Posted by Toe on January 01, 1970 at 00:00:00
OK, I'm trying to write this being totally objective, but to say I'm dumbfounded is a huge understatement. Red-tailed Tropicbird is a strictly Pacific and Indian Ocean species with no records anywhere in the Atlantic that I know of. I spent 10 days in Hawaii last summer, 7 of which on a cruise ship sailing between the islands. The only time I saw a Red-tailed Tropicbird was when the ship approached the coast of Kauai a few miles west of Kilauea Pt. where they breed and one approached the stern of the ship, where I just happened to be standing. That said, here's the objective perspective. Is there another species that could have been mistaken for a tropicbird? Red tail streamers is not the only field mark for this species. Can you describe other field marks? Also, Tropicbirds are silent away from their nesting sites, so I don't understand why they would be calling. They are definitely not breeding in the Redlands. Another remote possibility: could these be birds brought in captivity and released/escaped? I don't see any possible way for a pair of Red-tailed Tropicbirds to make it to the Redlands on their own. There must be another explanation to this really interesting and bizarre sightings. Either way, thanks for the report!