MD Osprey:
News from the MD/DC Records Committee ...
We have posted some updates to our web pages. Our web pages can be
found at the following URL ...
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
Some highlights include:
1. Committee Members.
We would like to thank the members that just rotated off of the
committee and thank them for their service; they are Ed Boyd, Paul
Pisano, and Sherman Suter. We would also like to welcome the new
members who just began their three-year terms: Stan Arnold (Glen
Burnie), Paul DeAnna (DC), and Leo Weigant (Severna Park). The
continuing members are Tyler Bell (California, MD), John Hubbell
(DC), George Jett (Waldorf), Ray Kiddy (Cumberland), Ellen Lawler
(Salisbury), and Marcia Watson (Elkton). Paul O'Brien continues as
the Chair, and Phil Davis continues as the Secretary.
2. Changes to the MD Review List:
Brown-headed Nuthatch. Due to northern expansion of the Brown-headed
Nuthatch in Calvert County on the Western Shore and into Kent County
on the Eastern Shore, we changed the reviewable range of this species
(Category 4E) for only birds seen west of the Coastal Plain. Previous
reports for Calvert and Kent counties will still be reviewed, but on
a low priority basis.
Common Raven. Due to continued expansion of this species across the
state, we have removed it from the review list, altogether. Prior
reviewable reports will still be reviewed, but also on a low priority basis.
Franklin's Gull. Last year the committee removed this species from
the review list, but upon reflection, we decided that a sighting of
this species in Western Maryland would more unusual than a Laughing
Gull which is reviewable from this part of the state. Therefore, we
have placed Franklin's Gull back on the MD Review List in category
4D, reviewable if seen west of the Washington/Frederick County line.
Category 4B Clarification. We corrected the definition of Category 4B
(See the MD Review List for specifics).
The new MD Review List is here ...
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/mdreview.pdf
3. Changes to the DC Review List:
Rufous Hummingbird. Due many sightings over the past few years and
the species' "non-reviewable" status in MD, we removed Rufous
Hummingbird from the DC Review List.
The new DC Review List is here ...
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/dcreview.pdf
4. 2007 Annual Meeting Minutes and Annual Business Report. The
committee held its Annual Meeting in early March. The minutes of this
meeting, including our detailed annual business report, are posted on
the web here ...
http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/rcannual2007.pdf
This is long document (> 30 pages) but can probably tell you
everything you (n)ever wanted to know about the committee's current activities.
Some interesting topics are covered in the Appendices. Specifically,
in Appendix 4 is a summary of Ed Boyd's research on unusual inland
movements of Thick-billed Murres in the late 1880s that related to a
MD historical record that the committee reviewed this year.
A preliminary draft review policy dealing with Questionable, Exotic,
and Introduced Species is presented in Appendix 5. This is a
brainstorming white paper that is intended to lead to a more mature
policy next year. Comments are welcome.
Appendix 6 provides the latest news on the committee's quest to
review several Smithsonian Institution specimens of putative Western
Wood-Pewees. We have pursued various approaches regarding these
species over several years; this latest installment involves a DNA
analysis that we requested the Smithsonian to perform.
Thanks to Taylor McLean for posting these updates.
That's it for now. We are always interested in feedback on how we can
better serve the birding community.
Thanks.
Phil
===================================================
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
=================================================== |