The Trinidad and Tobago Bird Status and Distribution Committee (TTBSDC), formerly the Trinidad & Tobago Rare Bird Committee (TTRBC), was established as an independent organisation governed by a set of bye-laws in September 1995. The primary functions of the TTRBC are to:

1. Maintain an official list of the bird species of Trinidad and Tobago.

2. Maintain a review list of bird species whose occurrence in Trinidad and Tobago requires further documentation.

3. Solicit details for all reports of species on its review list.

4. Evaluate the adequacy of documentation for all such reports.

5. Publish periodic reports of its findings.

The TTBSDC evaluates reports of birds with the aim of converting them into documented records that can be used reliably for scientific studies of bird distribution and patterns of avian vagrancy. The TTBSDC currently comprises eight members including a Secretary and Assistant Secretary responsible for assigning a number to and cataloging each report received, circulating the reports among TTBSDC members, and compiling the decisions.

Each TTRBC member evaluates whether the information provided in each report is sufficient to support the identification. A record is accepted when a minimum of five members vote for it. Where a description is submitted referring to a species not previously recorded in Trinidad or in Tobago, voting for acceptance must be unanimous.

Participation by both resident and visiting birders is vital for the success of the TTBSDC. Please report appropriate sightings promptly to:

Nigel Lallsingh
Secretary
Ablack Trace
Freeport
Trinidad & Tobago
E-mail: nigellallsingh@gmail.com
Phone: 780-4614

Alignment with eBird

eBird is a global initiative designed to record, archive, and share bird sightings. Launched by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it acts as a massive citizen-science database with over 1 billion observations, used for scientific research, conservation, and tracking bird population trends.

The TTBSDC’s list of reportable species has now been aligned with eBird’s Trinidad and Tobago filters. In addition to reports sent directly to the committee, the eBird Trinidad and Tobago reviewers will route now species which are flagged by the eBird filters and refer to the committee any records of birds on the current TTBSDC list.