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Subject:

Changes to the review list by the MD/DC Records Committee

From:

Matt Hafner

Reply-To:

Matt Hafner

Date:

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:16:13 -0400

MDOsprey,
 
As you may have noticedin Phil's recent email about the recent MD/DC Records Committee meetings,a few changes were made to the Maryland Review list.  We discussed thesechanges at length at the meeting and thought it would be good to explain someof the thoughts behind these changes.  
 
In case you missed it,three species were added to Category 2 of the review list, reviewable if seenanywhere in Maryland:
 
Northern Goshawk (alsoadded to the DC review list)
Roseate Tern
Brewer's Blackbird
 
All of these species arerare in Maryland and are notoriously difficult to identify even by experiencedobservers.  Reports of these species already receive some sort of reviewthrough eBird, Maryland Birdlife, and North American Birds, but the recordscommittee review provides a more rigorous, formal, andwell-documented process. 
  
Northern Goshawk
 
Goshawks are definitely annualin the state, recorded as rare migrants and as very rare breeders inGarrett County. They are listed as state endangered due to theirstatus as a rare breeder. Regularly staffed fall hawkwatches will routinely (though not necessarilyannually) record Northern Goshawks in late October throughNovember.  However, Goshawks are still rarely encounteredby most birders and eBird review throughout the Northeast indicates that manyare misidentified.  Very few photographs of Goshawks have been takenin Maryland and almost all photos submitted as documentation have beenincorrect. This has led to such a widespread suspicion of Northern Goshawkreports that some observers wonder what we actually know about their occurrencein the state. We are hoping that adding the species to review list will increasethe frequency with which the species is actively documented, thereby improvingwhat we know of this species’ occurrence in Maryland. 
 
Roseate Tern
 
Roseate Terns are probablyannual in Worcester County, but they are not reported everyyear.  Unfortunately, we don't have a horde of local birders coveringcoastal Worcester County every day during the spring and summer. (In fact,many birders actively avoid Ocean City during these months!)  TheNortheastern U.S. population is listed as Endangered and that is one ofthe reasons we would like to better assess the status of thespecies.  The closest nesting colonies are in NewYork, so any summer sighting in this area is important to understandingthe current range of the species.  The vast majority of records come fromlate May and early June around Skimmer Island and Ocean City, withscattered records through August.  Are the majority of these May/Junereports migrants?  How often do Roseates attempt to spend the summer in WorcesterCounty?  With more detailed reports, we hope to find out.  
 
Brewer's Blackbird
 
Reports of Brewer'sBlackbirds have declined in the state in the last decade.  They arereported annually, but unlike some nearby states, Maryland does not have anylocations where they regularly occur.  Separation from Rusty Blackbird is anunderappreciated identification challenge, especially when Rusty Blackbirds arein alternate plumage.  Brewer’s Blackbird is also reviewable in nearbystates Delaware and New Jersey.  
 
Please note that onlyfuture sightings of these species are reviewable, so there is no need to writeup sightings from the past year.  However, if you do see one of thesespecies in Maryland, please consider taking notes, photos, recordings, etc andsubmitting the documentation to the MD/DC Records Committee.
 
Thank you!
 
Matt Hafner
Forest Hill, MD

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