To answer Gerrie's question: I have been told that the B.C. Field
Ornithologists' Records Committee, which is made up of some of the most
experienced birders in B.C., has failed to accept the Xantus' Hummingbird as
a valid record. I believe there were two dissenting votes.

Gary Davidson has been chairman of the BCFO Records Committee since its
inception. Gary, perhaps you would like to comment for the benefit of
Tweeters on the reasons for the dissenting votes?

Personally, I am satisfied that this hummer was a wild vagrant. I believe
that I am as well qualified as any of the BCFO Records Committee members to
make such a judgment. Admittedly, the chance of a species which is normally
non-migratory, and confined to southern Baja California, making it on its
own to B.C., and then remaining for almost a year, is remote. On the other
hand, hummingbirds are not easily kept in captivity, and the chance of this
bird being an escapee from captivity is even more remote. One can hardly
ever be 100% certain that a long-distance vagrant such as this is of wild
origin, but in my mind, it is so close to 100% that I am prepared to accept
it as such. I am much more prepared to accept Xantus' Hummingbird as a wild
vagrant than species such as Falcated Teal, Lesser White-fronted Goose, and
Crested Caracara, which some other B.C. birders seem willing to accept as
wild birds.

The 1988 Xantus' Hummingbird in Ventura (which I was also lucky enough to
see) was accepted by the California Records Committee.
Although much closer to Baja California, that occurrence was almost as
unlikely as the B.C. occurrence, given the species' normally sedentary
habits.

Gerrie, I don't give a dang what the BCFO Records Committee decides. As far
as I'm concerned, this was almost certainly a wild bird, and it's staying on
my B.C. list!

At the same time, I would like to thank the Pattersons, on behalf of all of
us, for their hospitality and patience shown to the hundreds of birders who
came to see the Xantus'. It was a wonderful bird, and you were wonderful
hosts.

Wayne Weber
114-525 Dalgleish Drive
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6E4
Phone: (250) 377-8865
Wayne_Weber at bc.sympatico.ca

-----Original Message-----
From: Birds Abundant <birdsabundant at sunshine.net>
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, February 08, 1999 3:51 PM
Subject: Question re Xantus'


>I have just had a call from CBC Radio asking what I thought of the fact the
>Xantus' hummingbird we had here for 10 months has not been accepted as a
>"true" sighting . I am curious to know if someone can tell us who the
people
>are that make this decision and perhaps how they would decide.
>We all know we saw it anyway!
>Gerrie Patterson
>Gibsons, B.C.
>birdsabundant at sunshine.net.
>
>