Documentation of Significant Sightings Form

Nevada Bird Records Committee : Documentation of Significant Bird Sightings Form

Link to documentation form is at bottom of page

If you have observed a rare bird in Nevada, a written description is an excellent way to provide a credible and permanent record of your observation. One important purpose of the Nevada Bird Records Committee (NBRC) is to archive all records of Nevada Review Species, for the long-term objective of determining patterns of occurrence and distribution of Nevada’s avifauna. NBRC requests documentation for all observations of species which are on the Nevada Review List (unless noted on that list as exempt from review for the region where you observed the bird.) NBRC also requests documentation for all observations of species which do not appear on the Nevada State Checklist. Both of these lists are available on this website.

A written description is essential for NBRC’s goal of archiving records of Nevada Review Species, but additional supporting documentation (e.g., photographs, sketches, specimens, sound recordings) is eagerly sought by the committee as well. All forms of documentation (written descriptions plus supporting materials) are archived and publicly available for research.

As soon as NBRC receives your documentation, you will be notified that your record is in review by the Committee. After NBRC has evaluated your record (this process can require up to one year), you will be notified in writing of the committee’s decision.

Rufous-backed Robin / Photo: Rick Fridell

Please bear in mind that the committee does not attempt to determine what you saw. The committee does not attempt to determine what you may count on your personal list of bird sightings. The committee does attempt to determine whether the documentation received by NBRC provides satisfactory evidence that a particular species (or subspecies) of bird was present on a given date at a given location within the state of Nevada. Furthermore, even in situations where the committee decides that the documentation does not provide sufficient evidence, the record, with all of its attendant documentation, is permanently archived for future study. NBRC proceedings are published annually in Western Birds, a publication of Western Field Ornithologists.

A link (below) will provide you with an MS Word version of the NBRC Documentation Form. This form is a convenient way to provide the NBRC with documentation of your sighting, but it is not essential that you use this form. As long as you provide the information necessary to evaluate your sighting, the NBRC will be happy to review it. If you do choose to use the provided form, please leave blank any details that are unknown or were not observed. If you choose not to use this form, please do take a close look at the form first to see the kinds of information the committee considers useful as documentation, and please read the notice at the end of the form.

Please provide the written documentation, plus any supporting documentation (photos, sketches, field notes, audio recordings, etc.) either:

A) by mail, particularly if there is non-electronic supporting documentation, to:

Nevada Bird Records Committee
c/o Great Basin Bird Observatory
1755 E. Plumb Lane
Suite 256A
Reno, NV 89502
OR

B) by email, to:

NevadaBirdRecords--AT-SYMBOL-- gbbo--DOT-- org

Download Microsoft Word version of the NBRC Documentation Form here

You can also submit your observations directly online

If you have any supporting documentation (photos, sketches, field notes, audio recordings, etc.), please email them to (NevadaBirdRecords--AT-SYMBOL-- gbbo--DOT-- org) and indicate that you submitted additional information via online form below.

Check box if you will you be submitting additional documentation via email (e.g. photos, sketches, field notes, audio recordings).

Yes, I will be emailing additional photos etc.

Species (Common Name)

Species (Scientific Name)

Date Observed

MM

DD

YYYY

Time Observed

Locality (plus nearest town, county and state)

Number of Birds Seen

Sex

Plumage

Light Conditions

Distance from Bird, and How Measured

Describe in as much detail as possible the bird which you saw without referring to field guides. Emphasize particularly the marks used to identify the bird, but include a complete description of the bird. Include size, overall shape, plumage and color pattern; details on shape or size of bill, wings, and tail. Describe what you are actually observing in the field.

Describe the bird’s overall behavior

Describe the habitat in which you observed the bird

Describe the bird’s calls or sounds, if heard, including method of delivery, i.e., from perch, in flight, etc.

List similar species and how you eliminated them

Prior experience with this and similar species

Optical equipment

Other observers who independently identified the bird (please list name and address if known)

Additional discussion

References consulted

Check box if notes for this report were recorded after observation (from memory)

Notes made during observation

Notes made after observation (from memory)

If “after, from memory”, approximately how long after the observation were notes first written

Name

First Name

Last Name

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Email

Phone

(###)

###

####

Photo Usage

By submitting this documentation, I agree to allow the Nevada Bird Records Committee to review and evaluate all materials I have submitted, retain all materials in its archives, publish its findings in Western Birds and on the NBRC website, and make the materials available to any interested party upon request. If photographs were included, the Nevada Bird Records Committee may wish to publish some or all of those photographs in Western Birds and/or on the NBRC website. Photographer will always be credited. Please indicated if you do not want these photographs published.

Do Not Publish My Photographs