[texbirds] Re: First US and Texas record for the Sumichrast's Meadowlark
- From: Scott Atkinson <scottratkinson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "fcndc@xxxxxxxx" <fcndc@xxxxxxxx>, Texbirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 10:16:52 -0700
Fred: That's a classic! We must have reached April! Scott AtkinsonLake
Stevens, WAmail to: scottratkinson@xxxxxxxxxxx
> From: fcndc@xxxxxxxx
> To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> CC: dawgler@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [texbirds] First US and Texas record for the Sumichrast's Meadowlark
> Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2013 09:12:29 -0500
>
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> This past February while Dennis Shepler and I were taking a birding trip to
> west Texas we discovered this meadowlark near Red Bluff Reservoir in Reeves
> County. We believe it may be a first US record. True to its nature, it was
> with a flock of Western Meadowlark. This bird is very rare and while based
> on the original collection and description it is thought to be a native of
> Mexico, its current breeding grounds are unknown. One would not expect it to
> move north in winter yet it is always associated with the more numerous
> Western Meadowlark. The only documentation we were able to obtain was some
> digi-scoped images. While they leave a great deal to be desired they are
> good evidence of the distinctive and rare species. (Pictures can be viewed
> at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwnp/sets/72157633137187939/
>
>
>
>
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> photo.photo
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>
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> Sumichrast's Meadowlark (Sturnella sumichrasti)
>
> was named in honor of the famous romantic author Frederick Caesar de
> Sumichrast (1845-1933) currently best known for writing Les miserables. He
> had a varied career and one of his popular works in the mid-1800s was The
> Captive Bird.
>
> The meadowlark was first observed and collected in Veracruz Mexico in 1868
> by ex-Texian naturalist Gideon Lincecum who had moved to Mexico following
> the Civil War. Gideon was well known to most scientists of his day including
> Charles Darwin who sponsored his publication on agriculture ants (harvester
> ants). His observations and specimens were accepted by Spencer Baird who
> formally described the species as Sumichrast's Meadowlark much to the dismay
> of Gideon that wanted the bird named Curlew Meadowlark since its mode of
> living was so like that of the curlews. Baird was hoping the then Harvard
> professor Sumichrast would donate money to his museum. But never-the-less at
> least he scored points with his wife who adored the professor's work.
>
> Lincecum noted one very distinctive behavior for which he took full credit
> of discovery. The Sumichrast's meadowlark is rare and travels among flocks
> of Western Meadowlarks in winter when it subsists almost entirely on earth
> worms. The worms are completely safe from the Western Meadowlarks that
> cannot probe to the depths capable of the curlew-meadowlark. The
> unsuspecting worms hearing the passage of harmless meadowlarks above are
> easily plucked in the same fashion that a Zone-tail Hawk descends on a
> hapless ground squirrel that paid no attention to the group of Turkey
> Vultures overhead. And one more thing, happy April fool's day.
>
>
>
> photo
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> May April be filled with the best birds you can imagine. Good birding from
>
> Fred Collins and Dennis Shepler
>
>
>
>
>
> Fred Collins
>
> On the prairie in Waller County Texas
>
> TOS Life Member
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>
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