I'd like to thank Gene Sattler for his very int'd addition to this string.
It is also nice to see VA-Bird politely discussing this kind of topic. We
don't seem to do it as much as some other birding list servers where people
politely question each other and share their knowledge.
For years I have followed with interest reports of Black-capped Chickadee
and hybrid chickadees in western MD on MDOsprey. Not surprisingly there
has been
a great deal of discussion on Black-caps and possible hybridization in the
area
where Carolinas and Black-caps meet. If my memory is correct, it is pretty
far to the west, near the Allegany Co/Garrett Co line. Incidentally the
MDOsprey archives are available online & are easy to search for anyone who
wants to see what they have to say on this topic.
To my knowledge the hybridization zone in VA isn't in the Shenandoah Valley,
itself, but up on the edge of the Allegany Plateau. I was pretty sure that
virtually all
the chickadees that regularly show up in the Valley are Carolina Chickadees.
Perhaps some of our top long-time Valley birders like John Spahr, Gene
Sattler, and Rob Simpson could shed some light on this?
My memory also tells me that this is true for the counties in the West VA
Panhandle
and esp. Jefferson County. The official bird list for Cacapon Park near
Berekeley Springs (pretty far west in the Panhandle) lists the Carolina as
the resident species.
The Carolina Chickadee is certainly the resident and common chickadee in the
VA and MD counties I regularly
bird and the closest hybridization zone is at least 50, if not 75 miles,
from my home (which is only a couple of miles from the Snickers Gap
Hawkwatch).
After the recent posts I did some double-checking of my own records &
other records easily available to me. In the 10 years of the Central
Loudoun CBC (which I compile) there has never been a Black-capped Chickadee
reported. In looking at my
own birding records for the last 15 years in Loudoun Co, northern Fauquier
Co, and Clarke Co, I never, until Nov. 19, 2007, found a Black-capped
Chickadee in any of those counties. My only somewhat local Black-caps were
in Highland Co, VA and Garrett Co, MD. All the rest have been in New
England & Canada. I remember looking at the chickadees while at the
Wagner's Gap Hawkwatch in PA and NOT being able to separate any of them
conclusively.
Since this is an irruption year (thanks to Jay Keller for bringing Ron
Pittaway's Sept. finch forecast to our attn. - it appears Pittaway was right
on the mark!) it isn't surprising that a lot of people are seeing an
occasional Black-capped Chickadee far from their normal breeding areas.
Best, Joe Coleman
near Bluemont, Loudoun Co
