For those interested in the documentation of BBWD vagrancy and range 
expansion, the following represents the vagrancy pattern of the past few years and is 
current as of today, 6/13/06.   They have bred (and may still be breeding) as 
far north as South Carolina and may be in the process of colonizing Georgia as 
well.   Recent incursions have not been confined to the eastern seaboard, but 
have included a major push up the center of the country as well.   

This year's push up the east coast occurred right around the end of May and 
early June, with a strong southerly wind following over a week of northerlies.  
 The locations where they were found in GA, VA, MD and PA plot as an almost 
perfect straight line, whatever that means.   Some might call it the escape 
route.   On that note, I asked Greg Lasley whether he had any information 
regarding the possibility of a sexual dimorphism in the size of BBWD hind toe nails.  
 Like any normal person, he had never thought about hind toe nails, so we 
need to get museum specimens to follow up on this trivia question.   At least we 
seem to have some evidence that the toes weren't clipped.   Maybe Poppy chewed 
its nails.   Enough.

Expansion of the Range of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks (BBWD)

The following analysis is derived from reports submitted to North American 
Birds for the March through July periods in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.   These 
reports are for the most part from different locations, including multiple 
reports from the same state.

2002

In Florida BBWD was said to be increasing with 6 new counties listed;   In 
Louisiana they were said to be commonplace.   Other states reporting BBWD were: 
NY, 1 on   5/8 
SC, 22 on 6/5 
TN, 5 on 6/5, 2 from 6/16-24 
IN 1 from 6/30-7/10 
OK, 2 on 6/25, 3 on 6/25 and 11 from June through July 
WI, 1 on 7/25-26   
Later VA had 5 on 8/10.

2003

Reports increased dramatically: 
FL, 10 on 3/21, 42 on 3/24, 1 from 5//3-14, 12 on 5/17, 116 on 5/21, 12 on 
5/23, 4 from 5/28-30, 4 from 6/11 on, 1 on 6/12, 1 on 6/13, 1 on 7/26 and 2 from 
6/30-7/1   
MS, 3 on 4/8
LA, 1 on 6/11 and 2 on 7/26 
OK, 7 on 4/24, 1 on 6/5 and 15, 1 from   7/11-13 and 19 on 7/22
MO, 2 from 4/26-7/30, 2 on 7/30
GA, 1 from 5/10-11, 23 on 5/23, 5 on 5/31, 9 on 7/27
TN, 11 from 5/11-6/10, 2 on 5/31 and 3-5 from 6/7-10
SC, 15 on 6/5, "flock" on 6/13 and 1-2 from 7/28-8/22
NC, 2 on 6/10
VA, 6 from 6/2-3
PQ, 5 from 7/4-31+

2004

In Florida and Louisiana the population growth was described as "explosive".
LA, 6 on 6/3 (4 juveniles), 1 on 6/12, 4 in late June, 2 on 6/21, 2 on 7/2, 2 
on 7/7 and 2 on 7/14
MS, 5 on 7/17
AR, 1 from 4/25-26, 2 on 5/30
OK, 33 from 4/27 on, 6 in June and July and 2 on 7/2
KS, 2 on 5/15
SC, 12 on 5/27, flocks of 22, 12 and 150 June through July.   The 150 were on 
private property and were said to be breeding.
NC, 5 on 5/17 and 8 from 6/14-7/9
PQ, 2 from 5/15-6/12

2005

Many fewer reports for this year, but covering a broad expanse of the 
midlands:
AR, 50 on 5/2
MO, 6 on 5/11
IA, 3-4 from 4/18-20, 1 from 6/26-7/29
KS, 2 on 7/21
OK, 3 from 6/3-7/1
IN, 6 on 7/14

2006

These reports were derived from internet sources:
AR, 2 on 6/10
OK, 2 on 6/6 and 6/11
GA, 20 on 5/28 at Altamaha WMA, rising to 38 on 6/4.   The flock began 
fragmenting and by 6/11 there were at least 10 distinct pairs (breeding?).
SC, 2 on 6/11
VA, 15 from 6/9-10
PA, 4 on 6/4 ("there for a few days"), 1 remaining through at least 6/13
MD, 1 from 6/4 to at least 6/12 

Paul O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD