Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 14:38:19 -0500
Reply-To: Brad_Bergstrom <bergstrm@VALDOSTA.EDU>
Sender: Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Brad_Bergstrom <bergstrm@VALDOSTA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Yellow-billed Loon
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Let me amplify what a great find this is (bravo, Eric!), as it strikes me
that the fanfare for this bird is so far somewhat muted. I'm assuming
this YELL0W-BILLED LOON (!) will eventually be accepted as the first state
record and therefore be added to the Provisional "Review List."
Previously, it wasn't even on the Hypothetical list, which implies this is
the first credible report.
This species would not have topped anyone's list of the "next new bird"
for Georgia's list, nor would Georgia have received anything short of 10:1
odds of being the next state to add it to its list (and well inland, to
boot).
It does not appear even on the Review Lists for any adjacent state
(couldn't find one for TN, so correct me if you know), and the only other
southeastern state that has had credible reports (not sure if it's been
accepted, b/c their website is incomplete) is Virginia--their first was
not until December of 1999, and that was coastal. North Carolina had
unconfirmed coastal sightings the previous winter. Missouri had its first
state record in the late 90s (similarly, on a reservoir) and apparently
the same bird returned several years running. There's been only a handful
of records from the northeast (down to MD) and midwest, and significantly
more in the west, but this is a biggie for the deep southeast.
Brad
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brad Bergstrom, Ph.D., Professor TEL 229-333-5770 /-5759
Department of Biology FAX 229-245-6585
Valdosta State University e-mail: bergstrm@valdosta.edu
Valdosta, GA 31698-0015 Home: 229-333-0743
Home Page-- http://www.valdosta.edu/~bergstrm/
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