Hi Allan,
The AFD, like all similar projects, are never perfect. To help improve
such a site, users who find entries which they feel are not correct
should contact the webmaster for the site and tell them of their
findings. It would only take an email.
As for the use of scientific names, well the site is aimed more at the
professional rather than the average birder. The individual species
pages give the common names, as well as synonyms for common names. I
see the use of scientific names as an excellent educational
opportunity for those birders who are not comfortable with the
scientific names of birds. There is a link to a .csv file, which
includes common names, on the right hand side of the opening page of
the link I posted (NAMES LIST). Unfortunately, there seems to be a
problem with the link at the moment and I have emailed the AFD about
it. If I don't hear anything by the middle of next week, I will ring
the database manager and try and find out what is going on.
As for a dedicated birding organisation having the drive and
expertise to be the custodians of an Australian list, well, the lack
of pro-activity in this area by such an organisation was the
instigator of the original thread on this subject. But then, you could
volunteer to take on the job.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
On 16/12/2011, at 6:06 PM, Allan Richardson wrote:
Hi all,
Just had a look at the Australian Faunal Directory and headed over for
a look at the South Australian grasswrens. There are some up to date
aspects, but the distributions maps for some ssp. do not appear to be
accurate. The Short-tailed Grasswren ssp. distributions, as a case in
point, appear to be wrong, since the map for the pedleri ssp. has it
east of Port Augusta in the Flinders (should be west in the Gawlers I
think), and ssp. merrotsyi is depicted from east of the Flinders
(correct) and then all the way west to the SA/WA border, which is
perhaps more than a little ambitious. Whether the distributions
haven't been updated and refer to earlier literature references (of
which there are a number) I cannot say, but it may indicate that a
cautious approach needs to be taken with this list.
Furthermore, the list is based on scientific nomenclature, with no
common names attached (unless you dig, and then not always given),
which may not be user friendly for the bulk of Australian bird
enthusiasts??
I have found government based lists to be a good guide over the years,
but with the odd discrepancies (see below for one such glitch), and a
bit of an inability to remain current (such things need someone who
has their finger on the pulse dedicated to it, but with all the Enviro
cutbacks we've seen lately, in NSW at least, lists can easily go
wanting).
The picture in this NSW threatened species profile is a Bar-tailed
Godwit and not a Black-tailed Godwit as captioned. Sensitively worded
emails have not remedied this glitch, which has been on the website
for over 5 years, even though there is feedback mechanism built into
the website.
http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10479
It is just my opinion, but I'd say that a dedicated birding
organisation is the sort of body that is most likely to have the drive
and expertise (financial resources may be another thing) to monitor
and update an accurate Australian bird list.
Regards,
Allan Richardson
Morisset, NSW
On 16/12/2011, at 11:19 AM, Carl Clifford wrote:
Dear B-A,
There have been quite a few post over time bemoaning the fact that
there is not an "official" Australian checklist. I have been
somewhat puzzled by this. The Australian Faunal Directory's Aves
section (see http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/AVES/names
) seems to me to be fairly "official", what with it being
administered by a Federal government agency and funded by taxpayers
money.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
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