[obol] Re: RBA American Black Duck

[David C. Bailey]

I don't regularly bird Basket Slough so I was wondering of those that 
do: how likely is it that this duck may have been overlooked up until 
now--say since March or April?

Wayne C. Weber wrote:

>David and Oregon Birders,
>
>There is currently a small established population of AMERICAN BLACK
>DUCKS near Yellow Point, south of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island,
>BC. This population has been there since about the late 1970s, and
>may have reached as many as 100 birds. The population is non-
>migratory, although occasional reports of single birds from Vancouver
>and Victoria may be from this population. In the last few years, this
>population appears to be declining, and shows increasing signs of
>hybridization/introgression with Mallards.
>
>There was a small population of American Black Ducks (perhaps as many
>as 50 birds) which was established near Everett, WA (around the
>Everett sewage ponds) from about 1970 through the late 1990s.
>It also disappeared mainly, it seems, as a result of interbreeding with
>Mallards. This population is now defunct.
>
>I would suggest that an American Black Duck appearing in the Willamette
>Valley in July is much more likely to have originated from a local escape
>than from any other source. This species is not that unusual in
>captive waterfowl collections.
>
>Wayne C. Weber
>Delta, BC
>contopus at telus.net
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "David C. Bailey" <baileydc at pdx.edu>
>To: "Oregon Birders Online" <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 2:01 PM
>Subject: [obol] Re: RBA Amerian Black Duck
>
>
>Anyone in the region know of any recent releases or escapes of AMERICAN
>BLACK DUCK in or around the Willamette Valley or greater Pacific
>Northwest region?  AMERICAN BLACK DUCK is a review species and as such
>the Oregon Birds Records Committee encourages any see the bird to sumbit
>a description and/or other supporting details to the secretary Harry
>Nehls (hnehls at teleport.com). Details of the state of this drake's
>ability to fly, plumage wear, and presence/absence of leg bands would be
>helpful.
>
>Thanks for Douglas for reporting this bird. I find the species quite
>handsome in its sylvan plumage. I hope others see the bird.
>
>David C. Bailey
>Seaside, Oregon
>baileydc AT psu.edu
>  
>