Subject: Re: Good Sparrow?
Date: Oct 21 02:46:46 1997
From: Jack Bowling - jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca


Libor asked-

"
I just wanted to ask if this bird in the BC interior is rare or a common
occurrence in the winter.

Was doing some banding in the backyard this evening after work catching the
usual stuff Juncos, Stellar's etc. I went to check the net and traps only
to find an adult Harris' Sparrow in one of my Potter traps. I took alot of
pictures because it was a lifer for me to band, and I didn't know how rare
this bird is for BC. The maps show that its range does not come this far.
But during migration almost anything can happen.

Does anyone know of the occurrence of this bird for the interior Kootenays?
Is this rare or do we get them during the winter commonly or uncommonly?
Godfrey states that the bird is a "....scarce transient in BC but recorded
west to Vancouver Island...." and it "Winters sparingly in southern BC
(Victoria, Sumas, Lilloet)."
-----

Harris' Sparrows are good birds anywhere south of its treeline breeding
grounds. But they *can* show up just about anywhere. The few local P.G. records
are mostly from late Sep.-mid.-Oct which fits with advancing snowline up north.

- Jack


Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca