[reccom] 20009 checklist

[Milt Moody]

Rick sent an attachment with the new version of the checklist but i bounced because the attachment was too large.  I've made a link to the Rich Text File he sent (and I made a pdf version which didn't work unless I modified the font -- maybe Rick can send me a pdf version) -- you can access the file through the link at the bottom of the following page in the "On-going Projects" section:

http://utahbirds.org/ReviewBirds/

here's the text of Rick's original message:

    Hello Everyone,

    Sorry for the delay in getting back with you all.  I didn't have the access
    to the internet I thought I would this past week.  Anyway,...Thank you to
    everyone for their comments; they are all very much appreciated. I've
    incorporated them into the attached checklist, and it is off to the
    printers.  I would have liked to have corresponded on these changes, but
    unfortunately had to make some decisions under the circumstances.  So I
    thought I'd let you know how I addressed your individual comments, so, if
    necessary, they can changed in the future or on the 'official' electronic
    version to be posted on the website.

    Email address - changed to Utahbirds at gmail.com as requested.

    Kris's recommended codes:

    Hooded Merganser - UW
    Horned Grebe - UT,RW
    Great Egret - US,RW
    Ferruginous Hawk - UP
    Baird's Sandpiper - FT (although I'm not sure I agree they are 'fairly
    common' at least away from the Salt Lake
    Band-tailed Pigeon - US (I left this one as uncommon, as they could probably
    be called 'fairly common' in the mountains of s. Utah.)
    Flammulated Owl - UC (are these really more common statewide than Barn Owls,
    Screech-Owls, Pygmy-Owls, Burrowing Owls, Long-eared and Short-eared Owls?).
    Calliope Hummingbird - UT,RS
    White-breasted Nuthatch - FP (as per Eric's comments)
    Common Moorhen added * - I agree these need a Wash Co. mark; in regards to
    Eric's comments, they are regular breeders in appropriate (but limited)
    habitat along the Virgin River. I'd estimate there are at least 15 or so
    breeding pairs each year between Riverside and Seegmiller Marshes.
    Northern Saw-whet Owl - I also made this recommended change, but would
    probably argue they are RS for the southern third of the state.
    Least Flycatcher - I didn't really know what to do about this one. As I went
    through all the documented records, I was very surprised this went on the
    'provisional list' but I could not find any documented records with
    recordings or photographs. There are no 'historic records' of this species
    (no mention  in Hayward et al. 1976, or Behle et al. 1985), however there
    are four 'accepted' sight records (06-18-1989, Box Elder Co.; 06-01-1991,
    Davis Co., 09-24-2000, Washington Co.; and 05-29-2004, Weber Co.) and, none
    of these has accompanying recordings or photographs according to the UOS
    write-ups or more recent electronic submissions. So I left the provisional
    mark on, but this should be one we can remove relatively easy.
    Cassin's Kingbird - did not add a Washington County * - as per Eric's
    comments, and I know they breed in Kane and Garfield Co's.
    Western Bluebird - same as Cassin's Kingbird above, but add San Juan, Iron,
    Beaver, Millard, Piute, and Sevier to the county list above.
    Winter Wren - changed to RP, but how about OS,RW??  (as a note there's at
    least three summer records in s. Utah since 2003 that I'm aware of -
    including Cedar Mt. - Iron Co., by Rob Dobbs; Navajo Lake, Kane Co, by Bob
    Showler and others, and Lava Point, Washington Co., by L. Tripp and me).
    Lark Bunting - added N. Utah ^ (however, as a note, I've seen transient Lark
    Buntings (flocks up to 10 or so) five of the last eight years in Wash. Co.)

    Terry's comments:
    Le Conte's Thrasher and Blue-headed Vireo - With five records of Le Conte's
    Thrasher and none since 1990, and three recent BH Vireo records, Terry's
    comments are correct - both changed from O to A.

    Milt's comments:
    Milt is correct the species total should be 443. Nice catch!  My mistake, I
    added the recent Whip-poor-will, then confused myself on whether I changed
    the number, then counted the species about a hundred times (with more
    different results than I care to admit), before finally numbering each
    species just to be sure.

    Ron's comments:
    Glossy Ibis - changed to O, but we should keep an eye on this over the next
    few years.
    Broad-winged Hawk - changed to RT
    Least Flycatcher - see comments above, if there was a recording of the June
    1989, Box Elder LeFl, it was not mentioned in the UOS write-up and is no
    longer available (?), at least to the best of my knowledge.
    Winter Wren - changed to RP
    Snow Bunting - added N. Utah ^

    Eric's comments:
    all addressed above.

    Artwork - Unfortunately I didn't receive Milt's snipe until this weekend.
    So......I really liked Kristin's idea of using a Canyon or Rock Wren as
    being a good representative of Utah's avifauna.  I tried to adapt several
    photos (some of Paul H's and a few of mine) but alas, I have neither the
    programs or the ability to take a photograph and turn it into a black and
    white silhouette. So, I decided to try something completely new, taxed my
    very limited artistic abilities, and drew a Canyon Wren and stuck it on the
    checklist. Maybe not the best option, but it can be replaced with a
    different photo/drawing by Milt for the official list maintained on the
    website. If anyone thinks it's really horrible, let me know (it won't hurt
    my feelings) and I can check with the printer and see if it's still possible
    to change.

    Again, I apologize for the unilateral decisions.... it wasn't my intention,
    but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to have some printed checklists.


    Finally, here's an additional topic for the committee to consider in the
    future. While reviewing the historical records and their documentation for
    the checklist update, I came across a couple species that appear to have as
    much (or more) documentation as some other species currently on the
    checklist. And, since the bylaws were recently changed and now that
    'Provisional Species (species that have been accepted based on sight records
    only, without physical documentation) have been demarcated on the
    checklist,...... I think the committee should look at the status of
    California Condor and Blue-throated Hummingbird.

    In regards to the California Condor - Based on reports in Henshaw (1875) and
    Woodbury (1932), this species was included in the primary list of species by
    Hayward et al. (1976, Birds of Utah, Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs #1);
    included 'arbitrarily' as an 'unverified species' in Behle et al.'s Utah
    Birds (1985, Utah Museum of Natural History Occasional Publication #4); and
    perhaps more importantly, the California Condor Recovery Team and USFWS,
    after reviewing available historic information, considered southern Utah to
    be within the California Condor's historical habitat (under the recent ESA
    safeharbor agreements, recovery plan, and re-introduction programs). A
    decision that was reviewed by leading condor researchers and experts, and
    adopted by state and federal wildlife and land management agencies.

    Blue-throated Hummingbird - An individual was observed by Jerome Gifford
    visiting feeders in Springdale, Washington Co. from Aug 3-8, 1972. This
    sighting was first summarized in Kingery (1973, American Birds, 27:91-96).
    It was then, based on Gifford's sighting, listed as a 'species of uncertain
    status' in Hayward et al. (1976) and a 'provisional species' in Behle et al.
    (1985). Behle et al. (1985), summarize the sighting as: "A sight record of
    an immature male was obtained by Jerome Gifford at Springdale at the mouth
    of Zion Canyon on 3 August 1972. While this record is acceptable to us,
    several other records in the state of large hummingbirds assumed to
    represent this species are unsubstantiated."

    It seems to me that both of these species warrant consideration as
    'provisional species' on the Utah checklist.


    Once again, I appreciate having had the opportunity to work with you all on
    the records committee.

    Thank you all very much,

    Rick