or if you need assistance in selecting software

or hardware, please contact the author at the

address given below. Contact me also if you

would like to exchange opinions regarding

the use of computers for bird information and

lists .

5.2 Acknowledgements and Trademarks

The author wishes to acknowledge the ex-

cellent assistance given by Robert B. Janssen

in the review of this article, his philosophy

regarding bird lists, the opportunity to review

his personal lists and his input on the needs

of computerized bird listings.

IBM is a registered trademark of Interna-

tional Business Machines Corporation.

dBase is a registered trademark of Ashton-

Tate.

5527 E. Oberlin Circle, Minneapolis,

MN 55432.

Proceedings of the Minnesota

Ornithological Records Committee

Kim R. Eckert

Before listing the records voted on during the last half of 1989 , l have summarized a few

topics of note that were discussed at our 3 December 1989 meeting , which follow.

-There were a few changes in the membership of the Committee (hereafter, MORC) during

1989; as a result, the seven regular members currently are Steve Carlson, Kim Eckert

(Secretary), Bruce Fall, Ray Glassel, Bob Janssen (Chairman), Dick Ruhme and Bud Tordoff;

the three alternates are Renner Anderson , Terry Savaloja and Peder Svingen .

-Discussion was held on how to handle Acceptable records of " unidentified" birds; e.g.,

the I October 1988 frigatebird record from Dakota County had been unanimously accepted

as Fregata, sp. only, but some felt the record should also be Acceptable as a Magnificent

(F magnificens) . It was decided to discuss and vote on such records only at MORC meetings

(such votes would not be taken by mail as is done with other records), that all ten members

were eli gible to vote, and that a simple majority vote of those present would decide the

issue. A vote on the frigatebird record was then taken, and it was accepted as a Magnificent:

six voted Acceptable (i.e., although the bird seen could not visually be separated from other

frigatebird species, the range of this species along with the pattern of extralimital Magnificent

records in other states at the same time as a result of Hurricane Gilbert were strong enough

evidence to indicate Magnificent and eliminate other frigatebirds); two voted Unacceptable

(i.e., the designation of Fregata, sp. was still Acceptable, but that the occurrence of other

frigateb irds was still a possibility); two members were absent and did not vote.

-The role of the three alternate MORC members was discussed . In the past they only voted

in three cases: when voting in place of a regular member who was one of the observers

involved in a record being considered, and thus ineligible to vote; when potential first state

records are being considered (to be accepted, such records requ ire a 10-0 vote); and when

a "wildness" vote is taken on a bird suspected of being an escape. As described above,

alternates would also now vote on records such as the frigatebird, and it was also decided

that alternates would have input on records recirculated for a second vote: if the first-round

vote total on a record calls for it to be recirculated, the Chairman may, at his discretion ,

send the record along with the first-round votes to the alternates; the alternates would then

comment on the record, and these comments would then be included with the record when

it is sent to the seven regular members for a second-round vote; these comments of the

alternates, although they do not count as official votes, are then taken into consideration by

the seven members as they take a fina l vote.

-The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck record from Crow Wing County on 1 June 1989 (see

The Loon 61:143-144) was found to be Unacceptable (i.e., a probable escape) after it was

12 The Loon Vol. 62