Discussing Bird ID and MD/DC Records Committee
Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)
Thu, 12 Feb 1998 06:52:20 -0500
I can't think of a more appropriate place to discuss the identification of a difficult bird than MDOSPREY, or any Bird Club Meeting. I suggest we all continue.
Now, the MD/DC Records Committee's offers an opinion based solely on the quality of your documentation. All of us write differently, and documentation quality is varied. So I propose that even the records committee's opinion may be wrong. Of course, there are ways to reduce error, by using multiple opinions within the committee, by trying to error on the side of conservatism, and by viewing documentation from multiple birders. But still, to suggest that their decision is Law is just bull (no offense meant to committee members).
In the case of the Common Gull, I'd love to take this opportunity to thank all those who scrutinized the id, both privately and online.
Good Birding,
Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)
Columbia, Maryland