Annual Report - 1989

REPORT OF THE NEW YORK STATE AVIAN RECORDS COMMITTEE 1989

In 1990 the Federation and the New York State Avian Records Committee lost another valued member in the passing of Richard C. Evans, Richard was an enthusiastic person who was acting capably as the Committee's Secretary. Only 15 reports were received in 1989, a low number as in the previous year. If you observe a species that is on the list of reviewable species, record a new breeding species for the state or a species new to New York (for a list see The Kingbird 38:227-228; 1988 and 39:142-146, 1989), please write up your observation and send the report to our new Secretary:

By preparing and submitting reports of significant observations, Federation members and others can contribute to the important work of the Federation by adding to our knowledge of New York State birds and to its base of reliable data on them. This summary covers 13 reports representing 11 separate records from 1989, and three reports from 1988. One report, of a possible hybrid, from 1989 is not reviewable, and another is not yet resolved.

1988 ACCEPTED REPORTS

Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica). 1988-16-A one male on Lake Champlain, Crown Point, Town of Crown Point, Essex Co., 25 Mar (NM).

Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini). 1988-18-A one juvenile at Lake Champlain, Crown Point peninsula-Port Henry area, Town of Moriah, Essex Co., 29 Oct (NM).

Common Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus). 1988-17-A one adult at Lake Champlain, Port Henry, Town of Moriah, Essex Co., 29 Oct (NM).

1989 ACCEPTED REPORTS

Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata). 1989-5-A one found on school lawn, Town of Horseheads, Chemung Co., 25 Sep (WO); specimen deposited in Cornell University Vertebrate Collections. This bird was one of several carried to the northeastern United States by hurricane Hugo. Full details appear in The Kingbird 40:19-20; 1990.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea). 1989-4-A,B one near Wappinger Creek, Town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., 12 Sep (FG, WC).

Ross's Goose (Chen rossii). 1989-13-A two about 5 miles north of Phoenix, Town of Schroeppel, Oswego Co., 28 Mar (DC).

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus). 1989-12-A one 4 miles northwest of Baldwinsville, Town of Lysander, Onondaga Co., 20 May (IDC). A full account of this record, with a photograph, appears in The Kingbird 39:194196; 1989.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea). 1989-7-A one on the Niagara River at Buffalo, Erie Co., 12 Nov (GR).

Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis). 1989-10-A one at Montauk Point, Suffolk Co., 25 Sep (WP).

Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica). 1989-8-A one at feeder, Dunkirk, Chautauqua Co., 8 Dec (GR).

1989 REPORTS NOT ACCEPTED

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea). 1989-3-A,B one at Dover Plains, Town of Dover, Dutchess Co., 21-22 Aug.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). 1989-9-A one at Wappinger Creek, Salt Point, Town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., 1213 Sep. This report was intended to be for a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, but the observer made an error in writing the species' name.

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis). 1989-2-A one at Pelham Bay Park, Bronx Co., 27 Aug.

Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus). 1989-6-A one at Tifft Nature Preserve, Buffalo, Erie Co., 16 Apr.

No additions were made to the New York State List, which stands at 435 species, in 1989.

Respectfully submitted,

Observers submitting records cited in this report: William Consiglio, Dorothy W. Crumb, Robert DeCandido, Dorothy M. Fleury, Florence T. Germond, Marguerite Guernsey, Nancy L. Martin, William Ostrander, William A. Purcell, Gerald R. Rising, Mary W Yegella.