I have been following this debate from the sidelines and would like to add
my own observations. I believe that reading the ABR is mandatory, but
perhaps the most important way for people to gain an understanding and make
sense of the birds of the ACT is by observation and maintaining your own
records. A secondary benefit of maintaining your own records is that these
can then be passed to birding and conservation groups such as COG. When you
go out birdwatching record all of what you see and over the months and years
you will begin to build up a picture of presence/absence and abundance and
soon you will be able to answer that burning question as to whether that
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike in July at Uriarra Crossing is unusual. Similarly
in your own local patch a grey fantail may be an usual species, so don't let
others tell you it is not worth recording.
I may be deemed a heretic, but while the new COG online records system is a
great improvement over paper records for the end user, one of its shortfalls
is that it does not (appear to) allow users to analyse their data or the
data of others. If this is not the case I stand corrected, but if it doesn't
I would recommend birders consider purchasing birding software which will
allow this analysis, to compliment the COG system.
A number of COG members use 'Birdinfo'. It has been developed by local
Canberra birdo (and I think COG member), Simon Bennett and allows the user
to maintain temporal and spatial records of birds which can be analysed in
any number of ways. Importantly it allows records to be sent electronically
to COG and/or Birds Australia at a click of a button.
Regards
Alastair
-----Original Message-----
From: Con Boekel
Sent: Friday, 10 August 2007 7:13 PM
Cc:
Subject: What birds are worth reporting
Jack
Thank you. This is very useful.
I have a follow up question.
In the 2005-06 Annual Bird Report there were five species rated as
common but with low, or lowish records, in the General Records (GR)
and/or the Garden Bird Survey (GBS). These were:
Wonga Pigeon 3 GR, 0 GBS
Southern Boobook 10 GR, 85 GBS
White-throated Needletail 10 GR, 11 GBS
Rainbow Bee-eater 31 GR, 8 GBS
Superb Lyrebird 33 GR, 0 GBS.
Would it be useful to record all observances of these uncommonly
recorded common species, regardless of whether you are picking them up
on a survey or as incidental records?
Con
Jack and Andrea Holland wrote:
> Folks, as promised last night please find attached a copy of my
> presentation for your comments.
>
> This was drafted with the help of COG's records management team in
> response to Julian's questions on this discussion list a couple of
> weeks ago.
>
> This is also attached in a simpler 1 page format, but with a map of
> the number of record sheets per grid cell in 2005-2006. This clearly
> illustrates the concentration of observations in certain areas.
>
> I would be grateful for any comments that you have - could you please
> make these as clear, concise and specific as possible.
>
> Jack Holland
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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