Hi All- I'd agree with Mymm that this seems to have been an interesting winter (& now early spring) for Mute Swans showing up around the state (as was last winter.) I would encourage folks to document these birds. Two important avenues to do this exist- one would be to enter these (& all of your) sightings on eBird. eBird sightings are available to anyone researching changing distribution patterns, from professional ornithologists and journal editors to curious individuals. See this recent article about the value of user- submitted data: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/enter-winter-season-sightings-by-8-march
The second way to make your sightings count would be to submit records of Mute Swans (and of course, all review species) to the Colorado Bird Records Committee (http://www.cfo-link.org/CBRC/login.php5). While Colorado Mute Swan sightings are currently considered to be of suspect provenience, historical recordings of free-flying, potentially vagrant birds like Mute Swans could paint an interesting picture over time. But without documentation, it will be much harder to look back for trends. In other words, even "rejected" records of birds like Mute Swans can have value as they show occurrence patterns. Anyway, just my two-cents' worth. Enjoy- Bill Schmoker, Longmont ______________________ • Bill Schmoker • ______________________ http://schmoker.org http://brdpics.blogspot.com [email protected] 720/201-5749 ______________________ On Mar 5, 2009, at 10:29 PM, Mymm Ackley wrote: > Co-birders: > > There seems to be a lot of Mute Swan reporting lately, so here's > one more for the record: seen yesterday, March 4, at Runyon Lake in > Pueblo. Fortunately, my lifer MS has already been ticked off along > the Frasier River in British Columbia, where there is a small, wild > viable population. I don't suppose this one is good for much.....but > somebody might be keeping tabs on 'em. Mymm Ackley > > Windows Live™ Contacts: Organize your contact list. Check it out. > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
