Hi Bob, All, The Razorbill trend in the southeast is definitely intriguing, unprecedented, and perhaps alarming. For anyone interested, the ornithologists over at eBird and BirdCast have tried to make sense of this as well, concluding that the cause may be atypically warmer sea temperatures in Razorbills' usual core wintering range that have disrupted the normal patterns of occurrence of their prey and made those waters unproductive.
Here are links to those articles: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/razorbills-invade-florida http://birdcast.info/forecast/razorbills-invade-florida/ As they note, it's definitely interesting how species of many different families and widely different life histories are making southerly movements this winter. Coincidence? Good birding, Benjamin Van Doren White Plains, NY On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 12:04 AM, ROBERT ADAMO <rada...@msn.com> wrote: > > > > ------------------------------ > From: rada...@msn.com > > Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:57:40 -0500 > > With thanks to Tom Burke et al for finding/posting the Ponquogue Bridge > Western Grebe this afternoon. Because this has only been the 2nd time I've > been in the field since a week before Christmas, coupled with Ken Fuestel's > post of both crossbill species at Cupsogue Co. Pk. this AM, today promised > to be a good one...and it was Upon arrival, I found Anthony Collerton > heading for the area that Shai Mitra & Pat Lindsay were just leaving, after > having seen the bird. They suggested walking on to Ken Fuestel's location, > for the best looks possible. Ken put us right on the grebe, which because > of my recent inactivity, strangely became my first grebe species of the > year. > > Heading west toward Cupsogue (while on bittern patrol) I did see 2 Great > Egrets. > > After checking every pine-tree west of the parking lot (as well as those > in the parking lot) I remain "crossbill-less", in this season of > impressive numbers. Nevertheless, I would like to thank Ken for the > much-needed hour of physical exercise ! > > My luck changed however, while stopped for the red light at the > intersection of Middle Rd .& Northville Tpke., Riverhead. As 3 birds passed > fairly low overhead, their "jizz" and size differences marked them as > geese, 2 canadas and 1 cackling. > > A friend's letter I recently received contained an undated news article > which appeared in *The Naples News*, pertaining to the unprecedented > numbers of razorbills in Florida's waters this winter. First reported from > the state's northern coast on Dec.10, they have now been reported down the > entire eastern seaboard, around the tip, and up the Gulf Coast to the > "Panhandle". As evidence of this phenomenon, the article notes the 600 > razorbills seen by birdwatchers off Miami on a single day, when, prior to > this season, there had been only 14 of this species recorded in all of > Florida's history. It is theorized that the lack of food at it's normal > wintering grounds is the prime reason for this alcid's deep southerly > sojourn, with super- storm Sandy being a major cause of this condition by > tearing through the marine food chain. Another factor given for this > unusual migration, is the banner breeding season enjoyed by this species, > whose young make up the majority of the birds mentioned. Rehabilitation > clinics have reported that many razorbills have been found dead, with those > arriving alive, in emaciated and weak condition. > > Cheers, > Bob > -- > *NYSbirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> > *Please submit your observations to **eBird*<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/> > *!* > -- > -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
