Hi All,

For passerines, family groups do not disperse off of the home range
surrounding the core nesting territory. Swallows may move a bit farther than
other less mobile species, but even they do not go much more than a mile at
the most while the young are still dependent on parents for food. Young
*independent* juveniles are a much stickier issue than offspring still
begging for food and receiving it. As I have said before - safe dates
reflect dates when lone birds cannot safely be assumed to be nesting, they
are based entirely on migration, staging and dispersal dates of the
respective species. If you see convincing evidence of nesting, such as
parents feeding young, the safe dates become a non-issue.

Good Atlassing,

Walter Ellison
MD-DC Atlas Coordinator - MOS
23460 Clarissa Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
phone: 410-778-9568
e-mail: 

"A person who is looking for something doesn't travel very fast" - E. B.
White (in "Stuart Little")

----- Original Message -----
From: "Charles Vaughn" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 1:56 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Out of safe date Atlas observations


> Are there any GENERAL guidelines for counting as "confirmed" passerines
> that are already past their "safe date" for the year? Specifically, is a
> begging Eastern Kingbird sitting on a telephone line, with two adults
> (probably) sitting near it, a confirmation - even after the safe date?
What
> about other similar situations with other passerine species? Orchard
> Orioles? Common Grackles? I don't think swallows are countable, but that
> leaves a lot of species as the summer progresses.
>
> I guess the general issue is: To what extent does a brood group with
adults
> stick together once post breeding dispersal takes place? Does this have to
> be answered on an individual species basis?
>
> Remember, I'm only asking about passerines.
>
> Charlie
>
>
> Charles Vaughn
> 1306 Frederick Avenue
> Salisbury, MD 21801
>
> 410-742-7221
> 
>