Proceedings of the Minnesota

Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee

Peder H. Svingen, Chairman

The two most recent meetings of the

Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union

Records Committee (MOURC) were

held on 18 April and 8 August 2004. In

attendance and voting at one or both of

these meetings were Renner Anderson (al-

ternate member), Paul Budde, Philip Chu,

Anthony Hertzel, Ann Kessen (alternate),

Jim Mattsson, Drew Smith, Steve Stucker

(alternate), Peder Svingen (Chairperson),

and Tom Tustison.

Among the items on the agendas of

these meetings were discussions of four

potential first state records; two of these

were unanimously Accepted (Wood Stork

and Green Violet-ear), bringing the state

list to 429 species. Preliminary discussion

on the addition of Cackling Goose (Bran-

ta hutchinsii) to the Minnesota list (45th

Supplement to the American Ornitholo-

gists’ Union Check-list of North American

Birds, Auk 121:985–995) included review

of the North American distribution and

regional occurrence of identifiable forms

of the Canada Goose complex; no formal

vote was taken since additional research

is needed and records are still being com-

piled. The Committee welcomes informa-

tion on the status and occurrence of the

Cackling Goose in Minnesota, particularly

records documented by written details,

photographs, or sound recordings. Please

send dates, specific locations, number of

individuals and how identified, along with

photographs and any additional informa-

tion pertaining to this species in Minne-

sota, to Peder Svingen (address below).

Also discussed were recirculated re-

cords, i.e., those with inconclusive first-

round votes; records involving a question

of origin; and records documented pri-

marily or entirely by photograph or tape

recording. The results of these discussions

and votes on these records are included

below. All other records were reviewed

and voted on entirely by mail.

The following records were voted on

January – July 2004 and were Accepted

(also see Not Accepted records #2004-013

and 2004-035, which involved qualified

Accepted votes).

• Brant, 21–22 March 2004, Paynes-

ville wastewater treatment ponds, Stearns

County (record #2004-020, vote 7–0).

Distant photographs and written docu-

mentation supported its identification as

the Atlantic race (Branta bernicla hrota).

• Cinnamon Teal, 15 April 2004, Caer-

ulean W.M.A., Lac Qui Parle County (re-

cord #2004-038, vote 6–1).

Hybrid Cinnamon X Blue-winged Teal

are variable in appearance and some may

closely resemble “pure” male Cinnamon

Teal except for the presence of spots or

short bars on the underbody. One com-

mittee member voted not to accept this

record because these hybrid characteris-

tics were not specifically considered.

• Cinnamon Teal, 9–17 May 2004,

Otrey Township, Big Stone County (re-

cord #2004-024, vote 7–0).

In this case, characteristics of hybrid

teal were discussed and eliminated in the

written description, and photographs sup-

ported the identification.

• Sharp-tailed Grouse, 5 January 2004,

Walter Township, Lac Qui Parle County

(record #2004-001, vote 7–0).

This female was found dead and photo-

graphed. The photos showed no evidence

of hybridization with Greater Prairie-

Chicken (hybrids have been documented

in Minnesota and elsewhere). This record

152 The Loon Volume 76