WOS

Documentation of a Rare Bird Sighting

Documentation of a rare bird should be sent to the Washington Bird Records Committee. You can choose from three options for sending in the information:

Electronically
Please use the form below to send in your report electronically.

By mail
WA Bird Records Committee
12345 Lake City Way NE, #215
Seattle, WA 98125

By email
wbrc@wos.org

If you were able to take photos, make sound recordings, or draw sketches of the bird you observed, please send them along, also. Thank you.

Form for Submitting Documentation of a Rare Bird Observation

1. Species

2. Number

3. Location

4. Date

5. Time bird was seen:

to

6. Contact information for observer completing this form:

Name (required)

Address (required)

Email

(required)

7. Description of size, shape, and plumage. Describe in detail all parts of the bird, including the beak and the feet. Please mention more than just the diagnostic characteristics, yet include only what was actually observed in the field.

8. Description of voice or call, if heard

9. Description of behavior

10. Habitat - general and specific

11. Distance to the bird

12. Optical equipment used (including binoculars, telescopes, cameras)

13. Light (sky condition, amount of light on bird, position of sun)

14. Similarly appearing species which were eliminated by items 7, 8, and 9.
Explain.

15. Previous experience with this species and similarly appearing species

16. Other observers

17. Field guides, other books, articles, and advice consulted, and how did these influence this description?

18. Were field notes about the observation written

During the observation?
Immediately after?
Later?
Not at all?