I did a Google search of images for BBWD. About half of the images in which 
the nails were visible on the rear toes were somewhat similar to the bird in 
Montgomery County. Knowing some of the photographers that took some of the 
photos assures me that they were wild birds. I don't believe the worn nails 
are an indication of anything related to wild or escaped birds.

Ed Boyd
Westminster, MD

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Arlene Ripley" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] BBWD photos


>I decided to go see this bird today and found it to be extremely tame and
> cooperative. I took a series of "hind toe" photos and can't see any nail.
> I've posted them here:
>
> http://nestbox.com/sections/rare/bbwd.htm
>
> The first photo shows a water droplet hanging from the left hind toe. The
> last photo shows a brownish area on the right hind toe that, when blown 
> up,
> looks like the spot a nail once protruded from.
>
> Just thought I'd throw these into the fray.
>
> Arlene Ripley
> Calvert County, MD
> http://nestbox.com
> piwa99 at comcast dot net
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Paul O'Brien" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 11:46 AM
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] BBWD photos
>
>
> Photos #1 of 19 and #10 of 19 exhibit the minuscule pale nails on the hind
> toes of the left and right feet, respectively.   The photo Bob Mumford 
> posted
> yesterday showed the same tiny nail on the left hind toe.   It is not the
> forward-facing toes we are concerned about and you have to blow up each 
> photo to see
> these nail nubs.   Even then, they are only marginally detectable.   We 
> still
> need some expert advice on the possible sexual dimorphism in these nails.
> Lasley's site is the best I have seen illustrating this difference.
>