Gazing into the Crystal Ball - New Species for Pelee Will Be.....

Each year, Marianne and I, along with our top-ten most wanted list (see earlier post), also make predictions on what species will show up during Spring Migration that will be a new bird for the Pelee birding circle. Last year, Mottled Duck, which I never would have predicted was new. Other relatively recent inclusions are Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Black-necked Stilt, and back in 2005, the infamous Neotropic Cormorant (please remind me of other recent additions post-2000 if you can think of any).

For years, I have always predicted a similar series of birds. Black-necked Stilt was forever my pick (until the year it was seen and then I didn't predict it). Black-headed Grosbeak has also almost always been a top pick (why hasn't one shown up yet?!). I have patiently awaited the arrival of our first Painted Redstart or MacGillivray's Warbler but they will not be my pick this year.

Instead I am going to go with a species that has been on my mind. Call it a hunch. My prediction for the new species of Spring 2009 is Band-tailed Pigeon. Of course, there would likely be concern over the wild status of the bird but that's the species I'm going with.