OK, I think it was too hard for people to guess which bird will be the Mad Monk's 400th ABA, mainly cuz of not knowing what I've seen. So, I'll list what I think are the top 20 candidates and you guess from there (only one species to one guesser!). Remember, there's still a prize! Here are the birds:
1. Greater Pewee
2. Swainson's Hawk
3. Franklin's Gull
4. Mississippi Kite
5. Vaux's Swift
6. Long-billed Curlew
7. Mexican Spotted Owl
8. Whiskered Screech Owl
9. Northern Shrike
10. Painted Bunting
11. Evening Grosbeak
12. Flame-colored Tanager
13. Berylline Hummingbird
14. Rufous-capped Warbler
15. Buff-breasted Flycatcher
16. Cassin's Sparrow
17. Botteri's Sparrow
18. Burrowing Owl
19. Streak-backed Oriole
20. Aztec Thrush
I'll go for Greater Pewee but presumably if the tanagers and warblers return, you could be up for Flame-colored Tanager or Rufous-capped Warbler in the next month.
Posted by: andy at April 11, 2004 02:50 AMBurrowing Owl, Cassin's Sparrow, Swainson's Hawk and Long-billed Curlew seem like the easiest. If I had to pick one I'll pick Cassin's Sparrow.
Chet
Posted by: Chet at April 11, 2004 04:23 PMGood guesses by both Andy and Chet. I actually tried to get to a known pewee site yesterday but the road was so atrocious I grossly overshot the canyon entrance. Anyway, it's probably early.
Cassin's has been reported in our area but not since 2000. The best time to get them, I'm told, is in the southern grasslands during/just after monsoon (July/August) when they tend to be singing.
Anyone else?
Posted by: Mad AZ Monk at April 12, 2004 02:45 PMI spent a summer at the Southwest Research Station in the Chiricauhuas and had quite a few Cassin's in the grasslands east of Portal. They should be singing now and have such a distinctive and cool song it's hard to miss them. Burrowing Owls also nest in that area. Of course Greater Pewee, Whiskered Screech Owl and Buff-breasted Flycatcher are also nesters higher up. I used to wake up to Buffies singing at the research station. I sure miss that place!
Posted by: Chet at April 12, 2004 09:58 PMChet--
The Chiricahuas are on my list for a trip this year--just as soon as someone reports Short-tailed Hawk. I also need Mexican Chickadee and Yellow-eyed Junco. I've heard so many awesome things, I can't wait to go. Southeastern AZ really is magic, isn't it?
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