In a post last week Michael Price asked whether the sighting of the Great
Knot had been confirmed. Before communicating that it was confirmed, I
checked my understanding of confirmed with someone locally. I'd be
interested in your thoughts on this.

A sighting of a rarity is called into the tape. What does it take for this
sighting to be confirmed? When two or more observers say they are
comfortable with their identification of the bird? Obviously, as indicated
earlier in this thread, there is a balance between timeliness and
certainty.

Before you hop in the car/on the plane, what level of confirmation would
you want. What difference does it make if you do not know the observers?

John Chandler
Alandale Training Corporation
Richmond, BC, Canada
Phone: 604-274-8777
email: chandler at uniserve.com