tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2702515829361911987.post4391871770337046832..comments2023-11-02T02:18:24.562-06:00Comments on Josh Covill's Birding Blog: Sungrebe and other rare birdsJoshChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01062475856301025745noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2702515829361911987.post-7988886136857436332009-01-11T10:18:00.000-07:002009-01-11T10:18:00.000-07:00It is possible for a first record to be inland. Ta...It is possible for a first record to be inland. Take Variegated Flycatcher (first record was in Maine) or Song Thrush (first and only record was in Quebec) for example. I do agree that it's much more unlikely. <BR/><BR/>Labrador and Newfoundland really aren't teaming with birders. My understanding is that there may be 10 really serious active birders in Newfoundland and maybe 1 or 2 in the Labrador. Western Alaska is a big place and even the best spots are not watched even daily. It is my opinion that even in Texas along the border there are hundreds of rarities missed and probably 1 or 2 first records maybe more. <BR/><BR/>I don't know if the commenters here have read Sibley's blog but he has a post about this. He thinks that perhaps 3 percent or less of rarities are found.<BR/><BR/>http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/2008/11/so-how-many-do-we-find.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2702515829361911987.post-50143232064921896652008-11-24T22:13:00.000-07:002008-11-24T22:13:00.000-07:00I think we sound like a bunch of kids speculating ...I think we sound like a bunch of kids speculating about something we have no way of knowing about.a birder https://www.blogger.com/profile/09247192599630388593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2702515829361911987.post-29564671449150087552008-11-23T22:09:00.000-07:002008-11-23T22:09:00.000-07:00I think number of rarities missed will be somethin...I think number of rarities missed will be something we will never know...Neil Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700189525185101794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2702515829361911987.post-66858645906922862842008-11-23T08:51:00.000-07:002008-11-23T08:51:00.000-07:00Why "10% or less"? How'd you get that number?I ag...Why "10% or less"? How'd you get that number?<BR/><BR/>I agree that in many inland areas, the informed-birders-per-square-mile is low, therefore reducing the likelihood of having a rare bird found, correctly identified, and reported. However, it's clearly evident that a gigantic portion of the new ABA birds come from specific areas (Mexican border, western Alaska, California, Labrador/Newfoundland) that are teeming with informed birders, BECAUSE of the fact that these are natural areas for rare birds to show up. <BR/><BR/>My conclusion: the new ABA birds NOT being found are in odd areas, away from the expected places, where there are not enough informed birders. But even then, how likely is it that a bird species never recorded in one of these expected rarity hotspots is ever going to show up inland first? Extremely UNlikely, in my opinion.Tim Hajdahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12843358876229187767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2702515829361911987.post-84299023295654159862008-11-23T06:22:00.000-07:002008-11-23T06:22:00.000-07:00I don't see your logic about missing 30 NEW ABA bi...I don't see your logic about missing 30 NEW ABA birds, now I see your logic on missing lots of locally rare birds. I do think we missed several new ABA birds because of lack of birding along the Mexico border and Alaska, but not 30!Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02940959776044488504noreply@blogger.com