Others keep lists and a journal. The most rigorous method for record keeping is the one prescribed by Grinnell which includes journal entries, species accounts and specimen catalogs. The goal of this page is to identify the minimum requirements for documenting rare and unusual species. We will focus on what a review committee would look for in submitted details. The references at the end of this document will provide sources for other styles and methods of record keeping.
Nothing advances the cause of a species description like a sketch.
Most people will make the claim that they have no artistic capacity, but this is generally beside the point. Even a very rough sketch of a bird's shape that places basic colors and patterns in approximately the right places goes a long way toward helping a reviewer evaluate the details of your observation. Photographs are invaluable where possible, but in no way should supplant written details and drawings. A Practical Guide for the Amatuer Naturalist. Alfred A Knopf, New York.