Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 1998 17:53:57 -0500
Reply-To:     Giff Beaton <giffbeaton@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Georgia Birders Online <GABO-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Giff Beaton <giffbeaton@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      State Lists
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

GABbers: I was away for most of the recent discussion concerning bird-rich
states, and enjoyed the interesting posts. I would like to comment briefly
on Brad's list of birds which occur in FL yearly but not GA:
 
"Other possibilities (either definitely annual in Fla. and unknown in GA,
OR at least nearly annual in Fla., much less frequent in GA):
 
Long-billed Curlew (Talbot Island)
Ruff (Zellwood)
Black Rail
Yellow Rail
Vaux's Swift (reportedly annual in Gainesville)
Bell's Vireo (migrant in western panhandle)
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow?"
 
Long-billed Curlew is certainly annual in GA, at least several winter along
our more remote barrier islands and a few are sometimes found during
migration. Occurs regularly along the Gulf Coast in FL in winter.
 
If you find a Ruff in GA, please call me!
 
Black Rail. As Jim F. noted, breeds annually in GA, and is found sometimes
on the coast in winter.
 
Yellow Rail. I am certain they are here in winter, either on the coast or
in flooded pastures/ rice fields in the SW corner of GA. They are very
rarely found, however.
 
Vaux's Swift. Annual in Gainesville only in the last few years. Not known
in FL before winter of 1980-81, and only about 10 reports since (18 years).
Likely to have been in GA also, but would never be a candidate for annual
here. Another species being seen more frequently in FL, Lesser Nighthawk
could be found here also.
 
Bell's Vireo. FL easily wins again, by having Gulf coastline. This is one
of many species that are annual if not regular along the Gulf Coast in fall
but just don't seem to stray from the immediate coast. In addition to birds
on the lists that have been posted, like S-T Fly and Groove-billed Ani,
others such as Brown-crested and Ash-throated Flycatcher probably are
almost annual as well. As an example of how important being on the
immediate Gulf Coast is to see these birds, a recent AL report from Ft.
Morgan listed 8 S-T Flys and 2 Western Kings IN ONE DAY. And, while I'm at
it, Buff-bellied Hummingbird is another for FL.
 
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Fairly common to uncommon in GA on the coast
in winter, and rare as an interior migrant. Though the two species of
Sharp-tailed Sparrow were only recently split, any Sharp-tailed Sparrow
found inland is almost certain to be Nelson's. Saltmarsh outnumbers
Nelson's heavily on the coast, but if you look in the scrub vegetation at
the edges of saltmarshes at the proper tide, you are sure to find a few
Nelson's. (Mal Hodges discovered this)
 
Giff