My posting about a Scarlet Tanager, unsure of state--Maryland or Virginia--generated quite a number of comments.  Most of these came to my e-mail address, rather than MDOsprey.  For those interested, the following will summarize the message traffic.

 

First, thanks to the correspondents for all the interest.  I'm not sure that I managed to answer all of your messages, but I did study them and am thinking about them while writing this.  People see different issues.  Sorting them out, they are:

 

1. Jones Point being all Virginia or part Maryland:  There were quotes of different dates in which the boundaries were set.  Some insisted the boundary was determined by a particular waterline at a particular date.  Boundaries may conform to differing waterlines (e.g., tides).  Siltation and growth of shoreline may have placed land in Maryland.  Displaced cornerstones happen.  Maps differ regarding the inclusion of a bit of Maryland at Jones Point.

 

My conclusion is that (emphasize the word) probably all Jones Point land is in Virginia, but I suspect it would require litigation to settle the matter if it ever came up as a deeply serious issue (such as a birder getting a lifer or not for his Maryland list).

 

2. Which state the tanager was in:  In spite of comments like tree branches hanging over water, the tanager tree was inland.  After I looked at the political boundaries AND a satellite photo showing the lighthouse at Jones point I realized that the tree was too far inland to be in Maryland, regardless of the disputed turf.

 

3. Early or not for a Scarlet Tanager:  Opinions and Yellow Book citations, etc.  Mostly it seems that April 16 is not way out on the distribution curve.

 

4. Why would an MOS walk be in Virginia? (with so many good places in the state):  I answered that one largely by citing precedents.  But I forgot some, notably the annual Montgomery County Chapter trek to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

 

5. Incurring the Wrath of Norm.  Surprisingly, I think some may not have caught the smart-alecky tone of my remark.  Most of course did, and offered support (humorous) concerning any travail I might encounter.  One nice person even offered to start a legal defense fund, and the owner of another birding listserv offered me membership.  We all know that our listserv proprietor is really a sweet guy so none of this would be needed.  Underneath the gruff exterior beats a heart of stone.*

 

-- David Winer, Bethesda

 

davidwinerATverizon.net

 

*(Couldn't help tossing in that line from an Oscar Levant movie of old.)