Friday, February 3, 2006 at Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center, 975 Indian Landing Road, Millersville.

MARYLAND'S NEXT BIRD SPECIES 

Phil Davis, a member of the Anne Arundel Bird Club for nearly 20 years, will speak on which new avian species are predicted to be the next to be observed in Maryland and how to identify them. In 2001, Maryland birders were polled on which new bird species would be identified in Maryland and AABC member Marshall Iliff compiled the results and published an article in the Jan/Feb 2002 Maryland Yellowthroat. Phil will present an update to that survey, indicating which species have since been recorded in the state, which ones are currently under review by the MD/DC Records Committee, and which ones are still predicted. For the still-predicted species, field identification will be discussed, including key field marks with particular emphasis on how to separate similar species. Tips on where and when to look will also be covered as will both images and vocalizations. Some of the species and identification challenges covered include: Little and Snowy Egret; Western and Eastern Meadowlark; Allen's and Rufous Hummingbird; Shiny and Brown-headed Cowbird; Black-tailed and Hudsonian Godwit; and Sharp-tailed and Pectoral Sandpiper. Phil Davis has served as the Secretary of the MD/DC Records Committee for over ten years. He and his wife Barbara have birded in Antarctica and made many trips to western Alaska, where Phil currently leads birding tours in the Aleutian Islands and at Gambell in the north Bering Sea for High Lonesome BirdTours. He has also led trips to Texas and the Dry Tortugas. Phil's research on the Red-faced Cormorant will be published in 2005 and 2006. A number of his images have been published in various birding journals and books and his passion for birding led him and his wife to own and operate a wild bird-type store from 1990 to 1995.

Posted for Program Chair Gerald Winegrad
Sue Ricciardi
Arnold, MD