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Cocos & Christmas Islands

To: "'Frank O'Connor'" <>, <>
Subject: Cocos & Christmas Islands
From: "Tony Russel" <>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:34:15 +1030
Yep, well said Frank. The sooner I get back out there on those islands the
better.  Or - should that be Ozlands ?

Tony


-----Original Message-----
From: 
 On Behalf Of Frank O'Connor
Sent: Monday, 10 January 2011 5:16 PM
To: 
Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] [Birding-Aus] Cocos & Christmas Islands


Someone asked whether any of the databases could produce an 
Australian list with or without these islands.

In 2009 I bought Wildlife Recorder. It defines a large number of 
countires, states, provinces, territories, etc. The "name" of these 
entities is unimportant. I think WR uses "Locations".  Locations can 
be nested, and it defines this for much of the world.

It lists Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling Islands, Macquarie Island, 
Heard MacDonell Islands as separate entities. I first thought this 
was a problem, but it isn't. In fact it makes it easy.  This only 
affects the entry of data.  I enter data for Cocos and it brings up a 
list of the birds for Cocos to choose from, etc.  Similarly for each 
state.  This was also true for the states of Vietnam, Brasil, 
etc.  He has put an enormous amount of work into creating and 
maintaining these lists.

But I can then create any list I want. For my "Australian" list, I 
tick Australia (to pick up the states, Lord Howe, Norfolk, etc), 
Cocos, Christmas, Macquarie and Heard.  It is very flexible.  It is 
one of the reasons that I purchased WR.

The only complaint I have is that it includes Ashmore Reef in Western 
Australia.  But he is willing to fix this if possible.

As for the email storm I created ....  Someone had a dig at birding 
on Cocos, so I gave a little back.  It was a trip of a lifetime that 
may never be repeated on those islands.  Why do people get so het up 
about other people's lists or whatever?  Lists are your own.  Create 
whatever lists you want.  But don't complain about others.  Tony has 
a web site that you may choose to list your "Australian" total.  This 
requires a standard definition, and he has used C&B2008 except he 
does not include the AAT.  This is a fun list.  Don't be so serious.

There was not one single comment about the climatic conditions or 
whatever else may have led to this event.

I was offended that some people seem to consider that the people who 
live on Cocos and Christmas are not Australians, or maybe are second 
class citizens, or are worthy of having a dig at.  They are 
Australians. QED.  The territories are Australian.  QED.  They are 
not the same as PNG before 1975 when it got independence.  Australia 
administered PNG under I believe a UN agreement.  PNG was never part 
of Australia.

Tourism is an important industry and employer for Cocos and 
Christmas.  Birding tourism is becoming an important part of this 
tourism.  Congratulations to Lisa Preston, Richard Baxter, David 
James, Peter Barrand, Coates Wildlife Tours and others who are promoting
this.



_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor           Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694              Email :  

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