On Saturday 12/6, Debbie Sharon of Grand Island, Erie Co., NY found an American Avocet at the south end of Grand Island, near the northeastern end of Beaver Island State Park. The bird was also seen yesterday by Debbie and re-found by several others this morning, Monday 12/8. For sighting details and directions, see the posts sent earlier today to Geneseebirds (_http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/GENE.html_ (http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/GENE.html) ). After observing the bird, I spoke to Jean Iron of Toronto, Ontario, who was nice enough to pass along information that the long staying American Avocet first found at the mouth of Duffins Creek at Lake Ontario in the town of Ajax (just outside of Toronto) on 11/16, was last seen on Friday 12/5. After comparing photos of the Grand Island bird (_http://picasaweb.google.com/jmpawli88_ (http://picasaweb.google.com/jmpawli88) ) with Jean's photos of the bird in Ajax(_http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2008/americanavocet.htm_ (http://www.jeaniron.ca/Shorebirds/2008/americanavocet.htm) ), it appears that the bird in Ajax and the Grand Island bird are indeed the same individual. Beyond the major rarity of Avocets on the Great Lakes after November and the coincidence of its departure and arrival, the age/plumage (first-year/juvenile) and most of all, bill shape, are remarkably similar. The most consistent individual plumage feature found was a black "line' present along the edge of and protruding into the white tips of the greater coverts on the bird's right wing. In most images of the bird's right side, the position and shape of the line is nearly identical. Although it was recently mentioned on the lists that the bill shape appeared to suggest a male (less curvature than a female), comparing it to photographs of American Avocets of known sex, on average it appears more consistent with that of a female. All that being said, the bird's outstanding fish-catching ability witnessed at both locations is also something that's probably beyond mere coincidence. Thus, to those concerned, the bird is alive and well and hopefully will continue to survive in the coming months wherever it may find itself. Jim Pawlicki Amherst, NY **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010) _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
