Again, thanks to Chuck Krulas for finding the Smew and quickly notifying the birding community. We all appreciate it, Chuck.
The Smew was still present late this evening and I was able to view it at close range as it swam about beneath the overpass to north-bound U.S. Highway 52 at Lake Shady in Olmsted County. Several times the bird climbed out on to the ice shelf, preened, and walked about, all within approximately fifty feet of me and several other birders, With my scope I could see that the right hallux (or rear toe) was missing. Looking closely, it clearly appeared to have been clipped, not having been torn or otherwise missing due to injury -- judging from the clean and nicely healed scar. The left hallux was intact and complete. A clipped right rear-facing toe is usually indicative of an escaped bird since, as a general rule, captive bred waterfowl are marked in this manner (but also by other methods). This is done before the bird is six weeks of age. I am not about to presume what the Records Committee will say about this record, nor do I speak for the Committee, but since a clipped hallux is strongly suggestive of a captively-raised bird, I'd guess this individual would be Unacceptable as a second state record. -- Anthony X. Hertzel -- [email protected]
