Submitted by Reed Bowman
Board of Directors Meeting, 24 September 1999
Accomplishments
The Records Committee met at Archbold Biological Station on 27-28 August. Members present were Reed Bowman, Lyn Atherton, Brian Hope, Bill Robertson, Mickey Wheeler, and Glen Woolfenden. Bob Duncan was unable to attend.
1. The committee considered the following reports:
98-383. Great White Pelican. Not Accepted: vote 0-6. Identity uncertain from description, origin uncertain.
98-386. American Tree Sparrow. Accepted: vote 6-0.
98-385. MacGillivray’s Warbler. Accepted: vote 6-0.
98-388. Little Stint. Not Accepted: vote 0-6. All birds in picture appear to be three-toed and the Sanderling is only sandpiper with three toes.
99-392. California Gull. Accepted: vote 6-0.
98-384. Iceland Gull. Not Accepted: vote 0-6. Identity uncertain from description.
99-389. Thayer’s Gull. Pending, committee believes photographs were taken and will solicit them for consideration.
In addition, the committee considered reports of Red-footed Booby (98-387) and Key West Quail-Dove (99-391 and 99-393). Recent actions by the FOSRC had removed these species from the list of those currently reviewed by the committee, thus they were not considered further. These reports will be forwarded to the FOS Field Observations Committee and will be deposited in the Archives.
2. The committee reviewed the timing and location of four submitted reports of South Polar Skuas along the Atlantic Coast during Fall 1998. The committee determined that three submitted reports, all between 7 October and 24 October 1998 from Ft. Clinch State Park, represent repeated sightings of one individual and thus will be treated together as a single report, subsequently logged as 99-394. Another report from New Smyrna Beach on 11 November likely represented a second bird and will be treated as a separate report, subsequently logged 99-395. Mickey Wheeler brought photos of an individual observed near Boynton Beach in December. The committee agreed that this appeared to be a third individual and agreed to solicit a report of this bird from Brian Hope and Mickey Wheeler. These three reports will then be considered at a subsequent meeting.
3. The committee considered the following unlogged reports:
a. Chestnut Manakin: Committee agreed that the identity of the bird was not in question, but discussed whether it should be considered an exotic. Since the species has been introduced and established in Cuba and elsewhere in the Carribean, and could possibly have been a natural occurrence, the committee agreed to review it. Logged as 99-398. Not Accepted: vote 0-6. Origin uncertain.
b. Vaux’s Swift: Published account from Apalachicola that appeared in Alabama Birdlife. Based on the Rules and Procedures, the committee agreed to consider this reference as a submission, thus it was logged as 99-397. Accepted: vote 6-0.
c. Gray-hooded Gull: Report submitted was a draft manuscript with photographs of the bird. Again, committee agreed to treat the manuscript as a submission, thus it was logged 99-396. Accepted: vote 6-0.
d. Band-rumped Storm-Petrel: After review of Robertson and Woolfenden (1992), committee agreed to remove the species from the list of those considered by the FOSRC.
4. The committee evaluated the following unresolved reports to determine some specific action necessary for resolution:
97-377 Sage Thrasher: Contact Bob Duncan to determine if a photograph exists and solicit it for consideration. Pending.
94-312b White-faced Ibis: Withdrawn from consideration.
97-375 Cassin’s Kingbird: Comment in previous minutes suggest photos exist. Mickey Wheeler will contact Bill Smith to determine if any were solicited and/or received. Pending.
97-374 Manx Shearwater: Had been pending potential taxonomic changes; however, 7th AOU Checklist has not split, thus the committee unanimously agreed to consider it based on available evidence and taxonomic treatment. Accepted: vote 6-0.
95-337 White-tipped Dove: Glen Woolfenden agreed to solicit input from a columbid expert to help resolve identification. Pending.
97-380 Allen’s Hummingbird: After review of recent publication of McKenzie and Robbins (Western Birds, 1999, 30:86-93) the committee concluded that diagnostic measurements are necessary to confirm identification, thus we reviewed all pending reports for this species. Accepted: vote 6-0.
93-276 Allen’s Hummingbird: Question whether tail feathers were collected, but some measurements provided. Lyn Atherton will inquire whether tail feathers ever were sent to committee for consideration. Pending.
88-138 Allen’s Hummingbird. Not Accepted: vote 0-6. Measurements not available.
99-390 Allen’s Hummingbird. Not Accepted: vote 0-6. Measurements not available.
86-360 Anna’s Hummingbird: Withdrawn from consideration.
5. The committee reviewed the list of species to be considered by the FOSRC. By unanimous assent the following changes were made:
Species removed from the list
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel
Key West Quail-Dove
Warbling Vireo
Species added to the list
European Turtle-Dove
Allen’s Hummingbird
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
MacGillivray’s Warbler
American Tree Sparrow
Changes to the list
Long-billed Murrelet (Brachyramphus perdix) replaces Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
6. The committee discussed creation of an FOSRC web page that can be accessed at the FOS home page. Included on the web page will be:
a. Species currently reviewed by the FOSRC
b. Species Documentation Forms
c. The most recent report of the FOSRC published in FFN
d. The official state bird list, based on Robertson and Woolfenden (1992) with subsequent updates.
e. Selected photographs of species currently under review by the FOSRC.
The committee will work with Web Page Editor Eugene Stoccardo to get the page up and running in the near future.
7. As of the Fall 1999 FOS meeting, Brian Hope’s term on the FOSRC expires. The committee thanked Brian for his contributions. Glen Woolfenden suggested Jon Greenlaw as Brian’s replacement. Jon is a retired ornithologist, a permanent resident of Florida, and very knowledgeable of the state’s avifauna. The committee unanimously agreed to recommend Jon to President Jim Cox.