Sketches are helpful additions to field notes and rare-bird documentation.
Even the crudest of drawings by individuals professing little or no artistic ability can later be an integral part of the record. Whether you want to document rarities or merely record your birding experiences, the most practical method for most birders is to take field notes and photographs. Notes and sketches made in the field greatly increase the chances of identifying an unknown species by forcing the observer to study the bird carefully instead of wasting precious time flipping through a field guide. If you thoroughly record your observations, you can then compare your notes to field guides and other references. The concept of keeping field notes is certainly not new.