Ontario Bird Records Committee Report for 1990 by Robert Curry
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18 editor of American Birds and the Editors' Note: The Ontario Bird OBRC, so that such incongruities Records Committee, not Ontario don't continue. Considering the much Birds, adjudicates rare bird records in larger readership of American Birds Ontario and determines which birds (now in its new, hideous, and are to be reported. Consequently, Mr. glamorized version), one must ask Holdsworth's suggestions for changes which organ represents the final say in reporting policy are more considering Ontario bird records? appropriately directed to the OBRC Surely, it is the OBRC, but the However, the Editors recognize a readers of American Birds hear not of growing interest in "recognizable the OBRC's decisions concerning forms" among Ontario birders, and as records in AB. A union of sorts a result, have instituted a new feature between these two journals would on this subject. See page 49 in this prevent such major discrepancies and issue for a checklist. give North American birders an authoritative view of Ontario bird records. James Holdsworth Woodstock, Ontario Ontario Bird Records Committee Report for 1990 by Robert Curry This is the ninth annual report of the Roberson (1990) indicated that we are Ontario Bird Records Committee following the same procedures as (OBRCI of the Ontario Field similar groups across North America Ornithologists. Published herein are and elsewhere. Unfortunately, there the records that were received and remain certain portions of the reviewed by the Committee during province from which very few 1990. In total, 187 records were submissions are received despite assessed, the identification of which requests for existing reports of review 165 (about 88%1 were found to be list species. We estimate about 30 acceptable. Observers are to be records annually are not reported and commended for their increasing are missing from the central archives levels of skill in both observing and maintained at the Royal Ontario describing rare birds. Museum (ROM). The OBRC A review of North American bird encourages readers of this report to records committees in Birding by please submit reports for all review ONTARIO BIRDS AUGUST 1991 19 list species, regardless of whether or should not infer that we believe the not they were the discoverers, and to bird or birds were misidentified, or promote submissions of reports from that the observer's ability is being other observers across the province. questioned. The judgements relate We especially encourage submissions solely to the acceptibility of reports from anywhere in eastern Ontario to for the permanent historical record, help make these reports as complete and to this end, the accuracy and as possible. completeness of reports are In the introduction to the scrutinized as objectively as possible. Eleventh Report of the California Bird Furthermore, it is important to realize Records Committee (CBRC), Bevier that all non-accepted reports are (1990) explained the purpose and stored in the appropriate species file procedures of that Committee. Much in the OBRC archives at the Royal of what he wrote is appropriate to Ontario Museum. New evidence at a repeat here since it states clearly the later date can result in decisions shared objectives of bird records being reconsidered and possibly committees such as the CBRC and reversed. OBRC. The OBRC cannot, nor does it In the writing and submitting of intend to verify or invalidate personal reports several points deserve records. Observers whose reports are emphasis. Careful field notes, not accepted by the Committee sketches, photographs, and sound Figure 1: Ontario Bird Records Committee studying Western and Cassin's Kingbirds in the Bird Room at the Royal Ontario Museum, 16 March 1991. Left to right: Ron Tozer, Dennis Rupert, George Wallace, Bob Curry, Ross James, Margaret Bain, Kevin McLaughlin, Doug McRae, and Mike Runtz. Photo by T. Ron Scovell. VOLUME 9 NUMBER 2 20 recordings provide the evidence are presented, bringing the provincial necessary for a record of lasting total to 445 species. Added to the list value. A neatly printed or typed for northern Ontario are California report is necessary, but more critical Gull and Blue Grosbeak while are notes and sketches done in the southern Ontario finally recorded its field. Certainly, in the follow-up first Ross' Gull. Two new species report, usually completed at home, it Bohemian Waxwing and Snow is important for the observer to Bunting - are added to the list of document the presence of characters birds known to breed in Ontario, that exclude other species. Finally, bringing that total to 287. the descriptions should be completed, as much as possible, without Changes to the review list reference to guides. When they are The records for Fall 1990 indicate used, this must be noted and that Long-billed Dowitcher is a explaip.ed. regular migrant in northern Ontario, Among the most difficult generally in areas not visited by problems faced annually by the observers. Hence, it will be dropped Committee are those pertaining to the from the Norther Ontario Review List natural occurrence of a bird. It is effective 1 January 1991. The virtually impossible to prove that a Committee still invites reports of this bird did not escape from some form species from northern Ontario from of captivity. Where wild status is at previous years. issue, the degree of certainty for a Effective 1 January 1991, Snowy record to be accepted has been, in Egret, Arctic Tern and Barn Owl are practice, slightly lower than that for added to the Southern Ontario acceptance of identification. Review List. Nevertheless, we encourage reporters to supply the Committee with Format information on the captive status and The organization and style of this likelihood of vagrancy just as they report are similar to those used in the would provide evidence in support of Report for 1989 (Wormington and the identification. Curry 1990). For each record Members of the OBRC in 1990 presented, information on age, sex, were Ronald G. Tozer (Chairman), and plumage is included if it was Robert Curry (non-voting Secretary), available and the determination was Ross D. James, Kevin A. McLaughlin, certain. Place names in italics refer to R. Douglas McRae, Michael W.P. counties, regional municipalities, or Runtz, Dennis F. Rupert, and George districts in Ontario. All contributors E. Wallace (Fig. I). They have who have provided a written reviewed, revised and endorsed this description, photograph, audiotape or report. specimen have been credited. Contributors who discovered a bird Additions to the provincial list and submitted documentation have Five species new to the province their names underlined. In a Ferruginous Hawk, Black Rail, departure from previous reports, if Wilson's Plover, Black-chinned the discoverer is known but did not Hummingbird and Cassin's Finch - submit documentation, this person is ONTARIO BIRDS AUGUST 1991 21 also acknowledged, it being an An additional feature has been important part of the record. Readers added to the summary numbers in must understand, however, that this brackets next to the species name information is incomplete and may, which first appeared in last year's occasionally, be in error as we have report. Following the system used in no written material on file from these British Birds (see Rogers 1988), the people. This can be corrected in three numbers refer respectively to future if discoverers are encouraged the total number of accepted records by friends to submit reports to the before 1981 (first OBRC report), total OBRC. Records presented all pertain number for the period since the to sight records unless other evidence formation of the OBRC, but excluding is indicated. the number of records for the current year, which is the last number A concerted effort has been made shown. An individual in the same to determine the correct occurrence locality in a subsequent year judged dates, number and location of each as the same, or probably the same, as record. The seasonal reports in recorded previously, is not counted in American Birds and personal the total of accepted records, whereas correspondence from Ron D. Weir an individual considered not the have been most useful in this regard. same, or possibly the same, is added However, with a much tonger time to the total. We hope this will give period to accumulate information and the reader a greater appreciation of with original documents at our the status of each species in Ontario. disposal we have been, in some cases, Clearly for many species this is not a able to present more accurate totally accurate status as there are information. Consequently, dates or many records which occurred before other information which are different 1981 (and some since) which we have from that appearing in other yet to review. We hope that this will publications are italicized. The encourage readers to submit any revised information and all other documentation on these older records dates listed are considered correct by which are a vital part of the historical the Committee. record. Accepted Records Western Grebe (Aechmophorus.occidentalis) (0/311) 1990 - two (pair). 9-12 June, Rainy River mouth, Rainy River (Rohan A. vanTwest, Philip Walker, Wilf Yusekl - photo on file. lt is possible that this pair is the same one seen in 1989 but here it is considered a separate record. Northern Fulmar (Fulmarusglacialis) (3/4/0) 1989 - one adult male light phase, 15 January, Presqu'He Provo Park, Northumberland (Brian Henshaw). Specimen (skin) in ROM: #0154524. 1988 - one light phase, 14 December, New Liskeard, Timiskaming (Susan Weilandt, Gerry Vanleeuwen)" The New Liskeard bird was found along the highway unable to fly. It was fed, transported south and released by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources personnel VOLUME 9 NUMBER 2 22 Adu..L-t Head.® "* Io.lje. tW4ft,,~ h> 1kt Iluko."d body.