LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

PHOTOS BELOW

     This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of species on the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (LBRC) Review List. The LBRC recommends the use of this form or a similar format when submitting records for review (to assure that all pertinent information is accounted for). Attach additional pages as necessary. Please print or type. Attach xerox of field notes, drawings, photographs, or tape recordings, if available. Include all photos for more obscurely marked species. When completed, mail to Secretary, Louisiana Bird Records Committee, c/o Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803-3216.

 

1. English and Scientific names:  Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus

 

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

 

one, female

 

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) ________Jackson____________________________

 

Specific Locality: ______Bradford Road, N 32 degrees 29’ 11.3” and W 92 degrees 27’ 3.3”___________________

 

4. Date(s) when observed:  3-25-12

 

 

5. Time(s) of day when observed:  9:55 AM

 

 

6. Reporting observer and address:  Steve Pagans

 

 

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

 

 

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

 

 

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):  Sunny and bright

 

 

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition  8x Bausch and Lomb Binoculars, and Canon 5D Mark II camera with Canon 400/5.6 lens

 

 

11. Distance to bird(s): 30 yards to begin with and then 40 feet.

 

 

12. Duration of observation:  10 minutes

 

 

13. Habitat:  Brushy upland site, clearcut in past 5 years and planted to pine

 

 

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):  Growling at my recording/playback of Prairie Warbler at first and then response to screech owl playback and pishing.

 

 

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species):  This bird was your typical female Spotted Towhee with darker brown head, white breast, rufous sides, dark back with lots of spots.

 

 

16. Voice:  All I heard was a growl.

 

 

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):  Eastern Towhee but too many spots to be the Eastern.

 

 

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):  Photographs by me.

 

 

19. Previous experience with this species:  Seen in Texas and 6 or 7 times in Louisiana

 

 

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

 

 

a. at time of observation:  none

 

 

b. after observation:  pictures on camera

 

 

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); __x___memory.

 

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain:  Yes

 

 

23. Signature of reporter: ___Stephen L. Pagans__________Date:_3-25-12__Time:__8:40 PM

 

 

24. May the LBRC have permission to display this report or
portions of this report on its webite? _______Yes___x__________

 

If yes, may we include your name with the report? ________Yes____x___

 

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