Ebriefer and Tweeters

I'll bet you are quite aware of the very involved post Dan Froehlich
made a few days ago largely wondering what your motivations are. I'm
disappointed that you have not yet addressed that. Personally I don't
believe they are sinister. Perhaps you are just on a mission to inform
NA birders that Northern Goshawks are much more common than commonly
believed. What would work really well is good old fashioned logic.

You begin with what I was sure was your major premise, " Any birder
who uses only field marks to identify raptors is working under a
handicap." ok. That would be correct for any order of birds. How the
bird reacts, what activity the individual is involved in, and the
surrounding habitat are all important clues.

But where is your minor premise so we must come to an inescapable
conclusion? I assume logic will not be one of your tools.

As much effort as Dan Froehlich put into casting down the gauntlet, you
should pick it up.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah
On Dec 19, 2007, at 3:44 PM, Ebriefer at aol.com wrote:

>
> Dear Tweeters: Any birder who uses only field marks to identify
> raptors is working under a handicap. What if the lighting conditions
> are of a low intensity? What if the raptor is turned the "wrong way"?
> What if some structure, such as, leaves or branches blocks your view?
> How should unusual plumages be treated? What if you get only a
> 3-second-look, and then the raptor flys off? And that raptor in the
> sky giving you that 10-minute-look -- remains intellectually
> unresloved.
> ?
> In winter of 2001-2002, in Tucson, I went to the parking lot of Costco
> to look for raptors. This is on Grant, and my first trip to Costco.
> After about 20 minutes, a mature female Goshawk appeared from across
> the large wash. The lighting conditions were excellent. The bird flew
> slowly overhead at elevation of 100-150 feet. The bird had a large
> area of white under tail coverts. The chest, belly, and under wing
> coverts were of red vermiculation.
> ?
> In Rockport, Texas, 2002-2003, in December, January, February, and
> March, I had many sightings of a mature, "long winged", female
> Goshawk. The dorsal area was dark (pewter grey). The chest, belly ,
> and under wing coverts were of red-orange vermiculation. This bird was
> also witnessed (with me) on at least 2-daily-sightings, by a biologist
> (professor).
> ?
> ?In February of 2005, just outside the city limits of Anacortes; at
> elevation of about 300 feet; a mature female Goshawk. The bird was
> soaring, gliding, and flapping [as a Goshawk flaps].The lighting
> conditions were excellent. The bird was heading westward, toward Mount
> Eire. My impression was; this bird is new to the area, and might be
> heading into this area for the first time -- possibly to take up
> residence. [I never saw that bird again.] This bird had a large area
> of white, under tail coverts, and a chest, belly, and under wing
> coverts of red vermiculation.
> ?
> In Anacortes and in Tucson, I have seen male and female Goshawks with
> red casts on their ventral (underside) areas. But these sightings were
> not dramatic. In other words, the sightings were at long range (in
> flight), and the bird gave me just a flash, as it tilted to turn. What
> would that bird's underside become at close range? The red areas?
> would become more intense; more saturated with redness.
> ?
> One last point, relating to what I call "Goshawks with expressed
> recessive genes". I had a brief meeting with 3 biologists from Tucson
> Game and Fish. Michael Ingraldi, Ph.D. informed me: at a Goshawk nest
> in Heber, Arizona, he had tried to trap a mature female Goshawk. That
> bird could not be trapped. That bird had a red chest and belly. Nelson
> Briefer? Ebriefer at aol.com
>
>
>
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