Ben Ono AU Det BiOwN 96.0 L Lik eEN 15 
THE ILLINOIS ORNITHOLOGICAL RECORDS COMMITTEE 
Scientifically acceptable knowledge of bird distribution has traditionally 
been obtained only by the collecting of specimens. In recent years, accept- 
able documentation of the occurrence of a rarity has often been obtained by 
photographic means. Careful field observations, properly documented, repre- 
sent a potentially very valuable third source. The important words here are 
“properly documented.” For a sight record to have scientific value, it must 
be reported in sufficient detail that future researchers will be able to evalu- 
ate such factors as the effects of light and shadow, the possibility of con- 
fusion with other species, the number of observers and their experience, and 
so on. We are announcing the formation of the Illinois Ornithological Rec- 
ords Committee to encourage and evaluate the documentation of sight rec- 
ords in Illinois. Counterparts of the IORC already exist in several other 
states and provinces. 
At present, information on the occurrence of uncommon or rare species 
in Illinois is meager and not always accessible. The most recent general 
work, A Distributional Checklist of the Birds of Illinois, by Smith and 
Parmalee, is incomplete and out of date. David Bohlen of the Illinois State 
Museum is now preparing a new state checklist, which should be published 
in 1975. It is anticipated that this checklist will be kept up to date by the 
work of the Ornithological Records Committee. 
Specifically, the functions of the committee will be: 
1. To serve as the focal point for the collection and maintenance of 
state records. Specimens, photographs, and all documents pertaining 
to sight records will be deposited in the Illinois State Museum, 
where they will be available to researchers. 
2. To establish criteria for the inclusion of sight records on the state 
checklist. These will be published when completed. 
3. To continually update the state distributional checklist by evaluat- 
ing the documentation of records submitted to the Committee. 
4. To disseminate information concerning areas of interest to field 
observers. (Such areas include indentification problems, criteria for 
judging whether a record is unusual, field projects for which ob- 
servations are needed, etc.) 
To avoid misunderstandings, we wish to make clear that the Committee 
does not intend to judge the reliability of a record or the competence of an 
observer; its concern is whether an observation’s documentation is adequate 
to allow its addition to the state checklist. 
The Committee would appreciate suggestions and comments regarding 
its operation. 
Lawrence G. Balch Charles T. Clark 
Wilbur Wright College 254 Cumberland Parkway 
Chicago 60634 Des Plaines 60026 
H. David Bohlen Vernon M. Kleen 
Zoology Department Division of Wildlife Resources 
Illinois State Museum Department of Conservation 
_ Springfield 62706 Springfield 62706 
