Grahame,
It is also my understanding that there are plans to revamp the Atlas portal and
that Birdlife have been appealing for funds to start that work.
Perhaps Andrew you could let the list know what is happening? Many on the list
may feel inclined to support the project and even contribute to design and
functionality if that opportunity exists.
As a long term "Atlasser", I consider it would be a great shame indeed if the
increasing volume of field work registered on e-bird and Eremaea did not
contribute to what is now a long term and very rich database created over
decades by dedicated "citizen scientists" and professional ornithologists. (the
current Atlas registers 677,000 surveys covering 318,000 sites)
It has the great advantage (to me) of being moderated to preserve data
integrity and I have quite rightly been asked for more detail to justify some
of my entries which involved rarities or range extensions. The fact that I am a
life member cuts no ice at all and nor should it! But the Atlas portal as it
stands has the disadvantage of little personalisation. As an Atlasser I
consider that I am contributing to an extremely valuable and long term
endeavour but you don't get too much back for personal records and data
manipulation. if the richness of personal utility could be enhanced it would
now be really something! (on the other hand, it is undoubtedly more
straightforward and economical to follow the "KISS" principle).
Double data entry has never really appealed - life's too short. So I shall
continue with the Atlas as for me the contribution to the national biodiversity
record holds more value than any personal record - but that's just me. My Atlas
species list from surveys is I think around 590, no idea what my total
Australian list is.
Seems to me that convergence of aims and objectives and some integration with
appropriate data integrity would be just fantastic if achievable! And one thing
I have learned in my humble career is that it is often cheaper and easier to
re-engineer than to try to build utopia from scratch.
Good birding all on the list - whatever directions the passion takes you,
banding, photography or personal listing etc (and with a fervent hope this
generates light more than heat!)
Graeme
> Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 09:09:16 +1000
> From:
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Yet another listing app!
>
> When Eremaea eBird was launched, there was mention of a specific
> BirdLife Atlas entry form to ensure all the Atlas data was included in a
> list. Currently I use the Other Area input form, but a lot of the
> information required has to be entered in the Comments field - not a
> very satisfactory process. And there is no certainty that the data will
> reach the Atlas as there was with the old Eremaea.
> I understand there are plans for a new portal to the Atlas, but eBird is
> here and now, and brilliantly easy to use. It would take very little
> effort to add an Atlas entry form to Eremaea eBird.
> If you would use such a form, please let Eremaea and BirdLife Australia
> know:
> http://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/emails/new?t=412380 and
>
> If there is enough interest we may get a form!
>
> Regards
> Grahame Rogers
>
> On 17/10/2014 8:32 AM, Dave Torr wrote:
> > My understanding is that Eremaea used to be able to send stuff to the BA
> > atlas. Not sure if that happens with eBird?
> >
> > On 17 October 2014 09:29, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:
> >
> >> Given the way the message from Konkoit appeared, I like many others
> >> assumed it was spam and thus likely to lead to getting a few things I
> >> didn't want as well as those advertised. Since no-one from Konkoit has
> >> seen fit to disabuse this list of that notion, I at least will be staying
> >> well away from it. (I find eBird to be very good for my purposes.)
> >>
> >> A point raised in this thread has been that of data being held in multiple
> >> locations. I see that as an important issue given the role of data in
> >> informing EISs development approvals etc. This isn't to say there
> >> shouldn't be multiple data capture mechanisms but the results should all
> >> end 'somewhere' agreed to be the official repository.
> >>
> >> Martin
> >>
> >> Martin Butterfield
> >> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
> >>
> >> On 17 October 2014 07:52, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >>
> >>> Yes, before one rejects a new listing system perhaps one should consider
> >>> whether it's better than previous ones. Has anyone tried this Konkoit
> >>> database?
> >>>
> >>> I agree with your final point about validation. As far as I know, this
> >>> does distinguish eBird from many others, and it would be hard to beat it.
> >>>
> >>> My memory of Dave Torr's project, if it's the one I'm thnking of, was
> >>> that it was primarily intended to collate information about birding sites
> >>> -
> >>> locations, maps, brochures, etc. A good idea, and I don't think it has
> >>> been
> >>> made fully obsolete by the likes of eBird.
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