Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Records Committee
A standing committee of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union
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The Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Records Committee (MOURC) is a standing committee of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union (MOU). The Committee was formed in 1974 to handle an increasing number of rare and unusual records being submitted to Seasonal Report compilers. It has five principal duties:

To determine the acceptability of unusual bird sightings for inclusion in the permanent record of Minnesota birds.

To maintain the official list of Minnesota birds and to define the status of each species on that list.

To design the forms used in gathering information on Minnesota birds.

To provide information on Minnesota birds as requested by other organizations.

To educate birders in methods of keeping records and documentating rare species.

The first roster contained six names: Robert Janssen (Chairman), Kim Eckert, Paul Egeland, Janet Green, William Pieper, and Harrison Tordoff.

One of our primary functions is to evaluate records of birds from within the state of Minnesota. Documentation is typically a written description which may also include drawings, photographs, video or audio tape, or a specimen. It is submitted by field observers either involved in the initial discovery or from subsequent observations.

We actively solicit documentation of any Casual or Accidental species or any species not currently on the official Minnesota state list.

Twice each year, the Committee publishes an annual report in The Loon, journal of the MOU, entitled "Proceedings of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union Records Committee," which details the decisions and other activities of the Committee from the previous six months.