Submission of New Records 



The recording of bird sightings in Montana is an ongoing process. For that effort to 

 succeed, all species, common and rare alike, must be recorded for each quarter latilong during 

 each revision period. 



Most records should be submitted on the Quarter Latilong Report Form found in Appendix 

 I, or a similar format. If there were several birding trips within a single quarter latilong (QLL), 

 the sightings from each trip should be summarized into a single master list for that QLL. For each 

 species recorded, list the highest status observed ("B" greater than "b" greater than "t") and the 

 date of that observation. 



The use of Rare Bird Report Forms is described on page 10. 



Individuals who want to submit records electronically should contact the Montana Natural 

 Heritage Program for information about the format required. 



This book summarizes thousands of individual bird sighting records. Verifying the quality 

 of records, whether collected by professionals or volunteers, is an important step taken to ensure 

 that only the highest quality information is accepted. Therefore, rare bird records are screened 

 by the Montana Bird Records Committee; all other distribution records are screened by staff at 

 the Montana Natural Heritage Program. 



Information Required of All Sightings 



The bird distribution database includes only those records submitted by birdwatchers that 

 are accurate and complete. Every record that is turned into the Montana Bird Distribution 

 Database must have the following information: 



• The name of the bird (either common name or scientific). 



• The date of the sighting. Dates are critical for knowing when birds are breeding, arriving 



to breed, or migrating through Montana. The date also gives database managers a tool 

 for verifying records. For example, a breeding record for a warbler in March would not 

 be accepted without substantial documentation. Consequently, records without dates are 

 not accepted. 



• The accurate location of the observation. In addition to quarter latilong information, a 

 short description of the location of all records is requested (i.e.. Bean Lake; Chinook; 

 Hwy 200, 10 miles west of Simms; etc.). For finer resolution in determining locations 

 and quarter latilongs, please refer to U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management 

 (BLM), or U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maps; or the Montana Atlas and Gazetteer 

 (DeLorme Mapping, 1994). 



