Saturday, January 30, 2010

VARIED THRUSH IN NE ARKANSAS

This is a Varied Thrush, not native to Arkansas and according to my bird book, The SIBLEY Guide to Birds, there is no record it even visiting Arkansas.

I have several other photos of this adult male Varied Thrush.

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posted by joe @ 1/30/2010 02:18:00 PM   9 comments

9 Comments:

At 2:46 PM, Blogger Clay said...

Interesting. That is what it looks like according to my guide: Reader's Digest North American Wildlife. It shows the home range in the Pacific Northwest, but does then comment that it "is a famous winter wanderer outside its normal range. This species has turned up in many unexpected places, frequently as far east as the Atlantic Coast." Very nice.

 
At 9:38 AM, Blogger joe said...

He's wanderer alright but I feel sure this is his first time to Arkansas.

 
At 11:21 AM, Blogger Clay said...

Well I tried, but I can't contradict you there. That is a great find.

 
At 11:26 AM, Blogger Clay said...

Maybe you should contact an ornithologist about it.

 
At 8:57 AM, Blogger joe said...

I did finally get the word to my birder friends and they went ballistic!

They said the varied thrush has NEVER been reported in Arkansas and they will report it to The Audubon Society.

They said they have been "looking for one for years!"

I sent them ALL 30 pictures I took of it.

 
At 4:41 PM, Blogger joe said...

for the pictures, many showing nice views of the back and sides, as well as the head-on ones which we had already seen, which we will forward directly to the records committee, and the report will credit you with finding the first record of the Varied Thrush in Arkansas (which immediately makes you one of the heavyweight birders in the state, since most of the active birders in the state have never found a new state record).

Now get back to your feeders and find some more stuff.

 
At 4:42 PM, Blogger joe said...

the above report is official now.

 
At 10:40 AM, Blogger Clay said...

Awesome!

 
At 5:47 AM, Blogger joe said...

here is official: The Rare Birds Committee has accepted the Varied Thrush report for the species to be added to the state list. The photos were completely convincing.
I'm sure it will appear as a special note in the regional reports in American Birds.
Varied Thrush and Golden-crowned Sparrow had been listed as species that might be expected at some time given their appearance in areas around us...so go to work on the Golden-crowned sparrow now!

 

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