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Posted by Paul-the-other on 18:10:32 01/01/07
In Reply to: Re: Mystery Duck at ECO Pond posted by John Boyd
John: As to the following points you offer;
1." CBC records indicate only 1 Greater Scaup on the Coot Bay CBC(1997). I don't know if there was any documentation of the sighting (no mention in FFN).
2 Approximately 250,000 scaup have been reported over the years as Lesser on the Coot Bay CBC,...
3. ... but I expect few have been carefully scrutinized.
4. The only earlier reports of Greater in Monroe County (there are none in Miami-Dade) were considered questionable by Stevenson and Anderson.
5. Given those numbers, there is a heavy burden of proof to establish it as Greater."
1,Factual and acceptable
2.Most likely factual that they were reported thus, but point 3 seems to negate the conclusion. If few were scrutinized than how does a person tell if they were lesser or greater?
3. If no scrutiny, what does 250,000 count amount to especially if there is a bird that looks very similar at a distance, or immature, etc.
4. No reports in Dade county may be problematical since the Dade -Monroe county line are very close to Flamingo and Eco-pond could well have been built more easterly,then all sightings would be in Dade. It seems to me that the Dade/Monroe distinction becomes a little weak the closer you get to Flamingo, Florida Bay. It is a natural funnel and gathering place for migrating birds and there are no major signs or geographic impediments that would make a bird fly to the right or left of the factual line.
5. The commentary here is enlightening and I enjoy it and trust that no one is taking any offense. Also, the picture was offered as a "what is it" not to make any point. In that spirit I will get the negatives scanned or deliver up prints "as is" without any noise reduction aggression or hue/saturation/ changes. Perhaps some of the members might also enjoy the discussion. My references above are meant to explore the process by which a bird identity is "judged". We all know the the photographer, like the golfer, can call the score any way he/she wants to. But the burden in this area I too believe rests upon the viewer. I really wished you were not distracted by the orchard oriole and had gone back. Sigh.
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