VTBirders -

The Bird Record Committee met in late October to assess the year of hard 
work by the Vermont birding community.  The report can be found here:
http://www.vtecostudies.org/vbrc/RSDs/2011%20Decisions.pdf

Most exciting were three new state records: Band-rumped Storm-Petrel 
(courtesy of Irene), Marbled Godwit, and Slaty-backed Gull.  Another ~10 
records were for species that have been recorded less than 10 times in 
Vermont.

The committee is continuing to work on ways to streamline the process of 
requesting Rare Species Documentation (RSDs) and to work with eBird to 
assess reports in a more timely manner.  We'll keep you posted on 
improvements to our system in the coming months.

In the meantime, please keep those reports coming.  We appreciate your 
willingness to work within our reporting system, and please...keep those 
RSDs coming!

All the best,
Allan Strong
Judith Peterson
Kent McFarland
Sue Wetmore
Hector Galbraith
John Sutton
Ruth Stewart
George Clark
Chris Rimmer
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Allan M. Strong
University of Vermont
The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
007 Hills Building
Burlington, VT 05405
802-656-2910
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