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4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744 The Texas Bird Records Committee (hereafter "TBRC" or "committee") of the Texas Ornithological Society requests and reviews documentation on any record of a TBRC Review List species (see Lockwood 2000 or TBRC web page at https://members.tripod.com/~tbrc/). Annual reports of the committee’s activities have appeared in the Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society since 1984. For more information about the Texas Ornithological Society or the TBRC, please visit www.texasbirds.org. The committee reached a final decision on 59 records during 2000: 44 records of 29 species were accepted and 14 records of 13 species were not accepted, an acceptance rate of 76% for this report. There were 85 observers who submitted documentation (to the TBRC or to other entities) that was reviewed by the committee during 2000. In 2000 the TBRC accepted first state records of Buff-breasted Flycatcher and Blue Mockingbird. These actions brought the official Texas State List to 620 species in good standing. This total does not include the five species listed on the Presumptive Species List. In addition to the review of previously undocumented species, any committee member may request that a record of any species be reviewed. The numbers of accepted records are also listed for California Gull, which was recently removed from Review List A, though retained on Review List B. The committee desires written descriptions as well as photographs, video, and audio recordings if available. Information concerning a Review List species may be submitted to the committee secretary, Mark Lockwood, 6710 Lancret Hill Drive, Austin, Texas 78745 (email: mark.lockwood@tpwd.state.tx.us). Guidelines for preparing rare bird documentation can be found in Dittmann and Lasley (1992). The records in this report are arranged taxonomically following the AOU Check-list of North American Birds (AOU 1998) through the 42nd supplement (AOU 2000). A number in parentheses after the species name represents the total number of accepted records in Texas for that species at the end of 2000. All observers who submitted written documentation or photographs of accepted records are acknowledged by initials. If known, the initials of those who discovered a particular bird are in boldface but only if the discoverers submitted supporting documentation. The TBRC file number of each accepted record will follow the observers' initials. If photographs or video recordings are on file with the TBRC, the Texas Photo Record File (TPRF) (Texas A&M University) number is also given. If an audio recording of the bird is on file with the TBRC, the Texas Bird Sounds Library (TBSL) (Sam Houston State University) number is also given. Specimen records are denoted with an asterisk (*) followed by the institution where the specimen is housed and the catalog number. The information in each account is usually based on the information provided in the original submitted documentation; however, in some cases this information has been supplemented with a full range of dates during which the bird was present if that information was made available to the TBRC later. All locations in italics are counties. TBRC Membership -- Members of the TBRC during 2000 who participated in decisions listed in this report were: Mark Lockwood, Chair, Keith Arnold, Academician, Greg Lasley, Secretary, Brush Freeman, Petra Hockey, Terry Maxwell, Martin Reid, Willie Sekula, and Barry Zimmer. During 2000, Kelly Bryan was elected as a new member, Brush Freeman was elected to a second term, and the Academician was re-elected. John Arvin replaced Lockwood as the committee Chair and Lockwood replaced Lasley as the Secretary. Contributors -- AF - Anthony Floyd, AW - Alan Wormington, BB - Bob Behrstock, BD - Bob Doe, BFe - Bert Frenz, BFr - Brush Freeman, BH - Bob Honig, BK - Bert McKee, BMc - Brad McKinney, BP - Bill Principe, BZ - Barry Zimmer, C&OB - Charles & Olivia Brower, CH - Christine Hirst, DB - David Blankenship, DM - Doug McNair, DP - Dwight Peake, DS - David Sarkozi, EC - Eric Carpenter, ER - Eric Horvath, EW - Ed Wetzel, F&JD - Fred & Judy Donaldson, FB - Frank Bumgardner, FR - Forrest Roland, GC - Greg Cook, GK - Greg Keiran, GL - Greg Lasley, GM - Guy McCaskie, J&BRi - John & Barbara Ribble, J&WR - Jan & Will Risser, JA - John Arvin, JH - John Hoogerheide, JJ - Jimmy Jackson, JK - John Karges, JMc - Jimmy McHaney, JO - John O'Brien, JPa - Jim Paton, JR - John Rosford, JSi - Jim Sipiora, JSt - Jim Stevenson, JW - John Whittle, JZ - James Zabriskie, K&PH - Ken & Patsy Hunter, KBa - Keith Bartels, KBr - Kelly Bryan, KSz - Ken Sztraky, L&NL - Larry & Nancy LaBrant, LD - Larry Ditto, LH - Linda Hedges, LM - Laura Moore, MAb - Melissa Abbott, MAd - Mark Adams, MAu - Mike Austin, MC - Mel Cooksey, ME - Mark Elwonger, MF - Mark Flippo, MI - Marshall Iliff, ML - Mark Lockwood, MR - Martin Reid, MS - Marcy Scott, MW - Matt White, ND - Nancy Devlin, P&RA - Pam & Reid Allen, P&TF - Phyllis & Tony Frank, PDH - P. D. Hulce, PG - Peter Gottschling, PH - Petra Hockey, RBe - Robert Benson, RBu - Roger Burrows, RD - Rich Damron, RF - Robert Frew, RH - Rich Hoyer, RK - Rich Kostecke, RMS - Rose Marie Stortz, RN - Russell Namitz, RS - Robert Schwaller, SB - Steve Bentsen, SC - Scott Clark, SJ - Simone Jenion, SP - Steve Phillips, SW - Steve West, TB - Tim Brush, TG - Tina Gallegos, TH - Tom Hobby, TK - Tim Kaspar, WM - Wayne Meyer, WR - Will Russell, WS - Willie Sekula. Acknowledgments -- The TBRC is very grateful to the many contributors listed above, without whom this report would not be possible. The committee would also like to thank the following consultants who provided the TBRC with expert opinion, advice, or other information concerning records reviewed during 2000: Bruce Mactavish, Dan Brooks of the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, and Mary Candee of the Witte Museum. The author thanks Martin Reid, Petra Hockey, and Brush Freeman for reviewing previous drafts of this report. Additional Abbreviations -- AOU = American Ornithologists' Union; HMNS = Houston Museum of Natural Sciences; NP = National Park; NWR = National Wildlife Refuge; SNA = State Natural Area; SP = State Park; TCWC = Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection (Texas A&M University); WM = Witte Museum.
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) (37). One at Offat’s Bayou, Galveston, on 13 March 1999 (J≀ 1999-27). Leach's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) (19). A specimen was located during 2000, one from Freeport, Brazoria, on 23 July 1976 (*HMNS 13). Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) (15). One on an oil rig off North Padre Island, Kenedy, on 30 October 1999 (AW; 1999-107; TPRF 1798). American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) (7). One at Village Creek Wastewater Plant, Tarrant, from 9 December 1998 to 2 January 1999 (JSi, SJ, MR, BFe, GK, SC; 1999-3; TPRF 1778). Masked Duck (Nomonyx dominicus) (56). Two at Fort Bliss sewage ponds, El Paso, form 8-19 July 1976 (BZ, BP; 1999-42). Two on the Kenedy Ranch, Kenedy, on 20 March 1999 (BFr; 1999-35). Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus) (11). One at Lost Maples SNA, Bandera, from 6-20 April 1999 (RN, RS, RF, RH; 1999-50). Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) (28). A specimen collected at Mitchell Lake, Bexar, on 1 January 1930 (*WM 135) was located in 2000. Little Gull (Larus minutus) (32). One at South Side Water Treatment Plant, Dallas, from 14-21 January 2000 (MW, B&JRi; 2000-2; TPRF 1792). One at Hagerman NWR, Grayson, from 17-18 January 2000 (GC, WM; 2000-6; TPRF 1776). Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) (20). One at Cooper Lake, Hopkins, from 26 November 1999-27 February 2000 (MW; 1999-110; TPRF 1756). One at Village Creek Wastewater Plant, Tarrant, from 24 December 1999 to 18 February 2000 (MR, EW; 1999-115). Both of these records refer to returning birds. Mew Gull (Larus canus) (15). One at Village Creek Wastewater Plant, Tarrant, from 3 December 1998 to 2 February 1999 (MR; 1999-2; TPRF 1801). California Gull (Larus californicus) (59). One at Corpus Christi, Nueces, on 15 January & 13-15 February 1999 (WS, B&JRi; 1999-30; TPRF 1780). One at Galveston, Galveston, on 13 March 1999 (J≀ 1999-26). One at La Marque, Galveston, on 24 March 1999 (MR; 1999-34; TPRF 1779). One at Cooper Lake, Delta, from 19-20 May 1999 (MW; 1999-61; TPRF 1791). Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri) (43). One at Village Creek Wastewater Plant, Tarrant, on 28 February 1999 (MR; 1999-33; TPRF 1777). Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) (31). One at Bolivar Flats, Galveston, from 22 December 1997 to 15 March 1998 (P&RA, MAu, PDH, JW, DS; 1998-14; TPRF 1796). Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (20). One at El Paso, El Paso, on 24 October 2000 (JPa; 2000-119; TPRF 1789). Green Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus) (29). One at Corpus Christi, Nueces, 7-13 May 2000 (MC, RBe; 2000-64; TPRF 1787). Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) (7). One at Los Fresnos, Cameron, from 22-23 May 1999 (BH, BMc; 1999-56; TPRF 1790). Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Amazilia violiceps) (5). One at Weslaco, Hidalgo, from 10-11 May 1999 (WS, PH, B&JRi, BMc; 1999-47; TPRF 1775). Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) (40). One at Frijole Springs, Guadalupe Mountains NP, Culberson, on 16-20 October 2000 (JJ, MAd; 2000-106; TPRF 1795). Up to two at El Paso, El Paso, from 22-30 October 2000 (JZ, MS, JPa; 2000-91; TPRF 1783). One in Alpine, Brewster, from 22-24 November 2000 (SW, ML; 2000-103; TPRF 1784). Greater Pewee (Contopus pertinax) (7). One at Boone Ranch, Midland, on 30 May 1998 (RMS, FR; 1998-78). Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Empidonax fulvifrons) (1). Two at the Davis Mountains Preserve, Jeff Davis, from 3 May to 25 July 1999 (EH, JK, KBr, MAd, LH, GL, B&JRi; 1999-48; TPRF 1799; TBSL 225). This represents the first documented sighting and nesting record for Texas. Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris) (9). One on Galveston Island, Galveston, on 22 May 1999 (JSt; 1999-52; TPRF 1774). Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae) (24). One male at Los Fresnos, Cameron, from 27-29 January 2000 (JR, CH; 2000-38; TPRF 1786). Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis) (24). One at Sabine Woods, Jefferson, from 20-28 April 1999 (BFe, BB, JW, KSz; 1999-53). One at Quintana, Brazoria, on 28 May 1999 (C&OB; 1999-62). Black-whiskered Vireo (Vireo altiloquus) (14). One at Quintana, Brazoria, from 2-19 May 2000 (C&OB, MAd, BFr; 2000-26; TPRF 1800). Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (15). One near Mount Livermore, Jeff Davis, on 1 October 2000 (KBr, BFr, EC; 2000-77; TPRF 1782). Up to three at El Paso, El Paso, on 9-10 and 15-16 October 2000 (JZ, MS, JPa; 2000-85; TPRF 1781). Blue Mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens) (1). One at Weslaco, Hidalgo, from 9 May 1999 to 1 November 2000+ (WS, BMc, PH, JMc, B&JRi, ML, JA, LD; 1999-46; TPRF 1797). This represents the first documented record for Texas. Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) (18). Up to three at Lubbock, Lubbock, from 25 December 1999 to 4 March 2000 (AF, MAb, GK, PH, MAd, JMc, FB, RK; 1999-114; TPRF 1773). One at Davis Mountains SP, Jeff Davis, from 4-10 November 2000 (TH, KBr, PH; 2000-95; TPRF 1788). Gray-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis poliocephala) (39). One at Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo, from 17-22 June 1999 (SP, SB, LM, TB, TG, RD; 1999-59; TPRF 1793; TBSL 228). Red-faced Warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons) (18). One at Boot Spring, Big Bend NP, Brewster, on 6 May 1999 (EH; 1999-38). One at the Davis Mountains Preserve, Jeff Davis, on 6 Aug 2000 (MAd, KBr; 2000-75; TPRF 1794). Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) (32). A specimen collected 30 miles south of Marfa, Presidio, on 30 December 1965 (*WM 242) was located in 2000. One 11 miles south of Balmorhea, Jeff Davis, on 28 November 1996 (P&TF; 1997-25). One 20 miles south of Marathon, Brewster, on 25 April 2000 (MF; 2000-47; TPRF 1785; *BBNP).
A number of factors may contribute to a record being denied acceptance. It is quite uncommon for a record to not be accepted because the bird was obviously misidentified. More commonly, a record is not accepted because the material submitted was incomplete, insufficient, superficial, or just too vague to properly document the reported occurrence while eliminating all other similar species. Also, written documentation or descriptions prepared entirely from memory weeks, months, or years after a sighting are seldom voted on favorably. It is important that the simple act of not accepting a particular record should by no means indicate that the TBRC or any of its members feel the record did not occur as reported. The non-acceptance of any record simply reflects the opinion of the TBRC that the documentation, as submitted, did not meet the rigorous standards appropriate for adding data to the formal historical record. The TBRC makes every effort to be as fair and objective as possible regarding each record. If the committee is unsure about any particular record, it prefers to err on the conservative side and not accept a good record rather than validate a bad one. All records, whether accepted or not, remain on file and can be re-submitted to the committee if additional substantive material is presented.
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena). Buffalo Creek Reservoir, Wichita, 11 February 1999 (1999-29). Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber). Green Island, Cameron, June 1972 (1999-57). Photos of an adult Scarlet Ibis were submitted. The TBRC learned of the escape of an adult Scarlet Ibis from the Gladys Porter Zoo shortly before this bird was discovered. Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva). Port Lavaca, Calhoun, 16-17 April 1999 (1999-39). Mew Gull (Larus canus). Galveston, Galveston, 23 February-14 March 1998 (1998-28). Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri). Bolivar Flats, Galveston, 18 April-2 May 1998 (1998-61). Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea). Offshore from Port O’Connor, Calhoun, 8 August 1998 (1998-117). Buff-collared Nightjar (Caprimulgus ridgwayi). Lawrence Wood picnic area, Jeff Davis, 12 June 1999 (1999-54). Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer). Pine Canyon, Big Bend NP, Brewster, 4 April 1993 (1999-36). Dugout Wells, Big Bend NP, Brewster, 12 April 1999 (1999-37). Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris). High Island, Galveston, 5 May 1999 (1999-44). Yellow-green Vireo (Vireo flavoviridis). Santa Ana NWR, Hidalgo, 16-17 June 1999 (1999-58). Black-capped Gnatcatcher (Polioptila nigriceps). Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend NP, Brewster, 7 March 1999 (1999-25). Olive Warbler (Peucedramus taeniatus). Rio Grande Village, Big Bend NP, Brewster, 23 March 1999 (1999-28). Golden-crowned Warbler (Basileuterus culicivorus). San Ygnacio, Zapata, 7 November 1998 (1999-23).
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 2000. Forty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American birds. Auk 117: 847-858. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. 1998. Check-list of North
American birds, 7th ed. DITTMANN, D. L., and G. W. LASLEY. 1992. How to document rare
birds. Birding LOCKWOOD, M. W. 2000. Texas Bird Records Committee report for 1999. Bull. Of the Tex. Ornith. Soc. 33: 13-22. |
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