Rare Bird Finder

Before the full list goes up, some people expressed an interest in a partial list which shows where to find over 60 of the rarest birds in Misiones.

So here it is - click the link below - and, as always, we welcome comments and ideas!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AiaNMtld2Qt0dFJ6amJUdmNrbjRaQTNkT1EtU045ZWc&hl=en_GB

A few notes - numbers preceding a year date, such as 2, 3-2004, indicate the months (Feb and Mar in this case) of the last published sighting of this species. Year entries without month data indicate the most recent year the species was seen at the locality.

A single X indicates that the species has been recorded in the locality.

A double XX indicates a place where the species may be seen regularly.

Not all species have data entries. If there's no entry, this bird hasn't been seen for a while!

The list is presented in alphabetical order of scientific names. If you copy the list to an excel file, or using the Google spreadsheet app, the numbers in column A can be used to order the list in taxonomic series (Data>Sort... column A), or you can sort alphabetically by English name (Data>Sort... column C) as required.

There is a lot of information out there, in the form of trip reports and lists for localities published on the web for instance. We hope to collate and include many more sources soon, and to provide a "links and references" section so readers can evaluate these sightings and information more fully.

Finally, this Rare Bird Finder is intended to be used with a map showing the localities listed - coming soon!

Good birding - Guy :>=

Misiones Birding - Welcome and Introduction

Hi and welcome to the Birding Misiones Blog!

Misiones Birding Reports
My aim in this space is to give birders an idea of the species you could expect to see any month of the year on a Tucai - Birding Misiones bird tour with guide Guy Cox.

Interactive Bird List
But more than this, based on our reports of birding trips made in the Misiones area, Guy and other local birders are putting together an interactive Birds of Misiones bird list. The idea of this list, based on the new SACC listing and available as an emailed excel file (also in the Tucai shop in San Pedro), is to provide enthusiasts with a constantly updating database of bird species registered in Misiones province, Argentina. The list will be open for anyone to participate and, as time progresses, will generate a gazeteer of the best places to see target bird species.
While the list will be open to all to use, anyone who wants to participate by sending in data in the form of site lists, unusual or new site records (with recorded evidence if possible), will be added to the mailing list and so will receive future updates. The list is a non-profit undertaking, but I hope to cover minimal administrative costs by sales in printed form. I will take the role of editor, all those providing data will be recognized as collaborators.

Current list headings include:
Scientific name (SACC 2010)
English name (SACC 2010)
Spanish name (based on Narosky and Yzurieta 1987)
Status - C = Common; F = Frequent; O = Occasional; R = Rare; Ex = Extinct; Hy = Hypothetical; Va = Vagrant

Movements – R = Resident, MA = Long-distance migrant which reproduces in N. hemisphere and “winters” in S. hemisphere; MB = Species nesting in Argentina, which then move to N. hemisphere during southern winter; MC = Species which reproduce in Patagonia, then move northwards, but remain in Argentina, during southern winter. MD = Species with some other form of altitudinal or seasonal movements.

Habitat – First initial (habitat type) - F = forest; E = edges; G = grasslands or open areas; H = human habitations; A = aquatic habitats: rivers and marshes; S = scrub and overgrown or secondary habitats.
Second initial (specialization within habitat) – O = overhead; C = canopy; M = mid-storey; U = undergrowth; B = bamboo; A = Araucaria.

Localities: (NP = National Park; PP = Provincial Park; PR = Private Reserve)
PN Iguazu
PP Urugua-i
PP Salto Encantado
PP Caa Yari
PP Araucaria
PP Cruce Caballero
PR Yaguaroundi

Future editions of the list will include bird names in Guarani and many more localities. The first edition will be online soon - please let me know your thoughts and ideas - you can contact me on this blog or email me at: misionesbirds@gmail.com