LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
REPORT FORM
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1. English and
Scientific names: Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster |
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2. Number of
individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage): |
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3. Locality: Parish: Plaquemines
Parish |
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Specific Locality: Mississippi River
just upstream of Pilotown. |
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4. Date(s) when
observed: 8-31-13 |
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5. Time(s) of day
when observed: Approx. 0700 h. |
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6. Reporting
observer and address: David P. Muth, 2765 Orchid St., New Orleans, LA
70119. |
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7. Other
observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): Eric
Johnson, Phillip Wallace, Dan O’Malley et
al. |
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8. Other
observers who independently identified the bird(s): |
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9. Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):
Bird was east of us flying north rapidly up the channel. Light went from
execrable to barely tolerable as it got north of the boat. |
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10. Optical
equipment (type, power, condition): Eagle Optics Platinum 10x42. |
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11. Distance to
bird(s): Maybe 100 yards when abeam. |
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12. Duration of
observation: Less than one minute. |
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13. Habitat: Mississippi
River |
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14. Behavior of
bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and
stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):
flying on a mission |
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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): An obvious Sulid; initial
assumption in my mind that it was a gannet gave way to realization that it
might be booby as I discerned the pattern and as commentary mounted. Dark
head and throat, sharp line of demarcation between throat and white breast,
dark upperwings, underwing
dark with light axillars and wing linings (might
have only seen this in photos). Bill pale, contrasting with dark head, long
and conical with sharp tip |
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16. Voice: not
heard. |
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17. Similar species
(include how they were eliminated by your observation): I was not really
certain about ID during observation, though the clean pattern and sharp
contrasts suggested an adult not a juvenile MABO, RFBO, or NOGA. But when I
saw the photos on the digital screens that had been obtained by fellow boat
riders, the bird’s overall color and patterns could be more clearly seen and
it was clearly a Brown Booby adult. |
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18. Photographs or
tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?): Several others, including
O’Malley, Johnson and Wallace. |
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19. Previous
experience with this species: One in Louisiana, several in Florida,
Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Costa Rica. |
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20. Identification
aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in
identification): |
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a. at time of
observation: none |
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b. after
observation: Sibley, etc. |
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21. This
description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation
(_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); xx memory. |
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22. Are you
positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes. |
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23. Date: 03-07-14 Time:
what difference does that make? |
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24. May the LBRC
have permission to display this report or |
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If yes, may we
include your name with the report? yes |
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1
adult