Subject: Re: A Ross' Gull's demise - not an isolated incident
Date: Dec 20 10:48:08 1994
From: Stuart MacKay - stuart.mackay at mccaw.com


On Mon, 19 Dec 1994 14:22:28 -0500 (EST), Peter Hunt, wrote:

> One wonders if the late Ross's Gull from Port Weller, Ontario was

> the same individual that was in Quebec the previous week. There

> seems to be some precedent for seabirds to follow the St. Lawrence
> upstream to the Great Lakes.

> And with reference to its untimely demise at the hands of a Great

> Horned Owl. I would almost be willing to bet that there was

> something about the Ross's Gull that made it easier prey than one

> might expect given the numbers of other gulls (to quote Gerry

> Rising: "...owl had picked out this bird from the dozens of other

> more common gulls"). Quite possibly its behavior, schedule, and/or

> roosting spot was slightly different, and the owl didn't have to

> pick it out from anything.


This brings to mind the case of a River Warbler which turned up in
Shetland, (islands about 250km north of mainland Scotland) in 1967 (I
think). The first record for the UK and possibly western Europe, it
drew lots of attention from birders in the area. I thinks its nearest
breeding sight is northern India/Siberia - to give you an idea of how
far it was off course - 6000km or so.

The birds was feeding in a garden - closely observed by the half
dozen or so birders - remember this took place almost in birding
pre-history ;-) The bird disappeared for a few minutes. Next thing
one of the local cats came trotting across the lawn, three guesses
what it had in it's mouth !!!!! Once the birders got over the shock,
the cat was promptly chased, caught and the bird extracted.
Unfortunately it was too late. A sad end for a bird which had flown
all the way across Asia Minor, Europe and the treacherous North Sea.

I know of several other cases from back home, involving scarce birds:
Thrush Nightingale, Leach's Petrel, Red-breasted Fylcatcher, ....

Whether vagrants are more susceptable to being predated is another
question - lack of experience with potential threats may be a factor
or does it seem that lightning strikes as often as possible ?


Stuart
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