Subject: THE FALCATED DUCK:
Date: Feb 23 19:20:23 2002
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweeters,

Upon driving home coming from the Samish Flats looking for the rare Falcated
Duck where many birders tried for this bird again.We did not see this bird
again today, but driving home I was looking at the birdbook what I had in my
car,the National Geographic and the Master Guide to Birding Vol#1. I come
accross the notes what says: Records from British Columbia and California
probable of escaped birds.The other also states as: Birds sighted on U.S.
west coast may be escapes from captivity,rather than true vagrants.I wonder
if any one can tell if there escapes?.There dont write this about the other
rare ducks Baikal Teal, Garganey or the Smew. Even in the large waterfowl
geese and swans of the world is listed as an escapee.
We had an adult Peregrine catching a large duck yesterday from the wet
fields,but than came the nine Bald Eagles and snatched this prey away. All
the eagles trying for some part throwing at it on time in to the air.We
watched this for about 10 minutes and it was all over.I was thinking about
this since yesterday this is what happen with this Falcated Teal,but now I
think even stronger about this,what if this was an escape,it would not know
what a predator is,so it would not act accordingly. This is this a theory of
mine ,but why is the birdbooks print this only about this one duck?


Ruth Sullivan
godwit at worldnet.att.net
Tacoma,WA