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Melvin Webb, a member of the Louisiana Ornithological Society, reported that on October 13, he spotted a red-legged bee in southern Louisiana.
It was later confirmed that two rare birds had been found, the male and female red-legged bees, a tropical bird traditionally found from southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia and central Brazil, Trinidad, Tobago and Cuba. Pictures and descriptions of the birds were posted on eBird and Facebook, and within minutes birders from across the state and territory were aware of the discovery, with many planning to travel to Grand Island to see them the next day.
“It’s a big deal,” John Dillon said. “Prior to this week, there was an accepted record for a single red-legged mandarin orange in the entire United States, and that was three days in South Texas in November 2014.”
Donna Dittmann recalls that when a rare bird was spotted in the past, members were alerted through the phone tree, and people around who answered the phone could help spread the word; unless, of course, they went out bird watching.
People then recorded the information on an index card, put it in a stamped envelope, and mailed it to the editor in the South.
“You live to see your name or initials on official records,” she said with a laugh.
Rare birds can be birds that the state has never seen before, such as red-legged bees, or obsolete birds. Why is this happening?
“As I tell people, only the birds know, they don’t speak,” Dillon said.
This information is provided in conjunction with naturalists in Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to increase awareness, understanding and management of the natural environment.For more information please email info@lmngbr.org.
— Colette Dean
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