Keep at least six feet apart.  Avoid crowds.  Wash hands often and thoroughly.  Most importantly WEAR A MASK!!  So simple but with a narcissistic sociopath in the White House who is incapable of recognizing the feelings of others and who politicizes everything, far too many people do not accept the science of prevention or care not about others and within the next few days, more than 150,000 Americans will have died from COVID-19.  Thousands of deaths could have been avoided.

To recognize the importance of the MASK, this post recalls my experiences with masks in the avian world and also wishes for some others – just as I wish that we could bond together and simply put on our masks for all of humanity.  (I include only the species which begin with “masked”.)

My first “masked” bird was a Masked Booby, one of many seen on Loggerhead Key in the Dry Tortugas on April 29 1978.  The next Masked Boobies I saw were at the very same place exactly 39 years later on April 29, 2017.  The first two photos are from that second visit – some of the more than 50 individuals seen.  This species is regularly seen there.  It is far less common in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego where I saw one on August 19, 2018.

Masked Boobies – Loggerhead Key, Florida – April 29, 2017

Masked Booby – San Diego Pelagic – August 19, 2018

In April 1997, I visited Costa Rica with my family and at the Tiskita Jungle Lodge, I added Masked Tityra to my world list.  I would see this species again in 2005 in Brazil, 2010 in Belize and 2013 in Peru.

Masked Tityra

In 2003 I was able to visit Australia and on September 8th found my lifer Masked Lapwing at Toowomba.

Masked Lapwing

In 2013 I traveled to Peru and added three more masked birds to my World List: a Masked Yellowthroat on November 4, 2013 and then a Masked Flowerpiercer and a Masked Trogon on November 13, 2013.

Masked Yellowthroat – Photo by Mariano Ordonez

Masked Flowerpiercer – Photo by Andres Vasquez

Masked Trogon – Photo by Nigel Voaden

So my life list of “masked” birds stands at 6.  The Clements Checklist of World Birds includes 24 such species.  I guess I have a long way to go.  But until I get there, I will simply list them here and thank them for “wearing” their masks.

Masked Antpitta	Masked Finfoot	Masked Saltator
Masked Apalis	Masked Flowerpiercer	Masked Shining-Parrot
Masked Booby	Masked Fruiteater	Masked Shrike
Masked Bowerbird	Masked Gnatcatcher	Masked Tanager
Masked Cardinal	Masked Lapwing	Masked Tityra
Masked Crimson Tanager	Masked Lark	Masked Trogon
Masked Duck	Masked Laughingthrush	Masked Water-Tyrant
Masked Finch	Masked Mountain-Tanager	Masked Woodswallow

Many of these birds are spectacular and I would love to add them to my world list of observations and maybe even get a photo.  Hopefully I will not have to wear a mask when/if I do.  But if so, I would certainly do so.  Here are three examples.

Masked Bowerbird

Masked Crimson Tanager

Masked Finfoot

My masked mania will end with the one “masked” bird that is at least a possibility in the ABA area – a Masked Duck – maybe in Texas some day.

Masked Duck

If these guys can do it with their simple “bird brains”, we all can.  Do it for yourself, your friends, families and all of humanity.  “PLEASE, WEAR A MASK!”