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Calendar of Events

October Bird Migration

Thursday, October 1, 2026

The following is a partial list of birds that migrate through our area and approximate times to see them. Arrival times can be affected by weather patterns.

All Month
- Grebes - Western, Horned & Eared (Lake Manawa, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties)
- Raptors: Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Coopers's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed Hawk (Hitchcock Nature Area, Iowa; Neale Woods, Omaha)
- Passerines: Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren (Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue)
- American Pipit (Jack Sinn WMA, Lancaster County)
- Ruby-crowned, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; parks; yards)
- LeConte's Sparrow, Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (rare) (Jack Sinn WMA, Lancaster County)
- Fox, Lincoln's, Swamp, Whit-throated, White-crowned, Harris Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, Purple Finch (Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue; Neale Woods, Omaha; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; Elmwood Park, Omaha)

Early Month
- Double-crested Cormorant (Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; Lake Manawa, Iowa)

Early - Mid Month
- Osprey (Hitchcock Nature Area, Iowa; area lakes)
- Swainson's Hawk, American Kestrel (Hitchcock Nature Area, Iowa)
- Franklin's Gull (Lake Manawa, Iowa (large numbers))
- Orange-crowned, Nashville, Pine Warblers (Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue; Neale Woods, Omaha; Elmwood Park, Omaha)

Mid - Late Month
- Common Loon, Horned Grebe (Lake Manawa, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties)
- Sabine's Gull (Branched Oak & Pawnee Lakes, Lancaster County)

Late Month
- Ducks and Geese (Area Lakes)
- Bonaparte's Gull (Cunningham Lake, Omaha; Lake Manawa, Iowa)
- Saw Whet Owl (rare) (Pine and Cedar Groves)
- American Tree Sparrow (Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; rural roadsides)

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