Hi MD Osprey:
A reminder ... as of now, there are no accepted records for Cave Swallow in
MD (or DC). Prior to this year, there have been only three reports of Cave
Swallow in Maryland. One was not accepted (1996) and the other two (2002
and 2003) are currently under review by the committee. You can find more
information on these earlier reports in the copy of our MD database that is
posted on the MD/DCRC web pages, on the MOS web site.
I am receiving photos and reports on some of the sightings, but I don't
know yet if all sightings will be documented. So, observers are reminded to
document Cave Swallows whenever and wherever they are found.
"Invasions" like this always create an awkward situation. For example, MD
had not had any White-winged Crossbill reports for over 15 years, so in
1996 the committee added the species to our review list; the very next
winter (1997) we had an invasion and they were everywhere.
Here are a few tips on sighting documentation ...
1. Make field notes or sketches AS SOON AS YOU CAN after the sighting. Time
erases memory. State in your report when you made your raw notes and when
you wrote-up your report. (You may want to submit a copy of your raw notes.)
2. Try to make field notes (and sketches) BEFORE consulting a field guide,
and be sure to state this in your report. Studying a field guide and then
writing a report or making a sketch can unknowingly influence your reporting.
3. DESCRIBE THE ENTIRE BIRD. With rarities, sometimes observers just focus
on the "key" field marks and ignore the rest of the bird. The voting
committee members need to be able to construct a clear vision of the bird
you are describing in their mind. This typically starts with the size of
the bird, what other birds it is similar to, which family the bird is in,
and includes all aspects of the bird.
4. If you cannot take photos, MAKE A SKETCH. Even if your artistic ability
is very lacking (like mine), you can still covey much information about a
sighting and eliminate many ambiguities with even a rudimentary sketch.
5. Finally, the committee needs to be able to ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES. It
is most helpful if you can write-up specifically how you eliminated similar
species, so that the committee can follow your logic. This part of a report
is sometimes prepared or augmented after a sighting in a post-observation
or "analysis" section of your report that includes research from field
guides and other reference material.
If you have never documented a rarity, please give it a shot; typically it
will improve your observational abilities.
On our MD/DCRC web site (URL below), there is related information on the
documentation process, including some documentation checklists and articles.
Thanks.
Phil
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Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
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