The pages of whatsapp teams and social media are closely laden by repeated sightings, supported by congratulatory remarks, of remoted rarities. In my space, these have just lately included a Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica), a Frequent Eider (Somateria mollissima) and a Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) throughout the Bay of Gibraltar. To see them would have been straightforward for me, a matter of a brief drive, however I’ve had little interest in doing so. In actual fact, I’ve pushed previous the websites the place these birds are positioned a number of instances and never bothered. I perceive the thrill that such rarities elicit however, for me at the very least, they’re mere anecdotes that present how far birds can stray away from their pure geographical vary. That’s it.
I’m additionally amazed at how little folks learn and the way prepared they’re to report “the primary” birds seen arriving. Solely within the final day or two I’ve seen studies of the arrival of the primary Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) to my space. Individuals appear oblivious that they’ve been right here in good numbers for a couple of weeks now, as readers of my 10,000 birds posts will know. These claims of utmost rarities or the primary sighting appear to generate a flood of clapping emojis and “nicely dones”, which I discover perplexing.
For me, the systematic method to accumulating fowl observations is the fundamental stuff of ornithology. In that I embrace studies of birds seen specifically geographic areas, as a few of the wonderful accounts in 10,000 birds certainly do. In distant and under-watched locations, these can present the premise for enhancing our information of birds, their standing and distribution. Repeated, systematic, counts in the identical websites are additionally of nice worth and so they additionally assist us make clear the “when” of fowl arrivals and departures.
Have you ever observed how few claims are ever made in such teams to the “final” fowl to have left, say after the winter? The reason being that it is rather straightforward to see an arrival of a fowl whenever you haven’t been seeing it for a couple of months. Alternatively, you’ll be able to solely detect the final departures when you comply with the inhabitants systematically. I, together with colleagues, have been following the winter roost of Crag Martins (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) for the previous six winters. We’ve counted the birds weekly, generally twice every week. In these years, all of the birds have been passed by mid-March however one yr some remained till the primary week of April. We solely know this as a result of we stored going again till our counts confirmed zero returns. The final counts are typically very boring, as you already know there’s solely a handful left, however it’s a must to maintain going again. You received’t get any claps or likes in social media for this however that’s not why we do it. We’re doing ornithology.
So, this week, my systematic counts have proven, not the primary one or two Barn Swallows of the yr as has been claimed however, as an alternative, a heavy passage of 1000’s of them coming in from North Africa and heading north. With them, extra Home Martins (Delichon urbicum) and Crimson-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica). And for many who just like the “firsts” of the yr, we have been handled to swift royalty within the type of an Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) coming in with the move of hirundines. I’m wondering how lengthy it will likely be earlier than the “first” Alpine Swift will get reported!
