Proceedings of the Minnesota Ornithologists’

Union Records Committee

Kim R. Eckert, MOURC Chairman

On 30 November 2001, the Board

of Directors of the Minnesota Or-

nithologists’ Union approved

changing the name of the Minnesota Or-

nithological Records Committee (MORC)

to the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union

Records Committee (MOURC). This Com-

mittee had made this request primarily to

emphasize that MOURC is a standing

committee of the MOU, has always oper-

ated under the auspices of the MOU, and

is not an independent entity.

Also note that Bruce Fall’s term on

MOURC ended at the end of 2001, and

he was replaced in January by former

Alternate Member Philip Chu. Drew

Smith was then chosen to replace Phil as

an Alternate.

The following records were voted on

August – December 2001 and found to

be Acceptable:

• Yellow-billed Loon, 4 November

2001, Mille Lacs Lake, Mille Lacs County

(record #2001-70, vote 7–0).

Note that only the documentation from

the original observers on 4 November

was accepted. Although there were re-

ports of this loon by other observers on

other days, none of these was substanti-

ated or documented.

• White-faced Ibis, 19 June 2001, near

Dexter, Mower County (record #2001-38,

vote 7–0).

A photo of the individual confirms the

identification as a White-faced.

• White-faced Ibis, 26 April 2001,

Spring Lake Township, Scott County

(record #2001-40, vote 7–0).

Accepted on the basis of the bird’s red

iris and the white feathering beginning to

show around the base of the bill.

• Plegadis ibis, 15 April 2001, near

Rochester, Olmsted County (see Unac-

ceptable record #2001-45).

• Plegadis ibis, 17–18 October 2001,

near Camden State Park, Lyon County

(record #2001-59, vote 7–0).

Field identification of immature ibis as

White-faced or Glossy in fall is very diffi-

cult, and most will remain and be filed as

unidentified Plegadis, sp.

• Black Vulture, 28 August 2001, Du-

luth, St. Louis County (record #2001-63,

vote 10–0.

All ten MOURC members vote on po-

tential first state records, and this was

accepted unanimously as species number

427 on the Minnesota list. The documen-

tation includes clearly identifiable photos.

• Barrow’s Goldeneye, 17 November

2001, Reno, Houston County (record

#2001-65, vote 7–0).

The documentation of this adult male

includes a photo. The observer also

made a special effort to make sure the

bird was in Minnesota waters, something

to consider when finding an unusual spe-

cies on any river or lake bordering an-

other state.

• Western Sandpiper, 26–27 October

2001, Lake Byllesby, Dakota County

(record #2001-69, vote 7–0).

Excellent written descriptions and

sketches by three experienced observers

results in this being only the fourth ac-

cepted state record.

• Pomarine Jaeger, 19 September

2001, Duluth, St. Louis County (record

#2001-55, vote 7–0,).

Jaeger identification is typically diffi-

cult, but this individual was an adult with

a fully grown tail and seen at relatively

close range.

• Long-tailed Jaeger, 5–7 September

36 The Loon Volume 74