Had another look at the passerine (2:08-2:10). As I said earlier, it's a
Locustella. However, since not all field marks are visible to tell all species
of that genus apart, I have to include Pallas's and Middendorf's Grasshopper
Warbler (two Asian Locustella species) to the potential candidates. Doesn't
really matter as none of them occur in Yellowstone!
And yes, it is a bit nerdy to try to correctly ID the mis-IDs but it tells you
somewhat with how much care this video was put together and that it is always
good to gather more information.
Nikolas
----------------
Nikolas Haass
Brisbane, QLD
________________________________
From: Nikolas Haass <>
To: Jim Tate <>; Colin R <>;
"" <>
Sent: Saturday, April 5, 2014 9:05 AM
Subject: A vote for conservation...
Hi Jim,
Yes, I agree that generalizing (of the big picture of this story) is somewhat
misleading and sometimes even counterproductive.
I agree that they should have called the Elk Elk.
No, it's not a Warbling Vireo. Neither jizz, nor bill shape, nor facial
pattern, nor bill movement during song fit Warbling Vireo. Unfortunately, the
video doesn't have the song and doesn't show that Locustella-style undertail
coverts...
Cheers,
Nikolas
----------------
Nikolas Haass
Brisbane, QLD
________________________________
From: Jim Tate <>
To: Nikolas Haass <>; Colin R <>;
"" <>
Sent: Saturday, April 5, 2014 5:12 AM
Subject: A vote for conservation...
If you choose to say any member of the Cervidae (deer family) is a deer, then
the Moose (1:56-1:58 ) is also a deer. I kinda wish the narrator would have
said "Elk", instead of generalizing for this popularized video.
The bird at 2:08-2:10 is probably a Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) the only
vireo that regularly nests in Yellowstone. I can almost hear its song in the
picture (a rapid warbling song with a accented, high-pitched last note: "If I
sees you, I will seize you, and I'll squeeze you till you squirt!") - go to
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/warbling_vireo/sounds.
Going to the bigger picture, I feel like the video generalized the pluses of
predator reintroduction and may be somewhat misleading to the uninformed
public. This what we used to call "Gee Whiz Biology." Here are a couple of
the best articles on Trophic Cascades at Yellowstone:
http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/04-0953
http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.2307/1941684
Yeah, I enjoyed the video, and sent it on to some of my friends. Thank you,
Colin R., for sharing. -TATE
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