MD Osprey:
The MD/DC Records Committee (MD/DCRC) has been conducting a
multi-year canvass to locate previously unknown MD and DC historical
records of rare birds species and subspecies. This canvass is being
conducted as a series of discrete "projects," each focusing on a
source of historical bird records. One of the largest projects deals
with mining data from the Bird Banding Lab database for historical MD
and DC rare bird records and then comparing the results to the
existing contents of the MD/DCRC database. After many years, this
project is nearing completion and a detailed report has been
generated to capture the results of our investigations.
The report is posted on the following web page ...
http://mddcrc-resources.posterous.com/mddcrc-bird-banding-lab-database-report
Warning: this is not light reading - it is a summary of the research
methodology and results, organized primarily as species accounts. The
basic report (in PDF format) runs approximately 100 pages, with
another 50 pages of appendices.
When the BBL concurs with the BBL database errors cited in this
report, a final version of this report will be produced that
basically changes the tense of the related text to indicate that the
BBL database changes have been made.
The following is an extract from the Executive Summary:
Summary of Findings
Rarity Records Discovered. A total of 189 apparently valid BBL
banding records and encounter reports of interest, that were
consistent with MD/DCRC review criteria, were identified and
researched during this project. Many of these items of interest were
"new" (i.e., previously unknown) to the MD/DCRC.
Existing MD/DCRC Reports and Records. Of the 189 total BBL reports of
interest, 84 related to reports and records that were already known
by the MD/DCRC. The corresponding banding schedules were located,
copied, and added to the MD/DCRC files. Any new data items uncovered
were added to the corresponding MD/DCRC data records.
Reports and Records New to the MD/DCRC. Of the 189 total BBL reports,
105 items were "new," or previously unknown, to the MD/DCRC. Some of
these discovered BBL database records (mostly from BBL "encounter"
records) initially indicated potential as new MD/DCRC records. Some
of these BBL potential records included the following: a California
Gull encountered in MD but banded as a young bird in SK, hence a
likely albertaensis; an early Great Cormorant (1977) from St Mary's
County; inland Brown Pelicans; two Mottled Ducks that were banded at
Poplar Island (Talbot County), MD; an early (1969) Ross's Goose, a
Greater White-fronted Goose encountered in MD that was banded in SK,
hence a likely frontalis/gambelli); several Trumpeter Swans, a 1987
Sandhill Crane that was banded in FL; a 1970 White-winged Dove that
was banded in Mexico; a banded Prairie Falcon that was intentionally
released in 1950; a Western Kingbird that was collected in 1956; a
1952 Black-billed Magpie; many Bewick's Wren bandings; and several
Carolina Chickadees that were banded in Allegany County. Of these 105
new candidates, approximate 48 proved to be valid, with the remaining
either shown to be errors or dead-ends in terms of locating any
supporting documentation.
BBL Database Errors Discovered. A total of 144 BBL database errors,
mostly due to banding schedule logging mistakes, were detected and
flagged for BBL database corrections. BBL database species that were
indicated to have been banded in MD/DC but were shown to be in error
include the following: Smooth-billed Ani, Red-shafted Flicker, Gilded
Flicker, Say's Phoebe, Western Flycatcher, Bronzed Cowbird, Lesser
Goldfinch, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed
Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Yellow-green Vireo, Tropical Parula,
Olive Warbler, American Dipper, Le Conte's Thrasher, and Mountain Bluebird.
Phil
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Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
301-261-0184
mailto:<PDavis...>
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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