August 10, 2004 Katama Airport, Martha’s Vineyard. Photo by J. Trimble.
August 10, 2004 Katama Airport, Martha’s Vineyard. Photo by J. Trimble.
1 records
| MARC number | Decision | Species | # | Location | County | Arrival | Departure | Observers | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-015 | A | Red-footed Falcon | 1 | Katama Airport | Dukes | 8/10/2004 | 8/24/2004 | Vernon Laux, Jeremiah Trimble | 9 |
A Eurasian breeder that that winters in southern Africa, Red-footed Falcon had never been reported in the Americas prior to this report. The bird was initially identified as a Mississippi Kite, but was quickly correctly identified from photographs, which precipitated an onslaught of birders to the Katama Air Park on Martha’s Vineyard. For details about the two-week stay of this avian celebrity, see Bird Observer, Vol. 32, No. 6. Although captive origin of the bird was considered, it was ultimately dismissed as a consideration since the insectivorous Red-footed Falcon is unsuitable for falconry and rarely kept in captivity.
In addition, the bird received heavy coverage in the national media, along with the discoverer, Vern Laux, being named “Person of the Week” by ABC News