Tiny Bird From Asia Makes First-Ever California Appearance on Google Campus, Draws Crowds

"The outlet reports that the sighting was immediately listed on the eBird list-serve, and word quickly spread. Within a few hours, 40 birders had shown up hoping to catch a glimpse. The next day there were 80 visitors, and over the course of three days, birders from as far as Michigan, New York, and Washington State hopped on planes to capture the tiny celebrity on camera."

"The Mountain View Voice spoke to Matthew Dodder of the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance who said the bird had previously never been spotted in the lower 48 states, and there have only been a few sightings in Alaska. He said the flycatcher likely took a wrong turn when heading south along its usual migratory route from the Siberian region to China or the Himalayas."

"Per the Voice, Google also took part in the flycatcher's big welcome, inviting visitors to upload photos via a QR code. The company also provided parking and refreshments. The last flycatcher sighting was reportedly on Friday evening when birders speculate it either moved somewhere else in the area or left altogether, per the Voice. Perhaps it gained enough respite to get back on its course."

A dark-sided flycatcher, a small brown bird from Asia, veered off-route and spent three days at the nature preserve behind Google's Mountain View campus, marking a California debut. Birders first found it the morning of September 17 at Charleston Retention Basin, a six-acre marsh and nature trail adjacent to the campus. The sighting was posted on eBird, prompting hundreds of visitors over three days, with birders flying in from Michigan, New York, and Washington. Local birding experts noted no prior records in the lower 48 and only a few Alaska records; the bird likely made a wrong turn during southward migration from the Siberian region toward China or the Himalayas. Google invited visitors to upload photos via a QR code and provided parking and refreshments. The bird was last reported Friday evening and may have moved elsewhere or resumed migration. Protected urban preserves can serve as sanctuaries for unexpected wildlife visitors.

Read at sfist.com