Hello All,
Where vagrant birds show up and their origins is of great interest to me. Today we had great views of the two Pink-footed Geese discovered by Ruth and Patrick and were amazed by these birds beauty and subtle colorations. These wayward birds were in crisp unworn plumage. Both are unbanded and seemed very healthy and alert. So the big question is where on earth did these two come from? How on earth did they end up where they are? With the vagaries of vagrancy being what they are how are we to really discover where these birds originated ? Can we really depend on seemingly established patterns of movement within a species when only one or two individuals stray way off course and pop up in an area where there are no records? I understand that waterfowl present a unique problem when they appear in areas way beyond their normal range due to the fact that many folks collect waterfowl and always seem to loose a few. Why are some vagrant waterfowl deemed good sightings and others instantly declared just interesting? I think of the adult Barnacle Goose that showed up three winters in the Walla Walla Valley. Another Greenland species way out of range. In the last three years Dr. David DeSante and crew from Point Reyes have discovered that we in the Pacific Northwest may be greatly affected by The Atlantic Osolation in our weather patterns and bird reproductive success.Does the Atlantic Osolation throw some individuals way off course? I am beginning to think that maybe it is a stretch and a presumption to discount some waterfowl discoveries as suspicious when we really donot have the big picture of why or even where these small numbers of birds can show up. Just something to consider and think about before a sighting is written off as an escapee. Over the years I have noticed that there are several areas where odd waterfowl consistantly pop up here in Washington. Some are considered escapees and others are triumphantly proclaimed a valid discovery and hundreds rush to see these individuals from some far off land, I know we have. Are we safly discounting those species we "Know" just couldn't have arrived on their own power?
Later Mike

********************************************************************
Mike & MerryLynn Denny
323 Scenic View Drive
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
*******************************************************************