April 2022

Hot Birds: April 2022

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:18 GMT

Pacific Loons are reported from many locations along the Massachusetts coast every winter, but reports backed up by photographic evidence come almost exclusively from one place, Race Point. This year was no exception, with at least two individuals photographed from Race Point in January and February. Ted Bradford took the photo above.

An Eared Grebe showed up in Marblehead in mid-December and stayed at least until mid-February. It was likely the same individual that spent January through April 2021 in the same neighborhood. Sam Darmstadt took the photo above.

Eleventh Report of the Maine Bird Records Committee

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:16 GMT

Maine’s first confirmed Barolo Shearwater was found in the middle of the Gulf of Maine on August 13, 2021. Photograph by Doug Gochfeld.

The Eleventh report of the Maine Bird Records Committee (hereafter ME-BRC or the committee) summarizes 85 reports involving 43 species that were evaluated and decided during 2021. The committee accepted 72 records for an acceptance rate of 85%. Although many reports were recent, the years of occurrences ranged from 1915 to 2021. The committee continued its quest to review a backlog of historic reports. Nearly half of reviewed reports (41) were birds recorded previous to 2018.

Three new species were added to the state list: Barolo Shearwater (Puffinus baroli), Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra), and Redwing (Turdus iliacus). In addition, the recent split of Mew Gull added one to the state’s total, as both Common Gull (Larus canus) and Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) had previously been accepted as subspecies of Mew Gull. The total number of documented species on Maine’s state list is now 467. The official list of bird species recorded in Maine, our review procedures, and the list of members can be found at the committee’s website: http://sites.google.com/site/mainebirdrecordscommittee.

Records in this report are grouped by species; records accepted and those not accepted are listed within the same species account. Each record provides the location, county (italicized), date(s) of occurrence, names of observers or contributors, and committee record number. Documentation was provided by the observers listed or, in some cases, was obtained from publicly published websites. All reviewed materials and member comments are archived. If known, the names of finders are listed first and separated from other names by a semicolon. Photographic, video, or audio evidence reviewed is denoted by a dagger (†); written notes are denoted by an asterisk (*). As always, the committee strongly encourages written submissions even when there are photographs. Species accounts follow the current taxonomic classification and sequence adopted as of 2021 by the American Ornithological Society (list available at http://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa.

Bird Observer's Fiftieth Anniversary Photo, Video, and Writing Contest

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:12 GMT

Bird Observer is celebrating our fiftieth anniversary in 2022 with the publication of Volume 50 of our journal. We invite our subscribers to join the celebration by entering the Bird Observer Fiftieth Anniversary Photo, Video, and Writing Contest. We welcome submissions from photographers, videographers, and writers of all skill levels, except for Bird Observer staff, board members, and their immediate family members.

The contest is open only to Bird Observer’s current subscribers. Subscribe now and be eligible to enter.

Contest Dates

The Bird Observer Fiftieth Anniversary contest runs from April 1, 2022, to October 1, 2022. Winners will be announced in our December 2022 issue.

Prizes for Entering

There will be one grand prize winner in each of three categories: photo, video, and writing. Each grand prize winner will receive a $100 gift card to Bird Watcher’s General Store, Orleans, MA; a $100 gift card to Bird Watcher’s Supply and Gift, Newburyport, MA; a $100 gift card to Birds and Beans Coffee; and a two-year extension of his or her subscription to Bird Observer, in addition to being featured in the December 2022 issue of Bird Observer in print and on our website, www.birdobserver.org.

At least 12 honorable mentions will win a one-year extension of his or her subscription to Bird Observer. Additional honorable mentions may be awarded at the discretion of the judges.

In addition to the winners, all contest entries have a chance to appear on our website.

About Books: GYR!

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:08 GMT

Gyrfalcon: The One Who Stays All Winter.

Norman Barichello. 2019. Victoria, British Columbia: Friesen Press.

“Gyrfalcons are the polar bears of the bird world, at the top of the food chain in a stark environment.” (p. 21)

Here in southern New England, we are fortunate to occasionally see birds of prey that breed in the Arctic. The sightings of these sought-after species occur most often in late fall or winter. Everyone is familiar with the Snowy Owl, the target for every photographer and would-be photographer. Thanks to the Harry Potter movies, this owl species has achieved celebrity status, which means it is also one of the most harassed species. Birders and nonbirders alike often try to get too close to get a calendar-worthy shot of this charismatic bird. In southern New England, Snowys are the most often encountered Arctic bird of prey. Less well known to the general public are Rough-legged Hawks. They are a true Arctic species, breeding in tundra habitat around the world and only periodically moving in winter to more southern areas. Probably the least known Arctic bird of prey to occur in New England is the Gyrfalcon. This impressive, large and powerful falcon is every bit as charismatic and dramatic as a Snowy Owl. We just don’t see them here as often.

At a Glance: April 2022

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:04 GMT

To view the rest of the article you'll need to subscribe. Bird Observer publishes original articles on birding locations, on avian populations and natural history, on regional rarities, field notes, field records, photographs, and art work.

Zaps: 50-2

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:02 GMT

Advertisers 50-2

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:01 GMT