[obol] Illustrations for Handbook of Oregon Birds

[Alan Contreras]

Dear Oregon bird people:

Hendrik Herlyn and I are making progress on the field-friendly extract from
Birds of Oregon which we hope will be issued by OSU Press in 2009.  As I
have mentioned in previous posts, this will include brief summaries of
status, distribution and seasonality combined with a completely new map set
including many winter maps.  The maps are currently being proofed by about
20 regional experts.  In addition, dot-maps of the occurrence of vagrants
have been prepared.  Finally, each vagrant species will have a seasonal
occurrence graph.  These are also just about ready.

Based on conversations with many birders, we think that there may be some
utility in having plates illustrating some i.d. issues and unique
northwestern problems that are not well handled in the major field guides
that most people carry along, or which would benefit from supplementary
treatment.  Newport artist Ramiel Papish, who illustrated Gilligan et al
book on distribution of Oregon birds and my Northwest Birds in Winter has
agreed to do the new art needed, provided that funding is available, which
seems likely.

Based on a number of discussions, we propose that the following plates be
included.  Since this book will be used by most OBOLoids, we invite your
comment on the selection.  We have another month in which to make a final
decision. Several of these proposed plates originated with ideas from you,
for which we are grateful.  We are probably limited to black and white art
and photos, although that may change.  See the end of the list for some
proposed color additions if funding is available.

Finally, we are soliciting photos for those species so marked.  Payment for
photos will be minimal at best, but you get a free book !

Thank you in advance for your contributions.

PROPOSED PLATES

Plate 1 ­ Types of Canada and Cackling Goose (photos)
Canadas
Cacklers 
 
Plate 2 ­ offbrand ducks (probably photos)
³eclipse² teal
subadult scaup
 
Plate 3 - Distant Seabirds in flight (new art)
C Loon
P Loon
RT Loon
RN Grebe
H Grebe
R Phalarope
 
Plate 4 - Distant Alcids in flight (new art)
C Murre side
P Guillemot side
Rhino above
Rhino below
Cassin's above
Cassin's below
Marbled above
Marbled below
Ancient above
Ancient below
 
Plate 5 ­ ³Olympic² gull hybrids (photos)
Western adult
various hybrids
Gwing adult
 
Plate 6 ­ Typical northwest gulls (photos)
Herring
Thayer's
California
Ringbill
Mew
 
Plate 7 - Swallows (new art)
juveniles/subadults adjacent
adults overhead
plus V swift
 
Plate 8  - juvenile sparrows (new art)
Brewers
Sage
Black-throated
Lark (maybe)
Vesper
Chipping
Savannah
 
Plate 9 ­ Miscellaneous passerines (photos)
Purple Finch females
Cassin¹s females
House females
Hutton¹s Vireo
RC Kinglet
 
 
Possible additions if donated funding available for color plates:
 
young rails
Catharus thrushes of the northwest
plumages of Least and Western Sandpiper
Orange-crown variations plus dull Yellows


-- 
Alan Contreras
EUGENE, OREGON

³Be naughty, save Santa a trip.²

acontrer at mindspring.com
www.OREGONREVIEW.BLOGSPOT.COM ­ Social Commentary
www.CONTRERASBIRDS.BLOGSPOT.COM ­ Current Bird Photos