The best way to record the absence of a bird, and make the data 
available to scientists, is to submit sightings to eBird.  If you submit 
"complete" checklists, i.e. of all birds seen at a location, eBird 
records that as failure to observe a species not listed.

EBird is already providing useful data to scientists, but it could be 
even better.  Unfortunately, the majority of birders aren't using it 
even though it's one of the best pieces of listing software I know of 
(and certainly the best free listing software).  In Carrol County, for 
example, only 36 birders have submitted complete checklists this year, 
and only 10 have submitted five or more.  I know there's a lot more 
birding going on there.

As for Golden-wings at Finzel, you can check out the eBird reports at 
this link (sorry about the length):  
http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&speciesCodes=gowwar&getLocations=hotspots&hotspots=L454769&bYear=2010&eYear=2010&bMonth=1&eMonth=12&reportType=species&parentState=US-MD

You can see that as of today there have been three eBird reports of GWWA 
at Finzel this year.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland
PLEASE REPORT YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS to http://ebird.org/

On 6/7/2010 9:04 PM, Gerald & Laura Tarbell wrote:
> I think that if there is a common thread here between my post on Sunday re:
> my missing Kentuckies and the current discussion about missing Wood Thrush,
> it is that birders need to be as much aware of what birds are not present as
> well as reporting the ones we do see and hear. Sometimes I think this list
> becomes a bit tedious with detailed reports of what somebody saw and heard
> right down to the common birds that are always everywhere. Personally I tend
> to mention only the "cool birds" that I think are worth a mention. Brother
> Robin does rate. There are probably six of them nesting in my yard right now
> although I only know for sure of two nests.
>      It would be nice if more birders added a line about what wasn't there
> that they expected. Why did they expect it and why do they think it was
> missing? I'm still somewhat taken aback that there were no singing male
> Golden-wings at Finzel last week. Last year I heard three and saw one of
> them. I fully expected that they would be there again. That place never
> changes very much. I'm surprised they would show up for one year and not the
> next. Didn't they like it? Has anybody else had them there this year?
>      Don't be afraid to drop the names of missing birds. It may mean
> something. And for the record the local Wood Thrush are doing fine. Out
> there singing most nights, but not tonight. They are there and probably
> nesting successfully.
>
> Jerry Tarbell
> Putting in his 2 cents in Carroll County
>
>