Shaun
I think your argument about ‘times past’
is well made.
But Geoffrey was really looking at the
last decade in his questions. As it happens, I moved house almost exactly 10
years ago so my memory at that point is ‘anchored’. I know that by that time
the current system of COG garden surveys, recordings, etc was largely in place.
Apart from people having access to excellent digital cameras that allow good
photos on this site, not much has changed in other ways that would impact on
knowledge of species or recording of data.
The early 70s and before are, as you say, quite
different …..
Stephen
From:
Shaun Bagley [
Sent: Monday, 16 July 2007 9:18 PM
To: Stephen Mugford
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds]
Honeyeater Poll
Don't think the issue is semantic. As a logophile, it is
counter to my inclination to suggest that this has more to do with numbers.
However, think it has to do with observers and their means of communication. I
was here in Canberra
in at the beginning of the 70's when there was little beyond personal vocal
communication without digital enhancement. I worked in Uriarra and
was privileged to see animals in circumstances that to this day are etched
in my memory in the forests of the Brindabella
Ranges. I had no easy way
of telling/verifying my experiences with people who might have been interested,
as opposed to today when the WWW serves as a communication tool.
As you rightly point out there have been lots of "bin
hours" but am not convinced that those bin hours were either
recorded/communicated in the way you expect them to be today.
Do agree that the changed environmental conditions create
potential for unusual sightings but again would comment that
perhaps there were not sufficient grounds for challenge given the accepted
parameters. We are ever ready to accept what we expect as opposed to what is
presented.
