1987-1988 - American Birding Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Dissenting Opinion:"As I've already said, I'm notswayed by the issue of tail molton this bird. And at places inMexico that I've visited repeatedlyI've seen enough variation innumbers to believe that thesebirds move around somewhat Forthese reasons, I still believe thereis a good chance the Texas birdwas wild. But Binford knows thespecies better than I do, and Ihave to agree with most ofRemsen's points, so I won't voteto accept this time."Parenthetically, I think thespecies may be sufficiently irregularin its "normal" movementsthat -it will be hard to establishany regular pattern of vagrancy.Look at the scattershot pattern oflong-distance vagrancy in Phainopepla,to cite a species with somesimilarities. Since Gray Silkiesare often more gregarious thanPhainopeplas, our best chance forbelieving a US record might bewith a small flock in the Chisos orthe Chiricahuas; but I wouldn'twant to guess what time of yearthey might show up!"VOTES IN PROGRESSGREEN PARAKEET (Aratinga ho-1ochlora)-enlistMOTTLED OWL (Ciccalsa virgata)-enlistAZURE GALLINULE (Porphy rulaflavirostus)-enlistCRANE HAWK (Geranospizacaeru1escens)- enlistYELLOW-BREASTED BUNTING(Ernberiza aureola)-enlistMUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER (Ficedularnugirnaki)-remove fromlistFUTURE VOTESWEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER(Puffinus pacificus)-in reviewSOLANDER'S PETREL (Pterodrornaso1andri)-await state(CA) decisionSWALLOW-TAILED GULL(Creagrus furcatus)-await state(CA) decisionGRAY GULL (Larus modestus)-await state (LA) decisionXANTUS' HUMMINGBIRD (Hy10-charis xantusii)-await state(CA) decisionCOX'S SANDPIPER (Caliris pararnelarotos)-Beforewe can formallyconsider this record, wemust await a taxonomic decisionfrom the AOU Check-list Committee,specifically whether it willbe accorded species status.ABA AND THEAOU CHECKLISTS:CONCORDANCE ANDCOLLECTINGSome ABA members have expressedconcern about discrepanciesbetween the American Ornithologists'Union (AOU) Checklistand the ABA checklist Somesuggest that we accept only whatAOU accepts. As Chairman of thiscommittee I disagree, both inprinciple and in practice. A fewyears ago much duplication of effortexisted. Now the AOU ChecklistCommittee relies on us (ABA)for critical reviews of possible additionsto their checklist. Ourpartnership involves the birdingcommunity in ornithology in apositive and complementary way.Volume XX, Number 2
We prepare the files, or inheritthem from state records committees,and make our decisions,which the AOU committee thenconsiders. Burt L. Monroe,Chairman of the AOU Check-listCommittee, receives copies of ourfiles and discussion. Just as theABA committee usually yields atfirst pass to state or provincialcommittees, so the AOU typicallyyields to us. It is unlikely the AOUwould accept anything we reject,but they retain the option of rejectingour positive decisions.This is as it should be, becausethe purposes of the two checklistsboth overlap and differslightly. The AOU Checklist is aconservative statement of scientificknowledge; the ABA Checklist,a summary of birding recordsscrutinized by experts. Differentcriteria and perspectives guidethe decisions of these two committeesas they debate fact versusfiction, and biological versus artificialvagrancy. Collected specimensand verifiable photographsare valued by both committees asthe best possible documentation.Pete Dunne has writtenstrongly against any further collectingof specimens to documentthe distribution of birds (seeLiving Bird Quarterly, Vol. 7, No.2) and has also lambasted "theAOU's advocacy of specimenrecords for inclusion in the NorthAmerican list as an anachronismpredicated upon a philosophythat died over 60 years ago." Aschairman of this committee, andalso Vice-president of the AOUlast year, I felt obliged to reply onbehalf of the many who do notagree with Pete. My reply appearsin the October 1988 issue ofLiving Bird Quarterly, but thefinal paragraph merits reprintinghere (with permission from managingeditor, Richard E. Bonney,Jr.):"We must remind ourselves ofthe purpose of the AOU Checklist,which Pete challenges as irrelevantand archaic. This premierchecklist documents whatare the facts about the distributionof North American (and CentralAmerican) bird species. Compiledcarefully by experts of considerablestature, it is, and shouldalways be, a conservative document,not prone to speculation orto acceptance of uncertainties,which then will have to bechanged in future editions. Reasonabledoubt opposes the conclusionof fact, and so results inthe rejection of some records.Facts also must be verifiable inthe future, hence the need forgood documentation-photographs,tape recordings, or specimens-thatpermit expert scrutinyand bear up to critical challenge.Otherwise, we would baseour science on fiction, on possiblemyth. Certainly, with the adventof extraordinary binocularsand cameras, specimens droppedby shotguns no longer must prevailas a means of identification orverification. At times, however, aspecimen will be desirable andeven essential to confirm an identification,to separate fact fromfiction. So I suggest that we allornithologists,birders, and superbirdersalike-humbly recognizeour limited skills and our occasionalfallibility. If we do,birding and ornithology both willprosper. "Frank B. GillChairman, ABA ChecklistCommitteeBIRDING, April 1988
Page 1 and 2: REPORT OF THEAMERICAN BIRDINGASSOCI
Page 3 and 4: successfully bred, producing theimm
Page 5: GRAY SILKY-FLY-CATCHER(Ptilogonys c

1987-1988 - American Birding Association

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?