Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 13:27:02 -0500 Reply-To: Robert Ringler Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Robert Ringler Subject: Re: Status of Northern Shrike MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Phil, I disagree with your statement that Northern Shrike is uncommon and = regular in Maryland. If this were the case then most birders would find = one in most years. This year's irruption, as you correctly phrased it, = proves my point. This was an exceptional year for Northern Shrikes in = the state, but only 11 were reported. Yet there are probably more good = observers in the field than ever before. This winter was certainly not = typical of the species' abundance and it remains rare and irregular in = the state. I agree that the total number of records to date permits = removing it from the list of species to be documented for the committee = but observers should continue to note if the birds are adults or = immatures for the record. Bob Ringler Eldersburg, Md ringler@qis.net ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================