Hi Bob and all, It is, of course, impossible to disprove definitively a captive origin for any unmarked bird.
Even so, most people would consider the Montezuma bird a natural vagrant in the absence of any objective evidence to the contrary. The reason for this prevailing attitude is the accrual of a substantial body of data demonstrating a pattern of natural vagrancy by this species to North America. The Montezuma bird fit this pattern and showed no signs of prior captivity. It may conceivably have been a sophisticated Pokemon-Garganey-hologram, but skeptics and competitive Pokemon Go enthusiasts would need to be convinced. Shai Mitra Bay Shore ________________________________________ From: bounce-120630609-3714...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-120630609-3714...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Robert Lewis [rfer...@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2016 3:56 PM To: Andrew Baksh; nysbirds-l Subject: [nysbirds-l] The Gargeny at Montezuma Refuge Any recent information on this bird? I have the opportunity to be nearby and could stop tomorrow or Tuesday. Not to be a broken record, as I've asked this before, but has anyone investigated the possibility that this bird is an escapee? Any informed opinion on this topic would be appreciated. Bob Lewis Sleepy Hollow NY ________________________________ Take a picture. Write a caption. Win a prize. Where’s Danny the Dolphin today?<http://www.csi.cuny.edu/wheresdanny/> -- 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/ --
