Winter 2018 – Committee Meeting

WINTER 2018 – SIGHT RECORDS RECONSIDERATION MEETING. FEBRUARY 2018.

Explanation

After years of debate, the Washington Bird Records Committee decided it was time to revisit those species on the state list supported only by sight records. In recent years, much has been written questioning the reliability of eye-witness accounts (We’ve been influenced especially by the Leonard Mlodinow’s book and similar discussions by the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee). When it comes to deciding what species are documented well enough to be included on the official Washington list of bird species, we increasingly felt that we should re-review those species supported only by written descriptions. The state list is intended to be conservative, establishing a baseline of what has passed review. Because of changes in procedures over the years, we felt especially that species accepted previously on a ‘supplemental’ list and then moved to the full list were worth revisiting and scrutinizing. While some of these reconsiderations may result in the invalidation of accurate records, our goal is to present a list of Washington birds that we can confidently defend based on our best current knowledge and on the evidence presented.

In all, we reviewed 27 records of 18 species supported only by written descriptions. We reversed the earlier decision in eight of these cases, resulting in the removal of six species from the Washington State list.

This brings the official Washington State Checklist to 512 species, including 497 species fully accredited (supported by specimen, photograph, or recording) and 15 species which are sight-only records (supported only by written documentation).


 

NO LONGER ACCEPTED:
The original decisions to accept these sight records was overturned on reconsideration at the February meeting. For all but the Philadelphia Vireo (where other records were reaffirmed), this resulted in the removal of these species from the official state list.

RTHU-1992-1, Ruby-throated Hummingbird — 28 Jun 1992, Liberty, Kittitas County [WBRC #2 (WA Birds 5:23)] (YES = 0; NO = 7; ABSTAIN = 0).

LICU-2001-1, Little Curlew — 6 May 2001, Leadbetter Point, Pacific County [WBRC #5 (WA Birds 8:08)] (YES = 0; NO = 7; ABSTAIN = 0).

GRKN-1979-1, Great Knot — 6 Sep 1979, La Push, Clallam County [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:30)] (YES = 0; NO = 7; ABSTAIN = 0).

WHAU-1999-1, Whiskered Auklet — 16-17 May 1999, Penn Cove, Island County [WBRC #5 (WA Birds 8:10)] (YES = 0; NO = 7; ABSTAIN = 0).

RFCO-1999-1, Red-faced Cormorant — 8 May 1999, off mouth of Elwha River, Clallam County [WBRC #5 (WA Birds 8:04)] (YES = 1; NO = 6; ABSTAIN = 0).

PHVI-2005-1, Philadelphia Vireo — 20 Aug 2005, Washtucna, Adams County [WBRC #9 (Western Birds 46(4): 315)] (YES = 1; NO = 6; ABSTAIN = 0).

PHVI-2007-1, Philadelphia Vireo — 3 Jun 2007, Hooper, Whitman County [WBRC #9 (Western Birds 46(4): 315)] (YES = 0; NO = 7; ABSTAIN = 0).

GCTH-1990-1, Gray-cheeked Thrush — 6 Oct 1990, McNary NWR, Walla Walla County [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:24)] (YES = 2; NO = 5; ABSTAIN = 0).


 

Reaffirmed original decision:
The original decisions to accept these sight records was reaffirmed at the February meeting.

CRPL-2006-1, Common Ringed-Plover — 23 Sep 2006, Port Susan Bay, Snohomish County, immature, sketch, Cameron Cox, Jessie Barry [s] [WBRC #8 (WA Birds 11:40)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

JASN-1993-1, Jack Snipe — 9 Sep 1993, Skagit Wildlife Area, Skagit County, Subsequent Vote re-confirmed: Accept, 7-0-1 (F05), Jan Wiggers, Keith Wiggers [WBRC #2 (WA Birds 5:23)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

WISP-1984-1, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel –23 Jul 1984, off Westport, Grays Harbor County, Ron Naveen, Bill Tweit [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:19)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

WISP-2001-1, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel — 6 Sep 2001, 30 mi off Westport, Grays Harbor County, Ryan Shaw, Charlie Wright [WBRC #5 (WA Birds 8:04)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

WISP-2003-1, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel –12 Jul 2003, 46°44’N, 124°44’W, off Cape Shoalwater, Pacific County, Bill Tweit, Bruce LaBar, Ryan Shaw [WBRC #7 (WA Birds 10:24-25)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

WISP-2005-1, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel — 7 Aug 2005, off Westport, Grays Harbor County, Steve Mlodinow, Dan Froehlich [WBRC #8 (WA Birds 11:38)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

CACO-1805-1, California Condor — 30 Oct 1805, near Wind River, Skamania County, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark [WBRC #3 (WA Birds 6:27)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

WEVI-1981-1, White-eyed Vireo –11 Jul 1981, Vashon Island, King County, 11 Jul 1981 singing male, Phil Mattocks [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:30)] (YES = 6, NO = 1, ABSTAIN = 0).

PHVI-1991-1, Philadelphia Vireo — 25 Sep 1991, Summer Falls, Grant County, Ken Brunner [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:30)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

PHVI-2002-1, Philadelphia Vireo — 7 Jun 2002, Upper Crab Creek, near Ritzville, Lincoln County, singing, Daniel Barton [WBRC #6 (WA Birds 9:51)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

PHVI-2004-1, Philadelphia Vireo — 29 May 2004, Vantage, Kittitas County, Steve Mlodinow [WBRC #7 (WA Birds 10:39-40)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

DUTH-2002-1, Dusky Thrush –27 Jun 2002, Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Peggy Alexander [WBRC #6 (WA Birds 9:52)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

PHAI-1994-1, Phainopepla — 24 Sep 1994, West Seattle, King County, female, David Buckley [WBRC #2 (WA Birds 5:23)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

RTPI-1979-1, Red-throated Pipit — 14 & 16 Sep 1979, American Camp, San Juan Island, San Juan County, Eugene Hunn Alan Richards, David Wolf [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:25)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

RTPI-2004-1, Red-throated Pipit –7 May 2004, Bainbridge Island, Kitsap County, Brad Waggoner [WBRC #7 (WA Birds 10:35)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

NESP-1986-1, Nelson’s Sparrow — 14 Sep 1986, Sullivan Lake, Pend Oreille County, Winifred Hepburn, Merlene Koliner, Deanna Palmer, Jeff Palmer, Carole Vande Voorde [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:28)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).

KEWA-1992-1, Kentucky Warbler — 14 Jun 1992, Darrington, Snohomish County, singing male, Dick Veit [WBRC #1 (WA Birds 3:30)] (YES = 7, NO = 0, ABSTAIN = 0).


 

RECONSIDERATION DECISION DEFERRED:
Reconsideration was not completed for the following two records as the committee seeks more information on hybrid identification.

MOWA-2001-1, Mourning Warbler — 26 May 2001, Lyons Ferry State Park, Franklin County [WBRC #5 (WA Birds 8:13)].

MOWA-2007-1, Mourning Warbler — 25 Aug 2007, Washtucna, Adams County [WBRC #9 (Western Birds 46(4): 316)].

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