The BARC was started this year because of the necessity to evaluate the numerous bird sightings of unusual species that have occurred at the sanctuary. This sanctuary is thoroughly birded, what with our migration monitoring, breeding bird surveys and coverage during the Worcester Christmas Count. Broad Meadow Brook is also a very good place to just "bird" . During spring and fall, many migrants find our green "island" in the city very attractive, and most birders come to our sanctuary during these times. Over the years there have been many records of unusual birds. Some, like the Connecticut Warbler or Gray Cheeked Thrush, are uncommon or even rare in Worcester County. Other species reported, like a Common Loon are of rare occurrence on the sanctuary only, but are more common in other locations in the county. Some records are out of the normal period of occurrence for that species, like a Gray Catbird in early April.

It became obvious to people like John Liller, Chris Phillips and myself, that these records of rarities had to be critically evaluated in order to completely write the ornithological history of Broad Meadow Brook.. It was decided to start a committee modeled somewhat after the Massachusetts Avian Records Commitee (MARC) that evaluates records of true rarities from the state. The advantage to a committee is that a single person would not be passing judgment on a record, and all records would get a fair evaluation. The committee is composed of Chris Phillips, John Liller, Bill Rasku, Kathy Mills and Mark Lynch. All the members have had extensive field experience at the sanctuary and have a feeling for the status and occurrence of birds here.

What the BARC evaluates are written reports or descriptions of the sightings of unusual birds. Birds that the BARC considers include:

1. Any sighting of a species that is new to the sanctuary.

2. Any sighting of a species that has been recorded ten or fewer times on the sanctuary.

3. Any species that is uncommon, and also prone to confusion in the field. An example of this would be Cooper’s Hawk, which is easily confused with a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.

4. Any species seen earlier or later than its normal occurrence on the sanctuary.

These "write-ups" consist of notes, usually taken in the field while looking at the bird, of the details of plumage and behavior of the bird. It is no mean feat to manipulate binoculars and pen and paper in the outdoors, but most of us manage. For a full description of what constitutes a "write-up" see my article THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCUMENTING BIRDS page 276 of the journal Bird Observer of Eastern Massachusetts October 1995. Copies of this article are available at the office of Broad Meadow Brook. If you spend any time on the sanctuary birding or looking at any aspect of our pleasant little bit of green, pick up a copy of this article and read it. Briefly summing this article up, if you see a bird that you even think that may be unusual for the sanctuary, take copious notes in the field and turn in those notes to the BARC at the headquarters. We need your records! If you are unsure whether your sighting is worth documenting, call me and ask.

Records are evaluated on the basis of their completeness and circumstances of the sighting. Some records cannot be excepted because they just do not have enough information to rule out the possibility of confusion with another species. This is not uncommon and is to be expected because every sighting of a bird is not a perfect one. Even if the record is ultimately not accepted, the fact that you cared enough to send the details of your sighting to the committee is very greatly appreciated. The most frustrating record is the one that has no details submitted and thus, by default, has to be eliminated from the ornithological history of the sanctuary. Records of species that are new to the sanctuary have to receive a unanimous vote to be accepted, while all others only have to receive a majority vote. Committee members are not allowed to vote on their own sightings and abstain during those votes. Discussion is held for every record.

On October 17, The BARC met to evaluate its first group of records. These were sightings from the first part of 1996. The following records were accepted:

LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH seen on April 20 by Bill Rasku and Kathy Mills. This bird was seen and heard by many after this along the brook until May 15. This species is uncommon in Worcester County and, unlike the Northern Waterthrush, is rare at Broad Meadow Brook.

HOODED MERGANSER seen on May 2 by Joan Zumpfe and Fran McMenemy. This duck was found on the Auto Parts Pond and constitutes the first record for the sanctuary.

COMMON LOON One record was for May 5 by Bill Rasku, Gordon Anderson and John Liller. Another sighting was for May 13 by John Liller. Although this species breeds in the county, it is a rare species on the sanctuary, seen only flying over.

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK seen on May 8 by Rick Quimby. Although this species breeds in the county, it is declining and is rare over the sanctuary.

MERLIN seen on May 10 by John Liller. This species is uncommon in Worcester County and rare on the sanctuary.

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH "SPECIES". This species was recently split into Bicknell’s Thrush and Gray-Cheeked Thrush. The Bicknell’s breeds in very small numbers in northern New England, but both species can occur in migration, though they are uncommon to rare in the county. The separation of these species during migration under field conditions is impossible, so all records are listed as "Gray-Cheeked Thrush Species". Records accepted by the BARC this time are one bird seen on May 13 by Jim Coyne, Chris Phillips and Peg Knowlton. Another accepted record was for May 15 seen by Mark Lynch.

HOODED WARBLER found by Ed Banks on May 14, refound and finally documented by Mark Lynch on May 15. This species is rare in Worcester County. The record was of a signing male.

MANDARIN DUCK found by Bob Bradbury on May 15 and documented by Mark Lynch the same day. Although this species is an "exotic", an escape from captivity, the BARC is tracking all species occurrences on the sanctuary. This spectacular duck was seen by several over the next few days along the "stretch".

ALDER FLYCATCHER Found and heard by John Liller on 5/20., this Empidonax Flycatcher is so similar to the Willow Flycatcher, which breeds on the sanctuary, it can only be identified by its call!

MOURNING WARBLER. The two spring records of this uncommon warbler were one seen on May 20 by John Liller and another found by John, and seen by his morning bird walk on May 25.

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER Heard by Chris Phillips on May 23. This species is uncommon in the county and has been seen several times on the sanctuary.

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO seen on May 29 by Mark Lynch. The Black-Billed Cuckoo had a banner spring on the sanctuary, but the "Yellow-Billed’" remains a rare sighting at Broad Meadow Brook.

The BARC will consider records of species seen in the previous years in upcoming meetings. Complete minutes of our meeting are kept in a public file at the sanctuary. Please, please, please! Send those records in!!!!!

Mark Lynch