ML61566331

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Sharp-tailed Grouse specimen #331123 in the ROM collection

Observation details

Original observer: R. A. Smith. This is the fourth record for Muskoka and it occurred during the southward irruption of this species in the winter of 1932/33. In his 1935 publication, The Study of the Sharp-tailed Grouse, Snyder detailed how grouse began appearing in unusual numbers at Moosonee in October of 1932. One observer described “vast flocks of birds” moving south, while another reported that these birds were in the Thunder Bay District “in thousands.” By November, the “flight was practically spent.” However, birds continued to work their way south throughout the winter and by December were being reported from North Bay. According to Snyder (1935), the most southerly record that could be confirmed was of a “specimen taken in the third week of March near Bracebridge.” (The date entered into eBird is 20 March, although the actual date is unknown). The specimen is mounted flat on a piece of cardboard, only the head, neck, and wings intact. The donor, R. A. Smith, apparently enjoyed the rest of the bird! It is now in the collection of the ROM, #331123.

Technical information

Model

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

ISO

1600

Focal length

4.3 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/8.0

Shutter speed

1/60 sec

Dimensions

4000 pixels x 3000 pixels

Original file size

2.36 MB