Hi, Tim -
I do not disagree with your analysis, but Martins ARE swallows. You pointed out
first CBC records for Coos in 1996 and 1997. By about 2002 they had been
recorded on several other counts as well, but at that point all were either
Barn or Tree. Since then we have also had winter records/reports of
Violet-green and Cliff (Ridgefield NWR for the latter, I think). With this kind
of progression I would not be shocked if Rough-winged and Bank join the parade
too. And yes the Martins could have been Southern, and when the Cliffs were
first reported comments were made that they could have been Cave...
When I was in college, no hummingbirds were known to winter in Oregon. Anna's
came to visit and stayed, and now small numbers of female Selasphorus
(presumably Rufous) are wintering at feeders. One yard near Newport has had a
single for four winters now, and another one turned up this winter, about 4
miles away.
I think there are two ways to look at the effects of climate change on
migratory birds' winter ranges. One is that warming is allowing birds to stay
farther north (TV, Osprey) and survive. The other is that the (generally not
fully understood) cues that birds use to time their migrations are getting
altered, to the extent that some birds are migrating early, not necessarily
because the climate is good, but rather that the cues that used to be good
predictors of survivable conditions are coming earlier, whether or not they are
still good predictors.
The most recognized predictor is day-length, but it is clear that some birds
are not tied tightly to it. You may remember that several years ago people we
asking for postings of first arrivals of Rufous Hummingbirds throughout the
region, and that the arrivals were staged over more than a month (6 weeks+?) -
first on the south coast, then up the coast, then interior valleys, and finally
on the east side weeks after the south coast. It is very difficult for me to
square this pattern with an innate response to just day length, particularly
since males appear to keep moving, and breeding in multiple locations, thus
preventing local genetic adaptation in schedules.
Wayne
From: "Tim Rodenkirk" <timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Alan Contreras" <acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Wayne Hoffman" <whoffman@xxxxxxxx>, "obol" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2016 5:42:25 PM
Subject: [obol] Re: Calliope Hummers in January????
From what several folks have sent me, the martin report was in January? In Coos
the latest fall record is mid-September although I imagine there could be
stragglers into the end of the month. From October through mid-March there are
no records. However, there is no precedent I know of for mid-winter Purple
Martin records in OR. Perhaps there were late reports in CA this year- would be
worth checking. Also, common birds in the fall are often not the ones to expect
in winter. For instance, a kingbird in November or later is likely not a
Western, more likely a Tropical or even a Cassin's (we have a couple OR
records). Same with winter grosbeaks, as likely or maybe more likely
Rose-breasted. Mid-winter Chipping Sparrow reports along the south coast are
usually either juvie WC Sparrows or Clay-colored Sparrows. Mid-winter tanagers-
don't rule out Summer, etc. etc. It has been quite a year for asian vagrants in
the NW and BC so I would say that a January martin report might more likely be
a vagrant martin from elsewhere than a Purple. Thus I would tend toward calling
it a martin sp. versus a Purple, at least on what we know about this Purple
Martins which winter in South America and have never been seen before in OR. It
sure would have been nice to collect that bird!
Merry February,
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 12:51 PM, Alan Contreras < acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx > wrote:
There was a martin report at Fern Ridge.
Alan Contreras
Eugene, Oregon
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 1, 2016, at 12:47 PM, Tim Rodenkirk < timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx > wrote:
BQ_BEGIN
Wayne et al.,
Our first swallows on CBCs in Coos were back in 1996 and then again the
following year. We have had them on several other CBCs also. Yep, it must have
been weird at the time for sure. Purple Martins in winter- can you enlighten me
on that sighting??? I have seen them in January in Homestead, Florida but that
is the eastern subspecies. The western ones typically arrive in Coos Bay by 1
April although we have had really early records in late March. We are almost
always the earliest to report them in OR. Winter records??? Got photos : )
With the Calliope report we are talking about a report that is close to two
months early (especially in WA), I would hope a few people would scratch their
heads and maybe even ask for a description of the bird and hopefully maybe get
a confirmation if possible? From what I remember of the posting the observer
made it sound like he expected more to follow instead of saying- wow, how
crazy, a Calliope in January which is what I would have thought if I saw one!
That isn't to say one day one will be reported in January and will be
confirmed. It would just be nice to hear some more about the bird that was
observed- male, female? Did the observer get good looks? Did he maybe mean
Rufous or Anna's and not Calliope? Even Rufous would be on the real early end?
Makes me wonder about Anna's or even Costa's? Lots of Anna's moving now, we
have one feeder I have to fill up every day now, there are a bunch of male
Anna's hitting it. Anyhow, lots of questions in my mind...
In this age of climate change I think many less experienced bird watchers are
of the mind set that anything is possible anytime anywhere. Sometimes yes, more
often probably no. It can't hurt to treat early and late dates like rare bird
reports can it? Of course knowledge of what is considered early and late only
comes with experience which is really valuable in helping one know where and
when to look for birds. Also, I would hope that people would not take offense
to being challenged on really early or late dates in the same manner people are
asked for documentation on rare bird sightings. When I was a newbie birder I
frequently got called on my IDs, some of which were way out in left field. I
learned a lot in the process. Understanding bird phenology only comes with time
and experience though so I think it should be one of those things us "old
timers" mention when we see early and late dates that don't jive with our years
of birding experience. In our current birding world people of all experience
levels are sharing their sightings on forums such as this and mistakes will be
made, it is part of birding. Hopefully OBOL can continue to be a good forum for
helping people learn about bird phenology in their area so that they can
recognize when a bird is really early or late. This is a skill many of us old
timers take for granted but which many younger birders have not yet cultivated.
In Coos I have spent many a spring scouring the county for early and late birds
and have developed a really good feeling for phenology in my neck of the woods
and elsewhere in the state. Anyhow, I feel like I should say something on OBOL
when early and late information is reported that just doesn't sound right.
Still hoping to see my first Rufous in Coos- could be any day now but usually
not until middle of Feb.
Merry early migration- pseudospring is upon us!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 9:39 AM, < whoffman@xxxxxxxx > wrote:
BQ_BEGIN
Hi -
Your reaction reminds me of my reaction the first time I heard of swallows
being seen on an Oregon CBC. And Purple Martins this winter too???
Wayne
From: "Tim Rodenkirk" < timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx >
To: "obol" < obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2016 4:59:14 AM
Subject: [obol] Re: Calliope Hummers in January????
I looked in BOGR and the earliest record they have for Calliope is March 22,
1998 at Lebanon- no wintering records. Interestingly, no one has even commented
on this bird on OBOl (I had one person reply to me saying they thought the
earliest migrant day would be 1 April) I guess with global climate change
hasppening- some people believe anything is possible? Sure seems like one of
the most unusual reports I have seen on OBOL in a long time.
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
On Sun, Jan 31, 2016 at 5:48 PM, Tim Rodenkirk < timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx >
wrote:
BQ_BEGIN
I was quickly going through my OBOL e-mails this morning and forgot to comment
on the Calliope report which I believe was for WA. Is this the earliest ever
for WA- maybe would be for OR also? Are there wintering records even in NW? I
know they don't usually show up until April so I was wondering what the heck
when I saw the posting- to early for April fools?
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
PS: I know of Costa's winter records for OR so maybe there are Calliopes also?
Way to early for migrants.
BQ_END
BQ_END
BQ_END
