Just to elaborate a bit on Jim's post ...
The editors of the North American Birds Mid-Atlantic regional report and
the editors of the Maryland Birdlife "The Seasons" report have a defined
period of time to work with before production deadlines. They essentially
serve as a one-person records committee, deciding what to "accept" and what
to report their respective articles. The MD/DC Records Committee (MD/DCRC)
has the "luxury" of not dealing with a fixed a time frame. Sometimes it
takes, literally, years to coax and cajole known documentation from all of
the observers of "reviewable" sightings. Another difference between the
seasonal report editors and the records committee is that the records
committee substitutes a committee of nine people in place of a single
editor. Also, the records committee has very defined voting processes for
accepting reports and records, Generally, a record is not accepted unless
the vote is 9-0 or 8-1 after all of the voting rounds, which can be as many
a four. The MD/DCRC species records form the "Official List of the Birds
of Maryland" and the "Official List of the Birds of the District of
Columbia," as sanctioned by the Maryland Ornithological Society. Due to
various reasons, sometimes, the committee will not accept reports that have
been published in the seasonal reports and, conversely, sometimes the
committee will accept reports that were not published by the seasonal
editors (or were not reported to them or were reported after the fact).
Personally, I think the mesh of systems serves the birding community well,
the regional reports are more timely and deal with early/late records,
large numbers of birds, breeding, interesting behaviors, and provide an
important editorial service; the records committee provides a slower, more
deliberative approach to archiving critical MD and DC avifauna records.
The committee invites local birders to pursue our web pages, on the MOS web
site at this URL ...
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
On the web site, you will find the Official List, the Review List (of
species for which documentation should be submitted), our procedures,
sighting report/documentation guidelines, and many other documents.
As Jim Stasz mentions, the key to all of this working is the diligent
reporting of field sightings.
Thanks.
Phil
At 16:30 03/08/2005, Jim Stasz wrote:
>
>Posts to MD Osprey are a major source of reports. A report is simply an
>observer noting that such-and-such a species was seen at a certain place
>on a specified date. The Maryland/District of Columbia Records Committee
>(MD/DCRC) reviews some reports. If a report is approved, it becomes
>a "record". Phil Davis noted that the MD/DCRC does not review out of
>season reports. George Jett has raised a valid question: "Who reviews out
>of season reports?"
>
>The simple answer is: "No one." However, things are rarely simple. As
>the former Secretary for the Mid-Atlantic Region for Audubon Field Notes
>it was my job to compile a complete database of reports. The seasonal
>database formed the basic information for creating the summaries prepared
>by the Regional Editor. To create a seasonal file all postings to MD
>Osprey, VA-Birds, DE-Birds and PABirds were read and the data transcribed
>to a computer file. Some observers sent supplemental lists or computer
>files to be included within the database. No editing of any kind was done
>to create the database. The database is a compilation of reports, not
>records. If anyone ever looks at the database, they will see numerous
>reports that are obviously wrong along with many that will provoke some
>thought.
>
>An observation is elevated from a "report" to a "record" when it is
>formally published. As part of the team that produced the last "Yellow
>Book", each team member went through all reports and decided which would
>be elevated to records; the group then decided which to include. The
>editors of "The Season Report" and "North American Birds" perform the same
>function on a regular basis.
>
>Out of season or away from normal location reports are always of interest;
>however, many observers fail to provide adequate information to allow an
>editor to easily accept the sighting. In many instances, an editor will
>base a choice to accept a report simply because the observer is known to
>be aware of what is unusual and takes special care in confirming an
>identification before reporting. Doubts arise when a species is reported
>out of season or out of its normal geographic range and the report fails
>to note the unusual occurrence. Postings to MD Osprey should be as
>complete as possible in providing additional information about the sighting.
>
>The first review of any out of season/away from normal location report
>must be done by the observer.
===================================================
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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