Indiana Audubon Society's
Indiana Bird Records Committee (IBRC)


Documenting a rare or unusual bird can be difficult for many birders.  Even the most experienced birders sometimes have trouble describing a particular bird.  Some birders are frustrated by the process.  But learning how to document a bird will provide a learning experience and will result in better field observation in the future.  You may want to begin by documenting a familiar species such as Northern Cardinal or Blue Jay.  By examining a bird closely you will be amazed at field marks that you had never really noticed before.  Your documentation will be preserved by the Indiana Bird Records Committee and Indiana Audubon Society and becomes part of an important ornithological history for the state.  Should you decide to document a bird on the Review List, please send the form to the chair of the Indiana Bird Records Committee at the following address:

Don Gorney
6207 Carrington Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46236-8209

or email at indydon123-IBRC@yahoo.com

Here are some helpful articles to get you started documenting birds

Indiana Bird Records Committee (2003).  How and Why to Document Rare Bird Sightings.  This is a revision of the Tim Keller (1995) article.  It will be published in a forthcoming issue of the Indiana Audubon Quarterly.

Tim Keller (1995).  The Why's, How's, When's, and Where To's of Documenting Rare Bird Sightings.  This article from a former member of the Indiana Bird Records Committee was originally published in the Indiana Audubon Quarterly (August 1995, Volume 73: Number 3, pp:89-93).

Donna L. Dittmann and Greg W. Lasley. (1992) How to Document Rare Birds.  This article was originally published in the ABA's Birding magazine (June 1992, Vol. 24: Number 3, pp:145-159). Hosted by Greg Lasley's web site.

Claudia Wilds and Robert Hilton (1992) Emerging from the Silent Majority: Documenting Rarities.  This article was originally published in Maryland Birdlife (March 1992, Vol. 48: Number 1, pp: 30). Hosted by the Maryland Ornithological Society web site.

Mike Patterson (1997) How to Write Convincing Details.  Tips on writing informative descriptions and some neat tricks for drawing good field sketches.

Claudia Wilds (1985) On Taking a Notebook Afield.  This article was originally published in Audubon Naturalist News (October 1985, pp:15). Hosted by the Maryland Ornithological Society web site.