[Birdnet] New Jaeger--over the GSL

[Colby Neuman]

Hi all,

I'd like to thank Kris for passing along the info.

It was our first WEST trip of the season where we take ~60 kids on a cruise
boat about 5-6 miles out into the lake where we teach the kids about the
Great Salt Lake ecosystem, the deep brine layer, density and making
scientific measurements.  As we were headed out today (~2-3 miles offshore),
I was talking with the kids about the food chain of the Great Salt Lake.  I
was literally asking the kids, "what eats brine shrimp and brine fly
larvae?" when one of the kids shouted out seagulls, which was immediately
followed by another student asking, "what's that dark gull flying alongside
the boat?".   I was about the say a young California Gull, but I quickly
realized it was a jaeger.  I didn't hide my excitement too much, and told
the kids that it was a pretty rare bird in Utah.  Based on my limited
experience with Parasitic Jaegers and my nonexistent (to very slight
experience depending on who you ask) experience with Long-tailed and
Pomarine Jaegers, I think it was pretty consistent with PARASITIC JAEGER.
The size, shape and flight pattern all seemed to point in that direction.
The barring on the undertail coverts was actually pretty noticeable and
reminded me a lot of the bird Willard Bay bird from a couple years ago.
Unfortunately, I never watched the bird through any optics because I had to
continue teaching.  Either way, I thought it was pretty cool.

Tim did indeed find the bird flying about 800 yards to a mile north of the
marina at Saltair earlier this afternoon.  So it is certainly possible to
see this bird from the shoreline.   It seemed to be harassing gulls on the
lake consistently.

Colby

On 9/25/07, Kristin Purdy <kristinpurdy at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Tim has called from the jetty at the marina. He has sighted the jaeger at
> an
> extreme distance chasing a gull and then landing on the water. Tim will
> likely be maintaining his watch for a couple hours.
>
> The entrance fee to Great Salt Lake State Park is $2.00.
>
> Kris
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kristin Purdy" <kristinpurdy at comcast.net>
> To: <birdnet at utahbirds.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 11:28 AM
> Subject: [Birdnet] New Jaeger--over the GSL
>
>
> > Colby Neuman reports a JAEGER from a new location this morning--over
> Great
> > Salt Lake two to three miles north of the marina near SaltAir in Salt
> Lake
> > County.
> >
> > Colby is presently on a boat with a group of school kids; one of them
> > asked him "What's that dark gull out there?" Colby turned to see a
> jaeger
> > chasing a California Gull. He believes that the jaeger is either a
> > PARASITIC or a LONG-TAILED based on size comparisons with the gull.
> >
> > Tim Avery is headed to the marina to watch for the bird along the south
> > shore. If you'd like to join Tim, I think the marina is accessible from
> > I-80 exit 104.
> >
> > Who says you can't take a pelagic birding cruise in Utah?!?
> >
> > Kris
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Birdnet at utahbirds.org
> > http://utahbirds.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnet
> >
>
>
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