There are lots of helpful comments here, and it points out that
ultimately we are relying on probability. I don't believe that all
Tufted Ducks in North America are wild, and it's probably arguable that
not all discounted waterfowl sightings were escapes either. The
question is, how do we know? Working on Holland America ships this
summer in Alaska, I released about a dozen shearwaters, storm-petrels
and Cassin's Auklets that had stranded themselves on the ship. I am a
member of the Victoria records committee, and it made me wonder about
our acceptance of the Crested Auklet that was here last fall. Could it
have been ship-assisted? It is certainly a possibility. I guess my
point is that we should hold off on categorical pronouncements about
the status of any of these birds - wild or escapes.


Bruce Whittington
Ladysmith, BC
mailto: fieldnat at pacificcoast.net