*Tonight* SDFO Meeting June 18. Guy McCaskie and "Foundation, Functioning, and Accomplishments of the CBRC"

Program: Guy McCaskie
presents "Foundation, Functioning, and Accomplishments of the California
Bird Records Committee." From Rare Birds of California: " The
California Bird Records Committee (hereafter the CBRC or Committee) was
established in 1970 to help bridge the gap between scientific ornithology and
recreational birding. Operating under the auspices of the California Field
Ornithologists (later to become Western Field Ornithologists), it was the first
committee formed in the Americas for the purpose of vetting records of vagrant
and similarly rare bird species."

The Godfather of
California birding, Guy McCaskie is the co-founder of both Western Field
Ornithogists, serving as its first president, as well as the CBRC, serving as
either a member or a non- voting secretary since its inception in 1970. Guy’s
impact on birding in California cannot be overstated. A 1992 article in
American Birds (46: 204-213) says it best: “McCaskie raised the status of
observation of complex avian events to a highly sophisticated part of the scientific
procedure. He discovered serendipitously the large-scale and frequent
occurrence of vagrants in California and took the lead in systematically
exploiting that boon. He recognized the densifying properties of desert oases
and coastal sites…As a result, he found birds where no one before him dreamed
of looking and set into motion the gears of change for the whole birding
community through his leadership and example. He defined the leading edge for a
generation of birding innovators by developing a method of critical field
observation that was unique when he started and which, for many, is now the
standard.”

Next month’s meeting:
Tuesday, July 17, same time, same place. Brian Myers will discuss “Courtship, isolation, and a hybrid zone between Allen's (Selasphorus sasin) and Rufous (Selasphorus rufus) Hummingbird.”

Click here for Meeting Details and Map.

Click here for SDFO membership instructions. 

Justyn Stahl

San Diego Field Ornithologists

Vice President/Program Chair