10 
Teh boe ALUCDEU PB OPN met ise U las igern ten 
TABLE 8 
Table of Comparisons for the first two Statewide Counts 
Ue Ae? 1973 
Number of Species 256 255 
Number of Individuals 217,065+ 245,266+ 
Number of Counties participating 62 i 
Number of Observers 650+ 852 
Number of Party Hours 1700+ 22 21er 
Number of Miles Walked 767+ 1232 
Number of Miles Driven OZ oii 11883+ 
Number of Species in 90% or more counties 30 23 
Number of Counties with 100 (4+) species 29 28 
Number of Counties with 20 (+) observers 10 ie 
they weren’t possibly female grackles. Only one observer documented 
the Tree Sparrows. (I would guess that many of the other Tree Sparrows 
reported were Field Sparrows, or other sparrows with a breast spot which 
often forms when the wind is blowing.) It is very important that we, as 
observers, continue to improve standards of field identification. Every 
observer should accept the responsibility of becoming a better observer, 
challenging the records of incompetent observers. For extraordinary 
sight records, a documentation form must be filled out. 
The following is a quotation from the back of the documentation 
form: 
“If your observation involves a common species during a season of 
abundance, verification is achieved simply by returning there again in 
season. If, however, the observation involves a rare species, or a common 
species out of season, verification is not obtained easily and special docu- 
mentation is necessary. [he best documentation is a collected specimen, 
and many bird students insist this is the only acceptable evidence. How- 
ever, others recognize the importance and reliability of sight records 
accumulated by experienced field observers, and maintain that even 
extraordinary sight records are acceptable if accompanied by an ade- 
quate verifying description. It must be emphasized that a request for 
documentation is not an affront, but an effort to perpetuate a record by 
obtaining concrete evidence which may be permanently preserved for all 
to examine. [his procedure is required for every extraordinary observa- 
tion irrespective of the observer.” 
Documentation forms can be obtained from me anytime. They 
should be filled out in the field at the time of observation without con- 
sulting a field guide. 
