Breeding Birds of the Platte River Valley
Belted Kingfisher -- (Ceryle alcyon)
Nebraska Status: A common migrant, summer resident, and uncommon winter resident across the state (Johnsgard 1980). Peak migrations occur 14 February to 20 March in spring and during mid November in fall.
Platte River Status: A fairly common migrant, uncommon nesting species and rare winter resident throughout the study area. Tout (1947) reported this species as a permanent resident in Lincoln County, but suggested that individuals present in winter were not necessarily the same as those present in summer.
Breeding Range: Apparently restricted during the nesting season to the Platte River Valley physiographic region and along the Little Blue River on the Eastern Plain.
Breeding Population: The population in 1979-1980 was estimated at 65 breeding pairs . Because of the species distribution within the study area, we believe that the population was slightly underestimated.
Habitat: We found the highest mean breeding density in river channel island (3.2 pairs/km2), and in wet prairies (<0.2 pairs/km2). Because this species excavates nest burrows in embankments and feeds almost exclusively on fish, it is largely restricted to riparian areas. Rising (1974) found belted kingfisher restricted to riparian habitats in western Kansas. Faanes (1981) reported an active nest burrow in western Wisconsin that was about 2 km from the nearest water.
Effect of Habitat Alteration: Belted kingfisher has benefited from vegetation encroachment in the river channel primarily through increased numbers of tree limbs along the river that can be used for hunting perches. The reduced frequency and duration of scouring action by ice within the river channel however, has greatly reduced the formation of banks and escarpments that are needed for nest burrow construction. Belted kingfishers were absent from streams extensively overgrown with shoreline vegetation in Michigan (Salyer and Lagler 1949). The population increased when beavers flooded the area, creating expanses of open water. Human activity can create sites suitable for nest burrow construction (White 1953, Hamas 1974), including railroad and road cuts (Bent 1940) and sand and gravel pits (Bull 1974). Only 11% and 16% of nests found in two Minnesota studies were located in natural sites; artificial banks formed by road cuts, gravel pits, and landfills provided the majority of nest sites (Cornwell 1963, Hamas 1974).
Nesting Data: Lingle found nest burrows at the Mormon Island Crane Meadows, Hall County, during 1981-1986. On 28 March 1981, a nest burrow was being excavated in the river bank. A recently hatched eggshell was found beneath this cavity on 16 May 1981. Faanes heard young calling from within a nest burrow along a Garden County roadside on 4 June 1980. Johnsgard (1979) reported egg dates from Kansas during 21 April to 20 May.
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