Birders,

The attached report of a DUSKY THRUSH at Whitehorse (along with other
recent Yukon bird sightings) will no doubt intrigue many of you. This
is the first report for the Yukon, and second for Canada.

For those who might be interested, instructions for subscribing to YBC
Birds are included near the bottom of the attached message.

P.S.-- the "you'll be sorry when the Dusky Thrush shows up" closer
actually was used in some previous YBC Birds messages. Nice
prediction, Cameron!

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops, BC
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca



-----Original Message-----
From: Cameron Eckert <ceckert at yknet.yk.ca>
To: YBC BIRDS :; <YBC BIRDS :;>
Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 7:48 PM
Subject: YBC BIRDS: November 22, 2000


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YBC BIRDS: November 22, 2000
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COSMIC MIND-BENDER in WHITEHORSE!!

A DUSKY THRUSH was a star attraction in downtown Whitehorse on
November 22.
This mega-rarity along with a hostile American Robin are frequenting a
Mountain Ash tree in front of Hellaby Hall on Elliott Street. When not
feeding on the berries, the two birds sit quietly near the top of the
adjacent pine trees.

PLEASE GIVE THESE BIRDS ROOM and respect local traffic and private
property. This will allow everyone to enjoy this sensational rarity.As
well, viewing from a respectful distance results in much better looks
at
the Dusky Thrush which is quite skittish.

A quick response by local media with live radio interviews as well as
a
flurry of phone calls to local birders enabled at least 20 birders to
enjoy
very good views of the Dusky Thrush.

It is highly appropriate that the pine trees in which the Dusky Thrush
sits
are in Stringer Park as Stringer himself was one of the very great
pioneers
of Yukon birdwatching.


OTHER RECENT SIGHTINGS:

Four SNOW BUNTINGS were seen on top of Monarch Mountain outside of
Atlin on
Nov 19 (Mark Connor).

The YELLOW-BILLED LOON on Schwatka Lake was seen again on November 22
(various observers).


*********

NEST BOX DATA WANTED!!

The Yukon Nest Box Project is compiling nest box data for this past
breeding season (spring-fall 2000). Please contribute your
observations of
Yukon nest boxes.

Please include as many details as possible including: species, date,
location, nest contents, behaviour, habitat, observer(s), and any
other
relevant comments or related observations.

We are interested in all nest boxes -- including backyard boxes. This
is a
great way to contribute to bird conservation and habitat awareness in
the
Yukon! Make your observations count!

A summary of the findings will be available in December, 2000.

***********

Yukon Checklist online: www.yukonweb.com/community/ybc/ytlist.txt


*** REPORT YOUR SIGHTINGS ***

All sightings forwarded to YBC BIRDS will be passed on to the Canadian
Wildlife Service for inclusion in the Birds of the Yukon database.
Please
send in any sightings regardless of their "rarity value".

Cameron Eckert - Email: ceckert at yknet.yk.ca (phone: 667-4630)
Helmut Gr?nberg - Email: Hgrunberg at hypertech.yk.ca (phone 667-6703)

To begin subscribing to, or to discontinue YBC BIRDS, simply email
ceckert at yknet.yk.ca.
But you'll be sorry when a Dusky Thrush shows up. (ooops, too late)

Yukon Bird Club Web Site: http://www.yukonweb.com/community/ybc/

*** JOIN THE YUKON BIRD CLUB ***

Send a cheque or money order for $10.00 payable to:

Yukon Bird Club
Box 31054
Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 4B6
Canada

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