Arkansas Bird Records Committee - Arkansas Audubon Society

Arkansas Bird Records Committee

One of the objectives of the Arkansas Audubon Society has been to contribute to the knowledge of birds in Arkansas through the permanent maintenance of bird records for the state. The Arkansas Bird Records Committee, a committee of five members chaired by the AAS Curator, is responsible for determining the validity of reports of birds in Arkansas that are rare in the state, difficult to identify, or seen out of season. Noteworthy records that have been accepted by the ABRC appear in the Curator’s report, published each quarter in the AAS newsletter, Arkansas Birds. The ABRC also maintains and periodically publishes the official Arkansas State Bird List.

Brief sketch of the Arkansas Birds Records Committee

I recently went through some files that Doug James has kept on Arkansas Audubon Society, dating back to the beginning in the mid-1950s. Among many items is this report by Doug in his role as the society’s first curator: "1955-56 report of the curator of the Arkansas Audubon Society." The report noted that 60 people (named in the report) had contributed 3,600 sight records that were curated on 3 X 5 inch index cards within the last year. This file eventually grew to 40,000 records, and these formed the basis for the book Arkansas Birds (1986).

As curator, Doug made all decisions about what records were, or were not, acceptable. In terms of how he treated great rarities, most of the older hands from that time agreed it helped a lot to get a record accepted if Doug got to see the bird! Arkansas had many fewer genuinely skilled birders in its early days. Doug’s caution and experienced skepticism helped to maintain the society’s credibility.

Now forward almost 30 years: in the spring of 1984, AAS amended its bylaws and created its first bird records committee. Joe Neal was curator, and the first BRC consisted of William Shepherd, Charles Mills, Max Parker, and Doug James. In a letter (May 21, 1984) I addressed to this first BRC, I wrote, "The purpose of the committee is to help the curator with difficult records. Your yes or no on the records will decide whether or not certain records become a permanent part of our file of bird sightings." This first BRC operated without bylaws.

Under Max Parker’s leadership as curator, the BRC began to operate under bylaws in 1996. These bylaws are reproduced below. Other than founder Doug James, Max Parker was the longest serving curator. Max’s tenure was from January 1986 to October 2007.

Currently, Joe Neal has returned as curator. Members of the BRC are Doug James, Charles Mills, Kenny Nichols, and Chris Kellner.

When Max turned over the society’s files to me in fall 2007, he told me the following: "It’s better to reject a good record, than to accept a poor record." He attributed this statement to Art Johnson of Conway. He followed this philosophy and encouraged me to do the same.

A major component of files Max turned over to me were paper documents -- rare bird documentation forms. Nearly 1000 had been submitted over the years. Since that time, the number has grown to at least 1,015. Accepted documents receive a sequential number, which can then be used as a citation in a scientific paper (e.g., AAS no. XXXX).

All bird records submitted to the curator since 1986 have been entered into a database and all of these are easily searched by visiting the AAS website. Since early 2008, all records are self-service: submitted online by observers, vetted by the curator, then uploaded to the searchable database.

The society also has a collection of documentary images. In past years, these were slides and prints. Since early 2008, most documentary images have been submitted electronically (.JPG files). These images are stored on a hard drive, along with rare bird documents, which are now also electronic rather than paper.

The Bird Records Committee has never had regular meetings of any kind. Meetings, such as they occur, are informal, typically at a society spring or fall convention. The committee’s work was once all done by mail or telephone. Today, most of it is done by email.

-- submitted by Joe Neal May 2009

BYLAWS OF THE

ARKANSAS BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE (1996)

I. Name and affiliation

A. Name. The official name of this organization shall be the "Arkansas Bird Records Committee," hereinafter referred to as the "ABRC".

B. Affiliation. This is a committee of the Arkansas Audubon Society, Inc.

II. Purpose

A. Determine the validity of reports of birds in Arkansas that are rare in the state, difficult to identify, or seen out of season.

B. Maintain permanently the original documentation of reports submitted, and all results of committee votes and comments for future use by interested parties. [After a reasonable length of time, the material may be deposited in the University of Arkansas Library.]

C. Publish in ARKANSAS AUDUBON SOCIETY NEWSLETTER (a quarterly publication) at least minimal information on all reports receiving a decision.

E. Establish high standards of observation and reporting that will set a positive example for, and encourage, other field observers.

F. Maintain, update and periodically publish the official Arkansas state bird list, following the nomenclature and sequence of the current edition of the AOU Checklist and its Supplements.

III. Membership

A. Number and Definitions. The ABRC shall consist of the Curator, who shall serve as chair, and four other members. The Curator is an elected officer and board member of the Arkansas Audubon Society. The other four members are appointed by the Curator, approved by vote of the Arkansas Audubon Society Board of Directors, and serve at the pleasure of that Board and the Curator. Each member of the ABRC shall have one vote on such reports of birds as shall come before the committee.

B. Duties

1. The Curator will receive and evaluate Verifying Documentation of bird reports; for those requiring action by the ABRC, the Curator shall circulate copies to all Committee Members.

2. All five members shall vote on all documents circulated. A member may not abstain from voting.

C. Alternates. The Curator shall select one or more knowledgeable people to serve as alternate members whenever the committee is considering a report submitted by one or more of the regular members.

D. Votes. Votes shall be to accept or not accept bird reports. A vote not to accept must be accompanied by comments explaining reasons for that vote.

IV. Bird Records

A. Definitions. For purposes of the ABRC and these Bylaws a "report" is a written documentation submitted to the curator to substantiate the identity of a bird that has been sighted, heard, banded, collected, tape-recorded or photographed within the boundaries of Arkansas.

B. Verifying Documentation Form. The ABRC has prepared a preferred form, which is attached. All reports of extraordinary bird records should be submitted on the official form.

C. Policy. Documentations received by the Curator will not necessarily require circulation. All "First, Second and Third State Records" shall be circulated to the ABRC members, but in the case of other documents, discretion of the Curator will determine the necessity for circulation.

V. Decisions

A. A Verifying Documentation that has been circulated shall be considered accepted if it receives no more than one "Not Accepted" vote, or at least four "Accepted" votes; otherwise it is rejected.

B. A Report that has been rejected may be recirculated if the Curator receives additional identification material. All documentation of rejected reports shall remain on file.

C. A Report that has been accepted will be considered a usable record with respect to the official Arkansas State Bird List.

D. On the initiative of the Curator or of any two members of the committee, the committee may re-examine the evidence for any accepted record. In such a case, the standard for retaining/ rejecting the record shall be the same as for a new report, i.e. at least four votes to retain/accept.

VI. Adoption

A. Bylaws. These Bylaws must be approved by a majority vote of the Committee Members.

B. Changes. These Bylaws may be changed or amended by a majority vote of the Committee Members.

The latest Curator's report from the AAS newsletter, Arkansas Birds: Distribution and Abundance of Arkansas Birds - Winter Season- December - February 2008-2009

Note: Recently, much data has become available about the distribution of birds in Arkansas, where one can relatively easily, compare the past year with previous years. Thus, one can, with some confidence, determine whether a year was a "good" year or a "bad" year for a species, now, whereas in the past, this determination would have been nearly impossible. In order to take advantage of the above information, the most salient deviations from the norm of last fall's birds are pointed out below ‹ even if only common species are involved. These deviations were determined by examining three sources: The Great Backyard Bird Count, Source G; the Arkansas Christmas Bird counts, Source C; and E-Bird, Source E..

The newsletter does not have the space to list all the important records of the season, so only the most striking records are included. But, all records that were accepted by the curator are included in the online data base for Arkansas birds at arbirds.org.

Contributors are mentioned by name the first time in the following report and by initials thereafter. Thank you for submitting reports.

TUNDRA SWAN—There were three records: one near Holla Bend, Yell 12/3 (Kenny Nichols, LaDonna Nichols); one at Holla Bend Pope 12/26 (KN, Dick Baxter, Paul Lehman), two there 1/31 (Dan Scheiman, Samantha Holschbach, Karen Holliday, Robert Herron, Leslie Koller, m.ob.); and three at SWEPCO Lake, Benton 12/22 to 1/24 (Joe Neal, Joe Woolbright, m.ob.). These are rare in winter, but appear to be increasing.

MOTTLED DUCK—Eighteen were seen 1/25 (DBa), and 12 were seen 2/21 (DBa, Sarah Baxter), all at Camp Nine Farm, Desha. There are only two previous winter records one from 2005-06, and the other from 2006-07, both from Desha.

SURF SCOTER—One was found by Dennis Braddy 1/2 at Mallard Lake, Mississippi. This is only the ninth winter record. There are a similar number of spring records, but over forty for the fall.

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER—One was found by Ron Howard 12/18 at Craighead Forest Park, Craighead, and three were seen at Lake Dardenelle, Yell 1/16 (KN, LN), one staying at least until 2/22 (KN). There are now twenty winter records. There are about as many fall records, but only ﬁve from spring.

BLACK SCOTER—One was seen at Lake Beaverfork, Faulkner 12/3 (KN, LN). This is the eleventh winter record. There are about the same number of fall records, but only two from spring.

LONG-TAILED DUCK—One was seen 12/14 at Anderson’s Fish Farm, Lonoke (KN, LN, DSc), another was seen at Lake Fayetteville, Washington 12/10 to 12/11 (Mike Mlodinow, Joe Neal, et al.), and one was seen on Beaver Lake, Benton 1/9 & 2/19 (JN). The online AAS database has about 30 previous winter records, 18 from fall, and four from spring.

COMMON MERGANSER—Two were seen 12/26 at Dardenelle Lock & Dam, Yell (KN, DBa, PL) and ﬁve were photographed 12/29 at Craighead Forest Park, Craighead (RH). There are 32 records from previous winters in the online AAS database, three from spring, and two from fall. Before the mid 1980s this species was much more common in winter, occurred regularly in late November, but was always very rare in spring.

RED-BREASTED MERGANSER—Two were seen by Rob Doster at Lake Pine Bluff, Jefferson 12/20. Rare in winter, but probably not as rare as the seven prior records for winter in the AAS database suggest.

RED-THROATED LOON—One to two were seen at Lake Maumelle, Pulaski 12/19 & 1/1 (DBr), and 1/3 (Leif Anderson, Teresa Mathews). This is the tenth winter record for Arkansas. There are eight fall and four spring records.

Submit all your bird records to the AAS Curator using our online form .

PACIFIC LOON—One was discovered 12/29 (Jim Dixon, Samantha Dixon) at Lake Maumelle, Pulaski, seen by several others at least until 2-1 (DSc, SH, DBr). This is the eighth winter record. There are three fall and two spring records.

WESTERN GREBE—Two were seen 12/2 to 2/3 at DeGray Lake, Clark and Hot Spring (DBr et al.), and one was found at Beaver Lake, Benton 1/7 to 2/22 (JN et al.). There are 8 previous records for winter in the AAS database (and one Western/Clark’s). There are also 12 fall records (and two Western/Clark’s) and four spring records (and two Western/Clark’s).

AMERICAN BITTERN—One was seen at Camp Nine Farm, Desha 1/23 (DBa), and one was seen at Woolsey Wet Prairie, Washington 2/19 (Andrew Scaboo, Brandon Schmidt, Ben Burnette, Bruce Shackleford, Joe Woolbright), the second winter record for the Ozarks. They are rare but regular during winter in the eastern lowlands, but are very rare to casual elsewhere.

GREEN HERON—One was found by Loice Lacy near Mt. Holly, Union on 1/14. There are only four other records for winter since 1986, suggesting that the species occurs casually in this season.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON—One second cycle bird was seen on 2/21 at Camp Nine Farm, Desha (DBa). This is only the eleventh winter record; surprising as it seems to occur about as often in winter in some states to our north, such as in Missouri.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK—One was photographed near Keiser, Mississippi 12/26 (Steve Slayton, Louise Slayton). Formerly more common, especially in spring and fall, there have been eight winter, and one spring record during the last ten years.

VIRGINIA RAIL—Two were found 12/22 (RD, Glenn Manning) near Pine Bluff, the fourth year in a row that this species has been found at the above site in winter. And two were found 2/14 at Two Rivers Park, Pulaski (DSc, SH, KH, JD, Ken Dayer), where they also winter regularly. However, the species is generally very rare in winter: there are only eight previous winter records since 1986.

SANDHILL CRANE—Three of these were seen soaring near the ASU campus in Jonesboro 2/24 (RH). Rare, but seen predominately in winter there have been 38 other sightings since 1986 at this season.

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER—An incredible 2400 were reported from Treadway’s Minnow Farms, Prairie 12/12 (KN, LN). There are only six previous winter sightings since 1986, 75 individuals in the highest count.

LAUGHING GULL—Three records: two birds from Lake Dardenelle, Pope/Yell 1/3 to 2/14 (KN, LN, JD), one to two from Two Pines Landfill, Jacksonville, Pulaski 1/2 & 1/30 (KN, LN) and three from Lake Pine Bluff 12/20 to 12/26 (RD). This is now a fairly well established, though local winter resident in Arkansas. There are about 17 previous winter records, the first one in 1994.

FRANKLIN’S GULL—An adult in breeding plumage was found 1/24 at Russellville, Pope (KN, LN). There are only eight previous winter records for this species.

THAYER’S GULL—One first winter bird was seen at Lake Dardenelle, Yell 12/18 to 2/22 (KN, LN, JD). This is the sixth record and the sixth winter record for the state.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL—One to two adults were seen at Lake Dardenelle, Yell from 1/3 to 2/22 (KN, LN, JD, Bill Shepherd). This is the ninth record, and the eighth winter record for Arkansas.

GLAUCOUS GULL—An immature was found 12/13 (KN, LN) at Beaverfork Lake, Faulkner and another immature was discovered at the BFI Landfill in Little Rock 12/27 (DBr, JD). There are seven previous records; all were at least partly during winter.

BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE—One first winter bird was discovered at Lake Pine Bluff, Jefferson 12/21 (RD). Previously, there have been five fall, seven winter, and one spring record for this species.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD—First found in November by Rosemary Scott in Conway, Faulkner, this bird continued to be seen at least until 3/2. It is the second record for Arkansas.

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD—A female or immature male was seen in Little Rock 1/19 and 1/25 (Debby Haines, JD, DSc, SH). This is the eighth record. Three of the prior records were first noted in the fall, four were first seen in winter. One of the birds discovered in the fall lingered into March of the following year, while one of the birds first found in winter, also stayed into March.

RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD—Two were found this winter: one in Saline 12/6 (JD, Angie Dixon, Samantha Dixon), and one in Arkansas 12/7 (Donna Haynes, Becky Hannah). Both were adult males. 72 have been reported since 1986, only one plus four Rufous/Allen’s were reported before then. About 4/7 were first spotted in the fall and 3/7 in the winter, though several have stayed for more than one season.

SAY’S PHOEBE—There are three records this winter, six records since 2006, and twelve records total for the state. A very surprising three were reported by Esta Lee and Joe Pattie, Jody Clark 12/23 near South Lead Hill, Boone, one tarrying at least until 1/9. Also single birds were found 1/11 (Ronald Goddard, Libby Goddard) at Pigeon Creek Pond west of Waldron, Scott, and near Birdeye, Cross 2/13 (DBa). Of the six, most post 2005 records, five were discovered in winter, while only one of the pre-2006 records were found then.

VERMILION FLYCATCHER—Two records: An immature male was seen 2/13 (Cathie Foster, Jack Foster) at Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge Lock & Dam. An adult male was discovered 2/28 (Don Harrington, Dolores Harrington, Glenn Good, Evelyn Good) at the Turtle Pointe Golf Club in Arkadelphia, Clark. This is a very rare to casual species that before 1986 was found mainly in fall and winter, but afterwards has been found in spring more than in any other season.

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER—One was noted in Little Rock 12/25 to 12/27 (DBr, JD). It is the fourteenth winter report since 1986.

SPRAGUE’S PIPIT—Three of this highly sought species was at the Stuttgart Airport, Prairie 1/17 (DSc, SH, Dwight Cooley, Scott Gravette). Five of the thirteen post 1985 records are now from this location. Most are from winter.

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW—Five records, four from the Ozarks, one from the Arkansas River Valley: three at Holla Bend, Pope 12/18 (LA); one in Boone 12/17 (Alan Gregory, JoAnne Rife, Sally Jo Gibson); one near Maysville, Benton 12/21 (MM, Jacque Brown, JN); two to three at the Razorback Park Golf Course, Fayetteville 1/7 to 1/17 (MM, JB [photo]), and one at Woolsey Wet Prairie, Fayetteville 1/14 (MM). In the Ozarks this species was once fairly common in winter, and most years seen in late fall and early spring. It has become rare even in winter; almost never seen otherwise.

HENSLOW’S SPARROW—A very local, but increasing resident (both in summer and winter), one was identified at Two Rivers Park, Pulaski 2/14 (JD, DoH, et al.). Since 1986, it has been found reliably in winter only at Warren Prairie, and sporadically at a few other spots.

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR—A female was picked out of a flock of 32 Lapland Longspurs by (LA) 1/24 in the White River levee town of Crumrod, Phillips. This is only the seventh record, and the fourth winter record for this species in Arkansas.

INDIGO BUNTING—Jennifer Russell noted a male in basic plumage at her feeder near Fayetteville, Washington 2/28, and, also, sometime earlier that week. Depending on how one counts records, this is either the seventh or eighth winter record.

DICKCISSEL—Three records: four north of Pine Bluff, and one east of Pine Bluff both in Jefferson on 12/22 (KN, LN), and one at Bald Knob, White 2/16 (DSc). Although "Arkansas Birds" states that it is found in the state each winter, there have been only five such reports between January, 1986 and February, 2008.

RED CROSSBILL—12 were found near Victor, Pope 2/4 (LA). Since 1986 there have been about 85 reports of this species, about ¼ from winter.

COMMON REDPOLL—One was seen in Boone (Alan Gregory, Teri Gregory, Geri Ray) 12/17. This is the seventeenth record for this species that occurs mostly in winter. Ten of the records have been from the Ozarks.

Mike Mlodinow

Bird Records Reporter

Mike Mlodinow

Bird records reporter