County Hotline Birds (Oregon)

Part of the fun of birding is exploring new areas. Keeping lists can provide a better understanding of the status of birds in any one area or region as well as to provide personal satisfaction. County listing in Oregon is a good example. All too often, however, it is easy to ignore or automatically list a species that is common in areas one is familiar with and in so doing miss the significance or importance of birds that are rare or even completely new records for an unfamiliar area. Are Bonaparte's Gulls significant in Grant or Wheeler Counties? Would you think to report a Greater Yellowlegs if you saw one in Hood River County? Is someone going to question you if you report a Black-capped Chickadee in Crook County? I have compiled a list of bird species for each county that have fewer than 5 records. Although this number of sightings is rather arbitrary, it allows the focus to remain on the very rare and keeps the size of the lists from becoming overwhelming. For many of these species there are not yet any records (indicated by PARENTHESES) but they could be reasonably expected to occur in the county.

Admittedly, some species may occur more often than would be implied by the number of records. Accuracy is limited by how well areas have been covered, and whether or not I have been provided information about these species. I welcome any and all information that will result in updating and clarifying the status of these county rarities.

Review species are NOT listed. It is assumed that these species, rare anywhere in the state, will be considered rare regardless of location, and it is hoped they will be documented and reported to the Oregon Birds Records Committee.

How should you use these lists? At the very least report any rare species to other birders that you know have an interest in the county. Record the date and exact location where the species has been found, and write down a description of the bird (or better yet, photograph it). In addition, please provide me your records by clicking [here] to access the report form or send them to me at the address below. I am interested in past records as well as new records of these countywide rarities. I will update the lists as new information becomes available.

Craig Miller PO Box 6376 Bend, OR 97708 (crmiller@bendnet.com)

You may use this County Rare Bird Report Form to submit your reports.

COUNTIES:

(Common Redpoll)

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posted for Craig Miller by Skip Russell (email: skipr@teleport.com) home page: http://www.teleport.com/~skipr)
updated: []