Re: [MDOsprey] Possible Parasitic Jaeger at PLSP

Miliff@aol.com
Sun, 3 Oct 1999 15:41:11 EDT 

Greg,

> The Nashville Warbler was new for my MD year list,
>  too.  I guess this is only the 3rd or 4th time since
>  about '86 that this bird has been reported in North
>  America.  I understand it was once quite regular in
>  the 50's and 60's...

Actually Nashville Warbler is not all that rare and probably occurs annually 
in the Lower 48 and North America.  Glad you got to see one though!

> ** I'm glad you mentioned that the white in a
> jaeger's wings are actually the *shafts* of the
> primaries and not the entire feather.  This is why the
> amount of white that shows in the primaries should not
> be used alone for ID purposes, but in conjunction with
> other characteristics.  

Be careful, now (on a serious note now).  True all jaegers have white shafts 
(LT usu 2-3, PAJA usu 3-6, POJA usu 5-7, as I recall), but all ALSO have 
white inner webs.  Including Long-tailed.  From ABOVE LTJA is often 
distinctive with good views by its two gleaming white primary shafts, and the 
other species usually show more white shafts here.  BUT, all can show white 
flashes when the primaries are seen from below.  It is least extensive in LT, 
moreso in PAJA, and has the famous double-crescent in POJA, BUT this is 
variable and amount of white is best used only as a supporting field mark.  
If you had it in direct comparison with LAGU and was same sixze or larger 
then I think PAJA is safe.  

Interestingly, there have been several years when jaegers have been commonly 
reported in the Bay, but in most they are not found at all.  When and why 
they are found here is a good question, and while it could be hurricane 
related, I sort of don't think so, at least in the strict sense.  I think 
these tern concentrations may be the key, and that is not necessarily common 
in the Bay, thogh I have seen it before (and looked diligently for jaegers 
every time).  You should contact Ringler for the jaeger info and do an 
article summarizing MD Bay jaegers, including details on your two birds 
<grin>.  You have a co-author if you want one.  Note that many places with 
poorer habitat (i.e., inland lakes) have almost as many jaegers records 
(Conojehola Flats in PA is an example).  

FYI there are only two well-documented LTJA s from MD, but several more are 
certainly correct (including PAtteson's this year).  We Marylanders have 
really gotten the short end of the stick, jaeger-wise.  

BTW, Stripe-hd Tan is not needed while Banana is?  I've seen hundreds of 
Banana-Qs but never a SHTA.  Maybe they'll still be there when I'm done here?

Best,

Marshall