** Michael Dossett asks -

> Wasn't there an Oriole of some sort seen in either B.C. or Alberta
> earlier last November?

Yep. Two or three Hooded Orioles _Icterus cucullatus_ in 1997 in BC. Here is
a bit describing the first two occurrences:

"A probable first-spring male *Hooded Oriole* which showed up at a N. Saanich
residence May 6 (p.v., ph. $Audrey & Bob Wallis), as well as providing the 1st
B.C. and 2nd Canadian record for the species, stayed the next day giving many
local birders the chance to see it ($BB, $BRG, $DFF, m. ob.). <snip>. It was
more than likely the same bird that turned up in Coquitlam on the other side of
Georgia Strait May 25 (p.v. $Lori, Victor, Colleen & Tanya Austin). This
continues a well-established pattern of spring icterid vagrancy to s. B.C."

Note, not everyone agrees that this was the same bird so there could have been
two around.

Also, on Nov. 19, 1997, another male Hooded Oriole showed up at Terrace on the
north coast of BC. It is still there as I write and managed to survive two weeks
of Arctic air in early January. I just received a photo of this bird today and
it is a stunner. Has been surviving on store-bought oriole nectar (carried by
Canadian Tire here in Canada).

- Jack



Jack Bowling
RR1-S14-C41
Prince George, BC
Canada
V2N 2H8
phone: (250) 963-7837
fax: (250) 963-7801
jbowling at direct.ca