Date:         Thu, 27 Jul 2000 13:34:01 -0400
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Andy Rabin <andyrab@WAM.UMD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: least bitterns in FL
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  Hi all-

   I was not going to post anything re: Least Bitterns, but since Jordan =
has
opened the door...  (**** WARNING: non-Maryland info to follow***)

  I've been to Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida 3 or 4 tim=
es.
It wasn't just beginner's luck, Jordan.  For some reason, the bitterns th=
ere
think that they are Green Herons and just stand around in the open.  Last
time I went with a few non-birding relatives of mine, and they each saw a
few bitterns, without the aid of binoculars.  It's an amazing place.  Pur=
ple
Gallinules galore, and I was even lucky enough to see a Yellow Rail there
once.

  Outside of Florida,  the few times I've seen Least Bitterns (maybe 4 or=
 5
sightings for a total of 6 seconds) I attribute to dumb luck.

Andy Rabin
Gaithersburg, MD
andyrab@wam.umd.edu

----- Original Message -----
From: Wilkerson, Jordan T. <Jordan.Wilkerson@JHUAPL.EDU>
To: <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2000 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Least Bittern advice


> MDOsprey,
>
> So, while everyone is sharing their First Least Bittern sighting...
>
> Our first and only sighting was at the Wadakahatchee (sp?) waste treatm=
ent
> plant in Boynton, Florida (near West Palm).  There, my wife and I saw n=
ot
1,
> but 6 Leasts and 15 Soras in November.  All where easily viewed from a
> raised boardwalk while we casually walked through much less than a squa=
re
> mile of ponds.  None of them seemed shy and some were as close as 10 fe=
et
> away and hunted as if we weren't there.
>
> Beginners luck does seem to play an important role and was definitely o=
n
our
> side that day.
>
> Jordan
> Cloverly, MD

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