** John Chandler wrote re. recent Great Knot


> As a result of Michael Price's comment that this was a Canadian First, I
> asked Jack Bowling how you know if a sighting was a BC, Canadian, North
> American or 'South of Alaska' first. He indicated BC Checklist for BC,
> Tony White's quarterly Birdlist newsletter for Canada and ABA Field Notes
> for America. Anyone have other suggestions or know of Internet sources for
> this info?

Actually, Tony White's quarterly update is still the best (and cheapest) way to
keep updated on all of N. America north of Mexico, and Hawaii. He has taken to
listing all *potential* checklist additions, with the proviso that they may be
deleted in subsequent newsletters depending on Bird Record Committee decisions.
He leaves it up to the subscriber's conscience how they want to handle the
updates on their end.

Oh, and re. browbeating by Records Committees: the intent is not to browbeat but
to ensure that the identification meets acceptance criteria. Sometimes this
involves close scrutiny and questioning of observers which some people do not
handle as well as others. It takes a thick skin to be on such a committee since
some of the records you do not accept are bound to be from friends. It hurts to
reject records sometimes and most people can only stand so long on a records
committee before they burn out from the "you are becoming nothing but a
hard-nosed elitist pig" ribbing from the troops. There is a fine line between
rigor and beneficence.

- Jack

- Jack




Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca