I have no comment about the bona fide occurrence of Swainson's Hawks on the
west side other than that it's logical we would see them at least
occasionally in migration, as they breed well to the north of us as well as
to the east. Summer or winter records would be much less likely.

I wanted to relate an experience, however, that might be relevant. A bunch
of us were excited once to find an immature Swainson's near Reifel Refuge in
southwest BC in *November* some years ago, thinking we had a really good
bird. We just happened to mention it to someone at refuge headquarters that
day, and they responded "oh yes, we just released three young Swainson's
that had been sent over from eastern BC by a rehabilitator. They were
rescued from a fallen nest and raised. We thought it would be best for their
survival to release them in a warmer region." (statements paraphrased from
memory) In my shock, I forgot to ask why they waited until November, long
after their migration period, to release them.

Anyway, we talk about escaped captives as possible sources of birds out of
range, but I don't hear much talk about the practice of rehabbers of
releasing birds when and where they think best, with no thought at all of
bird-record committees or excited birders. I recall a rehabbed albatross
that was released in Puget Sound more recently, and I'll bet there are case
after case of birds taken from point A, rehabbed, and released at point B,
even though it is out of range and/or out of season. When considering
escaped captives, we usually focus on birds that are regularly kept in
captivity, but of course rehabbers treat all species, and THOUSANDS of birds
pass through their hands.

Not that I'm suggesting that's the source of the Great Black-backed Gull.
;-)

Dennis Paulson
--
Netta Smith and Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115