[Tweeters] EBird reviews

[Jim Betz via Tweeters]

Emily,  
  At least one part of this equation is that some reports are made by ‘known/respected eBirders’. As in known to the reviewer. Another part is that no one wants “incorrect” reports of “rare” birds. 
  Having said the above I’m also puzzled by your report staying pending. 
  Hang in there. If Gary’s post of 18 years is nothing else it should be comforting?  Jim in Skagit (whose not seeing many birds on ViaRail)
Sent from my iPhone


> On May 31, 2025, at 4:01 PM, via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:

> 

>   1. No birds? (Jim Betz via Tweeters)

>   2. Re: No birds? (via Tweeters)

>   3. Question about confirmed/unconfirmed rare bird reports    on

>      EBird (Emily Birchman via Tweeters)

>   4. Re: Question about confirmed/unconfirmed rare bird reports on

>      EBird (Steve Hampton via Tweeters)

>   5. Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook) (Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters)

>   6. Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook) (Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters)

>   7. Re: Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

>      (Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters)

>   8. Re: Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

>      (Larry Schwitters via Tweeters)

>   9. Re: Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

>      (Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters)

>  10. Re: Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook) (LMarkoff via Tweeters)

>  11. Re: Question about confirmed/unconfirmed rare bird    reports on

>      EBird (Gary Bletsch via Tweeters)

> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

> 

> Message: 1

> Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 15:20:53 -0400

> From: Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu,

>    tweeters-request at mailman11.u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] No birds?

> Message-ID: <EA2D26CE-55BA-4F55-8C39-2E43AE45CBDD at jimbetz.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

> 

>  We?re in Montreal traveling by train. We?ve seen very few birds since leaving Vancouver. Especially from Edmonton to Toronto. Too early in the year?  We?ve seen a Few Canada Geese, even fewer swans, mallards, crows, and RWB.  Same with mammals both large and small. Ideas?  Jim

> Sent from my iPhone

> 

>> On May 30, 2025, at 3:01?PM, via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

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>> Today's Topics:

>> 

>>  1. Edmonds & Pilchuck Audubon Birdfest (jimullrich via Tweeters)

>> 

>> 

>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>> 

>> Message: 1

>> Date: Thu, 29 May 2025 12:55:09 -0700

>> From: jimullrich via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds & Pilchuck Audubon Birdfest

>> Message-ID: <DBFA4F85-7E13-4353-BF75-E8DD17DCCD93 at gmail.com>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

>> 

>> Howdy Tweets:

>> Come join us in Edmonds this weekend and participate in the Pilchuck Audubon Society Spring Birdfest. Come see touch & buy the new

>> Swarovski NL PURE line of Binoculars and Scopes presented by our regional Swarovski dealer. Visit:

>> https://pilchuckaudubon.org

>> Yours for the Birds n? the Bees

>> Jim Ullrich

>> 

>> Sent from my iPhone

>> 

>> ------------------------------

>> 

>> Subject: Digest Footer

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>> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 249, Issue 30

>> *****************************************

> 

> 

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 2

> Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 14:54:42 -0700

> From: via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: "'Jim Betz'" <jimbetz at jimbetz.com>, <tweeters at u.washington.edu>,

>    <tweeters-request at mailman11.u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] No birds?

> Message-ID: <003601dbd1ad$7430e370$5c92aa50$@comcast.net>

> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="UTF-8"

> 

> Jim,

> We were in Montreal on the 20th and went to the Botanical Gardens. In the area of the Lilac Garden, I recorded at least 8 warbler species. I didn't have my bins with me so ID was by song primarily, with some help from Merlin. Several photographers were having a great time as the warblers were on lower branches.

> Happy travels,

> Don Aupperlee, DVM

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Jim Betz via Tweeters

> Sent: Friday, May 30, 2025 12:21 PM

> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu; tweeters-request at mailman11.u.washington.edu

> Subject: [Tweeters] No birds?

> 

>  We?re in Montreal traveling by train. We?ve seen very few birds since leaving Vancouver. Especially from Edmonton to Toronto. Too early in the year?  We?ve seen a Few Canada Geese, even fewer swans, mallards, crows, and RWB.  Same with mammals both large and small. Ideas?  Jim Sent from my iPhone

> 

>> On May 30, 2025, at 3:01?PM, via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>> 

>> ?Send Tweeters mailing list submissions to

>>   tweeters at u.washington.edu

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>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific

>> than "Re: Contents of Tweeters digest..."

>> 

>> 

>> Today's Topics:

>> 

>>  1. Edmonds & Pilchuck Audubon Birdfest (jimullrich via Tweeters)

>> 

>> 

>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>> 

>> Message: 1

>> Date: Thu, 29 May 2025 12:55:09 -0700

>> From: jimullrich via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

>> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds & Pilchuck Audubon Birdfest

>> Message-ID: <DBFA4F85-7E13-4353-BF75-E8DD17DCCD93 at gmail.com>

>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

>> 

>> Howdy Tweets:

>> Come join us in Edmonds this weekend and participate in the Pilchuck

>> Audubon Society Spring Birdfest. Come see touch & buy the new Swarovski NL PURE line of Binoculars and Scopes presented by our regional Swarovski dealer. Visit:

>> https://pilchuckaudubon.org

>> Yours for the Birds n? the Bees

>> Jim Ullrich

>> 

>> Sent from my iPhone

>> 

>> ------------------------------

>> 

>> Subject: Digest Footer

>> 

>> _______________________________________________

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>> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 249, Issue 30

>> *****************************************

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> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 3

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 07:15:04 -0700

> From: Emily Birchman via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Question about confirmed/unconfirmed rare bird

>    reports    on EBird

> Message-ID:

>    <CABnebKkprFvzMegTwJ1Zf4WgNqbfS5GzAfRd88bLiPSHVAGgWQ at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Hi all,

> 

> I am relatively newer to using EBird, having only started using it in 2023.

> While I've gotten used to a lot of the features, I'm not an expert, so I

> was wondering if someone could shed some light on this for me.

> 

> I'm wondering why some reports of rare birds that contain photos or

> recordings become 'confirmed' and others do not? Occasionally I can see why

> because the report doesn't clearly indicate the species being reported

> versus something else that's more common. But I reported two sightings in

> the last week that have remained unconfirmed despite adding recordings or

> photos and I'm curious why they're still unconfirmed.

> 

> This past weekend, on 5/25, I hiked at Big 4 Ice Caves with my family and

> did some birding. I was using Merlin, and it very clearly caught an

> American Redstart singing. After patiently looking for awhile, I finally

> ended up spotting it - too far to take a photo but it was very clearly a

> redstart - black and orange warbler, white underside, I could see it

> singing while Merlin ID'd the song. I got my lifer redstart here in the

> same area last June with very clear but brief views, and this time I got to

> watch the bird actively flit around a tree for much longer. It was

> delightful! (side note: I think there was briefly a female present, as

> well, but I didn't have my guide or a cell phone signal to look it up so I

> wasn't sure of the ID and didn't report her).

> I reported the singing male with a description and later added 2 recordings

> from Merlin, which I didn't know how to edit but the second recording only

> has the redstart and a Hammond's Flycatcher calling so it seemed fairly

> clear.

> 

> The report showed up on the Snohomish County rare bird alert as

> unconfirmed, and it has continued to be unconfirmed even though other

> birders went the next day and 2 of their reports were confirmed with only a

> description (not a recording) of the song, as they didn't see it.

> There are other subsequent reports after the 2 confirmed ones that have

> recordings and those are also unconfirmed.

> 

> More recently, I went to Juanita Bay Park this week with a friend and we

> saw a horned grebe. We got photos using my binoculars to zoom in since

> neither of us have a camera other than that on our cell phones. I posted my

> sighting with those photos which are admittedly not great, but I think are

> clear enough to see that it's a horned grebe, not another species, but that

> one has also remained unconfirmed.

> 

> I'm wondering if it just takes a long time for sightings to be confirmed,

> or if there's something I should have done differently to describe what I

> saw to make it more likely to be confirmed? I don't often get to see 'rare'

> birds but am happy to learn more about how to report sightings more

> helpfully.

> 

> Thanks for any advice you have! :)

> Emily Birchman

> Kenmore WA

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> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 4

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 07:33:40 -0700

> From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Question about confirmed/unconfirmed rare bird

>    reports on EBird

> Message-ID:

>    <CAM1wzcPsd5A4A_7S_mTaRUf67gqjbBdvqeDTNSsc59UieGCv1A at mail.gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Emily and all,

> 

> I'm not a reviewer but I am familiar with the general process and best

> practices. As far as the process goes, the reviewers are volunteers and,

> depending on their schedule, it can take many days and sometimes weeks.

> 

> As far as best practices, I've heard it's best to include some context and

> at least 3 field marks and make it so you can read the description to

> someone and they can guess the bird correctly. Sometimes people write

> things like "definitely was it" and that's all, which leaves the reviewers

> with little to go on.

> 

> Here's a good example: A duck with a brick orange head, black breast,

> grayish body above and below; bluish bill with black tip; yellow eye;

> swimming in pond with Mallards and Wood Ducks. Similar in shape to

> Mallards.

> 

> That, of course, would be a Redhead and rules out Canvasback.

> 

> There is guidance on eBird about audio recordings, how to edit them, etc.

> which is helpful.

> 

> Please send a redstart to Port Townsend!

> 

> good birding,

> 

> 

> 

>> On Sat, May 31, 2025 at 7:15?AM Emily Birchman via Tweeters <

>> tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>> 

>> Hi all,

>> 

>> I am relatively newer to using EBird, having only started using it in

>> 2023. While I've gotten used to a lot of the features, I'm not an expert,

>> so I was wondering if someone could shed some light on this for me.

>> 

>> I'm wondering why some reports of rare birds that contain photos or

>> recordings become 'confirmed' and others do not? Occasionally I can see why

>> because the report doesn't clearly indicate the species being reported

>> versus something else that's more common. But I reported two sightings in

>> the last week that have remained unconfirmed despite adding recordings or

>> photos and I'm curious why they're still unconfirmed.

>> 

>> This past weekend, on 5/25, I hiked at Big 4 Ice Caves with my family and

>> did some birding. I was using Merlin, and it very clearly caught an

>> American Redstart singing. After patiently looking for awhile, I finally

>> ended up spotting it - too far to take a photo but it was very clearly a

>> redstart - black and orange warbler, white underside, I could see it

>> singing while Merlin ID'd the song. I got my lifer redstart here in the

>> same area last June with very clear but brief views, and this time I got to

>> watch the bird actively flit around a tree for much longer. It was

>> delightful! (side note: I think there was briefly a female present, as

>> well, but I didn't have my guide or a cell phone signal to look it up so I

>> wasn't sure of the ID and didn't report her).

>> I reported the singing male with a description and later added 2

>> recordings from Merlin, which I didn't know how to edit but the second

>> recording only has the redstart and a Hammond's Flycatcher calling so it

>> seemed fairly clear.

>> 

>> The report showed up on the Snohomish County rare bird alert as

>> unconfirmed, and it has continued to be unconfirmed even though other

>> birders went the next day and 2 of their reports were confirmed with only a

>> description (not a recording) of the song, as they didn't see it.

>> There are other subsequent reports after the 2 confirmed ones that have

>> recordings and those are also unconfirmed.

>> 

>> More recently, I went to Juanita Bay Park this week with a friend and we

>> saw a horned grebe. We got photos using my binoculars to zoom in since

>> neither of us have a camera other than that on our cell phones. I posted my

>> sighting with those photos which are admittedly not great, but I think are

>> clear enough to see that it's a horned grebe, not another species, but that

>> one has also remained unconfirmed.

>> 

>> I'm wondering if it just takes a long time for sightings to be confirmed,

>> or if there's something I should have done differently to describe what I

>> saw to make it more likely to be confirmed? I don't often get to see 'rare'

>> birds but am happy to learn more about how to report sightings more

>> helpfully.

>> 

>> Thanks for any advice you have! :)

>> Emily Birchman

>> Kenmore WA

>> 

>> 

>> _______________________________________________

>> Tweeters mailing list

>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>> 

> 

> 

> --

> ?Steve Hampton?

> Port Townsend, WA  (qat?y)

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> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 5

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 09:25:37 -0700

> From: Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> Message-ID: <3E9E2646-CEFF-41FA-9AF0-5B282DEB5CB2 at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8

> 

> I saw a first-year Steller?s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

> 

> Jeff Gilligan (503) 502-9374

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 6

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 09:25:37 -0700

> From: Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> Message-ID: <3E9E2646-CEFF-41FA-9AF0-5B282DEB5CB2 at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8

> 

> I saw a first-year Steller?s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

> 

> Jeff Gilligan (503) 502-9374

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 7

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 09:32:49 -0700

> From: Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> Message-ID: <4E3FA352-6C59-494B-B0C4-0F8714051074 at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8

> 

> I should add that the tail was largely white, but clean white.

> 

> 

> 

>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:25 AM, Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan90 at gmail.com> wrote:

>> 

>> I saw a first-year Steller?s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

>> 

>> Jeff Gilligan (503) 502-9374

> 

> 

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 8

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 09:56:06 -0700

> From: Larry Schwitters via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: Jeff Gilligan <jeffgilligan90 at gmail.com>

> Cc: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> Message-ID: <D7B7A543-0021-429A-9B5A-C43B9A09FEF0 at me.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8

> 

> Hello Jeff,

> 

> If you have the id correct this is a very, very rare bird especially for your location. eBird shows one being seen off and on over the years near Juneau, AK. But thats the closest to Washington State eBird shows. If you could come up with a photo the bird listing world will go crazy.

> 

> Larry Schwitters

> Issaquah

> 

>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:25?AM, Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>> 

>> I saw a first-year Steller?s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

>> 

>> Jeff Gilligan (503) 502-9374

>> _______________________________________________

>> Tweeters mailing list

>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

> 

> 

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 9

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 10:03:48 -0700

> From: Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters at me.com>

> Cc: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> Message-ID: <66356998-603C-4E45-BEDD-F637DBEBA107 at gmail.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset=utf-8

> 

> Hi

> 

> I see that a Golden Eagle was reported by puffin monitors at Cannon Beach in the past few days.  In some ways, the Stellers slightly resemble an immature Golden, so I wonder if they saw the Steller?s, and are not experienced birders.  I have only seen Golden Eagles twice on the Oregon coast, and one raiding seabirds on a rock seems unusual.    I am positive of the ID of the bird I saw. I have birded over 60 years.  I was informed that someone reported a first-year Steller?s on the northern Oregon coast last winter.  I do not know anything more about that report.

> 

> Jeff Gilligan

> 

> 

> 

>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:56 AM, Larry Schwitters <leschwitters at me.com> wrote:

>> 

>> Hello Jeff,

>> 

>> If you have the id correct this is a very, very rare bird especially for your location. eBird shows one being seen off and on over the years near Juneau, AK. But thats the closest to Washington State eBird shows. If you could come up with a photo the bird listing world will go crazy.

>> 

>> Larry Schwitters

>> Issaquah

>> 

>>>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:25?AM, Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>>> 

>>> I saw a first-year Steller?s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

>>> 

>>> Jeff Gilligan (503) 502-9374

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> Tweeters mailing list

>>> Tweeters at u.washington.edu

>>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

>> 

> 

> 

> 

> ------------------------------

> 

> Message: 10

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 10:32:59 -0700

> From: LMarkoff via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: "'Tweeters'" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Cc: 'Jeff Gilligan' <jeffgilligan90 at gmail.com>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> Message-ID: <006001dbd252$1013dcd0$303b9670$@mycci.net>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Steller?s Sea-Eagle can get around.  One even visited Texas briefly in 2021.

> 

> 

> 

> see: https://www.audubon.org/news/inside-amazing-cross-continent-saga-stellers-sea-eagle

> 

> 

> 

> FWIW,

> 

> 

> 

> Lori Markoff

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters

> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2025 10:04 AM

> To: Larry Schwitters <leschwitters at me.com>

> Cc: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

> 

> 

> 

> Hi

> 

> 

> 

> I see that a Golden Eagle was reported by puffin monitors at Cannon Beach in the past few days.  In some ways, the Stellers slightly resemble an immature Golden, so I wonder if they saw the Steller?s, and are not experienced birders.  I have only seen Golden Eagles twice on the Oregon coast, and one raiding seabirds on a rock seems unusual.    I am positive of the ID of the bird I saw. I have birded over 60 years.  I was informed that someone reported a first-year Steller?s on the northern Oregon coast last winter.  I do not know anything more about that report.

> 

> 

> 

> Jeff Gilligan

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

>>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:56 AM, Larry Schwitters < <mailto:leschwitters at me.com> leschwitters at me.com> wrote:

>> 

>> 

> 

>> Hello Jeff,

> 

>> 

> 

>> If you have the id correct this is a very, very rare bird especially for your location. eBird shows one being seen off and on over the years near Juneau, AK. But thats the closest to Washington State eBird shows. If you could come up with a photo the bird listing world will go crazy.

> 

>> 

> 

>> Larry Schwitters

> 

>> Issaquah

> 

>> 

> 

>>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:25?AM, Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters < <mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu> tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

>>> 

> 

>>> I saw a first-year Steller?s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

> 

>>> 

> 

>>> Jeff Gilligan

> 

> 

> 

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> Message: 11

> Date: Sat, 31 May 2025 18:52:47 +0000

> From: Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> To: Emily Birchman <stollea at gmail.com>

> Cc: "tweeters at u.washington.edu" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Question about confirmed/unconfirmed rare bird

>    reports on EBird

> Message-ID:

>    <z4Ct-Szm_OZZRE7PQgraMyrQgVjxPEktmVvT3W7ibxDDzdJ5VraWTXUpLgU_gt5lvEYb4YrWJdxLYScRiNa7dybpbb8qH5oVyqXsMWepijs=@protonmail.com>

>    

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

> 

> Dear Emily,

> 

> Adding on to what others have said about eBird review, it is a process that depends on busy volunteers. There are eBird reviewers for every region of every country in the world, as best I understand. Most of the USA has, of course, pretty good coverage by eBird reviewers, compared to the coverage for, say, Liberia or North Korea. Even so, that coverage is uneven. Some places have reviewers who are "johnny on the spot" about inquiring about rare sightings. Other places have reviewers who are, shall we say, more laid back.

> 

> One thing that bothers me is that it can take a long time for an eBird reviewer to contact the birder who includes a rare or unexpected bird in an eBird checklist. I have received e-mails from reviewers in regard to sightings that I put on eBird ten years earlier, and which themselves refer to birds seen years, even decades, earlier than the time that I actually entered the sighting on eBird.

> 

> I was just checking eBird this morning, in regard to a rare Laughing Gull that I saw in Western New York back in 2007. If you do a species search or an "esplore hotspot," my sighting does not show up on eBird. It is blocked as being a rarity under review, or whatever they call it. I understand that, but what I don't understand is how it could take an eBird reviewer 18 years to getting around to sending what is after all a form message!

> 

> I am not an eBird reviewer. If I were one, I would spend a lot of time digging up all of the old records and sending off those inquiries. I could not rest easy until I had done so.

> 

> Yours truly,

> 

> Gary Bletsch

> 

> garybletsch at yahoo.com

> 

> Sent with [Proton Mail](https://proton.me/mail/home) secure email.

> 

>> On Saturday, May 31st, 2025 at 10:27 AM, Emily Birchman via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>> 

>> Hi all,

>> 

>> I am relatively newer to using EBird, having only started using it in 2023. While I've gotten used to a lot of the features, I'm not an expert, so I was wondering if someone could shed some light on this for me.

>> 

>> I'm wondering why some reports of rare birds that contain photos or recordings become 'confirmed' and others do not? Occasionally I can see why because the report doesn't clearly indicate the species being reported versus something else that's more common. But I reported two sightings in the last week that have remained unconfirmed despite adding recordings or photos and I'm curious why they're still unconfirmed.

>> 

>> This past weekend, on 5/25, I hiked at Big 4 Ice Caves with my family and did some birding. I was using Merlin, and it very clearly caught an American Redstart singing. After patiently looking for awhile, I finally ended up spotting it - too far to take a photo but it was very clearly a redstart - black and orange warbler, white underside, I could see it singing while Merlin ID'd the song. I got my lifer redstart here in the same area last June with very clear but brief views, and this time I got to watch the bird actively flit around a tree for much longer. It was delightful! (side note: I think there was briefly a female present, as well, but I didn't have my guide or a cell phone signal to look it up so I wasn't sure of the ID and didn't report her).

>> I reported the singing male with a description and later added 2 recordings from Merlin, which I didn't know how to edit but the second recording only has the redstart and a Hammond's Flycatcher calling so it seemed fairly clear.

>> 

>> The report showed up on the Snohomish County rare bird alert as unconfirmed, and it has continued to be unconfirmed even though other birders went the next day and 2 of their reports were confirmed with only a description (not a recording) of the song, as they didn't see it.

>> There are other subsequent reports after the 2 confirmed ones that have recordings and those are also unconfirmed.

>> 

>> More recently, I went to Juanita Bay Park this week with a friend and we saw a horned grebe. We got photos using my binoculars to zoom in since neither of us have a camera other than that on our cell phones. I posted my sighting with those photos which are admittedly not great, but I think are clear enough to see that it's a horned grebe, not another species, but that one has also remained unconfirmed.

>> 

>> I'm wondering if it just takes a long time for sightings to be confirmed, or if there's something I should have done differently to describe what I saw to make it more likely to be confirmed? I don't often get to see 'rare' birds but am happy to learn more about how to report sightings more helpfully.

>> 

>> Thanks for any advice you have! :)

>> Emily Birchman

>> Kenmore WA

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> End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 249, Issue 31

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