Here is the list of Ten Best birds, presented at the Fall 2000 meeting of the Kansas Ornithological Society by Gene Young.

10 - Wood Stork – This juvenile bird was found at the duck ponds in Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City on June 19, 2000. A report was sent to the KBRC on June 19 by Dan Baffa, and on June 20 by Chet Gresham, accompanied by video from Mark Corder.

9 - Calliope Hummingbird invasion – Too numerous to mention. Reports were submitted to the KBRC by Mark Corder for a bird in Pawnee County (8/9-8/12/2000). Mike Rader submitted reports for birds in Haskell County (8/21) and Stevens County (8/22). Leonard Rich submitted a report for a bird in Finney County (7/28). All of these records are under consideration by the KBRC at the present time. There were lots of others reported on the KSBIRD list. If you would like to submit a report for any of the other Calliope Hummingbirds seen this summer and fall, we would welcome it. Instructions, printable forms, and even an online report form can be found on the KOS website.

8 - Pyrrhuloxia – Two reports of this southwestern species were received by the KBRC. Joyce Davis observed an adult male in Dodge City on May 1, and Lou Winterfield of Mesa Arizona reported an adult female at Quivira NWR on May 24. Both of these records were submitted to the KBRC.

7 - Cassin's Finch – This species has been reported on the KSBIRD List several times in September and October 2000. No reports have been submitted to the KBRC to date. If you would like to submit a report for any of the Cassin's Finches seen in KS this year, we would welcome it. Instructions, printable forms, and even an online report form can be found on the KOS website.

6 - Pygmy Nuthatch – A bird was reported from Rush County on Sept 10, 2000 on the KSBIRD list. Another was seen in Morton County, and reported on the KSBIRD list on Sept. 23. No report has been received by the KBRC for either of these birds. If you would like to dust off your field notes and submit a report, see the paragraphs above for instructions.

5 – Williamsons Sapsucker – Reported on the KSBIRD list on Sept. 23, apparently seen by "many observers." No report has been received by the KBRC at the time of this writing (Oct. 11, 2000). Since this bird is on the state checklist on the basis of a single record in 1935, it is hoped that at least one of these "many observers" could find the time to submit a report to the KBRC. Instructions are found above. (Is this sounding like a broken record yet?)

4 – Long-billed Thrasher – This species was reported from Morton County (shelterbelt north of the Elkhart Cemetery), the sighting date was June 2, 2000. The KBRC received a report from James Barnes on June 11, 2000.

3 - Painted Redstart – C. Fred Zeillemaker and his wife Melly (of Ola, Idaho) were passing through Quivira on April 5, 2000 when they saw this bird. The Zeillemakers had just spent a couple of weeks in SE Arizona and were quite familiar with the bird. However, attempts to elicit interest from refuge staff for assistance in corroborating this sighting were unsuccessful. Attempts by several KS birders to find the bird the next day were unsuccessful. A report was received by the KBRC on April 6, 2000. This, coupled with the Pyrrhuloxia report noted above, indicates that, out-of-state birders can find our website, and can successfully report a rare bird. If accepted this would be the first record of this species for the state.

2 - Juniper Titmouse – Sighted by Scott Seltman, Mike Rader, and Ted Cable in Morton County (Sept. 30) and reported on the KSBIRD list by Seltman on Oct. 1. Sebastian Patti saw the bird again on Oct. 7, and this was reported by Seltman on the KSBIRD list on Oct. 8. The Juniper Titmouse was a recent addition to the AOU list, resulting from a split of the Plain Titmouse into Juniper and Oak Titmouses. No report has been received by the KBRC at the time of this writing (October 11, 2000). If reported and accepted this would be a first record of this species in Kansas.

1 - Flammulated Owl – Seen on May 20, 2000 by Sebastian Patti, Alexis Powell, Mike Rader and Scott Seltman at the USFS Work Station at the Cimarron National Grasslands in Morton County. A report was received by the KBRC on August 21, 2000.If accepted, this record of Flammulated Owl would be the first state record for this southwestern species.


This writer has long held that the adjective "best" is very subjective and depends upon individual values, and has suggested substituting the adjective "rarest", which is at least more quantifiable. It is pretty clear from the list above that "best" certainly means "rarest" in this context, since the top three birds have never been seen in the state before. However, this writer was voted down on that suggestion ("Best Birds" is at least easier to roll off the tongue), and the practice persists. But at least you know where I stand.

Updated 10/11/2000 by Dave Rintoul, Secretary of the Kansas Bird Records Committee