FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Ky Dam gulls

[Brainard.Palmer-Ball@xxxxxx]

I was out of town for nearly a week and have not had a chance to weigh in on
the identification of the Thayer's/Iceland Gull at Ky Dam.  I will try to be
brief :o)

1) I think that this individual has great potential to increase awareness of
the magnitude of the ID problem in attempting to make a distinction between
what is called Thayer's Gull and what is called Iceland Gull in our region.
To that end, I would ask David and Mike to allow Gary Ritchison to post a
few of their photos on the KOS web site for a specific link for this bird
and some discussion about it.  David has apparently received some comments
from others in our region on their ideas about ID of the bird. I think it
would be good to post these as well. I have solicited comments from a couple
of more based on the photos to which links have been posted the past few
days. I guarantee that everyone can learn from this bird and discussion
about it!

2) In an attempt to refresh my memory on a few things regarding the
distinction between the two "species" I pulled out something that I
apparently should have pulled out more than a year ago when I received it,
the Birds of North America account for Thayer's Gull/Iceland Gull . . . is
it telling that these two are combined into the same account for the BNA???
:o)  If this resource is anywhere as authoritative as it appears to me to be
(the author, Richard Snell, has done first-hand research in Arctic Canada on
the two and seems to have thoroughly researched the group), this may be the
best thing I've ever read on the two "species" which the author lumps into
three forms, two end points (Thayer's and nominate Iceland) and a mid-way
point (Kumlien's) in a single, unbroken continuum across Arctic regions of
North America.  I will try to distill a few major talking points out of that
resource this weekend for Gary to post on the KOS web site.

3) If I am not mistaken, both David and Mike's photos of this bird are
presented a bit too light, portraying the bird as lighter than it is in
good, even light of a cloudy day. Also, if anyone can happen to get a shot
of the tail pattern from above, that would be very useful. So far, photos of
the bird are depicting a more mottled tail pattern than the bird that I have
seen (and I must assume that this is the same individual that Hap and I
first observed on January 25th).  I have some photos that I will try to work
with David on in lightening up digitally to a mutually agreed upon
appropriate level for comparison to mid-February photos, although mine are
from a much greater distance and do not show the detail of David's or
Mike's.

4) Just one tidbit from the BNA account: the author believes that variation
among the three [I'll call them] subspecies is so great, that without
knowing in which specific region within Arctic North America that the bird
was hatched, one cannot accurately assess to which subspecies individuals
that are observed on more southerly wintering areas belong.  Obviously birds
wintering in far eastern and far western areas would be more likely to be
nominate Iceland and Thayer's, respectively, but we are obviously within an
area that could get birds from the more central portion of the breeding
range where the most variation occurs. After reading this account, I'm now
thoroughly ready to start calling everything one species!

5) Mark Monroe and I plan to be down in the area at least part of Fri and
Sat and I am aware of a few others who will be out. We would like to see the
Little Gull, but will be looking all around. Unfortunately, the weather will
not afford the best opportunities for finding unusual gulls, but maybe
enough eyes will do the trick. If you are in the area and have a radio, use
Channel 11-22 (Channel 11, band 22).

More to come . . .

bpb, Louisville
================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============

The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign 
your messages with first & last name, city, & 
state abbreviation.
--------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx