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 not too long ago 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. The truth is, I’ve pushed previous the websites the place these birds are situated a number of occasions and never bothered. I perceive the joy that such rarities elicit however, for me not less than, 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 individuals learn and the way prepared they’re to report “the primary” birds seen arriving. Solely within the final day or two I’ve seen stories of the arrival of the primary Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) to my space. Folks appear oblivious that they’ve been right here in good numbers for just a few weeks now, as readers of my 10,000 birds posts will know. These claims of maximum rarities or the primary sighting appear to generate a flood of clapping emojis and “properly dones”, which I discover perplexing.
For me, the systematic method to gathering fowl observations is the fundamental stuff of ornithology. In that I embrace stories of birds seen particularly geographic areas, as a number of the wonderful accounts in 10,000 birds certainly do. In distant and under-watched locations, these can present the idea for enhancing our data of birds, their standing and distribution. Repeated, systematic, counts in the identical websites are additionally of nice worth they usually additionally assist us make clear the “when” of fowl arrivals and departures.
Have you ever seen 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 extremely straightforward to see an arrival of a fowl while you haven’t been seeing it for just a few months. Then again, you may solely detect the final departures should 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 have now counted the birds weekly, typically twice every week. In these years, all of the birds have been passed by mid-March however one 12 months 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 usually very boring, as you recognize there’s solely a handful left, however you must preserve going again. You gained’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 12 months as has been claimed however, as a substitute, a heavy passage of 1000’s of them coming in from North Africa and heading north. With them, extra Home Martins (Delichon urbicum) and Purple-rumped Swallows (Cecropis daurica). And for many who just like the “firsts” of the 12 months, we have been handled to swift royalty within the type of an Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba) coming in with the stream of hirundines. I’m wondering how lengthy it is going to be earlier than the “first” Alpine Swift will get reported!
