BFCS-Curtin ...Observation record submission - what is good practice?Re: [canberrabirds [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Julian

For the record 8 Blackfacedcuckooshrikes
at sunrise in Curtin this morning. If only to delude us that spring starts
in August I'm always interested in the reports of arrivals etc here. 

cheers
Richard

Julian Robinson <>

30/07/2007 06:49 PM

To	"COG list" <>
cc
Subject	[canberrabirds] Observation record submission - what is good practice?

I would like to encourage a knowledgeable person to give
a short talk or article for novices and others on what reports of sightings
(COG Records for database) are useful and welcomed.  I'm aware
that some members report the results of each expedition they make, no matter
how mundane, as a matter of form.  Is this encouraged from non-experts
or would I be making work for someone without adding to the store of useful
knowledge?  

Even less obvious to me is how many or which of my incidental sightings
are useful?  This was stirred up by Jack's request in latest G-gang
to "make sure all your sightings are provided..."  The context
was early spring sightings.  I wondered which if any of the following
common birds all mentioned by Jack would be usefully reported?...

- having not seen a single Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike for months, I've seen
3 in different places in the last week. 
- a single Grey Fantail at ANBG today
- Welcome Swallows seen in several places in the last few weeks, actually
I didn't notice they'd gone.

Incidental reports seem to suffer a severe bias if used to demonstrate
seasonality of a bird since lots of people will report the "first
of" but practically no-one will remember to report the last time they
saw something for the year.

So my questions are: 

- should I consider submitting reports on each of my inexpert bird outings?
- is it useful to submit a report of, say, 27 mostly common species sighted
when I know I've been unable to identify 1 or 2 probably rarer/more interesting
others?  
- what is the purpose of incidental records? 
- what birds should be reported incidentally? 
- is there a guide somewhere in Birds Australia etc as to the practicalities
of what is useful to report and when?

Others I've spoken to are not sure about the usefulness of non-expert record
submission so clarification might prevent unwanted records, or alternatively
encourage quite a few new submitters.

Julian
*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra Ornithologists
Group. List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List archive:
List manager: David McDonald, email 
--
This message contains privileged and confidential information only 
for use by the intended recipient.  If you are not the intended 
recipient of this message, you must not disseminate, copy or use 
it in any manner.  If you have received this message in error, 
please advise the sender by reply e-mail.  Please ensure all 
e-mail attachments are scanned for viruses prior to opening or 
using.

*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra 
Ornithologists Group.
List-Post: <>
List-Help: <>
List-Unsubscribe: <>
List-Subscribe: <>
List archive: <http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds>
List manager: David McDonald, email 
<>