other states, etc.); and checking on the

species' history or tendency to migrate or

wander out of range (sources might include

the A .O .U . Checklist of North American

Birds and the official checklists of nearby

states). 3) After enough research has been

completed to the satisfaction of the Chair-

man, the committee is informed by mail of

the research . 4) After the research and all

details are considered each member will vote

on the record as follows: either 1) Unaccept-

able (i.e., the bird is a probable escape), 2)

Acceptable as an A(a) or A(b) record (i.e.,

the bird is probably wild- A(a) species are

accidentals substantiated by specimen or

photo, A(b) species are acceptable sight rec-

ords),3) Acceptable as an A(c) record (i.e.,

the evidence does not clearly indicate either

wild or captive origin); or 4) Research is not

conclusive enough to reach a decision; dis-

cussion and vote shouild take place at a meet-

ing of MORC. A simple majority determines

the final decision; in some cases more than

one vote might be necessary before a majority

opinion is reached . (Regular and Casual

species, not just Accidentals, can also be

voted on in the same way; with such species,

the third vote described above means the rec-

ord is still accepted in the official record of

Minnesota birds, but noted as an R(c) or C(c)

- i.e., in the same way as an A(c); "there

is a question as to the origin or wildness of

the bird.")

In other action, two records were sent to

experts out of state, and on the basis of their

opinions a decision was reached on their ac-

ceptability without a formal vote of the com-

mittee. A gull identified as a California was

found at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis

November 7 , 1985; the bird died later. The

specimen was retrieved , prepared and sent to

Joseph Jehl and Guy McCaskie of California

who confirmed its identity as a California

Gull. The other record was of a suspected

Spoonbill Sandpiper seen in Duluth August

16, 1975 . This record was never voted on by

the committee, but the documentation was

submitted to Dan Gibson of Alaska who felt

it was best to "treat the report as of a bird

that got away, species unknown ." He also

writes: "Nothing about the description of

plumage, soft-part colors, or behavior sounds

conclusive in any direction to me ... Both

mandibles [of the Spoonbill Sandpiper] are

spatulate , each in a rounded diamond shape

not circular ... and not, to my mind, bulb-

ous or lobed (like the descriptions and draw-

ings of your bird of 16 August 1975). This

record was also sent to Ben King of the Amer-

ican Museum of Natural History and he said:

"Your description certainly sounds like you

had a Spoon-billed Sandpiper. The appear-

ance and jizz of the bill as you describe it

are similar to what I saw on a Spoon-billed

Sandpiper in Sri Lanka some years ago. In

sum, Spoon-billed Sandpiper sounds con-

vincing but I am not sure how I would want

to treat the record. I leave that more vexing

task to you."

The following records were voted on July-

December, 1985, and found Acceptable:

- House Finch, 7/6-7/85, Le Sueur, Le

Sueur Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 57:134).

- Worm-eating Warbler, 5/24/8 5) , near

Rochester, Olmsted Co., (vote 6-1; The

Loonl42-143) .

-Anhinga, 4/27/85, Cottonwood, Lyon

Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 58:46).

-Ruff, 7/19/85, Cottonwood, Lyon Co.

(vote 7-0; The Loon 57: 183-184).

-Arctic Tern, 6/6/85, Duluth , St. Louis

Co. (vote 6-1).

- House Finch, 9/2/85, Pipestone Nat!.

Monument, Pipestone Co. (vote 7-0).

-Least Tern, 8/11-12/85, Cottonwood,

Lyon Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon 58:48-49).

-Sabine's Gull, 9/3-17/85, near Warroad ,

Lake of the Woods Co. (vote 7-0; The Loon

57:180).

-Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, 10/2/85,

Grand Marais, Cook Co. (vote 5-2; The

Loon 57 :181).

- Rufous Hummingbird , 7/30-31/85, Cas-

cade River S.P., Cook Co. (vote 5-2; The

Loon 57: 181) .

-California Gull , 11/2/85 , Silver L., Clay

Co. (vote 6-1).

Although the record was accepted, the ob-

servers decided that the bird was only a pos-

sible California Gull, based on the comments

of the person voting against the record.

- Western Wood-Pewee, 8/25/85, Lower

Red L. , Clearwater Co. (vote 6-1; The Loon

58 :50).

-Great Black-backed Gull, 11/17/85,

Duluth , St. Louis Co. (vote 6-1; The Loon

58:46-47).

- Whooping Crane, 10112/85, Nelson

Prairie W .M.A., Mahnomen Co. (vote 6-1;

The Loon 58:45).

Spring 1986

43