A. J. Erskine, C.W.S. 
     
    
   
   
    
     reprinted from 
     
    

    
     Atlantic Chapter Newsletter 
     
    

    
     Canadian Society of Environmental 
     
     Biologists 
     
    

    
     Vol 9(1):14, 1978 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     A Proposed verification form for unusual Bird Records 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ornithological information on Prince Edward Island is still 
     
     collected in a rather unsophisticated form and no rigorous system has 
     
     been established to process or evaluate records of unusual species or 
     
     seasonal occurrences which people have observed. The following form 
     
     was developed by the Kingston Field Naturalists for unusual sightings 
     
     from their members or other birders. I would like to present this 
     
     form to the membership with the View to developing something similar 
     
     to this. Do you like the idea? Would it be worthwhile setting up a 
     
     permanent data bank with this type of information? Maybe this would 
     
     be worth discussing at our November meeting. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Observers are encouraged to review a good field guide's write-up of 
     
     an unusual bird while it is actually under observation in the field 
     
     so that each important field mark may be looked for and checked out 
     
     on the spot. 
     
    

    
     1. DATE and TIME of writing this account: 
     
    

    
     2. NAME of the BIRD and NUMBER of individuals: 
     
    

    
     3 . LOCALITY: 
     
    

    
     4 . DATE WHEN SEEN: 5 . TIME OF DAY: 
     
    

    
     6 . OBSERVERS 
     
    
   
   
    
     7. LIGHT CONDITIONS: underline or circle 
     
     (a) general — sunny, light, medium or dark clouds, etc. 
     
    
   
   
    
     (b) where was the bird? - in the open; light, medium or deep 
     
     shade. 
     
    
   
   
    
     (c) where was the sun as you faced the bird? - behind you, in 
     
     front of you, or" degrees from the bird 
     
    
   
   
    
     8. TYPE and CONDITION of OPTICAL equipment used: 
     
    
   
   
    
     9. DISTANCE at which seen, and how judged: estimated, paced, etc.: 
     
    
   
   
    
     10. What was the bird doing? (flying, resting, feeding, etc.) 
     
     (Mention position of the bird in relation to the observer). 
     
    
   
   
    
     11. HABITAT - general and specific: 
     
     12. Length of time bird was studied: 
     
     13. CIRCUMSTANCES under which the bird was found: (first seen by, 
     
    
   
   
    
     etc.): 
     
    
   
   
    
     14. If you have an original sketch, made at the time of the obser— 
     
     vation. please attach it.