Bruce, et al.,

Yes. No one to my knowledge has objected to the British Columbia, Idaho, or
Colorado Great Black-backed Gulls. Hey, we could have seen it coming.

Gene.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Whittington" <fieldnat at pacificcoast.net>
To: <Tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 8:55 AM
Subject: Great Black-backed Gull


> We also haven't addressed the possibility that the Renton gull was
> vehicle-assisted.
>
> Seriously, I always wonder at the lengths we go to in determining the
> origin of an individual bird. Once we get a few of them - like Tufted
> Duck - all of a sudden, they are all legitimate, no consideration of
> escapes, hybrids etc. If we start seeing a run of uncontested pure
> GBBG in the future (proof that they DO sometimes wander), what will
> that do to this bird? What if we have a hybrid bird that appears 100%
> pure, but has the stomach shape gene (or whatever) of another species?
> How many of our "valid" records are invalid on that basis? While I
> respect the views and experience of some of the nay-sayers, I agree
> that it is statistically far more likely that this is a pure bird than
> a hybrid. But I hope it sticks around long enough for those closer to
> it to see more change in plumage.
>
> Better than a good detective novel - even without a conclusive ending.
>
> Bruce Whittington
> Victoria BC
> mailto: fieldnat at pacificcoast.net
>