Kevin S. Lucas
Eurasian Green-winged Teal p01 2018-01-12 ©Kevin S Lucas
Eurasian Green-winged Teal
Anas Crecca crecca/nimia
Eurasian Green-winged Teal, with a horizontal light stripe, and without a vertical stripe on its side. I found it on the Columbia River down from Priest Rapids Dam. For county listers, it ventured between Yakima, Grant, and Benton Counties.
Here's my post to Tweeters, a birding listserv for Washington:
[edit notes: I think that Wanapum Village should have been written Wanapum village; and Simon Martinez Cattle should be Simon Martinez Livestock.]
Eurasian Green-winged Teal
Friday I found what looks to me like a Eurasian Green-winged Teal, the first I've ever seen. It was pretty exciting, but I couldn't share the find immediately, because I found it near a place where two prominent local bird listers have told me they trespass. I tried Friday, and over the holiday weekend, but this morning was finally able to reach the Grant County PUD head of security to alert him that birders with scopes and binoculars and such might be around, and that some might try to stop and bird on the dam. He was very polite and helpful. He made it clear that doing so continues to be prohibited. It is National Critical Infrastructure. Across the dam on the Yakima County side is the Wanapum village, Simon Martinez Livestock Company private land, and Yakima Training Center military site. Visiting without express prior permission continues to be prohibited. Security at Priest Rapids Dam, and the security camera monitor crew have been alerted.
There are plenty of good reasons to not trespass including simple decency, avoiding scaring or angering residents and property owners, avoiding hindering heavy construction and endangering the workers, respecting Yakama Nation sovereignty, and being able to "count" the birds you "get" if you're a lister. From ABA Listing Central -- Code of Birding Ethics listing.aba.org/ethics/ : "Do not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission. Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad."
Another good reason is bird watcher access -- for the rest of us. I was working on getting birders access permission to viewing from the dam embankment a couple of years ago. I stupidly told a local prominent lister that birders are not allowed to stop on the dam and are not allowed to go into the Wanapum village without consent of local residents, and that similarly the Simon Martinez Livestock Company land is private and requires permission from the landowner. Despite reiterating that to him and getting him to acknowledge it, he proceeded to bird on the dam and got kicked off -- politely. The person at Grant PUD with whom I was working on birder access ended the discussion. I'm not a birding expert, but I don't think that listing a Common Tern flitting back and forth across the Yakima / Grant County line, or any other sighting, was worth that. Birding ethics are not defined by what you can get away with.
I once again am working on getting birders access to a viewing location on the dam. It's a dream of mine that I'd value greater than any rare bird find. Please, please, do not muck that up.
If you witness any trespassing or security concerns near Priest Rapids Dam or Wanapum Dam, they ask you call (509) 766-2538 any day at any hour. In the ABA Code of Birding Ethics: "If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it and notify appropriate individuals or organizations."
My wife Mary Giovanini, Nori dog, and I returned Saturday and relocated the Eurasian Green-winged Teal. This time there were pintails and Mallards, but no American GWTE with it as there'd been on Friday. It was tucked close to shore on the Yakima/Benton side of the Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam dam. I saw it from the Jackson Creek Fish Camp, at the junction of Grant, Yakima, and Benton Counties, clearly venturing well into each. For listers, if you look across from the day use area, at mid-river you're looking into Benton County. Looking across and upstream a bit to the rocks jutting into the river, Yakima County is to the right, and Benton County is to the left. The Yakima/Benton county line goes from shore there, north upstream at an angle to mid river, where it meets Grant county. The Yakima/Grant line continues mid-river up to the dam. The Priest Rapids Dam spillways are in Yakima. The generators are in Grant. Google Earth shows county lines quite well.
I apologize for not being able to share the find sooner. I hope you can understand and respect my concerns.
I wish I could share this post on BirdYak, a Yakima County bird-related list-serve, but am blocked by Denny Granstrand. Just the same, I'll keep up my efforts to discourage unethical birding. Please don't share a censored or edited version of this on BirdYak.
Red-breasted Mergansers, both Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and plenty of others were there to see too." [end Tweeters post]
Good birding -- Enjoying observing birds, and trying to give eBird and Washington Birder accurate data.
Please always consider the sensitivity of birds, nearby humans, and the environment.
Don't pish or use playback on rare or sensitive birds or in heavily birded areas.
Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others ABA Code of Birding Ethics.
Eurasian Green-winged Teal p01 2018-01-12 ©Kevin S Lucas
Eurasian Green-winged Teal
Anas Crecca crecca/nimia
Eurasian Green-winged Teal, with a horizontal light stripe, and without a vertical stripe on its side. I found it on the Columbia River down from Priest Rapids Dam. For county listers, it ventured between Yakima, Grant, and Benton Counties.
Here's my post to Tweeters, a birding listserv for Washington:
[edit notes: I think that Wanapum Village should have been written Wanapum village; and Simon Martinez Cattle should be Simon Martinez Livestock.]
Eurasian Green-winged Teal
Friday I found what looks to me like a Eurasian Green-winged Teal, the first I've ever seen. It was pretty exciting, but I couldn't share the find immediately, because I found it near a place where two prominent local bird listers have told me they trespass. I tried Friday, and over the holiday weekend, but this morning was finally able to reach the Grant County PUD head of security to alert him that birders with scopes and binoculars and such might be around, and that some might try to stop and bird on the dam. He was very polite and helpful. He made it clear that doing so continues to be prohibited. It is National Critical Infrastructure. Across the dam on the Yakima County side is the Wanapum village, Simon Martinez Livestock Company private land, and Yakima Training Center military site. Visiting without express prior permission continues to be prohibited. Security at Priest Rapids Dam, and the security camera monitor crew have been alerted.
There are plenty of good reasons to not trespass including simple decency, avoiding scaring or angering residents and property owners, avoiding hindering heavy construction and endangering the workers, respecting Yakama Nation sovereignty, and being able to "count" the birds you "get" if you're a lister. From ABA Listing Central -- Code of Birding Ethics listing.aba.org/ethics/ : "Do not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission. Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad."
Another good reason is bird watcher access -- for the rest of us. I was working on getting birders access permission to viewing from the dam embankment a couple of years ago. I stupidly told a local prominent lister that birders are not allowed to stop on the dam and are not allowed to go into the Wanapum village without consent of local residents, and that similarly the Simon Martinez Livestock Company land is private and requires permission from the landowner. Despite reiterating that to him and getting him to acknowledge it, he proceeded to bird on the dam and got kicked off -- politely. The person at Grant PUD with whom I was working on birder access ended the discussion. I'm not a birding expert, but I don't think that listing a Common Tern flitting back and forth across the Yakima / Grant County line, or any other sighting, was worth that. Birding ethics are not defined by what you can get away with.
I once again am working on getting birders access to a viewing location on the dam. It's a dream of mine that I'd value greater than any rare bird find. Please, please, do not muck that up.
If you witness any trespassing or security concerns near Priest Rapids Dam or Wanapum Dam, they ask you call (509) 766-2538 any day at any hour. In the ABA Code of Birding Ethics: "If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation and intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action and attempt, within reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it and notify appropriate individuals or organizations."
My wife Mary Giovanini, Nori dog, and I returned Saturday and relocated the Eurasian Green-winged Teal. This time there were pintails and Mallards, but no American GWTE with it as there'd been on Friday. It was tucked close to shore on the Yakima/Benton side of the Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam dam. I saw it from the Jackson Creek Fish Camp, at the junction of Grant, Yakima, and Benton Counties, clearly venturing well into each. For listers, if you look across from the day use area, at mid-river you're looking into Benton County. Looking across and upstream a bit to the rocks jutting into the river, Yakima County is to the right, and Benton County is to the left. The Yakima/Benton county line goes from shore there, north upstream at an angle to mid river, where it meets Grant county. The Yakima/Grant line continues mid-river up to the dam. The Priest Rapids Dam spillways are in Yakima. The generators are in Grant. Google Earth shows county lines quite well.
I apologize for not being able to share the find sooner. I hope you can understand and respect my concerns.
I wish I could share this post on BirdYak, a Yakima County bird-related list-serve, but am blocked by Denny Granstrand. Just the same, I'll keep up my efforts to discourage unethical birding. Please don't share a censored or edited version of this on BirdYak.
Red-breasted Mergansers, both Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and plenty of others were there to see too." [end Tweeters post]
Good birding -- Enjoying observing birds, and trying to give eBird and Washington Birder accurate data.
Please always consider the sensitivity of birds, nearby humans, and the environment.
Don't pish or use playback on rare or sensitive birds or in heavily birded areas.
Please Follow this Code and Distribute and Teach it to Others ABA Code of Birding Ethics.