Utah Birds Records Committee
  
"Bylaws Proposals"
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UBRC Separate Sightings Procedures
13 Apr 2026
Deadline: 20 Apr 2026
 

   

There are four proposals for bylaws changes that relate to dealing with "separate sightings of the same species"  The first two deal with posting and reviewing and the second two deal with recording these sightings in our archives.

Please send an email to Vernon (vernwmd@hotmail.com)   with the following information:

-.Your Name:

- Vote on proposal #1:  (Accept / Not)
- Vote on proposal #2:  (Accept / Not)
- Vote on proposal #3:  (Accept / Not)
- Vote on proposal #4:  (Accept / Not)

- Any comments You'd like to make:
- Date you voted:

 

 

 
PROPOSALS:


Proposal #1  (Accept / Not)
(Sight records for different individuals - to be inserted as IV.A.2 in the bylaws)

 2. A separate record may be submitted for the same species at the same location when there is clear evidence that a subsequent observation does not involve the same individual or individuals previously documented. Such evidence should include discernible differences in plumage or identifiable markings to confirm a different sex, age, or increased count of individuals over what was originally documented in a previous record.
 

 Proposal #2  (Accept / Not)
(Sight records different individual - to be inserted as IV.A.2 or 3 in the bylaws)

 2: (or 3) Separate sightings.  A sighting of a particular bird species in the general location of a submitted record for the same species, will be considered a  separate sighting for the Review Species count, only if there is a reasonable time gap from the last reported observation or a reasonable distance from the last sighting location.  The judgment of "reasonable" will be determined by the known characteristics of the given species for Utah, as determined by the Committee.  A new individual of the same species, seen during the observation time and location of a submitted record, will be considered part of the original sighting for purposes of our sightings count in our Documented Sightings list and * a new record will not need to be submitted.


Proposal #3
 (Accept / Not)
(Posting a new sight record - the part to be inserted into  IV.B.1.a of the bylaws is in blue)

1.  Initial Receipt by Secretary. Upon receipt of a record, the Secretary shall do the following:

   a. Determine if the record meets the circulation criteria . (is it on the Review Species List, would it be a new species for Utah, would it be a "separate sighting" for this species as defined in sec. IV. A.2*, or would it support the sighting of a record presently under review).
 

 Proposal #4  (Accept / Not)
(Recording sightings in the archives - the part to be inserted into  III.E.2.e of the bylaws is in blue)

e. Upon completion of a sight record review, the Secretary shall do the following:

     1. Write a summary of the Voting members' comments, explaining the decision of the Committee and add it to the Summary Page for that record.

     2. Add the completed Sight Record to the appropriate sightings lists. There are two lists kept: (1) The Documented Sightings of Records reviewed that were accepted by the Utah Review Bird Committee, and (2) A Comprehensive List that includes the Documented Sightings, and adds Records not accepted but with a reasonable possibility of being a valid sighting. Records that were thought to be misidentifications or were “not accepted” in the first round, will not be included on either list. Records that were split to be reviewed separately, were each accepted by the committee, and thought to be the same bird, will be combined for the Documented Sightings list. Separate Sightings reviewed and accepted, but determined by the Committee to be the same as a previous Record will be combined with the Record they supported.
 


* In order to make things clear, there may be a few adjustments in references to sections,
depending on which proposals are accepted


Send an email to Vernon with your vote!