March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
A recent mystery involved a carving on display at NJ Audubon's Lorrimer Sanctuary.
While I was visiting, sanctuary director Alexa Fantacone gave me a look at a large and ancient collection of taxidermied birds. (Yes, we wore COVID masks and gloves in case any of the birds were preserved with arsenic.)
Some proved to be of value, including several labeled bird skins from the Smithsonian.
Other proved to be mysteries, like this unlabeled young taxidermied shorebird.
What is it?
Assuming this is a species that breeds in New Jersey, favor American Oystercatcher (given the sturdy, dark-appearing bill, although the legs look rather spindly…) over, say, Least Tern or other tern spp.
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Diane
Assuming this is a species that breeds in New Jersey, favor American Oystercatcher (given the sturdy, dark-appearing bill, although the legs look rather spindly…) over, say, Least Tern or other tern spp.