maps: a map of the Northern Oriole, a bird which no longer exists; and maps containing the 

 current records we have for both the Bullock's Oriole and Baltimore Oriole. Future editions of 

 this book will only contain maps for the Bullock's and Baltimore Orioles. 



All species names and taxonomic revisions follow the American Ornithologists' Union 

 (AOU) Check-list of North American Birds, Sixth Edition (AOU, 1983, as amended by the 35th 

 through 40th supplements (AOU, 1985; 1987; 1989; 1991; 1993; 1995)). 



Because future taxonomic changes are inevitable, the Montana Bird Records Committee 

 has identified five species where data collection for subspecies distribution is requested. The 

 five species and their 13 subspecies are identified in Appendix B. 



A History oiPJ). Skaar^s Montana Bird Distribution 



-*asri»*>- 



■••■■m 



Dr. Palmer David Skaar 



No one person did more to further the study of Montana 

 birds than Dr. Palmer David Skaar (1923-1983). Dr. Skaar 

 came to Montana in 1957 to join the faculty of Montana State 

 College (now Montana State University) as a microbial geneti- 

 cist. Accomplished in his academic field, he was also known 

 for his interest in birds. His involvement in the study of 

 Montana bird distribution earned him great respect throughout 

 the state. His enthusiasm was contagious, and his patience and 

 modesty were exemplary. 



Dr. Skaar pioneered the "latilong" concept in animal 

 distribution studies. His definitive Birds of the Bozeman 

 Latilong, published in 1969, was a model regional bird ac- 

 count. In 1975, he published the First Edition of A/o/irfl/ifl5/r J 

 Distribution. The impact of this book was tremendous. It 

 motivated volunteers and professionals across the state, and resulted in careful ornithological 

 scrutiny of vast areas of Montana that had never before been studied. Since the publication of 

 the First Edition oi Montana Bird Distribution, several other states and classes of animals have 

 been mapped using the latilong system. The annual Breeding Bird Surveys sponsored by the 

 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service also use this system. 



Dr. Skaar published the Second Edition oi Montana Bird Distribution in 1980. The Third 

 Edition was published in 1985 by Don Skaar (Dr. Skaar's son), Dennis Flath, and the late Larry 

 Thompson (Skaar et al. 1985). 



The Fourth Edition oi Montana Bird Distribution appeared in March, 1992 (Bergeron et 

 al. 1992) with two innovations. First, it introduced mapping quarter latilongs to better define 

 species distribution. Second, and more significantly, the maps in the Fourth Edition were 

 generated from a computerized database of bird distribution records (see About the Bird 

 Distribution Database on page 3). 



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