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Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley

Bank Swallow -- (Riparia riparia)


Nebraska Status: A common migrant and summer resident, becoming less common in the west (Johnsgard 1980). Peak migrations occur 28 April to 6 May in spring and during 23 August to 15 September in fall.

Platte River Status: A common migrant and fairly common summer resident; uncommon and local in the west. Dates of occurrence at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, extend from 22 April to 17 August. Tout (1947) reported bank swallow in Lincoln County during 26 April to 27 September. Rosche (1979) found bank swallow during 6 May to 11 September in the lower North Platte River Valley.

Breeding Range: Restricted primarily to the Platte River Valley physiographic region where a locally fairly common nesting species; uncommon and local on the Eastern Plain and Dissected Plain.

Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 2,685 nesting pairs.

Habitat: We found the highest mean breeding densities associated with river channel islands (0.5 pairs/km2), and upland prairie (0.2 pairs/km2). Undoubtedly the individuals recorded over the river channel islands were birds nesting in exposed banks adjacent to the river channel. Tout (1947) observed bank swallow in Lincoln County primarily in canyons along the Platte River and along small streams in the southern part of that county.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: We believe that the current level of habitat alteration in the study area has produced no obvious impacts on this species.

Nesting Data: The observation of Tout (1947) of a bank swallow entering a hole in a bank near North Platte in 1941 was the first evidence of confirmed nesting in the study area. We found two active nests in a bank along the North Platte River, Lincoln County on 29 May 1980. Egg dates in Kansas extend from 11 May to 20 June (Johnsgard 1979).


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