Being such a predictable bird makes it seem possible and maybe evening likely
he has visited Kentucky before.
From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, November 2, 2022 8:22 PM
To: BIRDKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [birdky] Info on color-banded American Oystercatcher
Not sure who all has been monitoring the ABA Rare Bird FB posts, but the
identity of the color-banded American Oystercatcher has been confirmed and
passed on to the American Oystercatcher Working Group (amoywg.org). Thanks to
Lindsay Addison working with that conservation partnership and Skyler Kardell
(who I presume also works with the species for AOWG or Massachusetts) for
providing the various tidbits below:
The bird is a male that was banded on Nantucket Island, MA, as an adult in 2006
(so he is at least 19 years old!); he has continued to return to breed on
Nantucket Island since then.
Apparently he was last detected in that area this year on 1 July. He was
thought to have *not* bred successfully this year, although the presence of the
hatch-year bird with him might suggest otherwise.
He traditionally winters on the Gulf Coast of northern peninsular Florida north
of Cedar Key. This means that he crosses peninsular Florida on migration, which
(according to satellite tracking data, I think) occurs directly and
purposefully (as in doesn't wander around to a place like KY!).
There is a cool link at nantucketconservation.org that includes lots of info
about oystercatcher conservation and even includes a photo of "F2" being banded
in 2006!! Of him the web site says "F2 was originally banded in 2006 as a
breeding adult; this year he will be at least 19 years old! He's a very
predictable bird. He likes to spend his winters in Horseshoe Beach, FL, and he
summers with us in Polpis Harbor. Without fail he comes back every year. He's
had many offspring over the years, and we are happy when he makes his
appearance."
Now how darned cool is that?!
bpb, Louisville
