LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

     

1. English and Scientific names: Western Tanager  Piranga ludoviciana

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

1 adult/1st year male

3. Locality: Parish:   ____________Lafayette_____________________________

   Specific Locality: ___________Near Milton, South Lafayette parish________

4. Date(s) when observed:   Dec 30, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed:   1130am

6. Reporting observer and address:  Toddy Guidry, Lafayette 70508

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

Erik Johnson, Mark Broussard

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

cloudy, low light. Bird presented broadside and straight forward views, see photos

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

Nikon D5000, Nikon 300mm lens

11. Distance to bird(s):  30 ft

12. Duration of observation:  2 minutes

13. Habitat:  brushy woodlot in ag field

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

bird came to screech owl call, agitated, eventually flew off

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species):

see photo

16. Voice:  did not hear vocalization

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

female SCTA, imm SUTA.   Black wings with yellow/white wingbars, red in face

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

photos taken by Toddy Guidry, attached.

19. Previous experience with this species: 1st observation

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation:  suspected it was WETA based on guide books illustrations etc. Confirmed ID by Erik Johnson observation

b. after observation: Sibley Guide to Birds for age, sex

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); __X__memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain:  yes

23. Date:_12-31-11______Time:___245pm____