[texbirds-freelists] Re: [texbirds] Tropical Kingbird origins

From: Scott Atkinson <scottratkinson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:20:46 -0700
Texbirds:

Have been following the ebb and flow of the Tropical Mockingbird origins 

discussion with interest, especially given the great good fortune 

to be coming down for Houston's Offshore Technology Conference, 

related to that same marine industry that Bob Doe had written about. 

 
I think Bob Doe's observations on scenarios whereby marine industry could 

have played a role in the bird's Texas arrival are very solid. Up here in 

Seattle, I've often made the case that a number of our Asiatic 

vagrants are likely ship-assisted. 120'-300' fishing trawlers, like the 

large offshore supply vessels (OSVs) and Gulf oil platforms apparently, 

provide birds with a bit of an island effect.


Having worked on trawlers working both sides of the Bering Sea, I can attest 

to the fact that they draw a remarkable number of on-board landings, as well 

as hordes of marine seabirds that both follow and land aboard larger vessels. 

I recall pipits, wagtails, and sparrows (U.S. side) showing up singly, as 

well as non-passerines like Peregrine and Snowy Owl showing up--plus 

shorebirds like Least and Western Sands, Ruff, and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 

Some of these were one-day wonders, but most stayed for longer, up to a week 

or more. Given that in most cases we were far offshore, it made sense that

the birds were not all that ready to fly off.  It is true that the non-marine 

birds appeared at times of migration.  It seems that crew trying to feed 

offshore passerines aboard is a common practice, although I don't recall 

seeing any successful feedings myself.
 
Seattle's connections to the Bering Sea are reminiscent of Bob's narrative 

on vessel traffic between Campeche Mexico to the U.S. Gulf coast. Seattle 

witnesses a steady flow of trawlers from the Bering Sea that 

arrive to collect stores, services and shipyard repairs in Seattle. My 

premise is that the Slaty-backed Gulls that show up here (rarely) are most 

likely trawler-assisted in some cases, following the trawlers regularly
in the central Bering Sea and then (whether riding aboard or following 

in the stern wash), staying with the boat all the way to Puget Sound.    


Whichever position one takes on the mockingbird's origin, the occurrence--

and the Texbirds discussion it has inspired--provide still another symbol of 

the dynamism that is Texas birding. 

 

 

Scott Atkinson

Lake Stevens, WA

mail to:  scottratkinson@xxxxxxxxxxx


                                          
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[texbirds-freelists] Re: [texbirds] Tropical Kingbird origins

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