[texbirds] Re: Amazing November to remember for Texas Birds
- From: Keith Arnold <kbarnold2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Eric Carpenter <ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 11:55:30 -0600
Echoing Eric's comments, I would much rather have 25 submissions to read
than one, even on a record of an easily-identified bird with excellent
photos! For more difficult ID's, I'd like every photo available; as a
friend told me decades ago, you never know which photo might have the
clincher for the ID!
Keith Arnold
Academician, TBRC
On Mon, Dec 1, 2014 at 11:42 AM, Eric Carpenter <ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Fred is correct that not all these records have been accepted by the
> Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC). In order for a sighting to be
> accepted, there must first be observers willing and able to submit
> details on what they saw/heard and perhaps photographed. For the
> blitz of exciting birds found in the state in the last 10 days, I can
> count the number of submissions voluntarily sent into me so far on one
> hand. I realize folks have probably had a busy holiday week and are
> perhaps still recovering but there is no time like the present to
> recall/write down the details & experiences that certainly fade over
> time. Assuming that documentation is a task for someone else since
> "everybody saw that one" is a common thought but I think you can see
> what might happen (and often does) if everyone thinks the same way.
>
> For many of these species, a photo is worth a 1000 words but it is
> sometimes the written word(s) submitted with those photos that tell
> the story. With the recent Red-legged Honeycreeper, I have seen
> photos that leave no doubt about the identity but there has been much
> discussion about the provenance/origin question that folks like the
> TBRC must render a judgement on. For those of you that saw the bird
> at Estero Llano Grande SP the past few days, it would be quite useful
> to have your words as some of you might have careful
> considered/watched/noted the bird's behavior and feather wear, etc as
> you perhaps tried to answer this question for yourself.
>
> Many of you may be nervous about submitting reports because you are
> not really sure what to submit. A good article on what rare bird
> documentation is can be found at:
>
> http://greglasley.com/document.html
>
> Sample rare bird report forms can be round here:
>
> http://texasbirds.org/tbrc/forms.htm
>
> The TBRC does not require the form per-se but it gives you an idea of
> the types of questions/details that are helpful for these kinds of
> records.
>
> Should you have any questions about this, feel free to send me a note
> and I'll try to answer as best I can.
>
> Reports, photos and recordings can all be sent to me at
> <ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx>. I try to spend a fair amount of time digging
> through eBird and the various (and numerous) online forums were these
> sightings and photos are posted and discussed but don't always find
> all the significant details that way. I would be thankful for each of
> you who are able to take the time to send details to me rather than
> hoping I happen upon them in my searching.
>
> On behalf of the TBRC, your efforts to help document some of these
> incredible rarities to make them more than just great memories is
> truly appreciated!
>
> --Eric
>
> --
> Eric Carpenter
> Secretary, Texas Bird Records Committee (TBRC) (
> http://texasbirds.org/tbrc/)
> ecarpe@xxxxxxxxx
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 1, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Collins, Fred (Commissioner Pct. 3)
> <Fred_Collins@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > 2014 will likely go down as a record year for new birds added to the
> state list of Texas. Since 2009 only five new birds were added in those
> five years ignoring taxonomic splits.
> > However, in 2014 we added Bar-tailed Godwit and then came November:
> Common Crane, Gray-crowned Rosy-finch, Red-legged Honeycreeper, and Pacific
> Wren. The year also produced second records for White-cheeked Pintail,
> Collared Plover and Slaty-backed Gull. November also produced the 7th
> record for American Dipper. And of course this was an eruption year like
> none previous for Brown Booby in Texas.
> >
> > Granted, these birds have not been accepted by the Texas Bird Record
> Committee but extraordinary sighting by any measure. All have been well
> documented with good photographs but questions will still be debated as to
> origin and recorded calls.
> >
> > With 30 days left and the "Patagonia Picnic Table" effect working in the
> Panhandle, Guadalupe Mountains, and the Valley who knows what may turn up
> as winter deepens. As an example of that effect, the Pacific Wren reported
> in McKittrick Canyon led to a second visitor who found American Dipper. A
> third birder in search of these two birds had a possible Black-Capped
> Chickadee. The chickadee would also be a second record and the first record
> in 130 years! Certainly there is movement of birds from the Rocky
> Mountains. There is also movement from the Northeast because of early and
> excessive snows. E-Bird maps indicate a strong movement of Tree Sparrow in
> the NE and I wonder if that was the origin of Ron Weeks' bird at Sabine
> Woods.
> >
> > But too I wonder if all the new birds are simply a reflection of the
> growing ranks and increased sophistication of birders within the state.
> Perhaps the bar has been raised and perhaps the best is yet to come. Either
> way, this winter should be some of the best birding ever in Texas.
> >
> > Fred Collins, Director
> > Kleb Woods Nature Center
> > 20303 Draper Road,Tomball TX 77377
> > 281-357-5324
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