• Observations marked with a "B" or "W" must be accompanied by information 

 documenting why the designation was used. 



A detailed description of "B" appears under Symbols on Distribution Maps on pages 

 7 - 8. At least one of five specific criteria must be met to qualify a sighting for this category 

 (i.e., occupied nest, dependent young, etc.). If no information is included with a "B" 

 designation, the record will be recorded as a "b." 



Similarly, "W" has a specific definition that needs to be documented: " regular sightings 

 during the winter period." Without documentation, an (upper case) "W" will be recorded 

 in the database as a (lower case) "w." 



• The name, address and telephone number of the main observer. This information allows 



the observer to be contacted if questions arise about an observation. 



Because of the volume of data being managed and the limited time available for scrutiny 

 of individual bird sighting records, efforts made to provide complete and accurate information 

 are appreciated - and contribute greatly to our knowledge of Montana bird distribution. 



Rare Birds 



A Rare Bird Report Form, found in Appendix H, must be submitted for the following 

 observations: rare birds ( species with less than 20 sightings); out-of-range species; the first state 

 breeding record for a species; and the first overwintering record for a species. The Montana Bird 

 Records Committee was established in 1991 to review rare and unusual sightings. Only rare bird 

 records approved by the Records Committee are included in the database. 



When you submit a rare bird sighting, describe only what you actually observed. Do not 

 report details you felt you should have seen, but did not. Seldom is it possible to see all criteria. 

 Complete the report as soon as possible following the observation while your impressions are 

 fresh. Please submit any drawings or photographs; they will become part of the permanent 

 record unless return is requested. Although the main emphasis should be on describing the 

 species under consideration, it is also helpful to note how you eliminated similar species. 



Sensitive Species 



Specific details are requested for all sightings of threatened, endangered, and sensitive 

 species (TES), as well as species where supplemental information is being collected (SI). All 

 birds in these categories can be found in Appendix A. 



For all TES and SI species, the precise location of a record is particularly important. 

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



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