Introduction It has been over twenty-five years since the publication of Birds and Birding on the Mississippi Coast by Toups and Jackson, 1987. Much of the information it presents is still valid (if you have a copy hang on to it, as it is very unlikely that it will ever be duplicated). But much has changed. Birding Coastal Mississippi, by Toups, Bird and Peterson 2004, did contain a bar graph representation of monthly occurrences that is still basically valid and was the source of some of the information in this current list. But that work is essentially a site guide with very limited species information. The first on-line source was begun by Stacy Peterson in the late 1990’s. It attempted, through a monumental amount of research, to show the arrival and departure dates of every migratory species every year. Much of the data gathered by Stacy, and many of his cogent comments, are, with his permission, incorporated here. The goal of this checklist is to present detailed accounts of the status of the birds of the six coastal counties of Mississippi in a form that can be periodically monitored and updated Hopefully this current version represents a distinct improvement in form and content over the first attempt. If so, it is due in large part to the guidance and comment of Erik Johnson, Gene Knight, Paul Lehman, Van Remsen, Nick Winstead, Mark Woodrey, and most particularly, Paul Buckley CONTENTS [CTRL +click to follow link] FORMAT WATERFOWL Anatidae NEW WORLD QUAIL, TURKEYS Odontophoridae, Phasianidae LOONS, GREBES Gaviidae, Podicipedidae [FLAMINGOS] SHEARWATERS, STORM-PETRELS [Procellariidae], Procellariidae Hydrobatidae STORKS, FRIGATEBIRDS, BOOBIES Ciconiidae, Fregatidae, Sulidae CORMORANTS, ANHINGAS, PELICANS Phalacrocoracidae- Pelecanidae HERONS, IBISES Ardeidae.Threskiornithidae NEW WORLDVULTURES, OSPREYS, RAPTORS Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae RAILS, CRANES Rallidae, Gruidae STILT, OYSTERCATCHERS, PLOVERS Recurvirostridae- Charadriidae SANDPIPERS, ETC Scolopacidae JAEGERS, ALCIDS, GULLS, TERNS Stercorariidae-Laridae PIGEONS, CUCKOOS Columbidae, Cuculidae BARN OWLS, OWLS Tytonidae, Strigidae NIGHTJARS, SWIFTS Capridmulgidae, Apodidae HUMMINGBIRDS Trochilidae KINGFISHERS, WOODPECKERS Alcedinidae, Picidae FALCONS [PARROTS] Falconide, [Psttacidae] TYRANT-FLYCATCHERS Tyrannidae SHRIKES, VIREOS Laniidae, Vireonidae CROWS, JAYS, LARKS Corvidae, Alaudidae 1 SWALLOWS Hirundinidae TITMICE, NUTHATCHES, CREEPERS Paridae, Sittidae, Certhiidae WRENS Troglodytidae GNATCATCHERS, KINGLETS Polioptilidae, Regulidae THRUSHES, MIMIDAE Turdidae, Mimidae STARLINGS through LONGSPURS Sturnidae through Calcariidae WOOD-WARBLERS Parulidae NEW WORLD SPARROWS Emberizidae GROSBEAKS & ALLIES Cardinalidae BLACKBIRDS & ALLIES Icteridae FINCHES Fringillidae OLD WORLD SPARROWS, MANNIKINS Passeridae, Estrildidae LOCALES INITIALED OBSERVERS SOURCES HOME FORMAT Taxonomy and nomenclature AOU Check-list, Seventh Edition, (1998), plus Supplements through No. 54 (July 2013). Criteria for initial acceptance of a species The Records Committee of the Mississippi Ornithological Society is considered the final authority. All species accepted by that organization as occurring in the six coastal counties are accorded full status. Nevertheless it is not always clear how some early sight reports were handled. Some of them seem lacking in critical data. Such reservations are noted in the accounts. *Indicates that to date we have only a sight record Sources and criteria for acceptance of subsequent records Any records published in journals such as North American Birds or The Mississippi Kite or accepted by ebird editors are deemed to have been already reviewed and accepted by competent authority. Christmas Bird Counts posed a special problem. Since there is no longer a detailed print version available for recent counts and it would be difficult to obtain copies of the older ones, I chose to download the on-line versions of both local counts. Unfortunately there are any number of highly significant and occasionally startling sightings listed without any flag or comment to suggest that the compilers/editors reviewed the record or were even aware of its significance. I am quite sure this was not the case and I can only conclude that a great amount of commentary was simply omitted/ ignored in transcribing material to the online format. Some personal communications and unpublished records (including postings from forums such as MISSBIRD) have been accepted on a case by case basis. Other sources include USM Migratory Bird Research Group, USGS Breeding Bird Surveys and several others. A full list appears in the bibliography. Sources of reference material There is an astounding amount of information online. Some sites are excellent but the quality of others descends rapidly through the superficial to the inane. I have used several that I found to be first rate and that had material that was specifically pertinent to our purposes. But I doubt that I’ve even scratched the surface of useful sites. I would appreciate hearing about others. 2 User input Unfortunately, a prominent feature of this list so far is the number of fuzzy generalities. What are needed are specifics, and they must come from you, the observers. Numbers: Listing record high counts is certainly useful, but how many individuals you normally see: within a given area; along a certain stretch of beach; within a period of time is even more so .Dates: We need not just the extremes. When does the bulk of the population of a summer resident arrive? Leave? Over what time span do the greatest number of common transient pass through both northbound and southbound? Peak in winter? Breeding Data: How many singing male Turkey Vultures in your woodlot? Documentation Photographs: We still do not have photo documentation of many species that have been reported from the coast. Photos of adult and nest or adult and young to establish proof of nesting is also needed for many species. Documentation Specimens: You may find a road-kill or beach casualty of great interest. Here is what you do, courtesy of Nick Winstead, state ornithologist. There are legalities involved. Certain state and federal permits are required to possess a protected species. Technically this is true even it is only a dead bird intended for delivery to an authorized institution. But I don't believe problems would ensue if this were your sole intent. The Museum would be happy to take specimens, but we have to be selective in the ones we accept. Therefore if you collect a specimen please contact either Scott Peyton or me to determine if it is one we can use. If we can't use it we may be able to suggest other institutions that can. Store any specimen in a plastic bag in a freezer until it can be delivered. Be sure to include a note on collection location and date and the name of the collector. Be careful when handling dead birds. Avoid any contact between exposed skin and the bird's body fluids. Wear gloves; wash hands and other exposed surfaces; protect yourself from mosquitoes. Nick Winstead, Ornithologist Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Museum of Natural Science 2148 Riverside Drive Jackson Mississippi 39202 Phone: 601-354-7303, ext. 108 http://www.mdwfp.com/museum/ Bottom Line The success of this project will depend on the support and contributions of all of you. Please send all the records that you think pertinent, all the information you think useful and all the comment and criticism you feel warranted to me at: [email protected] or Ned Boyajian 38 Wilmon Burge Road Carriere, MS 39426 HOME WATERFOWL Anatidae 3 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis First coastal sighting of this recent invader. Hancock Co. 23 April 2005 NM, JT, et al. (unpubl. rec.) First documented report (photo, SM) Seaman Road 13 July 2006 (Survey Team) In 2007 there was a report from Seaman but this species was still considered rare and erratic well into 2008. Current Status It is now numerous in Jackson Co., mostly during the warmer months, and a regular visitor during that period to Harrison and Hancock There is one sight record for Pearl River Co. 27 June 2011 ORWMA NB (ebird); none for George or Stone Counties. High count to date 61 Jackson Co 5 April 2011 (m.ob.) Breeding Adults and downy young photographed Seaman Road 9 Sept 2010 (Survey team) Singing River July 2011 Larry Dees (unpubl. rec.) Documentation Photograph MBRC Archives Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor General status As recently as 1987 this species was considered accidental. Currently it is an irregular visitor in small numbers. The majority of records have been singles clustered in April and May. Unfortunately the wetlands favored by this and many other species are now mostly on private or restricted access lands. Earliest date and highest count 11 Vidalia, Harrison Co 4 March 1988 N, Atcheson (fide JT, pers.. comm. to JSP). First documentation (photo) 9 CataS 16 October 2004 NB, CE, JT (e-bird.) Latest date Lakeshore 29 October1978 JT, et al (Toups and Jackson 1987) Documentation- Photograph MBRC Archives Comment This species is not uncommon in private collections and caution needs to be exercised in that regard. Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons General status Formerly considered rare and irregular, now a regular fall transient, sometimes in considerable numbers. There are usually a scattering of singles or small flocks in the area through the winter and into early spring. Early/Late Dates Hancock Co 7 October 1986 CD, GM, JT (Jackson and Hodges, 1986 MK 16-2) Heron Bay 15 October 2004 NB (Knight, 2005 MK 35-1) Seaman Road 7 April 1993 CD, JT, et al. (Survey Team) 4 Numbers Flocks passing through day and night, perhaps 3000 all told Ansley 21-23 October 2003 NB (unpubl. rec.) 114 Hancock Co 2 January 2003 CB, SD (Schiefer, 2004 MK 34-1) CBC data for the past ten years: MSSH 6 of 10 counts, range 2 to 164 MSJC 5 of 10 counts, range1 to 12 Documentation Specimen MMNS Snow Goose Chen caerulescens General Status The continent-wide population explosion of this species is reflected in our area mainly in the size and duration of fall flights of transients from late October to the first days of December.