What We Do and Why We Do It

One of the most important functions of the Georgia Ornithological Society is to encourage observers to document their sightings and then to serve as a clearinghouse for documenting the occurrence and status of all wild birds in the State.  This function is the main duty of the Checklist and Records Committee.  This Committee conducts business as called for under the Handbook approved by the GOS Executive Board on April 27, 1996, with seven purposes:

	Validating reports of selected birds from the State of Georgia and adjacent waters.
	Maintaining permanently the original bird records and all committee votes for use by future bird students.
	Publishing at least minimal data on all reports receiving a decision.
	Providing a means by which site records can gain universal acceptance as valuable scientific data.
	Increasing knowledge of the birds of Georgia.
	Establishing standards of observation and reporting against which field observers may compare their own techniques.
	Keeping, or causing to keep, the official Georgia State List of Birds.

We encourage birders to turn in their unusual bird records for the consideration of the Committee.  We acknowledge a report as soon as possible after its receipt.  Then the record and the supporting evidence is circulated among the Committee members.  The Committee currently consists of:

Committee members review the evidence provided with each record, with an eye to documenting the status of each species reported from within Georgia.  All records provided to the Committee are seriously considered and ultimately voted upon to determine whether or not to accept the record.  Firm evidence may include specimens, photographs, tape recordings, and written descriptions.  You will be notified promptly of the Committee's decision and the complete file will be archived at the University of Georgia and available for future use.

Species reported from Georgia may be placed on one of three lists, together making up the Official State List (last published by the GOS in 2003 in the Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds).

• The Regular List serves as the main list where firm documentation is established for species occurring in Georgia.
• The Provisional List includes those species reasonably well-documented, but without firm (specimen, photograph, etc.) evidence, as occurring in Georgia.
• The Hypothetical List includes species reported with unclear origin or unsubstantiated identification.  Records for species listed on the Hypothetical List still serve important functions, as future acceptable records may require reevaluation of these past records to best interpret the increasing occurrence of certain species in Georgia over time.