[mou] Why isn't anyone getting excited about the Whooper Swan?

[Jeff Price]

_IF_ it is truly the attitude of the records committee
then any Whooper Swan in MN is automatically
considered an escapee then I have to question their
logic.  So, the following rant on my part only holds
if the MN records committee refuses to review records
of Whooper Swan.

First let me say that I HAVE served on a records
committee.  It is largely a thankless task, certainly
a way to lose friends and make enemies.  Second, as an
avian biogeographer by training/practice I can say
that applying a blanket rule that a species like
Whooper Swan is an escapee and not consider a possible
wild origin is a serious error in judgement.  This is
a species that is known to stray. While it is more
likely to stray coastally there is no reason a bird
might not stray inland as well.  

There are many factors behind a bird straying - it
could be weather related, it could be a genetic
abnormality (or one that has been chemically induced),
the bird could have gotten mixed in with species that
normally winter in the US (or be paired with a Tundra
Swan), and there are other reasons as well.  Consider
the sightings of Common Crane from NE and IN as at
least putting forward the possibility that the species
has a wild origin.  Consider sightings of Smew in the
same category.

True, this is a species kept in captivity but so are
Smew.  It just means that care needs to be taken in
considering possible wild/escaped origin of the birds
in question.  How are they behaving?  Are there any
bands, any sign of clipping?  Has an aviculturist
reported a lost bird?  Now a bird can still be an
escapee and behave wild, not be banded and no one
report the loss.  That is the role of a records
committee - to carefully consider the evidence and
make a provisional judgement.  Then be willing to
reconsider previous decisions if the balance of
evidence starts pointing to a pattern suggesting wild
birds rather than escapees.

All it takes is a cursory review of the birds showing
up in recent years in other states (Slaty-backed Gull
in CO and elsewhere), Arctic Loon in CO, multiple Smew
sightings, to at least put forward the possibility
that a Whooper Swan in MN could indeed be a wild bird.

--- "David A. Cahlander" <david@cahlander.com> wrote:
> I'm told that any Whopper Swan found in MN is
> considered an escape.  Its
> not on even the accidental list for Minnesota.
> 
> According to Avisys's records, sightings have only
> been accepted in
> 
>     ME, MT, CA, OR, AK, BC
> 
> This is not a reason to not go look at the bird. 
> Its a wonderful bird.
> ---



=====
Jeff Price
Boulder, CO
jtpbirder@yahoo.com

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