开云体育

OPINION
GUEST ESSAY

When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET

By Ed Yong

Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland,
Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds.
Throughout the summer, I had been breaking in my first pair of binoculars,
a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always
while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had
gone somewhere solely to watch birds.

In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a
birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that also overlooks the forces that
create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would
identify as a dancer because the latter suggests if not skill then at least
effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for
my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a
science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote
time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.

Since then, my Birder Derangement Syndrome has progressed at an alarming
pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first
time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United
States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen
species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and
purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about
gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird
alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating —
looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to
pish. I’ve gone owling.

I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me
enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and
silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize
myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the
social media platform Bluesky. I went out with experienced birders to learn
how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.

I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when
I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without
having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to
novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different
species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification
app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birdingquiz.com lets you
practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.

This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses.
At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living
things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of
birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know
them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.

Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore
Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within
industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It
has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem
impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on
the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a
species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline, while
being utterly serene.

I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have
long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that
the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies
of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I
know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless
fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded
in place, time and personal experience.

When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the
neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there
and that I might previously have overlooked. The passing of the seasons
feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular
species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and
greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small
differences in habitat. I think about the tides.

So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I
started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species
in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and Western bluebirds
would be easy, but not black skimmers, or peregrine falcons or loggerhead
shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the
province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the last
six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned
owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons,
all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into
“Where can I find that?”

Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a
freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in
the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re
birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that
things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being
productive.

I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not
actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my
community beyond ceaseless production, and that pursuits like birding that
foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled
life but their essence.

It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it
as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main
characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when
I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear
to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the
one with the sparrow.

More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring
migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds
I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding
plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll
have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue
grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.

Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,”
investigates animal perception.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor.
We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here
are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@....

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
WhatsApp, X and Threads.

--
David P. Muth

For what’s it worth, while driving down to the coast today I saw a Caracara
carrying nest material about ? mile north of the hwy 82 bridge ( the big
bridge) over the Intracoastal Canal in Forked Island, flying over the
highway heading east.

I couldn’t really stop and when I came back thru we did search for a nest
near the road for a little while with no luck.



Just an FYI if someone in that area wants to do a little better search.



Toddy Guidry

A note on merlin errors. When it is wrong it is always wrong over several
months

I use it occasionally to try and pick up an odd warbler call when the herd
of yellow-rumps is here. When a cardinal sings merlin says it is a cardinal,
Carolina wren and mockingbird when only a cardinal is singing.

When a Carolina wren is singing alone merlin says it is a wren, mockingbird
and cardinal. This has been true starting in January and continuing until
pre-dawn today.

Merlin has picked up some warbler chips I did not hear before I saw the
birds.

While on the crow thread - last year I kept track of my year list and I
thought I noticed a pattern with American and Fish Crows around Lafayette,
specifically that during the winter months detections were dominated by
American Crows, with Fish Crows appearing and becoming more common around
spring and into summer-fall.

And regarding Mickey the crow, around the turn of the 20th century, my
grandfather and great uncles had at least one pet crow they obtained by
identifying nests and then climbing the trees to capture nestlings.
Supposedly some of these pets were taught English words. Today you can't
have a pet crow though you could possess a dead one depending on your state
hunting seasons or nuisance wildlife depredation laws.

Bill Vermillion

On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 9:05?AM Johnson, Erik <Erik.Johnson@...>
wrote:

Michael/LAbird,

There's never any shame in reporting a bird to eBird as "Fish/American
Crow." Or "hummingbird sp." Or "sparrow sp." Or "tern sp." Or "white egret
sp." Uncertainty is completely embedded within birding, and no one can
identify everything that's around them.

Merlin is a useful tool, but as others have said, not to be used for
generating eBird lists.

As far as the Fish/American ID conundrum, there are subtle differences in
shape and flight style, which with practice can be helpful. Fish are
longer-tailed and pointier-winged, and often have more of a rowing style of
flight. Both species give nasal calls, such that Americans are more likely
to be mis-identified as Fish than the other way around. About a year ago, I
became aware of a recording of an individual crow clearly giving both Fish
("eh-eh") and American ("caw") calls. I think we know little about
hybridization, and these are smart birds that have the ability to mimic.
Mickey, a captive crow in the National Aviary in Pittsburgh years ago, was
able to say various English words and phrases that he learned from a keeper.

Birding is an endless pursuit, and "experts" may be best distinguished as
realizing the depth of what they don't know, rather than by what they do
know.

Happy birding,
Erik Johnson
Sunset, LA
Erik.Johnson AT Audubon.org



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Steven W. Cardiff
via groups.io
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 8:43 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow

As I told the beginning birder from Gonzales (who, by the way, is a she,
not a he....), please refrain from reporting anything flagged as rare by
Merlin sound app unless you get a visual confirmation and you include the
recording in the list. So, no "Merlin-heard-only" rare birds, please.
Reporting "expected" species based on Merlin sound app is a whole 'nother
can of worms as pointed out several times by Dr. Remsen and others over the
past couple years. Almost no way to detect misidentifications of expected
species, which happens frequently.....

Steve Cardiff

On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 8:08?AM Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io
<michaelcav= [email protected]> wrote:

Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME
bird every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I
realize that the vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows
(which Merlin calls correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of
crows flew over, the caw wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it

an American Crow.

My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY
ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it
as a hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby?
Thanks,Michael In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central
Daylight Time, jay.huner1@... writes:
Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in
Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state
record. “Merlin 厂补测蝉”!!
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of John Romano via
groups.io <birderjuan@...>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
know the content is safe.


I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was
identified by Merlin.
John Romano

On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...>

wrote:

The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on

Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's
way off with his use of the app!

Jay H.

Michael/LAbird,

There's never any shame in reporting a bird to eBird as "Fish/American Crow." Or "hummingbird sp." Or "sparrow sp." Or "tern sp." Or "white egret sp." Uncertainty is completely embedded within birding, and no one can identify everything that's around them.

Merlin is a useful tool, but as others have said, not to be used for generating eBird lists.

As far as the Fish/American ID conundrum, there are subtle differences in shape and flight style, which with practice can be helpful. Fish are longer-tailed and pointier-winged, and often have more of a rowing style of flight. Both species give nasal calls, such that Americans are more likely to be mis-identified as Fish than the other way around. About a year ago, I became aware of a recording of an individual crow clearly giving both Fish ("eh-eh") and American ("caw") calls. I think we know little about hybridization, and these are smart birds that have the ability to mimic. Mickey, a captive crow in the National Aviary in Pittsburgh years ago, was able to say various English words and phrases that he learned from a keeper.

Birding is an endless pursuit, and "experts" may be best distinguished as realizing the depth of what they don't know, rather than by what they do know.

Happy birding,
Erik Johnson
Sunset, LA
Erik.Johnson AT Audubon.org

As I told the beginning birder from Gonzales (who, by the way, is a she,
not a he....), please refrain from reporting anything flagged as rare by
Merlin sound app unless you get a visual confirmation and you include the
recording in the list. So, no "Merlin-heard-only" rare birds, please.
Reporting "expected" species based on Merlin sound app is a whole 'nother
can of worms as pointed out several times by Dr. Remsen and others over the
past couple years. Almost no way to detect misidentifications of expected
species, which happens frequently.....

Steve Cardiff

On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 8:08?AM Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io <michaelcav=
[email protected]> wrote:

Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME bird
every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I realize that the
vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows (which Merlin calls
correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of crows flew over, the caw
wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it an American Crow.
My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY
ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it as a
hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby? Thanks,Michael
In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central Daylight Time,
jay.huner1@... writes:
Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana
much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin
厂补测蝉”!!
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of John Romano via
groups.io <birderjuan@...>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
content is safe.


I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified
by Merlin.
John Romano

On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...>

wrote:

The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on

Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way
off with his use of the app!

Jay H.

I think it’s a great tool. Not 100% accurate obviously. But a wise person once said “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”.

Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME bird every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I realize that the vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows (which Merlin calls correctly, mostly).? But the other day a group of crows flew over, the caw wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it an American Crow.??
?My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool.? Do you COMPLETELY ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it as a hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby??Thanks,Michael

Maybe they are a beginner.

Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin 厂补测蝉”!!
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of John Romano via groups.io <birderjuan@...>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...>
Cc: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.


I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
John Romano

On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...> wrote:

?The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!

Jay H.

I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
John Romano

Jay/labird-
Duh. That was done some time ago (by me), and the observer seemed to
understand. But, obviously, that was wishful thinking. All we reviewers can
do is unconfirm the observations and/or make the lists not public. if the
problem persists much longer, then I will ask ebird to take action,
although I doubt they would do anything.

Steve Cardiff

On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 8:13?PM Jay V Huner <jay.huner1@...>
wrote:

The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin
sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with
his use of the app!

Jay H.

The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!

Jay H.

Man that seems early. Guess I’m still stuck in regular times.

Bill Fontenot

Tried to send this message via ipad on Monday but don't think it worked. Monday, March 25, around 1030 hours, 5 wood storks flew low over my house on the west end of Woodworth, Rapides Parish, flying west to east.

[Forest Service Shield]
Stephen Shively
Wildlife Biologist
Forest Service
Kisatchie National Forest, Calcasieu Ranger District
p: 318-969-3050
c: 318-880-7822
Stephen.Shively@...<mailto:Stephen.Shively@...>
9912 Hwy 28 West
Boyce, LA 71409
www.fs.fed.us<>
[USDA Logo]<> [Forest Service Twitter] <> [USDA Facebook] <>
Caring for the land and serving people






This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

I had three swallow tailed kites flying together over I-10 as I approached Blind River traveling westbound on Wednesday March 27, 2024, at approximately 830 am.
Terri Skelton

*Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge* – half-day birding trip Saturday,
March 30, 8:00 a.m.

Meet at the Bayou Ridge Trail entrance located on the left side of U.S. 90
(Chef Menteur Highway). Take the I-510 Exit off of I-10, turn left on Chef
Hwy and proceed about 4 miles. Address: 20876 Chef Menteur Hwy, New
Orleans, LA 70129
Leader: Peter Yaukey, (504) 400-3286, pyaukey@...
For trip updates and more information visit:

All are welcome.


Jennifer Coulson
President
Orleans Audubon Society

Peter, Labird,I heartily agree with your statement and of course include Van in the LSU force that shaped and harnessed our Louisiana birding community to contribute to and enjoy birding citizen science.
Glenn Ousset

However, I still hold against them that they always rooted for the 49ers in the 90s when the Saints were in the same division. And that they always seemed to come up with more "count exclusives" than I did whenever we were on the same Christmas Count. ?
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Peter H Yaukey via groups.io <pyaukey@...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 8:48 AM
To: James V Remsen <najames@...>; william.fontenot@... <william.fontenot@...>
Cc: Paul Conover <zoiseaux@...>; LABIRD <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [labird] LBRC Annual Meeting 2024

[You don't often get email from pyaukey@.... Learn why this is important at ]

WARNING: This email originated outside of the University of New Orleans system. The sender of this email could not be validated and may not actually be the person in the “From” field. Do NOT click links or open attachments if the message seems suspicious in any way. Never provide your user ID or password.



Steve and Donna have been a force of nature here, and in the best possible way. From bringing rigor and caution to our standards for documenting rarities, to starting the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival. I believe they are a huge reason that Louisiana birding and its birding community are, in many ways, the envy of much of the country.

Peter Yaukey
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of William Fontenot via groups.io <william.fontenot@...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 3:29 PM
To: James V Remsen <najames@...>
Cc: Paul Conover <zoiseaux@...>; LABIRD <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [labird] LBRC Annual Meeting 2024

[You don't often get email from william.fontenot@.... Learn why this is important at ]

WARNING: This email originated outside of the University of New Orleans system. The sender of this email could not be validated and may not actually be the person in the “From” field. Do NOT click links or open attachments if the message seems suspicious in any way. Never provide your user ID or password.



Oh the stories we could tell….

Just wanted to echo Mac and Paul’s comments re: the Remsen/Dittmann/Cardiff triumvirate. They got some business done — beginning back in a time when there were maybe 2-3 dozen serious birders in all of Louisiana, and photographic equipment was a couple of decades away from going digital.

Bill Fontenot

On Mar 19, 2024, at 11:23?AM, James V Remsen <najames@...> wrote:

?I echo everything Paul has said about Donna and Steve. Their contributions have been incredible. Just the BRC Newsletter alone is amazing — by far the best one of its kind in USA, and that’s not just my opinion but one shared by many birders in USA.

===================

Dr. J. V. Remsen
Emeritus Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds
Museum of Natural Science/Dept. Biological Sciences
LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najames<at>LSU.edu

On Mar 18, 2024, at 7:31 PM, Paul Conover via groups.io <zoiseaux@...> wrote:

Labird,

The 2024 Annual LBRC Meeting was held on Saturday, 18 March. Of
immediate interest to Labirders, two species, White-tailed Hawk and
Black Rail, were removed from the LBRC Review List. White-tailed Hawk
appears to have achieved a persistent and perhaps breeding presence in
the Holmwood area as well as occasionally being represented in Cameron
Parish by what are probably wandering birds from Texas. Black Rail has
been documented to have a breeding presence in the state after
recovering from what was probably total annihilation in some areas by
recent hurricanes. Records for both species from prior to 16 March 2024
are requested. These species are obviously still of major interest, and
eBird reviewers will still require excellent details or photographs for
the species on eBird lists.

The meeting also marked the end of an era for the LBRC with the
departure of Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff from the committee due to
their imminent move to West Texas, and with Dan Lane stepping away due
to his busy schedule leading bird tours. Donna had served on the
committee since 1987, including as the Secretary of the LBRC since 1988,
and Steve had served since 1988, including as Chair since 1997; their
long tenure dating back to the first decade of the committee has served
as an important foundation of continuity for all members since, and
their absence will be huge. Both will continue to serve as resources
for the committee. Dan has been a member since 2016, and his
world-class knowledge of ID has been of immense value to the committee.
Join me in thanking these former members for their great contributions
to Louisiana ornithology.

The new era of the LBRC will include three new elected members
and the filling of vacant seats: the LBRC welcomes Chris Brantley, James
Smithers, and Chloe St. Germain-Vermillion as new voting Members, while
Rob Dobbs will take over as Chair, and I will assume the position of
Secretary.


Paul Conover

NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!

Steve and Donna have been a force of nature here, and in the best possible way. From bringing rigor and caution to our standards for documenting rarities, to starting the Yellow Rails and Rice Festival. I believe they are a huge reason that Louisiana birding and its birding community are, in many ways, the envy of much of the country.

Peter Yaukey
________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of William Fontenot via groups.io <william.fontenot@...>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 3:29 PM
To: James V Remsen <najames@...>
Cc: Paul Conover <zoiseaux@...>; LABIRD <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [labird] LBRC Annual Meeting 2024

[You don't often get email from william.fontenot@.... Learn why this is important at ]

WARNING: This email originated outside of the University of New Orleans system. The sender of this email could not be validated and may not actually be the person in the “From” field. Do NOT click links or open attachments if the message seems suspicious in any way. Never provide your user ID or password.



Oh the stories we could tell….

Just wanted to echo Mac and Paul’s comments re: the Remsen/Dittmann/Cardiff triumvirate. They got some business done — beginning back in a time when there were maybe 2-3 dozen serious birders in all of Louisiana, and photographic equipment was a couple of decades away from going digital.

Bill Fontenot

On Mar 19, 2024, at 11:23?AM, James V Remsen <najames@...> wrote:

?I echo everything Paul has said about Donna and Steve. Their contributions have been incredible. Just the BRC Newsletter alone is amazing — by far the best one of its kind in USA, and that’s not just my opinion but one shared by many birders in USA.

===================

Dr. J. V. Remsen
Emeritus Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds
Museum of Natural Science/Dept. Biological Sciences
LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najames<at>LSU.edu

On Mar 18, 2024, at 7:31 PM, Paul Conover via groups.io <zoiseaux@...> wrote:

Labird,

The 2024 Annual LBRC Meeting was held on Saturday, 18 March. Of
immediate interest to Labirders, two species, White-tailed Hawk and
Black Rail, were removed from the LBRC Review List. White-tailed Hawk
appears to have achieved a persistent and perhaps breeding presence in
the Holmwood area as well as occasionally being represented in Cameron
Parish by what are probably wandering birds from Texas. Black Rail has
been documented to have a breeding presence in the state after
recovering from what was probably total annihilation in some areas by
recent hurricanes. Records for both species from prior to 16 March 2024
are requested. These species are obviously still of major interest, and
eBird reviewers will still require excellent details or photographs for
the species on eBird lists.

The meeting also marked the end of an era for the LBRC with the
departure of Donna Dittmann and Steve Cardiff from the committee due to
their imminent move to West Texas, and with Dan Lane stepping away due
to his busy schedule leading bird tours. Donna had served on the
committee since 1987, including as the Secretary of the LBRC since 1988,
and Steve had served since 1988, including as Chair since 1997; their
long tenure dating back to the first decade of the committee has served
as an important foundation of continuity for all members since, and
their absence will be huge. Both will continue to serve as resources
for the committee. Dan has been a member since 2016, and his
world-class knowledge of ID has been of immense value to the committee.
Join me in thanking these former members for their great contributions
to Louisiana ornithology.

The new era of the LBRC will include three new elected members
and the filling of vacant seats: the LBRC welcomes Chris Brantley, James
Smithers, and Chloe St. Germain-Vermillion as new voting Members, while
Rob Dobbs will take over as Chair, and I will assume the position of
Secretary.


Paul Conover

NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!