The GOS Checklist and Records Committee (GCRC) reviews approximately 40 rare bird reports of Georgia review species every year. Generally, after 12 -15 reports have accumulated, the Secretary will review and vote on each of the reports, then submit the group of reports to the rest of the Committee for review. Each of the remaining five Committee members reviews the reports and votes independently during the first round.
A report is considered "Accepted" (i.e., becomes an official record) if it receives no more than one "non-accept" vote.
If a report receives two "non-accept" votes, it proceeds to a second round of voting with the comments of each of the Committee members (but no names associated with the comments) included with the report. If the second circulation of a report still results in two "non-accept" votes, the report is discussed among and voted by the Committee members as a group until a final decision is made.
A report is "Rejected" if three or more "non-accept" votes are cast. Reports generally receive "non-accept" votes if details are lacking, if the observer misidentified the bird, if the origin is in question, or if the location is in question (for instance, bodies of waters along state lines).
The table below depicts the recent and future activity of the GCRC and is divided into five sections:
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Completed Records: Reports for which the GCRC has reached a final decision
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Current Round: Reports that are currently in circulation within the Committee.
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Next Round: Reports to circulated after the current round voting process is completed.
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Reports Received: Reports to be presented to the Committee during future rounds.
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No Reports Received: Review species that have been gleaned from various sources but for which no documentation has been submitted.
Note: On 26 Jan 2013, the GOS Checklist & Records Committee (GCRC) met to discuss, among other items, the pelagic boundaries that are used for record keeping for Georgia's birdlife. The GCRC unanimously voted to adopt the "Closest Point of Land" rule (CPOL), which has become the de facto standard for other nations, states, provinces and even counties when determining pelagic boundaries.
| CURRENT ROUND (due 15 June 2023) | ||||||||
| GCRC Record No. | Species | Location | County | Initial Sighting Date | Initial Sighting Obs. | Report Author | Ph? | GCRC Result |
| 2021-14 | Snowy Plover | Cumberland I. | Camden | 9/27/2021 | Doris and Pat Leary | Doris and Pat Leary | Y | |
| 2021-15 | Rock Wren | Unicoi SP | White | 10/24/2021 | Steve Patterson | Steve Patterson | Y | |
| 2021-16 | Pacific Loon | Clarks Hill Lake | Lincoln/Columbia | 12/23/2021 | Aaron Boone | Aaron Boone | Y | |
| 2022-01 | Fork-tailed Flycatcher | Ft. PulaskiNM | Chatham | 10/5/2021 | Randy Tate | Randy Tate | Y | |
| 2022-02 | Pacific Loon | Lake Lanier | Forsyth/Hall | 1/9/2022 | Keegan Corcoran | Keegan Corcoran | Y | |
| 2022-03 | Common Merganser | Carters Lake | Murray | 2/17/2022 | Joshua Spence | Joshua Spence | N | |
| 2022-04A | Atlantic Puffin | pelagic | N/A | 2/27/2022 | Rusty Trump, Bob Zaremba, et. al. | Rusty Trump | Y | |
| 2022-04B | Atlantic Puffin | pelagic | N/A | 2/27/2022 | Rusty Trump, Bob Zaremba, et. al. | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2022-05 | Black-legged Kittiwake | Lake Lanier | Hall | 1/28/2022 | Keegan Corcoran | Keegan Corcoran | Y | |
| 2022-06A | Bell's Vireo | private residence | Clarke | 8/17/2022 | Richard Hall | Richard Hall | Y | |
| 2022-06B | Bell's Vireo | private residence | Clarke | 8/17/2022 | Richard Hall | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2022-07 | Long-tailed Jaeger | Lake Lanier | Forsyth/Hall | 9/4/2022 | Keegan Corcoran | Keegan Corcoran | Y | |
| 2022-09 | Brant | Turkey Pond | Burke | 11/12/2017 | Liam Wolff | Liam Wolff | Y | |
| NEXT ROUND (to be released to GCRC after 15 Jun 2023) | ||||||||
| GCRC Record # | Species | Location | County | Initial Sighting Date | Initial Sighting Obs. | Report Author | Ph? | GCRC Result |
| 2023-01A | Tropical Kingbird | Georgia Highlands College | Floyd | 9/8/2022 | Matthew Middleton | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-01B | Tropical Kingbird | Georgia Highlands College | Floyd | 9/8/2022 | Matthew Middleton | Shawn Reed | Y | |
| 2023-02 | Inca Dove | Josuli Ranch | Baker | 9/4/2022 | Wayne Schaffner | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-03 | Common Merganser | Carters Re-regulation Lake | Murray | 2/17/2022 | Joshua Spence | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-04 | Harris's Sparrow | private residence | Brantley | 12/25/2022 | Wayne Morgan | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-05 | Snow Bunting | Tybee I. | Chatham | 11/25/2022 | Andrew Ruhs | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-06 | White-faced Ibis | Jack Miles Landing | Seminole | 3/6/2022 | Bob Zaremba | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-07 | Ruff | Altamaha SWMA | McIntosh | 5/4/2022 | Bob Zaremba | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-08 | Bullock's Oriole | private residence | Lowndes | < 1/22/2022 | Linda Most | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-09 | Burrowing Owl | Three Notch Rd. | Miller | 10/11/2021 | Wayne Schaffner | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-10 | Northern Saw-whet Owl | Mount Alto Rd. | Floyd | 1/2/2023 | Shawn Reed, Chuck Saleeby | Shawn Reed | N | |
| 2023-11 | Long-tailed Jaeger | Walter F George Dam | Clay | 11/2/2022 | Bob Zaremba | Bob Zaremba | N | |
| 2023-12 | Brown Booby | pelagic | Glynn | 8/27/2022 | Eliot VanOtteren, et al | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-13 | Brown Noddy | pelagic | Chatham | 9/10-11/2022 | Bob Zaremba, et. al. | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-14 | Masked Booby | pelagic | Glynn | 8/27/2022 | Eliot VanOtteren, et al | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023 REPORTS RECEIVED | ||||||||
| GCRC Record # | Species | Location | County | Initial Sighting Date | Initial Sighting Obs. | Report Author | Ph? | GCRC Result |
| 2023-15 | Buff-bellied Hummingbird | private residence | Glynn | 1/4/2022 | Yve Morrell | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-16 | Snowy Plover | St. Simons I. | Glynn | 11/25/2022 | Meredith Molnar | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-17 | Hudsonian Godwit | Andrews I. | Glynn | 10/8/2022 | GOS Field Trip | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-18 | Brown Booby | pelagic | Chatham | 9/10-11/2022 | Bob Zaremba, et. al. | Bob Zaremba | Y | |
| 2023-19 | Common Merganser | Yonah Dam | Stephens | 1/12/2023 | Jason Corder | Dan Vickers | Y | |
| 2023-20 | Smith's Longspur | Andrews I. | Glynn | 2/5/2023 | Richard Hall et. al. | Richard Hall | Y | |
| 2023-21 | Great Cormorant | Augusta Canal Trail--Savannah Rapids Park | Columbia | 4/13/2022 | John Patten Moss | John Patten Moss | Y | |
| 2023-22 | Black-legged Kittiwake | Elijah Clark SP | Lincoln | 11/25/2022 | Mac McCall, John Patten Moss | John Patten Moss | Y | |
| 2023-23 | Neotropic Cormorant | Brickyard Ponds | Richmond | 12/30/2022 | Mac McCall, Sam Murray | Dan Vickers | Y | |
| 2023-24 | Heermann's Gull | Tybee I. | Chatham | 2/15/2021 | Diana Churchill, Cindy Stevens | Dan Vickers | Y | |
| 2023-25 | Mute Swan | Salem Rd. | Catoosa | 1/24/2015 | David Hollie | Dan Vickers | Y | |
| 2023-26 | Cackling Goose | US 278 | Morgan | 1/16/2021 | Dan Vickers, Kris Bisgard | Dan Vickers | Y | |
| 2023-27 | Common Eider | Brunswick River | Glynn | 12/11/2020 | Kevin Danchisen, Bob Zaremba, Eliot VanOtteren, Eugene Keferl, Mac McCall, Yve Morrell | Eliot VanOtteren | Y | |
| 2023-28 | Cave Swallow | Jekyll I. | Glynn | 10/31/2021 | Eliot VanOtteren, Dan Vickers, Kris Bisgard | Dan Vickers | Y | |
| 2023-29 | Cave Swallow | Andrews I. | Glynn | 10/31/2021 | Eliot VanOtteren | Eliot VanOtteren | Y | |
| 2023-30 | Brown Noddy | pelagic | Glynn | 8/27/2022 | Eliot VanOtteren, et al | Eliot VanOtteren | Y | |
| 2023-31 | Ash-throated Flycatcher | St. Simons I. | Glynn | 12/12/2022 | Eliot VanOtteren | Eliot VanOtteren | Y | |
| 2023-32 | American Tree Sparrow | Andrews I. | Glynn | 12/19/2021 | Eliot VanOtteren | Eliot VanOtteren | Y | |
| 2023-33 | Iceland Gull | Cumberland I. | Camden | 4/15/2023 | Patrick Leary | Patrick Leary | Y | |
| 2023-34 | Black-throated Gray Warbler | Johns Mt. Overlook | Walker | 4/18/2023 | Josh Spence | Josh Spence | N | |
| 2023-35A | Baird's Sparrow | Garrard Landing Park | Fulton | 5/2/2023 | Susan Berthelot | Susan Berthelot | Y | |
| 2023-35B | Baird's Sparrow | Garrard Landing Park | Fulton | 5/2/2023 | Susan Berthelot | Rick Taylor | Y | |
| 2023-36 | Snail Kite | Flint River | Decatur | 5/9/2023 | Marylyn Feaver | Marylyn Feaver | Y | |
| 2022 REPORTS REQUESTED | |||||||
| GCRC Record # | Species | Location | County | Initial Sighting Date | Initial Sighting Obs. | Report Author | Ph? |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Standard Elevator Rd. | Sumter | 1/15/2022 | Shannon Fair, Iris Schumacher | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Chattooga River | Rabun | 2/19/2022 | Jason Love | N | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | private residence | Lowndes | 2/19/2022 | Brad Bergstrom | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Nottley River | Union | 3/21/2022 | Brett Albanese | N | ||
| Snowy Plover | Cumberland I. | Camden | 4/2/2022 | Fletcher Smith | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | West Fork Chattooga River | Rabun | 4/6/2022 | Kristina Macaulay | Y | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Jumping Gully Pond | Lowndes | 5/14/2022 | Marvin Smith | Y | ||
| Snowy Plover | Saint Simons I. | Glynn | 5/21/2022 | Yve Morrell | Y | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Wilsontown Rd. | Decatur | 5/22/2022 | Wayne Schaffner | Y | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Okapilco Cr. Floodplain | Brooks | 6/9/2022 | Deborah Grimes | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Stanley Rapids | Fannin | 6/29/2022 | Suzanne Zuckerman | Y | ||
| Trumpeter Swan | CCWA Panhandle Road Wetlands | Clayton | 7/14/2022 | CCWA employee fide Charlie Muise | Y | ||
| American Flamingo | F J Torras Causeway | Glynn | 9/25/2022 | Elizabeth Bartlett | Y | ||
| Snowy Plover | Cumberland I. | Camden | 10/8/2022 | Blair Clark, Elizabeth Clark | Y | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Jekyll I. | Glynn | 10/8/2022 | Kevin McGowan | Y | ||
| Fork-tailed Flycatcher | private residence | Calhoun | 10/19/2022 | user dshunter | Y | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Jekyll I. | Glynn | 10/27/2022 | Evan Pitman, et al | Y | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | private residence | Lamar | 11/13/2022 | Charlie Muise | Y | ||
| Harlequin Duck | Lake Lanier | Gwinnett | 11/19/2022 | Michael Postell | N | ||
| Snowy Plover | Cumberland I. | Camden | 11/19/2022 | Sam Murray, Hale Barrett | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Blue Ridge Marina | Fannin | 11/20/2022 | Brian Lupa | Y | ||
| Cave Swallow | Jekyll I. | Glynn | 11/20/2022 | Yve Morrell | Y | ||
| Shiny Cowbird | private residence | Bryan | 11/25/2022 | Janice Clement | N | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | private residence | Lamar | 11/28/2022 | Charlie Muise, Tracey Muise | ? | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | private residence | Lamar | 11/30/2022 | Charlie Muise, Tracey Muise | Y | ||
| Snow Bunting | Mistletoe SP | Columbia | 12/2/2022 | Bill Gooch | N | ||
| Snow Bunting | Hogpen Gap Trailhead | Union | 12/6/2022 | Adair Bock fide Andrew Theus | Y | ||
| Pacific Loon | Lake Eufaula | Quitman | 12/15/2022 | Geoff Hill | N | ||
| Crested Caracara | Rossville Rd. | McIntosh | 12/17/2022 | Clay Fordham | Y | ||
| Glaucous Gull | Lake Lanier | Forsyth/Hall | 12/26/2022 | Rusty Trump | Y | ||
| 2023 REPORTS REQUESTED | |||||||
| GCRC Record # | Species | Location | County | Initial Sighting Date | Initial Sighting Obs. | Report Author | Ph? |
| Common Merganser | Yonah Dam Rd. | Stephens | 1/12/2023 | Jason Corder | Y | ||
| Trumpeter Swan | Crawfish Springs | Walker | 1/15/2023 | Rob McCoy | Y | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Standard Elevator Rd. | Sumter | 1/16/2023 | Jim Flynn | Y | ||
| Pacific Loon | Shady Grove Park | Forsyth | 1/16/2023 | Keegan Corcoran | Y | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Oxbow Meadows | Muscogee | 1/21/2023 | Mason Jarrett et. al. | Y | ||
| Snowy Plover | Cumberland I. | Camden | 1/23/2023 | Kathy Miller | N | ||
| Common Merganser | Yonah Lake Boat Ramp | Habersham | 1/28/2023 | James White | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Stanley Rapids | Fannin | 2/25/2023 | Kelly Burke | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Unicoi SP | White | 3/11/2023 | Jane Seward | Y | ||
| Fulvous Whistling-Duck | Altamaha SWMA | McIntosh | 3/12/2023 | Beau Brothers | Y | ||
| Snowy Plover | St. Simons I. | Glynn | 3/17/2023 | Yve Morrell | Y | ||
| Leach's Storm-Petrel | Jekyll I. | Glynn | 4/13/2023 | Yve Morrell | Y | ||
| Leach's Storm-Petrel | St. Simons I. | Glynn | 4/13/2023 | Eliot VanOtteren | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Chestatee River DUA | Lumpkin | 4/13/2023 | Rusty Trump | Y | ||
| Common Merganser | Harold Hefner River Park | Gilmer | 4/15/2023 | Carol Payne | ? | ||