Subject: comment on westside Swainson's Hawks
Date: Jan 23 10:09:43 2004
From: Kevin Mack - kmack at paws.org


As the naturalist in charge of the release program at the PAWS Wildlife Center, a large part of my job is making sure that birds are released appropriately (based on point of origin, migration patterns, habitat needs, varying local conditions, and many other variables too numerous to list). If I release an animal inappropriately (out of range, at an inappropriate time of year, in unsuitable habitat, etc.) that is grounds for my termination. I can't speak for all Washington State rehabilitators, but I can tell you that the largest (PAWS) is doing its best to ensure that releases are performed responsibly.

That being said, no we didn't release a Great Black-backed Gull recently, we haven't imported any Swainson's Hawks, and I know we haven't released any albatross into Puget sound in the 9 years that I've been employed here. We did, however, release a Horned Grebe and a Western Grebe (both formerly covered in oil from Point Wells) into Puget Sound in the past week :o).

==================================
Kevin Mack
Naturalist
PAWS Wildlife Department
425-787-2500 ext. 854
www.paws.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Netta Smith [mailto:nettasmith at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2004 9:24 AM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: comment on westside Swainson's Hawks


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