Mike actually brings up a good point regarding the location of this bird & speculations about its origins.  I'd be interested to see the distribution of Harlequin reports in Ohio because I remember the last Harlequin report for the state was about 2 or 3 years ago in Dayton.  That report was of a male and female along a fast moving section of the river that runs through downtwon Dayton (the name eludes me right now...I want to say Great Miami River) during the winter.  It would be interesting to see if more reports of Harlequins occur below I-70 than above.

 

Personally, I think most Harlequins reported are actually indeed wild birds because I can't imagine a.) there are that many places raising Harlequins in captivity and b.) there are that many places losing their captive birds.

 

Interestingly, the report of this Harlequin coincides with a report of a Northern Gannet, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Purple Sandpiper from the Erie shoreline.  Although Black-legged Kittiwake and Harlequin Ducks occur in both the Atlantic and Pacific, the fact that the recent reports coincided with Northern Gannets & Purple Sandpiper (both species that breed & winter in the Atlantic) would make me speculate that the origin of the Camp Dennison Harlequins would be from the Atlantic population, which is declining more precipitously than the Pacific population.

 

Good Birding!

 

Casey



	-----Original Message----- 

	From: MU Ornithology Listserv (ZOO 408) on behalf of Mike Busam 

	Sent: Sun 11/27/2005 3:35 PM 

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Cc: 

	Subject: Camp Dennison Harlequin Duck

	

	



	Greetings... Bob Foppe found a female harlequin duck at Camp Dennison on the

	east side of Cincinnati Sunday morning. Directions to the site and a good

	area to view the bird can be found on the Birding in Cincinnati site.

	http://cincinnatibirds.com/goodbird/sighting.php

	

	Jeff Brown saw the bird, as well, and can provide good directions, etc.

	

	The harlequin duck is a great find, for sure. (Anyone want to start a pool

	with me to guess when the first suggestion will come in from someone in Ohio

	north of I-70 that the bird is an escapee?) I guess that's my bitter-old-man

	inclination coming through . . . again!

	

	Take care,

	---Mike Busam

	West Chester, OH