Rare Bird Report 35-B-08
IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE RARE BIRD REPORT FORM SPECIES: Cackling Goose HOW MANY: one REPORTER: Terry Gray 890 Stefany Ln Moscow ID 83843-9635 208-882-1585 REPORTER EMAIL: clgtlg@moscow.com OTHER OBSERVERS: Terry Gray ' There were 15 other people on this field trip and not all observed this bird. DATE REPORT PREPARED: 12/8/2008 DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 12/6/2008 LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Mann Lake, Nez Perce County near Lewiston, Idaho HABITAT: 135 acre Reservoir CONDITIONS: Observed this bird off and on for approximately one hour. Sunny cool day with light winds. Bird was at least 100 yards out . Used nocks spotting scope and 30x digital camera. DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, later the same day DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. DESCRIPTION: Very small goose with short neck and small rounded head with short stubby bill. Between the black neck and breast was somewhat lighter at the transition between the two. BEHAVIOR: This bird remained away from most other birds at the lake. Staying at least 30 feet from the Mallards and was not near any other Canada Geese. Did not hear the bird vocalize or see it fly. HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? Size of this bird was very small in the same range as the size of a Mallard Drake with very small head and stubby bill. HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Again size of this bird and the shape and size of the bill. EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I have reported this species to the rare bird committee at least 4 or 5 times with accepted records for this species. GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: 10 years and feel confident in the identification of this species. WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo
