Nesting Data: Colonies exist under bridges and on the side of buildings as well as on exposed banks throughout the study area. We found a colony of 1078 nests beneath the North Platte River bridge near the North Platte airport on 29 May 1980. Jones (1933) mentions that for many years the largest nesting colony in south-central Nebraska was located on a farm along the Ft. Kearney road near Newark (Sec. 22, T. 8 N., R. 16 W.), and on the south bank of the Platte River opposite Kearney. We have found recently fledged young in Hall County as late as 7 July. Egg dates in Kansas range from 21 May to 30 June (Johnsgard 1979).