Biggest feather in your cap/bragging point

birdsandbats said:
Mallard x American Wigeon is a well-known hybrid with many documented records. Why do you think Baikal Teal is involved in that last bird?
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Sorry about the M x AW. I didn't know about that though I suppose it is the first documented record in Japan. The Baikal Teal is definitely involved, because the black lining on the head and light yellow shades represent only Baikal Teal out of the Waterfowl that come to Japan.
 
Dr. Wolverine said:
Sorry about the M x AW. I didn't know about that though I suppose it is the first documented record in Japan. The Baikal Teal is definitely involved, because the black lining on the head and light yellow shades represent only Baikal Teal out of the Waterfowl that come to Japan.
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Are you sure the first one is even a hybrid? It just looks like a Mallard to me.
 
birdsandbats said:
Are you sure the first one is even a hybrid? It just looks like a Mallard to me.
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Yes, it is. It was in the middle of a flock of Mallards and you could tell (though not very obvious from the photo) that the green only covered part of the head, and the eyes were white suggesting a genetic issue.
 
Dr. Wolverine said:
Ok, so recently I just saw what may be the first-ever record of two hybrid ducks
Mallard and American Wigeon hybrid

American Wigeon x Mallard Hybrid ~ Karuizawa

American Wigeon x Mallard Hybrid ~ Karuizawa


Mallard, Spot Billed Duck, and Baikal Teal hybrid.

Spot Billed Duck x Mallard Hybrid ~ Arisugawa Park

Spot Billed Duck x Mallard Hybrid ~ Arisugawa Park

Saw this guy in a flock of Spot-billed ducks in my local park.
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For clarification, these statements of parentage are you just guessing at what the birds are based on appearance, correct?
 
Chlidonias said:
For clarification, these statements of parentage are you just guessing at what the birds are based on appearance, correct?
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Isn't that the only way to identify hybrids in the field?

FBBird said:
I don’t think it is! Looks to me like a straight Mallard x Spotbill, with just a suggestion of the bridled face pattern seen on many hybrid ducks.
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I am positive that there was Baikal Teal in its genetics, the faded black lines on the head and the light yellow's positioning are almost identical to Baikal teal. I know how Mallard and Spot-Billed Duck hybrids look, and this is different. Of course, I am not saying this as a fact, and I am open to your idea that this is a mallard and Spot-billed duck hybrid. I am still convinced that this hybrid includes Baikal teal, but I am starting to doubt myself.
 
Dr. Wolverine said:
Isn't that the only way to identify hybrids in the field?
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But you are presenting the IDs as confirmed when you are just making guesses.

Dr. Wolverine said:
Of course, I am not saying this as a fact...
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You absolutely were presenting these as facts, e.g.:
"The Baikal Teal is definitely involved, because the black lining on the head and light yellow shades represent only Baikal Teal out of the Waterfowl that come to Japan."

And on this photo: Baikal Teal x Spot Billed Duck x Mallard Hybrid ~ Arisugawa Park - ZooChat
"Saw this guy in a flock of Spot-billed ducks in my local park. I messaged Ebird to add this combination because apparently, this is the first-ever sighting of this triple hybrid combination. The best part is that its genetics include a Baikal teal, which is really scarce in the Tokyo area."
 
The "Mallard x Spot-bill x Baikal" hybrid photo in question looks to be well within bounds for the known hybrid of Mallard x Eastern Spot-billed looking through Ebird photos. Hybrids of Baikal with either Mallard or Spot-billed are apparently completely unknown as far as Ebird is concerned at least, so claiming a triple hybrid when the bird falls within the parameters of a known hybrid is a bad call. As others have said, various waterfowl hybrids are known to result in Baikal-like facial patterns.
Mallard x Eastern Spot-billed Duck (hybrid) - Anas platyrhynchos x zonorhyncha - Media Search - Macaulay Library and eBird
 
Chlidonias said:
But you are presenting the IDs as confirmed when you are just making guesses.


You absolutely were presenting these as facts, e.g.:
"The Baikal Teal is definitely involved, because the black lining on the head and light yellow shades represent only Baikal Teal out of the Waterfowl that come to Japan."

And on this photo: Baikal Teal x Spot Billed Duck x Mallard Hybrid ~ Arisugawa Park - ZooChat
"Saw this guy in a flock of Spot-billed ducks in my local park. I messaged Ebird to add this combination because apparently, this is the first-ever sighting of this triple hybrid combination. The best part is that its genetics include a Baikal teal, which is really scarce in the Tokyo area."
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Tetzoo Quizzer said:
It is well documented that the Baikal Teal head pattern frequently emerges in hybrids and is not necessarily indicative of Baikal ancestry.
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Great Argus said:
The "Mallard x Spot-bill x Baikal" hybrid photo in question looks to be well within bounds for the known hybrid of Mallard x Eastern Spot-billed looking through Ebird photos. Hybrids of Baikal with either Mallard or Spot-billed are apparently completely unknown as far as Ebird is concerned at least, so claiming a triple hybrid when the bird falls within the parameters of a known hybrid is a bad call. As others have said, various waterfowl hybrids are known to result in Baikal-like facial patterns.
Mallard x Eastern Spot-billed Duck (hybrid) - Anas platyrhynchos x zonorhyncha - Media Search - Macaulay Library and eBird
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I’m sorry. I didn’t know about hybrids resulting in baikal teal head patterns.

@Chlidonias you are right. I guess I was overconfident, and I didn’t realize that my text sounded that way. I don’t want to make this a conflict. I’m sorry that I was overconfident when I didn’t know the whole thing. In the future I will try not to assume and be overconfident without any real facts. Please forgive me for the trouble I caused on this thread.
 
Dr. Wolverine said:
Ok, so recently I just saw what may be the first-ever record of two hybrid ducks
Mallard and American Wigeon hybrid

American Wigeon x Mallard Hybrid ~ Karuizawa

American Wigeon x Mallard Hybrid ~ Karuizawa


Mallard, Spot Billed Duck, and Baikal Teal hybrid.

Spot Billed Duck x Mallard Hybrid ~ Arisugawa Park

Spot Billed Duck x Mallard Hybrid ~ Arisugawa Park

Saw this guy in a flock of Spot-billed ducks in my local park.
Click to expand...
I think if this bird had any Baikal teal ancestry there would be more differences and 'teal' characteristics in the plumage or body shape. Its very much completely a Mallard-type in body shape and bill though. I'd say that excludes any Baikal teal ancestry. Not sure I've heard of three-way hybrids in ducks before either.
 
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StoppableSan said:
saw more wild Indian rhinos/Indian elephants/wild water buffalo/hog deer/sambar than you could shake a stick at at Kaziranga National Park,
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Amazing place isn't it...saw our first rhino within minutes of entering the park, and many more afterward. I think its equal to some of the African Parks as far as wealth of visible species is concerned.
 
Torgos said:
That's excellent! Badge of honor. I hugged Sumatran rhino Harapan at Whiteoak in 2009. Seen here with a friend and myself. Zoo career highlight.View attachment 681763
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I think anyone who has had close contact with a Sumatran rhino holds that as their top 'prize' memory. My own was with one of the Port Lympne ones 'Torgamba'. I know I'll never see another one.

Others; holding a Kakapo. Seeing Sperm Wales. Finally seeing Spix Macaw- after very many years. Seeing Basel breeding gorillas for the first time in 1960's.
 
In 1993 I passed all of the modules ,including working at Dudley zoo as an honoury zoo keeper completing the Zoo Animal Management course. The course normally takes 2 to.21/2 years, I worked my socks off working till late at night, every night for 11 months and because I finished it so quickly, I sat the final exam on my own at Twycross .My family were very proud of me as gained double distinction in all modules which made me the highest scoring student for 2 years .At the time I was working full time at the University of Birmingham, Biosciences department
 
Dr. Wolverine said:
Saw small-tooth sandtiger shark at Hakkeijima Sea paradise. Im pretty sure im the only zoochatter to have ever seen one. I looked it up on the site, and apperantly no one has ever even mentioned the species on here before.
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Damn, that’s a hell of a feather for a shark guy and taxonomy nerd like me! Are they still there, and do you have any pictures?

For my own answer to the actual thread question, I would say
  • seeing two of the Monterey Bay Aquarium great whites (2006 and 2007)
  • managing to view both the bull shark (2006) and tiger shark (2009) at Aquarium of the Pacific
  • cage diving in the Georgia Aquarium’s Sharks: Predators of the Deep exhibit
  • seeing a spinner shark at SeaWorld Orlando, which may be one of one or perhaps a handful worldwide
Maybe not crazy impressive on the whole/considering everyone here, but I’m proud of em. :)
 
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Dr. Wolverine said:
Sadly I don’t think they have it anymore as it was back in 2022. I think it survived for a couple months.
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Damn, still good to know. I did see your photos and your video haha, nice work! It’s fascinating that they actually tried holding one even for a short time. I would wager it would have done even better in a truly specialized tank, but obviously that’s not always possible. Still so cool that you got to see it.
 
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