Gary,
Your timing is perfect.
Earlier this year, for the first time, I too watched starlings doing
perfect Sora imitations. Both times they were in Sora habitat here in
Yakima County -- once in reeds without another starling in sight, the other
time in a Willow tree on the edge of a slough. I'm fortunate in being able
to pinpoint bird locations by ear. I told several bird watcher friends
about it. It made me wonder how many times early reports of Sora were in
error, then wonder about in-season reports, including my own. Both times
the starling was imitating the "sora" call, not the "whinny". What I call
the "sora" call is what Sibley refers to as "kerwee".
And about your perfect timing: Today along Lateral C just north of
Toppenish Creek Mary & I heard the "whinny" call of a Sora repeatedly,
coming from the reeds, loud and clear even in the strong wind. Then it
switched to the "sora" call, occasionally doing a whiny. We never saw the
bird, but am pretty sure it was actually a Sora, and put it as such on my
checklist. (My audio recording was overwhelmed by wind noise.)
A couple of years ago, further into Sora season, Mary & I were listening to
and watching a Sora along Old Goldendale Road. It was very vocal, and often
visible, coming right onto the road. I began to wonder what was inspiring
it to be so loud and bold. Then I realized it was responding to a
Yellow-headed Blackbird across the road. Whenever the Yellow-headed
Blackbird took a break, so did the Sora. Though not perfect like the
starlings, part of the Yellow-headed Blackbird's vocalization sounded a lot
like a Sora. It got me wondering how many people have been fooled by that.
Good birding,
Kevin Lucas
Selah, Yakima County, WA
listing.aba.org/ethics/
On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 8:11 PM, Gary Bletsch <
garybletsch at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
Dear Tweeters,
>
>
In three recent visits to the Fir Island Game Range (AKA Wylie Slough) in
>
Skagit County, I have been unable to relocate a Sora that was reported a
>
few days ago. I even resorted to playing recordings.
>
>
Today, though, I did observe a Starling as it was performing a perfect
>
imitation of a Sora calling. This was in a stand of dead trees about midway
>
between the birders' blind and the camouflage-colored hunters' blind.
>
>
Starlings imitate Soras around my house, so I am used to hearing them do
>
this. At my place, the Starlings do a pretty good American Wigeon, too.
>
>
Yours truly,
>
>
Gary Bletsch
>
>
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