FW: Re[2]: Common Gull Identification Issues

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>     Kathy Klimkiewicz writes 

>     I do feel that the Records Committee takes more into consideration 
>     than how one writes and photographs are certainly very useful -- I 
>     encourage all who have photos to submit them to the records committee. 
>     Also, the committee even has meetings at the Smithsonian to review 
>     plumages etc. (although it will be closed for about a year). Please 
>     give this Committee credit for using more than writing style to make 
>     decisions.

Well, certainly the Records committee can gain evidence from as many observers as possible and compare that evidence to texts, and papers, and specimens. But I still hold firm that all they are doing is comparing known facts to the evidence submitted. Without the evidence what is there to prove the sightings to future generations of birders after we have all past on ? 

If the quality of the evidence is poor (i.e. writing style), in the lack of photographs or sketches the records committee will not be convinced. This is proper, and I believe making conservative decisions is what a records committee should do. This is the point I was trying to make.  If poor evidence is submitted then committee's decision may have nothing to do with whether the sighting was valid.

I have problems with making decisions based on who the birder is, in the lack of evidence since a future generation of birders may not remember who that person was, or what his or her skill lever was.  I don't know of an instance where this has happened on the MD/DC Records Committee, so this is a theoretical statement only. 

I brought this up in support of Jim's right to question an ID, since the Records Committee was referred to in that message. If they had not been mentioned in that message, I would not have said nothing.

Now, as far as photographs are concerned.  Photographs are the legal property of the photographer.  You only need the photographer's permission to post a photo to the Internet.  I say, identify the photographer, date, time and place and put it out there for all to see.  If the photo is invalid, guess what, we're not shy, and we'll say so.

Good Birding,

Darius Ecker (dariuse@abs.net)

Columbia, Maryland
 

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