Daily Archives: December 5, 2020

Listserv Posts

Another great day on the Greenbelt

I knew I would have a good day when I spotted a MERLIN at 23rd & Brumback St., long before I got to the river. Then I proceeded to find the usual suspects, until I found a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, in some pine trees at the Willow Lane athletic complex. These trees are on the southwest corner of the only soccer field there, right along the greenbelt. These trees played host to RNSA a few years ago. Some of the other pines along the soccer field still have the line of holes from a prior visit.

I then found my f.o.s. BARROW’S GOLDENEYE further downriver, almost to Silver Lake. He was consorting with several of his COMMON brethren. Then, on the way back, I happened to notice a clump of gray up in a tree and discovered a WESTERN SCREECH OWL sitting on a branch about 20 feet up, soaking up the rays.

This is the second day in a row that I’ve found more than 40 species on my bike ride, but the Red-naped Sapsucker really made my day. Plus, this week I surpassed 4,000 miles for the 9th year in a row. But, hey, who’s counting?

Tom McCabe, Boise

Listserv Posts

Re: a few thoughts about the potential Field Sparrow sighting in SE Idaho – and reporting of rare birds

Jay, Cliff, 
Your comments are very much in keeping with other state records committees for a first state record that I’ve witnessed, e.g., NM, AZ, TX, CO
It’s very useful to see this discussion on IBLE because I have low confidence that eBirders in general visit the IBLE page very often regarding rare bird reports, and this includes me, oops  😉
And I’ll cast another vote in favor of posting “negative” reports – on all platforms – if and when they occur !!
Larry
Listserv Posts

Re: a few thoughts about the potential Field Sparrow sighting in SE Idaho – and reporting of rare birds

Jay,

Thanks for posting this and I agree with your suggestions
completely. I would also stress that we need decent photos if at
all possible. That goes for all rarities but especially for
something as rare as Field Sparrow (this may be a good year for
them but eBird shows very few records west of the species’ regular
range). So if anyone sees it/them again please make getting photos
a priority.

Also I should point out that I see the rare bird reports as
they’re submitted and maybe should have tried to get the word out
on this one. By way of defense I have to admit I gave the original
report zero possibility of being accurate based on the details
provided and the fact that there were 3 individuals reported,
which by itself seems so unlikely that it cast doubt on the
observation for me. But I’ll try to get future reports like this
posted to IBLE/Inland NW just in case.

Cliff

On 12/5/20 1:04 PM, Jay Carlisle via
groups.io wrote:

Hi Folks
As I’ve watched with hope for
updates via eBird, IBLE, and Facebook, I’ve had
numerous people ask me if the documentation/notes provided so
far are convincing … or would be likely to be accepted by
the Idaho Bird Records Committee.  This would be a first
state record and, while standards are high for any
report of a review species, more/better documentation
is definitely required for a potential first record – ideally
including audio and/or pics.  In their absence, a thorough
description that considers all species that might be
confused is necessary, and of course it’d be nice to have the
sighting corroborated by multiple observers.
A part of me is surprised
more people haven’t made the effort to see this bird (or
maybe some have gone & tried but not shared their effort
publicly?) but, as a “bystander” with a low likelihood
of a chase that far (new kiddo that doesn’t like 30-min
roads trips, let alone 3.5+ hours each way 🙂
but who can still dream of seeing a long-sought-after state
bird, here are a few observations:
  • the initial and second observers didn’t immediately
    share to the birding forums     (IBLE and the
    Facebook group Idaho Bird Sightings & Discussion    );
    rather, news kind of trickled in as people heard about it
    in different ways (my first notice was an eBird rarity
    update 2.5 days after the original sighting but others
    had apparently found the rare bird report on the
    Idahobirds.net – IBRC – page    ) and I know for me this
    has given me less confidence in the veracity of the
    reports
    • I actually am pretty intrigued – and I think more
      convinced than some people I’ve heard from – and if
      I lived closer, I would likely be there now trying. 
      I’m at least convinced the rest of us shouldn’t give
      up trying 😉
  • a report of as many as 3 individuals of a species never
    before documented is much less likely than a single
    individual
    • this isn’t to say it’s not possible and, as Carl noted
      on Facebook, it’s been a notable year for Field Sparrows
      in western states so maybe Idaho is getting lucky!
  • so far no pictures and some notes in eBird & the
    IBRC report are less convincing than others (i.e., they
    don’t give especially convincing details about how the
    individual birds were separated from all potentially
    similar-looking species    ) and some checklists include
    White-crowned Sparrows and others don’t, and only 1
    checklist I’ve noticed has an American Tree Sparrow (which
    some lists did mention as a similar species    )
Probably missing a thought
or 2 but, in short, I think this possibility warrants more
birding attention and I hope someone is able to get
conclusive documentation!
In closing, I might mention
a few general thoughts re: sharing information about rare
bird sightings that I think would help inspire confidence
but also help other birders have a chance to look for a
species sooner.  I don’t intend to “pick on” the folks that
have reported Field Sparrow(s) – I know I’ve been guilty of
not following some of my advice listed here (!) and this has
happened with other rarities over the years, I just thought
it might be worth a reminder and possibly a discussion.
  • Please quickly share info on sightings of rare
    species and to multiple forums     (ideally ASAP
    here on IBLE and to Facebook, then also
    via eBird if you’re an eBird user and – if a review species – via a
    report to the Idaho
    Bird Records Committee    )
    • and keep in mind that many (most?) birders
      aren’t following all of these so only posting to one
      risks many people missing the info until someone else
      re-shares.  I get the sense many birders assume
      “people will get my eBird notification” or “posting to
      Facebook is enough” – and I’ve been guilty of this for
      some rare (but not MEGA-rare 🙂 birds.
    • I see this as a courtesy to the birding
      community       – I have benefited from timely
      reports for many rare species that I might not have
      seen if the “discoverer” didn’t share their sighting
      right away (the 1-day wonders) so I figure the
      least I can do is share when I find a rarity as soon
      as I can
  • In the absence of photos or audio evidence, the
    more details the better in the initial post
  • Please also keep the reports coming as many people
    can’t go looking right away but are very interested. 
    “Reporting fatigue”     seems to happen everywhere –
    lots of excitement for the first couple days then
    reports taper off even when a bird is still around. 
    It’s also very helpful to have ‘negative’ reports.
    • As a case in point, a (poorly-timed) crazy
      work schedule meant I/we couldn’t go look for the
      Common Crane (reported on a Tuesday) until the
      weekend.  Thus, though really bummed to have missed
      this amazing rarity, I’m very appreciative to the
      several folks who shared on Facebook that on Friday it
      was seen taking off to the SW and then not seen
      after.  I would have been much more bummed to have not
      known it had left and then tried on Saturday – only to
      find out that people knew it was very unlikely to see
      it Saturday but hadn’t passed that info along

  •

    IBRC
    HOME | Idaho Bird Records
    Committee

Forgive my ramble
but I hope these thoughts are helpful – thanks and happy
holidays & rapidly-approaching CBC season!

Jay

On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, 3:26:17 PM MST, Cliff
Weisse <cliffandlisa@…> wrote:

FWIW, this report came in to IBRC on November 29 and
it’s for 3 individuals. Normally I don’t publish
reports until a number has been issued but this one
somehow got published so it’s accessible by anyone at:
https://ibrc.idahobirds.net/rare-bird-reports/field-sparrow

Cliff

On 12/1/20
3:03 PM, Patricia Weber wrote:
Passing on information from Kathy Eklund:  12.1.2020
Similar to an ATSP with white eye ring, gray head with
rufous head stripes, orange bill & no chest spot..
runs along the ground and flys low between sagebrush. 

Found .1 mile south of the cattle guard entrance to
the campground.  Curlew Campground near Stone, Idaho. 
She had seen the pending Idaho Rare Bird report by a
Rebecca Jones posted a couple of days ago.  
-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@...


-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@...
Listserv Posts

a few thoughts about the potential Field Sparrow sighting in SE Idaho – and reporting of rare birds

Hi Folks
As I’ve watched with hope for updates via eBird, IBLE, and Facebook, I’ve had numerous people ask me if the documentation/notes provided so far are convincing … or would be likely to be accepted by the Idaho Bird Records Committee.  This would be a first state record and, while standards are high for any report of a review species, more/better documentation is definitely required for a potential first record – ideally including audio and/or pics.  In their absence, a thorough description that considers all species that might be confused is necessary, and of course it’d be nice to have the sighting corroborated by multiple observers.
A part of me is surprised more people haven’t made the effort to see this bird (or maybe some have gone & tried but not shared their effort publicly?) but, as a “bystander” with a low likelihood of a chase that far (new kiddo that doesn’t like 30-min roads trips, let alone 3.5+ hours each way 🙂 but who can still dream of seeing a long-sought-after state bird, here are a few observations:
  • the initial and second observers didn’t immediately share to the birding forums (IBLE and the Facebook group Idaho Bird Sightings & Discussion); rather, news kind of trickled in as people heard about it in different ways (my first notice was an eBird rarity update 2.5 days after the original sighting but others had apparently found the rare bird report on the Idahobirds.net – IBRC – page) and I know for me this has given me less confidence in the veracity of the reports
    • I actually am pretty intrigued – and I think more convinced than some people I’ve heard from – and if I lived closer, I would likely be there now trying.  I’m at least convinced the rest of us shouldn’t give up trying 😉
  • a report of as many as 3 individuals of a species never before documented is much less likely than a single individual
    • this isn’t to say it’s not possible and, as Carl noted on Facebook, it’s been a notable year for Field Sparrows in western states so maybe Idaho is getting lucky!
  • so far no pictures and some notes in eBird & the IBRC report are less convincing than others (i.e., they don’t give especially convincing details about how the individual birds were separated from all potentially similar-looking species) and some checklists include White-crowned Sparrows and others don’t, and only 1 checklist I’ve noticed has an American Tree Sparrow (which some lists did mention as a similar species)
Probably missing a thought or 2 but, in short, I think this possibility warrants more birding attention and I hope someone is able to get conclusive documentation!
In closing, I might mention a few general thoughts re: sharing information about rare bird sightings that I think would help inspire confidence but also help other birders have a chance to look for a species sooner.  I don’t intend to “pick on” the folks that have reported Field Sparrow(s) – I know I’ve been guilty of not following some of my advice listed here (!) and this has happened with other rarities over the years, I just thought it might be worth a reminder and possibly a discussion.
  • Please quickly share info on sightings of rare species and to multiple forums (ideally ASAP here on IBLE and to Facebook, then also via eBird if you’re an eBird user and – if a review species – via a report to the Idaho Bird Records Committee)
    • and keep in mind that many (most?) birders aren’t following all of these so only posting to one risks many people missing the info until someone else re-shares.  I get the sense many birders assume “people will get my eBird notification” or “posting to Facebook is enough” – and I’ve been guilty of this for some rare (but not MEGA-rare 🙂 birds.
    • I see this as a courtesy to the birding community – I have benefited from timely reports for many rare species that I might not have seen if the “discoverer” didn’t share their sighting right away (the 1-day wonders) so I figure the least I can do is share when I find a rarity as soon as I can
  • In the absence of photos or audio evidence, the more details the better in the initial post
  • Please also keep the reports coming as many people can’t go looking right away but are very interested.  “Reporting fatigue” seems to happen everywhere – lots of excitement for the first couple days then reports taper off even when a bird is still around.  It’s also very helpful to have ‘negative’ reports.
    • As a case in point, a (poorly-timed) crazy work schedule meant I/we couldn’t go look for the Common Crane (reported on a Tuesday) until the weekend.  Thus, though really bummed to have missed this amazing rarity, I’m very appreciative to the several folks who shared on Facebook that on Friday it was seen taking off to the SW and then not seen after.  I would have been much more bummed to have not known it had left and then tried on Saturday – only to find out that people knew it was very unlikely to see it Saturday but hadn’t passed that info along
Forgive my ramble but I hope these thoughts are helpful – thanks and happy holidays & rapidly-approaching CBC season!

Jay