Y-b Loon Downdate
PObrien776 (PObrien776@aol.com)
Mon, 23 Mar 1998 21:54:45 EST
Fellow Ospreyers
I saw three Ospreys (and three Common Loons) at St. George Island today, but
no Y-b Loon. I was there from 1:20 to 2:35PM and Patty Craig was also looking
for the Loon today. From my conversations with Patty, who first saw this
bird, and with Leo Weigant. who saw it yesterday, my feeling is that there is
a very good possibility that there really is a Yellow-billed Loon somewhere
around St. George Island. That is why I have made three trips so far to look
for it. The problem is the absence of a pattern of appearance. It would be
very helpful if lots of birders could drop in to look for it and post their
results, both positive and negative. And if there is another sighting, please
try to get to a phone so we can get people with good cameras and some personal
experience with this species to the site on the same day before it disappears
again. Documenting a difficult species can be a team effort and the more eyes
the better. I'll keep my car gassed up (ever the optimist) but I worry about
the warm air coming our way. It could stimulate the bird to leave. Let's
hope not.
Cheers,
Paul O'Brien
Rockville, MD
pobrien776@aol.com