|
Home ||
History ||
Officers ||
Join
LOS || LA Birding Organizations |
|
Instructions
for Reporting Louisiana Bird Observations by Steven W.
Cardiff, J. V. Remsen, and Donna L. Dittmann How do you decide which bird records are worth reporting? How should they
be documented, and when, where, and to whom should they be sent? Start by
reviewing a species' status as given by the bar graphs in Louisiana Birds
(Lowery 1974), which still give a reasonably accurate representation of the
status of most species. A pdf of Lowery’s
1974 seasonal bar graphs is available at: http://appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/labirdweb.nsf/$Content/Lowery+Graph?OpenDocument Please consult these bar graphs as you search through your field notes at
the end of each season. Of primary interest are records of almost all species
during times of the year when they are considered "rare" (palest
shading in Lowery's bar graphs), "very
rare" (dots), or absent, either for the state as a whole or for the
Baton Rouge Area (BRA) line. Of course, because Lowery (1974) is 35 years
out-of-date, many changes in status and distribution are not reflected in the
bar graphs, but they are still generally applicable for the state and/or the
BRA (the latter still a fairly good indicator of a species’ status in
central and northern Louisiana). A new version of the bar graphs is in
progress, but, until published, please refer to
changes/corrections/additions/status changes to the 1974 version listed in
the Appendices below: There are four general documentation categories that can be used alone or
in various combinations to properly support everything from first state
records to sightings of local interest: 1. Bird Observation Details Cards. For
decades, Louisiana observers have submitted observations of unusual species
on these standard pre-printed 3" x 5" cards. The card file database
is housed at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science
(LSUMNS) and is accessible (by appointment) to anyone interested in Louisiana
bird distribution. Records on 3" x 5" cards should be sent to the
state editor for the Arkansas-Louisiana Region of the journal North American
Birds (NAB). Currently, the Editor is Steven W. Cardiff, Museum of
Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,
LA, 70803-3216, 225-578-2855/9289,scardif@lsu.edu
Records may be submitted as hard copy on pre-printed or similarly formatted
cards (see below), or electronically at: http://appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/labirdweb.nsf/$Content/3x5+Card?OpenDocument. There is also a link to the electronic 3 x 5 card interface at the
Louisiana Ornithological Society website: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/submitreport.html For electronic submissions, a hard copy will be printed and filed in the
card files. A system is being developed to allow electronic submissions to be
incorporated directly into an interactive electronic database, and eventually
the entire card file will be integrated into the system. PLEASE NOTE: Observations
posted to LABIRD, HUMNET, eBird, etc. do not
constitute official submissions to the Louisiana bird record database. At the end of each season, these cards form the basis for NAB seasonal
summaries of bird activity in the region. Cards should be submitted within a
month of the end of each season, which are designated as follows: Spring = March-May Summer = June-July Fall = August-November Winter = December-February "Late" cards should still be submitted as soon as possible
because they can sometimes be incorporated into reports right up until the
last minute. In any event, it's never too late for a card to be filed in the
permanent card file database at LSUMNS. Pre-printed cards can be requested in
writing or by emailing or calling the Editor (see above). Alternatively, you
can make up your own 3" x 5" cards that list species, parish,
locality, date, # of individuals, observer(s), and
significance of the species being reported. We strongly encourage
observers to provide descriptive details on the back of these cards,
especially for species that are well out-of-range or out-of-season; notes on
behavior, voice, and habitat are as important as plumage description and observation
duration/distance. The depth of the details might only be a phrase or
two for not-too-unusual records of distinctive species, or at the other
extreme, extensive details on very unusual records. Remember that these
records will be evaluated in the future by people totally unfamiliar with
your birding skills. Also, keep in mind that features other than plumage,
such as behavior, voice, and habitat, are often more critical in such
evaluations than “eye
witness”
descriptions of appearance. See Dittmann & Lasley
reference below for full discussion. The 3" x 5" cards are also preferred for reporting most unusual
(boldfaced) species found on Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs). Details are
mandatory for boldfaced species. PLEASE do not use 8 1/2" X 11"
details sheets except for review list species (see below). The cards should
be completed by the actual observer(s), preferably on count day, and turned
in to the CBC compiler. "Phoned-in" details on cards that are
written by the compiler are unacceptable. CBC Compilers should submit any
hard copy originals of rarities documentation to the Louisiana NAB Editor
(Steve Cardiff) or the Louisiana CBC Editor (David P. Muth)
no later than March for inclusion in the Winter Season summary. The NAB and
CBC Editors will coordinate regarding accumulated hard copy and electronic
documentation of CBC rarities. Details should NOT be sent to the National
Audubon Society CBC office in New York. 2. Rare Bird Report Forms. Records of species on the
Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List (or records of species
new for the state) require completion of a rare bird report form. To see the
current list of Review List species go to: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/lareviewlist2009.pdf For submission forms for Review List birds, go to the following webpage: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/submitreport.html Report forms and Review Lists are also available from the LBRC Secretary
either as hard copies or email attachments. The Review List consists of species that, on average, are seen in LA four
or fewer times per year. The Review List is periodically updated by the LBRC
and published in the Journal of Louisiana Ornithology (JLO) and/or the LOS
News and posted at the LOS/LBRC website; Review List species are also denoted
with an asterisk on the LOS field checklist. Although these records should
also be submitted on standard 3" X 5" cards so that they are
represented in the card file database, the card documentation does not by
itself constitute a report to the LBRC except as a last resort. Refer to the
article "How to document rare birds" by Donna Dittmann and Greg Lasley (Birding, June 1992, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp 145-159) for a discussion of how to document rarities: http://losbird.org/lbrc/dittmann_lasley.html Any photo, video, or voice recording supportive documentation should be
clearly labeled with information on species, date, locality, and
photographer/recordist. Photos, videos, or
recordings will be permanently placed in the LBRC files at the LSUMNS.
Selected photographs that have not been published elsewhere may be printed
with LBRC reports that appear in the JLO, or in the LBRC online newsletter,
e.g., see: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/LBRCNewsletter.pdf Photos, video, or voice recordings of other unusual species, or of other
ornithological significance, can be deposited in the LSUMNS archives. Recognizable
photos of rarities that are submitted by the appropriate deadlines stand a
good chance of being published in NAB or possibly in future issues of the
JLO. The LBRC does not review other kinds of records, e.g., out-of-season or
out-of-range within Louisiana, unless specifically requested to do so. Completed rare bird report forms and accompanying documentation should be
sent to the LBRC Secretary, currently Donna L. Dittmann, Museum of
Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,
LA, 70803-3216, phone 225-578-2009, email ddittma@lsu.edu Decisions of the LBRC are periodically published in the JLO. See JLO Vol.
6, No.1/2, pp 41-101, for the Ninth Report of the
LBRC; the Tenth Report is “in
press” and
will appear in the forthcoming online version of the JLO. Pdfs
of previous reports are available: http://www.losbird.org/lbrc/LBRCReports.htm 3. Nest Record Cards. If you find nests of even the commonest species,
please enter the data into the online Louisiana Nest Record database at the
Louisiana Bird Resource Center. Alternatively, they can be also reported on
preprinted cards issued by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Nest Record
Card Program. Cards and instructions are available from Dr. J. V. Remsen
at LSUMNS. See Remsen 1985 (LOS News No.109) for additional details. Please
be sure that you return the completed cards to Dr. Remsen so that the data
can be databased for the Louisiana files before
they are sent on to Cornell. See LOS News No. 175 for the most recent nest
record summary by David Wiedenfeld. Contact Remsen
if interested in becoming the state coordinator for this program. Important
nest records in terms of distribution should also be reported on 3x5 cards. 4. Specimens. Donations of salvaged specimens of any species are
important and appreciated by many scientific institutions. The LSUMNS has all
state and Federal salvage permits necessary to receive such specimens, which
are periodically reported to the LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries and the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Although state and federal law prohibits the
possession of most wild birds without special permits, there is generally no
danger of running afoul of the law if your intent is to deliver the specimen
to a scientific institution in a timely fashion. Dead birds that are in
reasonably good condition (e.g., not completely flattened or not yet
decomposing), or moribund birds that succumb before, during, or after rehabilitation
efforts, can be placed in a sealed plastic bag and kept frozen until they can
be delivered to a museum. A label with information on species, date when
found, location where found, and name of collector (so that you get full
credit for finding the specimen), should be placed in the bag with the bird
("frozen specimen data slips" are available from LSUMNS). Carcasses
of any unusual (or suspected unusual) species should be saved, regardless
of the specimen's condition, even if only a wing or tail. Please keep these guidelines for reference until further notice.
Revisions will be issued as necessary. Many thanks for your cooperation and
participation. APPENDIX 1. Lowery Bar Graph Status Corrections/Changes. For a few species, portions of the 1974 seasonal abundance codes are now
considered incorrect: Semipalmated Sandpiper-
no accepted winter records Common Tern- rare in winter Great Crested Flycatcher- few fall records after September Philadelphia Vireo – few
fall records before third week of September Blackburnian Warbler-
few spring records before 1 April Connecticut Warbler- no accepted fall records Species for which submitting records is no longer necessary (because
we already have information on file): Brown Pelican on coast (but records still wanted from inland or
documenting breeding distribution on coast) Northern Gannet in winter (but early, late, summer, high counts, etc.
still wanted) Double-crested Cormorant (but summer/breeding records still wanted) Anhinga (but winter records for northern LA still wanted) Tricolored Heron (but northern LA records still wanted) Black-crowned Night-Heron (but winter records from northern LA still
wanted) Glossy Ibis (but records from central/northern LA still wanted) White Ibis (but winter records from northern LA still wanted) Cackling Goose (but records away from southwest LA still wanted) Ross’s
Goose (but records away from southwest LA still wanted) Hooded Merganser (but summer/breeding or coastal records still wanted) Osprey (but summer/breeding records still wanted) Bald Eagle (but records from summer or away from expected breeding and
wintering sites still wanted) Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk (but summer records from extreme southern LA still
wanted) Peregrine Falcon (but late spring or early fall records still wanted) Merlin (but late spring or early fall records still wanted) Virginia Rail (but records from early fall or late spring, or winter in
northern LA still wanted) Black-necked Stilt (but records from winter in northern LA still wanted) Greater Yellowlegs (“summering” records
still wanted) Lesser Yellowlegs (“summering” records
still wanted) Herring Gull (but breeding records still wanted) Ring-billed Gull White-winged Dove (but records from central/northern LA or of breeding
still wanted) Inca Dove (but records from outside southwest LA still wanted) Common Ground-Dove (but summer records from southwest LA or any records
from outside southwest LA still wanted) Horned Lark (but coastal records, or southern LA breeding records still
wanted) Barn and Cliff swallows (but records of new colonies and late or early
records still wanted) White-eyed Vireo (but records from northern LA in winter still wanted) Philadelphia Vireo (but early fall or late spring records still wanted) Tennessee Warbler (in fall, records no longer needed until after 15 Nov.
from coast, 10 Nov. from interior) Wilson's Warbler (but records for spring migration, or northern LA in
winter still wanted) Lapland Longspur (but coastal or southeast LA records still wanted) Great-tailed Grackle (but records from outside southwest LA still wanted) At the other extreme are species for which ALL records, or all records
from certain seasons, should be reported even though they were not considered
"rare" by Lowery: SPECIES (need reports from….) Neotropic Cormorant (outside southwest
LA) Canada Goose (especially wild versus feral individuals) American Black Duck Greater Scaup Yellow Rail (away from southwest LA rice country) American Avocet (summering) Long-billed Curlew (report anywhere in spring, or away from southwest
coast at other seasons) Red Knot (summering, wintering) Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Oct.-Mar.) Common Tern (Nov.-Mar.) Groove-billed Ani Whip-poor-will (spring) Willow Flycatcher Alder Flycatcher (spring) Least Flycatcher (spring) White-breasted Nuthatch (outside Shreveport and Tensas River N.W.R.
areas) Bewick's Wren Gray-cheeked Thrush and Veery (on coast in
fall) Philadelphia Vireo (in fall prior to late Sept.) Warbling and Bell's vireos Golden-winged Warbler Nashville Warbler (in spring away from western tier of parishes) Cerulean Warbler (fall) Prairie Warbler (south of breeding areas in spring) Louisiana Waterthrush (early or late fall
migrants, e.g., before mid-July or after mid-Aug.) Swainson's Warbler (in fall after
mid-Aug.) Canada Warbler (spring away from western tier of parishes, and after Sep.
in fall) Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (inland) Lark Sparrow (coast, or breeding) Western Meadowlark For declining-but-regular species such as American Bittern, Reddish
Egret, Wood Stork, Swallow-tailed Kite, Piping Plover, Snowy Plover,
Gull-billed Tern, etc., multiple records for a particular season can be
listed on the back of a single card to conserve space in the card file. Also interesting are records of late spring or early fall migrants of
many species that are otherwise common breeders in Louisiana. Because Lowery's bar graphs did not distinguish between the
migration and nesting periods for Louisiana's summer resident Neotropical migrants (e. g., Acadian Flycatcher, Kentucky
Warbler), they appear as "common" or "uncommon" from when
the first ones arrive in spring until the last ones depart in fall.
Generally, records of definite (away from breeding areas) migrants of these
species from late spring or early fall are important. Finally, please report other noteworthy observations that do not readily
fit into the above categories: unusual concentrations and migrant
"fallouts," population trends, range expansions, aberrantly
plumaged individuals, or species that may be unusual in a particular region
of the state even though considered regular elsewhere (e.g., species such as
Barred Owl, Red-bellied and Red-headed woodpeckers, American Crow, Tufted
Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, or Eastern Bluebird on the immediate coast), or
species such as Mottled Duck or Boat-tailed Grackle well-inland from the
coast). APPENDIX 2. Species listed in Lowery 1974 but NOT on current main LA
state list: Harlequin Duck, Black Francolin, Red-throated Loon <but placement on
main list “pending”>,
White-tailed Tropicbird, Roseate Tern, Snow Bunting. APPENDIX 3. Species and “forms” currently on the LA state list that were not listed in
the 1974 version of the Lowery bar graphs (new records, taxonomic splits,
etc.): Cackling Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, King Eider, Cory’s
Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Band-rumped
Storm-Petrel, Red-billed Tropicbird, Zone-tailed Hawk, Lesser Sand-Plover,
Black-tailed Godwit, Purple Sandpiper, Ruff, California Gull, Thayer’s
Gull, Western Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kelp
Gull, Sabine’s
Gull, Arctic Tern, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mangrove Cuckoo, Antillean
Nighthawk, Green Violetear, Broad-billed
Hummingbird, Blue-throated Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird, Anna’s
Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Allen’s
Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher, Williamson’s
Sapsucker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Pacific-slope
Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher, Couch’s Kingbird,
Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Plumbeous Vireo, Cassin’s
Vireo, Yellow-green Vireo, Clark’s Nutcracker, Chihuahuan Raven, Cave Swallow, Rock Wren, Townsend’s
Solitaire, Varied Thrush, White Wagtail, Virginia’s Warbler,
Tropical Parula, Yellow-rumped
(Audubon’s)
Warbler, Townsend’s
Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Cassin’s
Sparrow, Baird’s
Sparrow, McCown’s
Longspur, Blue Bunting, Lazuli Bunting, Varied Bunting, Shiny Cowbird, Hooded
Oriole, Bullock’s
Oriole, House Finch APPENDIX 4. English name changes since Lowery 1974: Olivaceous Cormorant = Neotropic Cormorant Louisiana Heron = Tricolored Heron Night Heron = Night-Heron Whistling Swan = Tundra Swan Common Brant & Black Brant = Brant White-fronted Goose = Greater White-fronted Goose Ross’
Goose = Ross’s
Goose Tree-Duck = Whistling-Duck Black Duck = American Black Duck Oldsquaw = Long-tailed Duck Goshawk = Northern Goshawk Harris’
Hawk = Harris’s
Hawk Marsh Hawk = Northern Harrier Audubon’s Caracara = Crested Caracara Bobwhite = Northern Bobwhite Common Gallinule = Common Moorhen Northern Phalarope = Red-necked Phalarope Common Snipe = Wilson’s
Snipe Common Ground Dove = Common Ground-Dove Common Screech Owl = Eastern Screech-Owl Common Flicker = Northern Flicker Wied’s
Crested Flycatcher = Brown-crested Flycatcher Wood Pewee = Wood-Pewee Rough-winged Swallow = Northern Rough-winged Swallow Common Crow = American Crow Northern House Wren = House Wren Water Pipit = American Pipit Solitary Vireo = Blue-headed Vireo Northern Parula Warbler = Northern Parula Myrtle Warbler = Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler Rufous-sided Towhee = Eastern Towhee Sharp-tailed Sparrow = Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow Slate-colored Junco = Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco Gray-headed Junco = Dark-eyed (Gray-headed) Junco Harris’
Sparrow = Harris’s
Sparrow -00- |
|
Home ||
History ||
Officers ||
Join
LOS || LA Birding Organizations |