The Black Skimmer occurs casually in southern Arizona, primarily in summer. These birds are strays from populations to the south. This juvenile bird, discovered by Dennis Paulson, offered proof of its origin when the band was read in the above photo. It was banded as a nestling at the south end of the Salton Sea on 19 August 2005 by Kathy Molina. A different juvenile banded in the same vicinity strayed to New Mexico later the same year. There are at least seven prior accepted records for AZ, including two in Maricopa. -- Mark Stevenson