[Birdtalk] GBYBC and Red-wings

[Cliff and Lisa Weisse]

This is a question that will be asked numerous times during the Great 
Backyard Bird count (GBBC).  I am one of the reviewers of flagged 
reports for Idaho.  Any way the reason these reports get questioned is 
because they exceed the maximum expected number for February.  It's not 
because they think you are wrong.  There is a master list of species 
with expected maximum numbers for each state, and in some cases for 
different regions within each state.  These lists are used to filter 
reports and they are set too low in many cases, apparently including for 
RW Blackbird in your area.  If that's the case the filter can be 
adjusted.  The same filter system is used for the eBird database and 
we've made many adjustments to them here in Idaho.  I don't know who is 
reviewing data for Utah.   A few years ago they didn't have anyone local 
to review reports in Utah and I don't know whether they've recruited 
anyone to help out.  

While I'm on the subject of the GBBC Utah has one of the lowest 
participation levels of any state.  The GBBC is a great opportunity to 
contribute to the understanding of species distribution in your area.  I 
know Rob Fergus already posted this but even Idaho submitted more 
checklists and reported 25 more species than UT.  I find it hard to 
believe that we have more species here in Idaho than you have in Utah?  
I just took a quick look at the results from 2007 and the biggest 
surprise was the difference in sparrows reported, 4 species in UT and 11 
in ID.  Species reported in ID but not in UT are:

Brewer's Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow

Brewer's and Vesper showed up early last year in extreme southern ID so 
it's reasonable to believe they were also present in UT.  Did anyone 
explore suitable habitat last February?  We also have a few Lincoln's 
and Savannah Sparrows every winter on the Snake River Plain.  Do those 
species also winter in parts of UT?  It seems like they ought to winter 
in UT as well but????  It would be interesting to learn that those 
species do not winter in UT.  What about Say's Phoebe?   I've seen them 
in winter in UT but are they regular?  Greater participation in the GBBC 
might answer some of these questions? 

Cliff

Jim & Beanie wrote:
> The last couple of years for the GBYBC I have reported 100 plus 
> Red-winged Blackbirds.
> These reports have been rejected on the  grounds that it is highly 
> unlikely or some such nonsense. 
>  
> So what should show up today just in time for the GBYBC?  149 male 
> Red-winged Blackbirds, and one female. 
>  
> Doesn't anyone else report balckbirds?
> Have my eyes gone bad?
> Can't I count?
> Is this a mirage?
>  
> Weird.  As long as I can remember large numbers of Red-wings have been 
> singing their song by the middle of February and sometimes even in 
> January.  A few may be seen here in Cache Valley any month of the 
> year.  Have you got RW Blackbirds?
>  
> Jim
>  
> http://donce.lofthouse.com/jamaica/winter.htm
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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-- 
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa at octobersetters.com

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