Tweets,
This is an opinion of someone not on the committe so take it at value. In
my opinion I would think that it is far more likely for the Eurasian
Kestrel to be a wild bird and thus accepted than was the Caracara. The
records of EUKE show that it does have some vagrancy, yet the caracara is
much more faithful to its own region. The caracara could have been a wild
bird, though when there is serious doubt I understand the reluctancy of
committees to accept. There is likely always doubt on rare raptors, when
falconers/collectors keep a number of species not native to a region. At
least a history of vagrancy (NE US, BC, Alaska and even West Indies) show
that the doubt is much less here.
I would like to second Michael's comments that even if not into "listing"
this bird is a treat to see as it is a nice variation from the image of
Kestrel we are used to here in N. America.

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA

"Birds don't read bird books. (That's why they are seen doing things they
are not supposed to do)." -Mary Wood


On Tue, 2 Nov 1999, Ruth Sullivan wrote:

> Hello Tweeters,
> It would be so nice if this bird would be excepted by the Bird Record
> Committee.Not be as the Crested Caracara in Neah Bay.
>
> Ruth Sullivan
> Tacoma
> godwit at worldnet.att.net
>
>