Three Alberta, Canada birders, Eric Tull, Mike Mulligan, and Phil Cram found a male Baikal Teal Anas formosa on 30 April northeast of Calgary. This species is currently an ABA Code 4 bird, but don't be too surprised if it is reported more frequently in the ABA Area in the future.
After a significant population decline during the 1980s (20,000-40,000 birds), the population estimates for Baikal Teal are now approximately 500,000 birds (ABA Checklist, Seventh Edition). This species breeds in Siberia and northeastern Russia, with a wintering range in eastern China, Japan, and with huge concentrations of birds now wintering in Korea.
Bailkal Teal, Cheonsuman Bay, Republic of Korea. Photo courtesy of See Han Soo.
Stay tuned for an article by Birding editor, Ted Floyd, in the August issue of Winging It who tells of a mass exodus of South Korean birders from his lecuture. Those fleeing from the lecture chose instead to watch a massive flock of migrating Baikal Teal outside. To learn what Ted did without an audience, read the August issue of Winging It.
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