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BIRDS OVERDUE IN NB

by
Stuart Tingley

      Perhaps the ultimate thrill for any serious birder is the discovery of a species never before recorded in the province. The purpose of this paper is to provide a (perhaps) educated guess as to the most probable new species which should be added to the New Brunswick list over the coming years and secondly to offer some advice as to how, when and where to find these new species for those so inclined. It is hoped that this will provide you with an increased awareness of the many exciting possibilities that await us here in New Brunswick. And through increased awareness can only come increased discoveries!

      The most recent edition (1985) of the Check-list of New Brunswick Birds lists 363 species which have been "reliably identified" in the province. In addition, eight new species have been recorded in NB since the checklist publication: Eurasian Kestrel, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Say's Phoebe, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Fieldfare, and Common Chaffinch, bringing the total list of birds substantiated in New Brunswick to 371. This may seem like a lot of birds, and indeed it is. However, when we consider that our neighbouring province of Nova Scotia has over 400 species on their checklist then it becomes clear that we've got some work ahead of us in New Brunswick before we reach the "saturation point", a point at which there just doesn't seem to be many realistic possibilities for additions to the provincial list. In fact, we've got a long ways to go and with the increased interest in birding, it seems likely that we can look forward to adding, on average, one or two species a year for several decades to come.

      What follows, is a list of what I consider to be the 50 most likely additions to the New Brunswick bird list, based on their historical occurrence in the northeastern region of North

(Editors note: since this was written in 1985, 14 of the 50 birds have been identified. The number spotted is in brackets ( ) following the name.)      

1. PACIFIC/ARCTIC LOON (1)
2. EARED GREBE
3. WESTERN GREBE
4. WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD
5. BROWN PELICAN
6. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
7. LITTLE EGRET (1)
8. TUFTED DUCK (several)
9. AMERICAN SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
10. SWAINSON'S HAWK
11. WILLOW PTARMIGAN
12. GREATER GOLDEN PLOVER
13. WILSON'S PLOVER
14. COMMON RINGED PLOVER
15. COMMON GREENSHANK
16. COMMON REDSHANK
17. SPOTTED REDSHANK
18. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT
19. BAR-TAILED GODWIT
20. RUFOUS-NECKED STINT
21. SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
22. SOUTH POLAR SKUA
23. CALIFORNIA GULL (1)
24. ROSS' GULL
25. SOOTY TERN (1)
26. RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (1)
27. ACADIAN FLYCATCHER (1)
28. GRAY KINGBIRD
29. CAVE SWALLOW
30. EURASIAN JACKDAW
31. FISH CROW
32. ROCK WREN
33. MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (1)
34. REDWING
35. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (3)
36. TOWNSEND'S WARBLER
37. HERMIT WARBLER (1)
38. LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH
39. GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE
40. BLACK-THROATED SPARROW
41. HENSLOW'S SPARROW
42. LECONTE'S SPARROW (1)
43. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
44. HARRIS' SPARROW (4)
45. SMITH'S LONGSPUR
46. WESTERN MEADOWLARK (2)
47. GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE
48. BOAT-TAILED GRACKLE
49. SHINY COWBIRD (1)
50. BRAMBLING

      Look over the above lists, dig out your field guides and try to familiarize yourself with the birds discussed. Just being aware of some of these possibilities and keeping them in mind when you're out birding will greatly increase your chance of detecting them when and if you encounter them in the field. Learn as much about them as you can: their field marks, habitat preferences, behaviour, migration routes and schedule, etc. This way you'll be prepared for them when they come along, and you can actually come up with a search plan for some of these species to increase your chances of finding them.

      It's also important to be prepared to document your sightings of rarities. Learn to take detailed notes of field marks, size, shape, behaviour, habits, etc of rare or unfamiliar species when you see them. Few forms of documentation are better than a photograph. Get into the habit of carrying your camera (with a telephoto lens) with you everywhere. Call other birders so they too can share in the excitement of the discovery and help with the documentation. And of course report your findings right away to the New Brunswick Bird Information Line at 450-DUCK.