BIRDS

Manx Bird Records
Committee (MBRC)

BIRDS

Manx Bird Records
Committee (MBRC)

MBRC

The Manx Bird Records Committee (MBRC) is the official adjudicator of rare and scarce bird records in the Isle of Man, including rare breeding species.

Through its adjudications, the MBRC maintains the official Manx List of wild birds, which documents all species deemed to have occurred in a wild state in the Isle of Man.

MBRC members are appointed by the Committee of the Manx Bird Club (previously Manx Ornithological Society/ MOS). The MBRC’s annual Manx Bird Report is published in the Society’s journal, Peregrine.

Guidance on submitting records of rare and scarce birds

Records of species considered rare or scare in the Isle of Man are reviewed by the MBRC. Records that are deemed to have been ‘proven’ (supported by a description giving adequate proof of identification and circumstances) are added to the official Manx record.

Records of rare breeding birds in the Isle of Man should also be notified to MBRC in the first instance. These records are shared with the Rare Breeding Birds Panel (RBBP) for compilation and analysis.

For any species requiring a description, please download and complete a Description Form:

As well as completing a Description Form, we would be grateful if you would also report your records online using the sightings form on sightings.manxbirdlife.im website. You can note in the ‘Details’ box that a full description is being provided.

Official Manx Bird list

The official Manx List of species deemed to have occurred in the wild in the Isle of Man indicates those rare and scarce species for which a description is required, as follows:

* MBRC = Species that are rare or scarce in the Isle of Man; assessed by MBRC;

** MBRC & BBRC = Species as above, but which are also considered rarities in the British Isles; assessed by MBRC in the first instance and forwarded for consideration by the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) for inclusion in BBRC’s annual rarities totals. (NB. Species that have occurred in the Isle of Man, but not in the British Isles, feature in the Manx List maintained by MBRC but not in the British List maintained by BBRC.)

A time of taxonomic flux

Several taxonomic revisions have taken place in recent years. The MBRC routinely review these changes and make alterations as appropriate. As result, the Manx List will be regularly updated to reflect the taxonomic order and species/sup-species taxa of the Word Bird List.

Currently serving MBRC members

David Kelly

National Recorder

Voting member

Neil G. Morris

Secretary

Voting member

Chris M. Sharpe

Voting member

Allen S. Moore

Voting member

Aron Sapsford

Voting member

How are Isle of Man bird records managed?

An overview of the management of Isle of Man bird records1

Taxonomy maintained by:
Manx Birds Record Committee (MBRC)

Manx List maintained by:
Manx Birds Record Committee (MBRC)

Manx Ornathological database maintained by:
Manx BirdLife

Data and records generated through:

  • Survey data (formal and informal surveys and censuses)

  • Supplementary data (public sightings via website, social media, etc.)

  • Partners (Manx Chough Project, Manx Ringing Group, BTO, etc.)

  • Aggregators (eBird [Cornell], BirdTrack [BTO], etc.)

Records received and compiled by:

Manx BirdLife

Records adjudicated by:

Manx Bird Records Committee (MBRC)
Chaired by the National Recorder; under aegis of Manx Ornithological Society

Records codified, entered and stored by:

Manx BirdLife

Records published in:

  • Manx Bird Report in Peregrine (journal of Manx Ornithological Society)

  • British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) report

  • Rare Birds Breeding Panel (RBBP) report

  • British Birds Scarce Migrants report

Records supplied to:

  • Isle of Man Government

  • Isle of Man and UK QUANGOs and NGOs

  • Private clients

The Manx BirdLife website at sightings.manxbirdlife.im provides the bird sightings submission form and a public noticeboard of recent sightings in the Isle of Man.

  1. Excludes records from the Calf of Man, which are managed by the Calf of Man Bird Observatory/Manx National Heritage (MNH).

  2. MBRC is a sub-committee under the aegis of the Manx Ornithological Society (MOS).

  3. Manx BirdLife is an independent charity working to protect birds and their habitats in the Isle of Man.

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Please support our vital work