The number of rarite reports accepted by BARC (n) = x - a - b - c - d
where
x is the number of rarites that actually visit Australia
 x - a is the number that people perceive [see or hear], in many cases 
without consciously being aware of the birds
x - a - b is the number that people observe [they are aware of the 
birds]
x - a - b - c is the number that people correctly identify
 x - a - b - c - d is the number of correctly identified birds that are 
reported to BARC with sufficient detail to become an accepted sighting
 The question is whether x is greater than 1% of n.  Rarites that turn 
up to twitcher hotspots - eg WTP, BBO, Penrice, Ash Island, Buckley's 
Hole have a high probability of being observed and identified.  Rarites 
that turn up in areas not on the twitching map - eg Burren Junction are 
generally not observed.
 The reason more rarites are being reported is that more twitchers have 
telephoto lenses and are reporting sightings on Birding-Aus etc - the 
following article provides a picture of the situation in the UK this 
year ...
Regards, Laurie.
http://environment.independent.co.uk/nature/article3255703.ece
A very British bird boom
 This year more rare birds have been sighted on our shores than ever 
before. And, as David Randall finds, it's our very own hi-tech 
twitchers that we need to thank
Published: 16 December 2007
< snip>
 The interesting thing is that the "bird of the year" came and went 
without being seen by a twitcher - an exhausted Yellow-nosed Albatross 
turned up in someone's yard, was taken to a rescue centre, photographed 
and released the next day ...
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