The spectacle of millions of seabirds wheeling about the rocky crags above the Bering Sea are only part of the draw for birders visiting the Pribilofs. While the breeding birds include species with interesting names like parakeet auklet, red-legged kittiwake, northern fulmar, and tufted puffin, the real draw for many birders are those Asian species that wander east from Siberia. Birders keep "life lists", which is a tally of species seen throughout a lifetime of searching. An important list for many birders is the birds that are sighted within North America (north of the border with Mexico). There are currently 914 species of birds that have been reported within this region. The paradox of birding is that those with the highest level of skill and experience, often add the fewest number of life birds each year. This is because it gets harder and harder to add something new, once a birder gets closer to that number of 914 (the current record holder is William Rydell with 843).
To add new birds to their lists, many birders travel to far off places like the southern tip of Texas where an unusual bird might stray up from Mexico or to the Pribilof Islands, where westerly winds might bring a bounty of Asian species that a birder might add to their lifelist. The ultimate prize is to discover a bird new to North America! Many of these North American "firsts" have been discovered in the Pribilofs.
A birder that I know from Maryland, Phil Davis, has made a few trips to the Pribilofs to look for some of these Asian rarities, often with great success. Phil was kind enough to share some fantastic photos of some of the birds that he has observed from St. Paul over the last few years.
So, while my focus will be on Thick-billed Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes, I'll be watching the weather and after a night of winds from the west, will have my eyes open for birds with names like Chinese Pond Heron, Dusky Thrush, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit.
Below are some of the bird photos from Phil Davis. I'll keep you posted on what I see!
Photograph by Phil Davis
Photograph by Phil Davis
Photograph by Phil Davis
Photograph by Phil Davis