Hi tweeters,
Well I got the full report from our biologist on board on the Green-winged
Teal seen 5/20 off Seward Gully. It was scavenging on offal from the
hauling line (not exactly dabbling duck fodder). The biologist, Cal Blood,
checked the id against the field guide and was convinced it was a male
Green-winged Teal. Unfortunately they released it before photographs were
taken and were not able to recover the body after it expired. The bird was
swimming crookedly even before it ran into the mast so I suspect it was not
in great shape. I guess the species won't be expanding into the pelagic
realm anytime soon.
Tracee Geernaert
International Pacific Halibut Commission
PO Box 95009
Seattle, WA 98145-2009
206: 634-1838 ext 208


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Martin J. Muller [SMTP:MartinMuller at email.msn.com]
> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 1999 7:57 AM
> To: Tracee Geernaert; tweeters
> Subject: Re: new pelagic species?
>
> Tracee,
>
> Great report on the pelagic Green-winged Teal. Too bad it died. Was the
> specimen salvaged? It would make for an interesting addition to any
> museum's
> collection.
> I am curious. What was it feeding on?
> For a long time I've wondered why we have to assume that water birds
> accidentally blown out to sea can only get as far as their fat reserve can
> carry them. Though this assumption is usually not stated, it often appears
> to be made, when the report of a bird out of range debates whether the
> bird
> should be considered a true vagrant or may be an escaped bird (note I am
> only referring to water birds, I'm not suggesting species like
> hummingbirds
> would land to feed out in the middle of the ocean).
>
> Martin Muller, Seattle
> MartinMuller at email.msn.com
>
>
>