Jon Ruddy's post from yesterday of a leucistic Long-tailed Duck at Sandbanks Provincial Park prompted us to pre-empt an 'Information Wanted' announcement we have in the upcoming December issue of Ontario Birds. Given all the birding activity in the next couple of weeks (the Niagara Gull Week-end and everyone's Winter Listing) and the fact that the December issue of Ontario Birds won't be in our members' hands for a couple of weeks yet, we would like to bring the following item to the attention of OFO members and Ontbird followers. Many thanks, Chip, Chris and Ken,
"WANTED: Photos and notes on birds with aberrant plumage In this issue (36:129-184) and the August issue (36:89-91) of Ontario Birds, our readers have seen spectacular images of an Eastern Kingbird and a Double-crested Cormorant with aberrant plumage. We were treated to a detailed and well-researched explanation of albinism, leucism, and Brown and Ino plumage mutations by Jean Iron in her article in this issue. We also received images of a pale coloured Gadwall. Many OFO members probably have other images or observations of Ontario birds with aberrant plumages which we think would make an interesting topic for a collection in a future issue of Ontario Birds. Therefore, we are requesting readers who have made such observations to send us their photos of such birds with a short narrative (up to 10 sentences) describing the details (date, location, behaviours, etc.) of the record. If you have seen such birds and do not have a photo, we are still interested in your observations; so please send us your descriptive account (up to 10 sentences). Photos and narratives will be reviewed by us and plumage experts and assembled into a special feature; we would hope to publish this account in the December 2019 issue of Ontario Birds. Material can be sent to any of the editors: edit...@ofo.ca<mailto:edit...@ofo.ca>." _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists