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Fortuitous Snapshot Results in New Species for US

Discussion

8 replies
Posted by Sally King on November 19, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Fortuitous Snapshot Results in New Species for US
By luck I spotted and photographed a sungrebe at Bosque del Apache about 3 years ago. The photo was not of great quality for a number of reasons but now 3 years later with that sighting (and information from about 20 other people who were able to take much better photographs of the bird a few days later after a friend of mine put out a RBA) the sungrebe has been added to the ABA list. I was even a poorer birder back then and didn't have any books showing bird species outside of the United States. Luckily that friend of mine was able to identify it and get the word out. Anyway...although we are always trying to get the best photograph possible sometimes just a snapshot will do. People watching and reporting what birds they are seeing where keeps the science up-to-date. From the ABA report it sounds like they really need someone to get a photograph of an ivory billed woodpecker that is good enough for positive identification.
Posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 19, 2011 at 1:41 PM
Great catch and a good reminder not to throw out photos that are not top-quality. With the very inexpensive storage media, we can keep everything if we want to.
Good job!
Sandy
Posted by Richard Ditch on November 19, 2011 at 4:51 PM
I remember the day word of this incredible find hit the listserv. I'm very happy the report got out. Congratulations on the find.
Posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 19, 2011 at 5:05 PM
Some of the first reports, for those interested - a very major coup, Sally! Way to go!

http://adventurebirding.blogspot.com/2008/11/bosque-del-apache-nm-sungrebe.html


http://www.sibleyguides.com/2008/11/sungrebe-%E2%80%93-new-for-north-america/

http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/2008/11/sungrebe-new-for-north-america.html

Sandy

Posted by Jim DeWitt on November 19, 2011 at 6:29 PM
Congratulations on the bird and the photo,Sally. It's still an incredible find.
Posted by Max Waugh on November 19, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Nice find, Sally. I remember seeing one in Costa Rica and even there my guide commented on it being a personal highlight for him.

Max
Posted by Charlie Baugh on November 19, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Nice for you to be a part of a significant find like this. Keep you eyes open. :wink:
Posted by Anand Narayanan on November 20, 2011 at 1:57 AM
Awesome ! Congratulations on this great find ! In addition to advancing our understanding of their distribution, such records might be of great value in swinging policy(landuse etc..) in favour of conservation.
Posted by David Graham on November 20, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Way to go, Sally

Bertillion said " we see only what we observe, and we observe only that which is already in the mind.". A well-honed capacity for observation and a purposefully open mind are the basis of most new knowledge.

Again, way to go! Another triumph of the citizen scientist!

Dave Graham
East River, SD