Dear CBC Compiler,Welcome to another year of CBCs. If you’re new to compiling, then a bit of introduction is in order. I’m the editor of Florida’s CBCs, and this is my fourth year as editor. This letter offers guidance on how to compile your CBC, and also offers insight into my editing procedures. I am always available via email <billpranty@hotmail.com> to answer any questions or concerns. I encourage you to share this email with your participants, especially your party leaders. Important information is underlined. Before I begin, I’d like to inform you that the dates for (nearly) all of Florida’s upcoming CBCs, along with compilers’ contact information, are posted online to the Florida Ornithological Society’s CBC webpage <http://www.fosbirds.org/events/cbcfos4.htm>. We have Tom Palmer and Kurt Radamaker to thank for this list. (My email list is based on the compilers listed on the FOS website; please bring any errors to my attention). This email is being sent in Rich Text Format, which should retain all formatting. If not, please let me know and I will provide a Word version of the file as an attachment. Each year, there is turnover in compiler duties among Florida’s 60+ CBCs. If you no longer are compiling your CBC, please forward this to the new compiler, and please email the compiler’s contact information to me so that I can update my records. Otherwise, please read on. The purpose of this letter is to guide you through the compiling procedures so that the CBC database is as accurate as possible. Please note that this is a very long email, but one that I hope you will read and find useful. The primary audience of this letter is new compilers, bit I hope that all compilers will find at least something here useful. The bulk of this letter explains my editing procedures for various problems that I encountered while editing the data for the previous three CBC seasons. The topic of undocumented rarities is the most serious problem that affects CBCs, of course, and most of this letter discusses species that seem to be misidentified on one or more CBC circles in Florida in most years. I hope that the tone of this letter does not sound critical; I know that we all want our data to be as accurate and useful as possible, while enjoying our CBCs. But since I don’t like having to delete sightings, I hope that we can all work harder to improve this aspect of CBC editing––undocumented or insufficiently documented rarities are the primary reason that species are deleted from CBC totals. And, this issue is not being resolved satisfactorily; last year, I was forced to delete 40 reports from a total of 21 CBCs (compared with 50 reports from 26 CBCs in 2002–2003, and 25 reports from 10 CBCs in 2001–2002 -- but my editing procedures were lenient during my first CBC season as editor). You should have received your compiler’s kit in the mail from Audubon a couple weeks ago. Audubon requires that conclusive details be provided for all species that are rare during winter in North America, in Florida, or at least in your CBC circle. The documentation form provided by Audubon is single-sided and there is no room for participants to write down a description of their sighting. Observers are expected to write details on the back of the sheet, but the lack of clear descriptive sections on the form prevents many participants from providing thorough and proper details. I call your attention to the attached PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file. This is the form that I request that you and your participants use for documenting rarities on your CBC. The attached form is modeled after the form used by the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee. I realize that this form is extremely detailed and may request information that does not seem particularly relevant to your sightings, or to your participants’ sightings. In these cases, fill out as much of the form as is possible. Please send all documentation forms directly to me (address below) and not to Audubon’s Pennsylvania address.
Count period––the CBC period has been standardized to begin on 14 December and to continue through 5 January. All CBCs must be conducted on a single calendar day within this 23-day period.
Count-week – Count-day is the day on which your CBC is held. Count-week is composed of the three-day periods before and after count-day. If your CBC is held on 21 December, then your count-week period is 18–20 and 22–24 December. Any species seen during any of these six days but not seen on count-day should be listed as a "cw" (count-week) bird, but should not be included in the species total.
Numbers of parties – This number annually causes confusion for compilers. If your CBC had parties that spent less time in the field than did other parties (which is nearly always the case), then you must list a range that represents the minimum and maximum numbers of parties in the field during daylight hours. For instance, if 2 parties begin at 6:30AM and are followed by 7 other parties that begin at 8AM, and only 3 parties continue birding until 6PM, then you should list 2–10 parties in the field. Each year, a few Florida CBCs are submitted where the number of parties participating in the count differ greatly from the number of party-hours claimed for those parties (see below).
Party-Hours – These are determined to allow for standardized comparison among all CBCs and years. Party-hours should not exceed 11 hours per party. If your CBC had 7 parties, then you cannot list more than 77 party-hours – and that figure presumes that every party began at 6:30AM, took a half-hour lunch break, then continued birding until 6PM. Also, please do not tabulate "observer hours" as party-hours; if you have 10 people in 3 parties and each party is out for 10 hours, then you have 30 party-hours, not 100. Please calculate your party-hours carefully, as I cannot correct seemingly inaccurate party-hours.
Participants and Fees – except for feeder-watchers, all CBC participants over the age of 17 must pay the $5 participant fee. The fee is not an option! If your CBC had 20 adult participants, then your check to Audubon must be for $100. Please double-check the list of CBC participants that you enter in the database against the number of participant names entered into the database––they should match!
Species groups – the CBC data entry pages have listings of species-groups, but many of these listings convey no usable data for Florida CBCs. For instance, reporting 2 "duck species" on a CBC where 11 species of ducks were identified specifically really serves no purpose. I accept the use of "scaup species," "Accipiter species," "dowitcher species," "jaeger species," "hummingbird species," "crow species," "sharp-tailed sparrow species," and similar listings for species-groups that pose identification problems. However, I ask that you not submit extremely vague listings such as "duck species," "hawk species," "warbler species," or "sparrow species." Furthermore, except in rare cases, these species-group listings should not be included in your "countable" species total (see below).
"Countable" species – as you enter your data online, you are asked to fill in a box for the Number of Species seen on your count. This number should represent only whole species, and only those species currently on the official Florida bird list maintained by the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee. A somewhat outdated version of this list is available online at: <http://www.fosbirds.org/RecordCommittee/StateListJuly2001.htm>. Feel free to leave the Total Species box blank—I will fill it in after my editing is complete. In each of the past three years, several compilers included "non-countable" species, or species-group listings in their Species Total, and I had to adjust their totals downward. (On the other hand, I have had to increase a few totals, apparently because some compilers miscounted their species total).
The following species may not be counted in your Species Totals: Trumpeter Swan, Mute Swan, Black Swan, Egyptian Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Great White Heron, Scarlet Ibis, Whooping Crane, Common Peafowl, Ringed Turtle-Dove, Budgerigar (except in Hernando and Pasco counties), Cockatiel, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Black-hooded Parakeet (except in Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties), Monk Parakeet (except in Broward, Charlotte, Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties), Blue-crowned Parakeet, Green Parakeet, Mitred Parakeet, Red-masked Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, White-winged Parakeet (except in Miami-Dade and Broward counties [but be aware that apparent hybrids exist at Fort Lauderdale]), Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, White-fronted Parrot, Red-crowned Parrot, Blue-fronted Parrot, Yellow-headed Parrot, Orange-winged Parrot, all other psittacids (i.e., cockatoos, parakeets, macaws, or parrots), Common Myna, Hill Myna, any bishop, any munia/mannikin, and any local escapee. Note that "countability" only affects the number of species listed in the species total box; "countability" does not affect which species are included in your CBC results. For example, let’s consider that participants on your CBC saw 135 birds on count-day. This total included Great White Heron, Whooping Crane, Red-crowned Parrot, and Common Myna. You would enter all of these species into the online database, but you would type "131" into the species total box because the four birds listed above are non-countable. Regardless of "countability," please include in your Species Total all birds observed "in the wild" on your CBC.
Unusual numbers – Audubon has never defined "unusual numbers" and this lapsus has led to variation in their use. In Florida, I ask that you use "unusual numbers" solely for those totals that represent new high counts for a species on your CBC. (If your CBC has been run fewer than 10 times, please try to limit "unusual numbers" to those high counts that seem truly significant).
Rounding off numbers – Because the totals for most species seen on a CBC are based somewhat or entirely on estimates rather than precise counts, the totals that you submit should be rounded off the nearest 5, 10, 100, or 1000. For instance, if parties on your CBC report Tree Swallow totals of 3000, 1000, 500, 250, 100, 20, 6, 2, and 1, then please round off this total to 5000, rather than listing precisely "4879" Tree Swallows. Totals based on precise counts should never be rounded off, but most numbers over, perhaps, 200 or 250, likely contain estimates, and should be rounded off. I’d appreciate it if compilers round off all numbers that include estimated counts.
PARTICULAR SPECIES WORTHY OF COMMENTS During the past three CBC seasons, I have had to a few dozen or more observations annually because documentation was either not provided or was insufficient for conclusive identification. The deletion of undocumented or insufficiently documented rarities can be eliminated if participants provide clear and concise written details for all rarities. (Obviously, there is no substitute for photographs or videotapes; I especially appreciate receiving digital or scanned JPEGs via email). If participants do not provide sufficient details for rarities, then it is your responsibility as compiler to ensure that details are submitted—or that the report is deleted before the CBC data are entered online. I delete all rarities that are submitted with insufficient or no documentation. For those of you who are new to compiling, most species seen on less than 25% of your CBC should be documented. For instance, if your CBC has been run for the past 20 years, all species that have been seen on 5 or fewer counts should be submitted with clear and thorough details. Obviously, secretive or nocturnal species such as bitterns, rails, and owls may be overlooked frequently on your CBC, and may not necessarily need to be documented when they are encountered. The next several pages of text provide comments about those species that have caused problems on one or more recent Florida CBC circles. If you have any questions about whether a species seen on your CBC requires documentation, send me an email shortly after your CBC date and I’ll be happy to provide an answer. Please note that all species that you mark as unusual must be documented.
Great White Heron – I’d like details for all reports away from the Keys or Everglades.
Scarlet Ibis – the status of this species in North America is confused and debatable, so I require details throughout Florida, including reports of "pink," "scarlet-type," or other ibises that may be Scarlet × White Ibis hybrids. Additionally, the likelihood of escapees virtually assures that any Scarlet Ibis observed in Florida will be "non-countable."
Canada Goose – please ensure that all Canada Geese are listed as "Canada Goose (large forms)." This is the "typical" Canada Goose found in the eastern United States. Additionally, all Canada Geese now are "countable" throughout Florida, even those known or strongly suspected of representing feral individuals.
Cackling Goose – this past July, the American Ornithologists’ Union "split" the Canada Goose into Canada Goose (the large forms) and Cackling Goose (the small forms). If you have David Sibley’s field guide, the Canada Geese (page 75) listed as Aleutian, Cackling, and Richardson’s geese represent what now is known as Cackling Goose, while the Common, Dusky, and Lesser geese are retained as Canada Goose. There seem to be only two documented records of (Richardson’s) Cackling Goose in Florida (one of these from the 2002 South Brevard CBC). Needless to say, any CBC report of Cackling Goose will need to be documented thoroughly, including photographs or videotape.
Muscovy Duck – Just like Canada Geese, Muscovy Ducks now are "countable" throughout Florida. (You do not need to provide details for Muscovies, even if they are "new" for your CBC).
Mallard – Ditto this species as well––all Mallards now are "countable" throughout Florida, even the extremely inbred birds that are found in suburban areas.
Mallard × Mottled Duck – hybrids between these two species occur in Florida, and may be increasing. But few reports have been documented, especially on CBCs. I would appreciate it if compilers alert their participants to the possibility that Mallard × Mottled Duck hybrids may be present within your CBC, and to submit details for any hybrids observed. Ornithologists have stated that unless Florida officials begin to control populations of feral Mallards, the Mottled Duck may disappear from the state as a species.
American Black Duck – Details are required south of Gainesville; this species is very rare in the central peninsula, and is very similar to Mottled Ducks and female Mallards.
Green-winged Teal – please ensure that all Green-winged Teals are listed as "American Green-winged Teal," as the Eurasian subspecies ("Common Teal") has never been documented in Florida.
Common Merganser – Details for this often-misidentified species are required throughout Florida.
Broad-winged Hawk – this species winters regularly in the extreme southern peninsula and the Keys (and at southern St. Petersburg), but they do not occur regularly elsewhere. Since immature Buteos are very similar in plumage, I require documentation for Broad-winged Hawks throughout Florida except at St. Petersburg, and in Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.
Short-tailed Hawk – please provide documentation throughout Florida, except in Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. And by the way, Short-tailed Hawks are almost never seen perched—especially on power poles—and they apparently never perch on powerlines.
Semipalmated Sandpiper – Allan Phillips stunned birders and ornithologists in 1975 when his examination of museum specimens proved that Semipalmated Sandpipers were not the abundant winter residents throughout Florida that had been accepted as fact for decades. The birds "identified" as Semipalmated Sandpipers were really Western Sandpipers. Audubon requires documentation of any Semipalmated Sandpiper reported in North America. Needless to say, this species must be accompanied by clear and convincing details throughout Florida; photographs are greatly preferred.
Dunlin – this species is rare inland during winter, so I’d like details throughout Florida for any reported on non-coastal CBCs. The same goes for other species of shorebirds that seldom winter inland.
Dowitchers – The distribution of the two dowitcher species differs during winter. Long-billed Dowitchers are essentially restricted to fresh-water habitats (occasionally they’re found in brackish water), while Short-billed Dowitchers are mostly restricted to saline habitats. However, Short-billed Dowitchers may be found inland during winter, although usually in small numbers. Therefore, I’d like some details on how inland dowitchers were identified as Short-billeds. For counts that contain saltwater habitats and that report Long-billed Dowitchers, I’d like some comments that the Long-billeds were seen in fresh water. (You can always be safe and use "dowitcher species"). Bill length or tail pattern are not reliable field marks for dowitchers; only call notes are distinctive.
Common Snipe – this species now is called Wilson’s Snipe due to a recent taxonomic "split." Please cease using the name "Common Snipe."
Common Tern – Because of their rarity and similarity with abundant Forster’s Terns, Common Terns require documentation throughout Florida.
Least Tern – Despite nearly annual winter reports, usually during CBCs, no Least Tern has ever been documented to occur in Florida between mid-October and mid-March. Therefore, documentation is required throughout Florida. Photographs or videotapes are greatly preferred.
Ringed Turtle-Dove – the only known population in Florida––in central St. Petersburg––has not been reported for many years (although some individuals may still be present among the hordes of Eurasian Collared-Doves). Therefore, Ringed Turtle-Doves require documentation throughout Florida; note also that they are "non-countable."
Budgerigar – this species is "countable" in only coastal Hernando and Pasco counties (i.e., on the Aripeka-Bayport and West Pasco CBCs) All other individuals presumably represent local escapees or releases, and are "non-countable."
Monk Parakeet – several populations in the peninsula are small and/or have been present for only a short duration. These populations should not be considered established, and therefore are "non-countable" on CBCs. I consider Monk Parakeets to be "countable" in the following areas (only): along the Gulf coast from Pasco County south to Lee County, and along the Atlantic coast from Palm Beach County through the Keys. I’m unaware of any inland population that is large enough and has persisted for a suitable length of time to be considered established; please let me know if you disagree.
Black-hooded Parakeet – this past August, the Florida Ornithological Society Records Committee accepted the Black-hooded Parakeet as an established exotic in Florida. The only established (and therefore "countable") population is found along the Gulf coast in Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties. Populations elsewhere in Florida may not meet acceptable size or persistence criteria to be considered established presently.
White-winged Parakeet – "countable" populations are limited to Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Note that apparent hybrids are present at Fort Lauderdale; Brotogeris parakeets found on that CBC may be listed as "Brotogeris species."
Common Nighthawk – there is no documented winter record in Florida. Please submit conclusive and unambiguous documentation, or use "nighthawk species" (a category that also requires documentation).
Lesser Nighthawk – it seems that this species occurs regularly (in small flocks even!) in the extreme southern mainland, with irregular reports north into the northern peninsula. Nonetheless, because both nighthawk species are very similar in plumage, and tend to be seen only when in flight during dawn and dusk (when lighting conditions are poor), documentation is required for any site in Florida outside the Flamingo area of Everglades National Park. In many cases, "nighthawk species" might be the more appropriate choice––but this listing too requires details.
Chuck-will’s-widow – this species is rare and irregular in central Florida during winter, while Whip-poor-wills are rare to uncommon (but overlooked) throughout the mainland. "Chucks" seem to occur fairly frequently in the Lake Placid area, but documentation is required north of Lake Okeechobee. A general comment about hummingbirds: Bob Sargent, Fred Bassett, and other collaborators of the Hummer/Bird Study Group <http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org> visit Florida each winter to band as many hummingbirds as possible. Many of these hummingbirds are of western-breeding species that are rare in Florida, and that require details if seen on CBCs. However, I never receive details for any of these hummingbirds, other than a statement that they were banded by Bob Sargent or Fred Bassett. Up to this point, I have accepted the identifications of these hummingbirds even though they were submitted without documentation. But from this season on, I would like these hummingbirds to be documented properly. Obviously, Bob Sargent and/or Fred Bassett would be the most likely individuals to provide details, and I will contact them and ask them to submit documentation. But birders who own the feeders at which rare hummingbirds are banded should also submit details.
Archilochus species – in the past 10 years or so, it has been established that Black-chinned Hummingbirds winter regularly in Florida south at least to central Florida. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds winter throughout the state, especially in the southern peninsula and the Keys. Because the two species are nearly identical in plumage, I’d like compilers to use Archilochus species for all "Ruby-throated-type" hummingbirds north of Lake Okeechobee. Obviously, some birds can be identified to species, such as those banded, or adult males whose gorgets are seen in good light. In these cases, details should be submitted.
Selasphorus species – also in the past 10 years, the presence of Allen’s Hummingbirds in Florida has been proven. This species may be indistinguishable in the field from Rufous Hummingbirds. Therefore, please use Selasphorus species throughout Florida, except for brown-backed adult male Rufous Hummingbirds, which should be documented.
Hairy Woodpecker – this rare and local species is easily confused with the much more common and widespread Downy Woodpecker. While I do not require details for Hairies, I ask compilers of urban counts to be aware that Hairy Woodpeckers are unlikely to occur in their CBC circles. In the peninsula at least, Hairies seem to be restricted to large expanses of fire-maintained pine flatwoods, and CBC circles that lack this habitat should not expect to find Hairy Woodpeckers.
Northern Flicker – please list all flickers as "Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker." Reports of "Red-shafted" Flickers require details throughout Florida.
Eastern Wood-Pewee – this species winters no closer to Florida than Costa Rica, over 1300 miles to the south, and there are no documented winter records in North America. Please do not list wood-pewees on your CBC unless you have videotape documentation that includes call-notes! Most misidentifications probably involve Eastern Phoebes. I would greatly appreciate not receiving reports of Eastern Wood-Pewees on Florida CBCs beginning this year.
Empidonax species – the only Empidonax flycatcher documented to occur in Florida (mainly the southern half of the peninsula) during the winter months is the Least Flycatcher, which may be the easiest Empidonax to identify with experience. I’d like details for all Empidonax species throughout Florida, and I’d like details for all Least Flycatchers outside of Lake Apopka (Zellwood–Mount Dora CBC) and Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. The specific identification of any Empidonax other than Least Flycatcher (e.g., Acadian Flycatcher) requires details throughout Florida. Any interesting-looking Empidonax (i.e., non-Least Flycatcher) found during winter should be thoroughly documented and reported to others, because some western-breeding species (e.g., Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher) have strayed eastward during winter, and may eventually be verified in Florida.
Myiarchus species – Great Crested Flycatchers are expanding their winter range northward. However, Florida CBC compilers may not be aware that three other species of Myiarchus may also be found during winter – the Ash-throated Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, and La Sagra’s Flycatcher. Ash-throateds have been reported on one or more Florida CBCs nearly every year since 1994. All accepted CBC reports have been in the western Panhandle (specifically Choctawhatchee Bay) or the northern peninsula south to Econlockhatchee (near Orlando). Brown-crested Flycatchers have been reported on CBCs less commonly. In the past 20 years, there have been only 5 CBC reports in Florida (all of these since 1995), but I’m under the impression that they winter regularly in very small numbers in the extreme southern peninsula and the Keys. La Sagra’s Flycatchers are rare vagrants from the West Indies, and are limited to the southeastern coast and the Keys. Despite their relative abundance in southern Florida, Great Crested Flycatchers quickly dwindle into central Florida. They are rare and irregular north to about Orlando, and basically unknown in winter north of there. (Neither the Gainesville nor Jacksonville CBCs have reported Great Cresteds even once in the past 20 years). Because all four species of Myiarchus appear very similar in plumage and are best identified by voice, documentation for most is required. Ash-throated, Brown-crested, and La Sagra’s flycatchers require details throughout Florida (except for Ash-throated Flycatcher at Lake Apopka). Additionally, I’d like details for Great Crested Flycatchers northward from Brevard, Hillsborough, Osceola, Pinellas, and Polk counties. Confusion between Myiarchus flycatchers and Tyrannus kingbirds is a recurring problem in Florida; kingbirds habitually perch on powerlines, while flycatchers almost never perch on wires.
Eastern Kingbird – Despite annual reports on CBCs, there is only one documented winter record of an Eastern Kingbird in Florida (one found during the Lake Placid CBC in December 1994 and photographed the following day). Accordingly, details are required throughout Florida, ideally accompanied by photographs or videotape.
Purple Martin – Male martins return to Florida from their tropical wintering grounds beginning in mid-January, and females usually arrive a few weeks later. However, Purple Martins have never been verifiably documented in Florida during December or early January. Therefore, details are required for Purple Martins on CBCs throughout Florida, and should clearly rule out other species, such as Northern Rough-winged Swallows.
Barn Swallow – this species is reported annually on Florida CBCs, but the locations are not consistent (with the possible exception of Coot Bay). Therefore, I require documentation throughout Florida.
Yellow-throated Vireo – this species winters in small numbers in tropical hammocks in southeastern Florida, but is very rare and irregular elsewhere in the state. Many observers in Florida may not be aware that Pine Warblers often are found far outside of pine habitats during the winter months, and that adult male Pine Warblers and Yellow-throated Vireos are very similar in appearance. Documentation for Yellow-throated Vireos is required outside of Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.
Red-eyed Vireo – there is no documented winter record anywhere in the state, so details are required throughout Florida, preferably accompanied by photographs or videotapes.
Solitary Vireo – please ensure that all Solitary Vireos are listed as Blue-headed Vireos to reflect a fairly recent taxonomic "split." Please cease using the name "Solitary Vireo."
Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, or Veery – there are no documented records anywhere in Florida during winter months for any of these species (other than an injured Swanson’s Thrush found at Vero Beach on 1 December 1972). Photographs or videotapes are virtually required for acceptance, given the similarity of these three species with Hermit Thrushes, which winter regularly throughout the state. (Catharus thrushes represent a greatly under-appreciated identification pitfall).
Nashville Warbler – sightings of this species seem to be increasing somewhat during winter, but details are still required throughout Florida.
Yellow Warbler – due to possible confusion with bright Orange-crowned Warblers or perhaps other species such as American Goldfinch, details are required for Yellow Warblers throughout Florida, except in coastal Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, where another subspecies (the "Cuban Golden Warbler") is resident. American Redstart – This species is known to winter regularly in southern Florida, and rarely farther north than this. However, some observers have mistaken brightly-plumaged Yellow-rumped Warblers, with a little bit of yellow under the wing, as redstarts (!). I won’t ask for details for redstarts, but I do ask that you be aware of this potential identification problem, even though most of us think of redstarts as a highly distinctive species. (I’m mostly concerned with American Redstarts reported on CBCs in central and northern Florida).
Yellow-rumped Warbler – please ensure that all Yellow-rumped Warblers are listed as "Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers." "Audubon’s Warbler" reports in Florida require thorough documentation, ideally photographs or videotape.
Black-throated Blue Warbler or Magnolia Warbler – Details are required throughout Florida, except in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties.
Wilson’s Warbler – most reports tend to be in the extreme southeast, and, curiously, at Gainesville. For now, I’ll allow reports from Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties to be submitted without documentation, and I’ll leave details for the Gainesville CBC to the discretion of its compiler(s). Otherwise, please provide details elsewhere in Florida.
Yellow-breasted Chat – CBC data suggest that chats can occur almost anywhere during winter, but they are not reported regularly within any CBC. Most reports are of singles. For now, I’d like to continue asking for details throughout Florida.
Summer Tanager – this species seems to be a rare (and increasing?), regular winter resident in much of Florida. As such, I no longer require details for Summer Tanagers on CBCs, although I will closely monitor future reports (and may ask some compilers to supply documentation after the fact).
Rufous-sided Towhee – all Rufous-sided Towhees in Florida are now listed as Eastern Towhees to reflect a fairly recent taxonomic "split." Please cease using the name "Rufous-sided Towhee."
Blue Grosbeak – although winter reports are increasing, I still require details throughout Florida.
Indigo Bunting – this species is becoming regular as a rare to uncommon winter resident in the southern half of the Peninsula. Even though some observers clearly mistake Eastern Bluebirds or perhaps other species for Indigo Buntings, all the documentation forms that I received last year were accepted. So details no longer are required for Indigo Bunting anywhere in Florida, but I will carefully monitor bunting reports in the future (and may ask some compilers to supply documentation after the fact). New compilers should be aware that Indigo Buntings in winter plumage are mostly brown, and that no Indigo Bunting during this season is entirely blue.
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow – The winter ranges of these species are not well-known in Florida. So I ask for assurance from compilers that the identification of either (or both) species within their CBC circle has been determined, preferably photographically. Along the Gulf coast, Nelson’s Sharp-taileds should predominate; a study in Levy County indicated that 96% of the Sharp-taileds in that areas were Nelson’s, while only 4% were Saltmarsh. Results along the Atlantic coast will be different, but I’m not aware of any formal study that has been conducted.
Savannah Sparrow – the subspecies listed in Florida should be "(form?)," which means one or more of the eastern subspecies. Specific identification of the (six) subspecies of Savannah Sparrows that have been documented in Florida probably cannot be determined with certainty in the field.
Song Sparrow – this species is uncommon to rare in central Florida, and rare in southern Florida. CBCs in these areas usually shouldn’t report more than a few individuals. Much higher counts of Song Sparrows on CBCs in central or southern Florida indicate confusion with the widespread and common Savannah Sparrow, or perhaps even with female Red-winged Blackbirds.
Rusty Blackbird and Brewer’s Blackbird – these species now are rare and irregular south to central Florida; except for those along the Georgia border, few peninsular CBCs have reported either species in the past 10–15 years. Accordingly, documentation is required for Brewer’s Blackbird from Gainesville southward, and for Rusty Blackbird south of Gainesville. Finally, I have attached a second file to this email. It is an Excel spreadsheet of all the 2003–2004 CBC data from Florida. Since Audubon no longer publishes the data (and since the Florida Ornithological Society Board regrettably voted down a proposal to have FOS publish the data), I thought that you would appreciate having all the Florida 2003–2004 data available in one file. (Even if you could download all these data from the Audubon website, you would have to "tweak" the data quite a bit to get it into this form). The spreadsheet has two worksheets (i.e., pages). One, named "Read Me" gives a brief introduction about the data. The second worksheet contains all the Florida CBC data from this past season, arranged in (then-current) phylogenetic order, with each CBC listed alphabetically in succeeding columns. As mentioned on the Read Me page, I have not included the species that I deleted from the various CBCs. Although listing deleted species was standard procedure up to about 20 years ago, I do not wish to risk embarrassing any CBC compiler and/or participant. (If you notice that one or more species was deleted from your CBC, I'd be happy to explain my editing procedures to you privately). The cells in tan highlighting denote "non-countable" entries (e.g., count-week birds, non-countable exotics, hybrids, color morphs, or species-groups); these entries do not "count" in the species total. Thank you, and have a safe and enjoyable CBC season. Best regards, Bill Pranty Florida CBC Editor 1680 North Delaware Avenue #204 Avon Park, Florida 33825 <billpranty@hotmail.com>
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