DNA confirms Acadian Flycatcher ID!

Below is a copy of an e-mail I received from Professor Jon Martin Collinson, Professor in Genetics at the University of Aberdeen, explaining the process he used to confirm the Acadian Flycatchers identity. 

When the fecal sample arrived at University of Aberdeen we digested it using enzymes to make a soup of the bird’s DNA and then used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reaction to make enough of the mitochondrial DNA for sequencing. The problem with poo samples is that the DNA is rapidly degraded into tiny fragments, so the normal PCRs we use to isolate big pieces of DNA from feathers often do not work, and true to form they did not work for the Dungeness bird.  We therefore designed a PCR protocol that would allow us to sequence small fragments of the DNA mitochondrial cytb gene from any Empidonax species.  The sequence we got was fed into the online database of every bird that has ever been sequenced and was identical to 3 of the 4 individuals of Acadian Flycatcher from USA and Mexico that were in there, and 1 base pair different from the fourth bird,. In contrast all other species of Empidonax, including Alder and Willow, were at least 8-9% different.  On this basis, we can say with 100% confidence that the Dungeness bird was genetically an Acadian Flycatcher.

Many thanks Professor Collinson for processing the sample so quickly.

Most of my weekend has been tied with domestic stuff. On Saturday I did manage to see c10 Continental Coal Tits, 8 Firecrests, many Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs, 5 Wheatears and 2 Black Redstarts of note around The Point. Elsewhere around the peninsular 6+ Great White Egrets and a Cattle Egret on the reserve. Scotney had c100 Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, a Ruff among the feral Geese. Yellow Wagtails and Hobby at Dengemarsh per DB and Jack Snipe at the ARC per CE.

Late this afternoon a Jay came in over the old lighthouse. Off the fishing  a drake Eider was drifting off shore also a Guillemot, 36 Brent Geese flew west as did 6 Teal, a few Gannets and Sandwich Terns were tooing and froing. 

 Eider Scarce at Dungeness.

 Guillemot

I only put this on as it is the first of the autumn for me.