The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds, Second Edition

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS HIS BOOK reflects the efforts of ornithologists and birders alike who have reported their observations over the years. We thank everyone who has taken the time to submit sightings to the Texas Bird Records Committee (tbrc) and to the journal now known as North American Birds, which has played a prominent role over the past 50 years in collecting and disseminating that information. Birders who formally contribute their sightings to the journal and to the committee not only play an important role in documenting the ornithological history of Texas but also generate the information so critical to the study of the status and distribution of birds on a larger scale. The first edition of the TOS Handbook of Texas Birds (2004) was reviewed by many past and present members of the tbrc, as well as by regional experts on the avifauna of Texas. Their critical review was essential to developing the basis for this revision. We again thank Keith Arnold, John Arvin, Kelly Bryan, Mel Cooksey, Bert Frenz, Tony Gallucci, John Gee, Petra Hockey, Greg Lasley, Guy Luneau, Terry Maxwell, Brad McKinney, Martin Reid, David Sarkozi, Willie Sekula, Ken Seyffert, Cliff Shackelford, Matt White, and Barry Zimmer for their assistance . The species accounts in this edition were reviewed by Mary Gustafson, Randy Pinkston, Martin Reid, and Cliff Shackelford. Martin Reid and Cynthia Lindlof meticulously copyedited the manuscript as part of their review. We thank them for all their thoughtful and valued comments , which greatly enhanced the quality of this edition. In addition, we would be remiss not to thank the regional compilers of North American Birds, whose volunteer efforts are the cornerstone of the indispensable data collection that greatly enhances this update. These compilers include Eric Carpenter, D. D. Currie, Bert Frenz, Anthony Hewetson, Jim Paton, Willie Sekula, John Tharp, and Ron Weeks. We also thank the people who commented on the previous edition, in particular, Peter Barnes, Kelly Bryan, Mike Dillon, Bob Doe, Tim Fennell, Tony Gallucci, Anthony Hewetson, Rich Kostecke, and David Wolf, for xii acknowledgments providing often lengthy notes and input for this edition. Fred Collins graciously provided information about the occurrence of exotic species within the state. We were very fortunate to have many photographers graciously allow us the use of their photographs to illustrate this edition. Their contributions toward the final product are certainly greatly appreciated. These kind contributors include Lynn Barber, Trey Barrow, Steve Bentsen, Brandon Best, Don Bleitz, Erik Breden, Jan Dauphin, Larry Ditto, Marc Eastman, Maryann M. Eastman, Gil Eckrich, Robert Epstein, Terry Ferguson, Tony Frank, Andy Garcia, Jay Gardner, Brian Gibbons, Karen Gleason, Michael L. Gray, Mary Gustafson, Dave Hanson, Garrett Hodne, Ken Hunt, Joseph C. Kennedy, Michael Lindsey, Scotty Lofland, Stephan Lorenz, Geoff Malosh, Matthew Matthiessen, David McDonald, Rick Nirschl, Carolyn Ohl-Johnson, Lee Pasquali, Jim Paton, Linda Gail Price, Martin Reid, Dan Roberts, Billy Sandifer, Lawrence Semo, Bruce Strange, Christopher Taylor, Kerry Taylor, Rob Tizard, and Alan Wormington. We would particularly like to thank Greg W. Lasley, Martin Reid, and Robert Epstein for the generous contribution of so many of their wonderful photographs. Since the TOS checklist was first published in 1974, great changes to our knowledge of Texas birds have occurred . Everything we have learned over the last four decades is a direct reflection of observer participation in providing detailed data for the record. Much is still to be learned about the avifauna in Texas, and many counties remain to be explored in greater depth. It is our hope, and the hope of all those interested in preserving and building upon the record presented here, that observers will continue to gather and share their information about this state’s diverse bird life. THE TOS HANDBOOK OF TEXAS BIRDS ...