Hi all,
Not wanting to be a "buzz kill" on the two Smew seen this winter as far
as a list bird, I think they should be considered a bird of questionable
origin. As a thought it may be quite possible that they are the same bird, or
not. The one picture I saw of the Whitby? bird, flying away, as I recall , I
think was an adult bird. Smew now are in full colour and would have been for
a number of weeks. Same bird? Who knows. I am always surprised that so many
waterfowl are accepted as genuine vagrants so readily. ( Barnacle Geese,
Garganey, Baikal Teal etc.) Many are fairly common in captive waterfowl
collections and birds do escape. Smew is one of them. This is not generally
due to neglect or mismanagement but ususally adverse weather conditions like
ice storms, wet snow etc. which collapse waterfowl enclosures etc. Right now
Smew are worth 5 to $ 600 a pair so no one wants to see them flying away. I
know of 2 male Smew escaping last March in S.W. Ontario. Around the Great
Lakes we have Ontario, Quebec, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania etc., all with
people who keep Smew in captivity. Is there a trend of birds showing up on
east coast or west coast of the continent? No. Wouldn't they show up there
first? So, we are all in control of our bird lists and these could be genuine
wild birds so you will all have to judge on your own. (check for a band or in
U.S. birds a band or a clipped off hind toe on the right foot) Good luck.
Anyone wishing to discuss this further I would be happy too, so just email me
privately. ( I think we would all be amazed at how many people in Toronto keep
Hummingbirds)
Ross Snider
Ingersoll, Ont.
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