Gang-gangs, King Parrots

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hello John,

 

Also thanks Geoff. I would also add Steve Wilson's book and the old Frith Birds in the Australian High Country.The book Birds of Canberra Gardens is derived from edited extracts of my not very good hastily done first drafts of my work on the GBS, plus a lot of photos from locals. Plus a few other bits and pieces contributed by others such as the plant list. It has a lovely cover and that is its best feature. Inside it is so hotchpotch it is awful. The real thing is what eventually became my book: Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey. Actually the first edition covered 18 years, then I updated it and republished it with 3 more years data, then when it sold out again I did a few small updates and issued it again. This was all done three times at my own expense for COG's benefit and to benefit COG's aims of bird study, conservation, etc and for the wider birding community.

 

I would also add that it is common practice among all scientific papers to cite previous relevant publications. I note that Canberra Bird Notes even though it is mostly fairly good in other ways, has failed badly in citing the sources Geoff mentions, especially the GBS Report, where it is directly relevant. In particular comparing trend for the recent years to long term patterns that are so easily shown from the GBS Report. This report was done primarily to be of help to the authors of the ABR and as stated in its preface: "The main aims for this report are: To summarize the information from the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey (GBS) that has been run by Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG). As a tribute and courtesy to the many people who have contributed either their observations or other assistance to the Garden Bird Survey, since 1981. To clarify, enhance, update and partly replace, correct and compensate for some flaws in the book Birds of Canberra Gardens, that COG published in 2000."  

 

Each time I tried to get COG to publish it, without success. I don't wish to tell the story again, actually I do, but I will refrain. Birds of Canberra Gardens covers just the first 17 years of data but it misses out so much and contains nothing useful about the survey, to put the bird data in context. Although I am the main author of it, I do regard it as a significant embarrassment to my reputation and more importantly to COG's. In a limited sense it is nice enough. Fortunately Birds of Canberra Gardens is now out of print and has been almost completely ignored in all other serious population studies and has very few reviews out there. Thankfully (as far as I know) It is not mentioned in HANZAB. In contrast Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey is now into its third edition has already had many citations and many very favourable reviews in the Australian and international literature.

 

It is obtainable from me at COG meetings or by any means you wish and at several venues around Canberra, Melbourne, Europe, etc (for slightly more than from me direct). This is NOT a primarily commercial message. I will send you more details about summarising the book and the other issue about sending replies to list off line.

 

Philip