Keep Calm and Bird On: November 2023
“If you don’t look, you don’t see. You have to go and look.”
-Edith Andrews
In November we look for rarities. Recently a small group of lucky birders enjoyed a rare sight of a Long-tailed Jaeger from the beach. Outside of the breeding season this pelagic species is usually seen at the edge of the continental shelf, or in the open ocean. A good find at Smith’s Point!
Some birds here are rare due to location—they are common elsewhere but rarely make the trip east—or west—to land on Nantucket. Others are rare because their population has dwindled into the danger zone. Some are merely nomadic and just behaving normally, spreading out looking for food. Some are explorers, taking advantage of winds or tides, looking for new opportunities when their species has had an exceptionally good year and they need to find new territory. And some are noteworthy because their timing doesn’t match up with others of their species.
So, it pays to look hard at details, because we never know what might land on Nantucket. It is also interesting to see tired birds on migration flopping down in unexpected places. A Great Crested Flycatcher on the beach? Not its usual habitat—but perhaps a life-saving pit stop. And always try to get a photo, or bird with someone who has a good camera. To quote the late Vern Laux, “if there’s no photo, it didn’t happen.”
A couple of caveats for November birding: be aware of hunting season! Know where you are. Most of our conservation groups have information and maps online. Know what species are being harvested, and which areas are open and which closed to hunting. Wear reflective clothing. And remember, Nantucket is estimated to have between four and five thousand deer, which is way too many for our small Island. Be respectful of hunters stands and hours. Remember, if there had been no hunters back in the day, there would be no conservation areas.
Photo by Photo by Tom Griswold
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