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I know there are other guides out there. You state that the longer tail pr=
ecludes a gyrfalcon. So does this mean that Sibleys is incorrect in statin=
g that the gyrfalcon is relatively long-tailed. If so this is good to know=
. I'm not stating this to be critical=2C but to determine if our guides ar=
e incorrect. All the best.
=20
Sincerely=2C
=20
James R. Hirtle> Date: Tue=2C 30 Sep 2008 09:57:44 -0300> To: naturens@cheb=
ucto.ns.ca> From: maybank@ns.sympatico.ca> Subject: [NatureNS] Re: Gyrfalco=
n records in Nova Scotia> > At 09:33 PM 29/09/2008=2C Eric Mills wrote:> >I=
have some serious doubts about your Gyrfalcon. > >Peregrines can vary a lo=
t in size and colour=2C > >and they have a longer tail relative to body > >=
than do Gyrfalcons. Gyrs actually have very > >broad wings and short tails =
relative to body=2C > >giving them at times a Goshawk-like look. The > >lon=
g tail that you mention almost certainly > >precludes Gyr. I might mention =
that there was a > >very large dark Peregrine that hung around the > >Weste=
rn Light all last fall and that I almost called a Gyr myself. The> >same bi=
rd? Who knows.> > There have been several Gyrfalcons reported in > Nova Sco=
tia in the past two weeks. I recall > reports from Cape Sable Island=2C HRM=
=2C and Brier > Island. All were of dark-plumaged > individuals. And=2C ind=
eed=2C several such birds > are reported each autumn. And I once reported >=
an early October Gyrfalcon from Seal Island=2C > another dark bird. But a =
recent event at a > Texas hawkwatch has caused me to revisit my own > sight=
ing=2C and to have me encourage anyone else > who sees a possible Gyrfalcan=
in autumn to THOROUGHLY document the sighting.> > An account of the encoun=
ter is posted here:> > http://www.ccbirding.com/thw/2008/gyr.html> > Go to =
the bottom of the page=2C and read up. The > first (ie oldest) posting is a=
t the bottom. The > photos of the bird are at the top of the > page. Keep i=
n mind that 25+ hawkwatchers=2C some > very experienced=2C thought the bird=
was a > dark-phase Gyrfalcon. But when the photos could > be viewed afterw=
ards by hawk identification > specialists=2C all concluded that the bird wa=
s a dark large Peregrine Falcon.> > The ID of this bird is still being deba=
ted=2C but > the point to me is clear. In Nova Scotia we > cannot be blas=
=E9 regarding the reporting of > dark-phase Gyrfalcons at any time of year=
=2C and we > should try to photograph them if possible=2C and > provide wri=
tten documentation. Without such > documentation=2C and given the difficult=
y of > accurately separating dark-phase Gyrfalcons from > large dark-phase =
Peregrine Falcons=2C any > undocumented reports are of little or no value t=
o the ornithological record.> > With respect=2C> > > ----------------------=
-------------------------------------------------------> Blake Maybank> may=
bank@ns.sympatico.ca> > Editor=2C "Nova Scotia Birds"> > author=2C "Birding=
Sites of Nova Scotia"> http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm> > White's Lake=
=2C Nova Scotia=2C Canada >=20
_________________________________________________________________
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I know there are other guides out there. =3B You state that the longer =
tail precludes a gyrfalcon. =3B So does this mean that Sibleys is incor=
rect in stating that the gyrfalcon is relatively long-tailed. =3B If so=
this is good to know. =3B I'm not stating this to be critical=2C but t=
o determine if our guides are incorrect. =3B All the best.<BR>
 =3B<BR>
Sincerely=2C<BR>
 =3B<BR>
James R. Hirtle<BR><BR>>=3B Date: Tue=2C 30 Sep 2008 09:57:44 -0300<BR>&g=
t=3B To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>>=3B From: maybank@ns.sympatico.ca<BR=
>>=3B Subject: [NatureNS] Re: Gyrfalcon records in Nova Scotia<BR>>=3B =
<BR>>=3B At 09:33 PM 29/09/2008=2C Eric Mills wrote:<BR>>=3B >=3BI ha=
ve some serious doubts about your Gyrfalcon. <BR>>=3B >=3BPeregrines ca=
n vary a lot in size and colour=2C <BR>>=3B >=3Band they have a longer =
tail relative to body <BR>>=3B >=3Bthan do Gyrfalcons. Gyrs actually ha=
ve very <BR>>=3B >=3Bbroad wings and short tails relative to body=2C <B=
R>>=3B >=3Bgiving them at times a Goshawk-like look. The <BR>>=3B >=
=3Blong tail that you mention almost certainly <BR>>=3B >=3Bprecludes G=
yr. I might mention that there was a <BR>>=3B >=3Bvery large dark Pereg=
rine that hung around the <BR>>=3B >=3BWestern Light all last fall and =
that I almost called a Gyr myself. The<BR>>=3B >=3Bsame bird? Who knows=
.<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B There have been several Gyrfalcons reported in <BR>&=
gt=3B Nova Scotia in the past two weeks. I recall <BR>>=3B reports from C=
ape Sable Island=2C HRM=2C and Brier <BR>>=3B Island. All were of dark-pl=
umaged <BR>>=3B individuals. And=2C indeed=2C several such birds <BR>>=
=3B are reported each autumn. And I once reported <BR>>=3B an early Octob=
er Gyrfalcon from Seal Island=2C <BR>>=3B another dark bird. But a recent=
event at a <BR>>=3B Texas hawkwatch has caused me to revisit my own <BR>=
>=3B sighting=2C and to have me encourage anyone else <BR>>=3B who sees=
a possible Gyrfalcan in autumn to THOROUGHLY document the sighting.<BR>>=
=3B <BR>>=3B An account of the encounter is posted here:<BR>>=3B <BR>&g=
t=3B http://www.ccbirding.com/thw/2008/gyr.html<BR>>=3B <BR>>=3B Go to =
the bottom of the page=2C and read up. The <BR>>=3B first (ie oldest) pos=
ting is at the bottom. The <BR>>=3B photos of the bird are at the top of =
the <BR>>=3B page. Keep in mind that 25+ hawkwatchers=2C some <BR>>=3B =
very experienced=2C thought the bird was a <BR>>=3B dark-phase Gyrfalcon.=
But when the photos could <BR>>=3B be viewed afterwards by hawk identifi=
cation <BR>>=3B special