Adding to Dennis's observation, an American Black Duck was discovered
by Charles Swift in the Snake River at Lewiston, Idaho, on 27 March
1999. It was around for some time after that and observed by a
number of people, including at least once on the Clarkston,
Washington side of the river. Jewett et al., Birds of Washington
State (1953), note a record of a female shot near Port Ludlow,
Jefferson County, on 30 October 1946. This predates the introduction
of the species at Reifel. If Ken Knittle is following this thread
I'd bet that he could add another record or two.

Given the high likelihood that American Black Ducks from wild
populations do reach Washington as rare vagrants, would it not be
appropriate for the Washington Bird Records Committee to add this
species to its Review List?

Hal Opperman
Medina, Washington
mailto:halop at accessone.com

>Wayne Weber commented about 2 Black Duck records in northeast BC and stated
>"These are the only sightings of Black Duck in B.C., Washington, or Oregon
>which seem to be likely to be vagrants from the east, rather than escapees
>or birds from a feral population." Actually, I saw a Black Duck at Turnbull
>National Wildlife Refuge, near Cheney, Washington, in October 1968
>(published in American Birds, or was it Audubon Field Notes then?). My bird
>records are in my office, so I don't recall the exact date. I had no reason
>to doubt that this was a wild bird.
>
>Dennis Paulson
>--
>Netta Smith and Dennis Paulson
>1724 NE 98 St.
>Seattle, WA 98115