What I find intriguing about the reports of duck species such as both the Falcated duck and the Baikal Teal is the timing of their occurrence. An escaped captive bird could easily follow northbound flocks of wintering waterfowl and then return with those birds in the fall/winter thus providing for these sighting records. But wouldn't a captive bird be just as likely to escape during the summer when it would not be likely to leave the area? If the source of these birds is actually escapees from captivity it seems that there should be more records of these species during the summer and from periods when the northern breeding species are absent here.

Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA



Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA