Fellow Birders,

A recent email from Dave Fix contained some interesting information on
Long-billed Murrelets. I will pass it on. Dave has worked with Marbled
Murrelet surveys the past several summers, and has seen a few
Long-billeds.




The Long-billed Murrelet situation is intriguing. I would suggest that
Oregonians wanting to see this RARE bird --for that is clearly what it
is--
concentrate efforts in late July through August. They may be wintering
along the coast, but note that the Oregon and Del Norte/Humboldt records
indicate that late summer is a reasonable time to search. This is not to
say that Marbled Murrelets should be disregarded at any season.

The few sightings of perdix by the 'murrelet crew' have to be compared to
the THOUSANDS, and I do mean thousands and thousands, of Marbled Murrelets
that were seen in the course of survey work. Consider that even seeing
900
murrelets in a day between Florence and Newport doesn't raise the odds
very
much. It's luck and persistence. We have done scores of lengthy
transects
all along the coast from SJCR to Bodega Bay and have come up with only the
few records noted by Mlodinow. I was fortunate enough to see several of
them, and also to have discovered the one photographed at the entrance to
Humboldt Bay.

I would suggest that any report of this species in Oregon be backed by
good
photos and that all other species of murrelets be absolutely eliminated
from
consideration. I'm a bit afraid of 'Long-bill Fever' breaking out. On
the
other hand, any report of Xantus's Murrelet from shore should include
description of lack of white scaps because Long-billed definitely can look
like a Xantus's in winter.

Craig Strong is an independent contract biologist who has done murrelet
surveys as Crescent Coastal Research under contract with ODF&W. I worked
as a private consultant for him.

Along lines of murrelet ID, since more birder will be looking at them, it
should be noted again that juvenile Marbleds are obvious in June and July,
but that any basic-plumaged bird in August or September cannot be aged
unless wing molt (or absence of it) or belly color is noted.


David