HANZAB ought be available on the Internet.

[Denis Wilson <>]

Following a separate thread of conversation about mixed feeding flocks and the diet of Finches, Geoffrey Dabb kindly quoted some information from HANZAB. That sparked something which has troubled me for many years.

Birds Australia refuses to put HANZAB on the Internet. Is this an appropriate time for me to query why HANZAB, seemingly a
truly wonderful resource,  is still not availble on the Internet?

Birds Australia is entitled to regard their publication effort as worthy of aiming for "cost recovery". Fair enough. 

But as their website now refers persons to a private bookshop,
presumably they regard their involvement in the publication process as
completed.

I come from the
old school, believing that such knowledge ought be available to all,
regardless of their personal financial means. I believe it is time that Birds Australia handed HANZAB over, to enter the "Commons". Such important intellectual knowledge ought be available to all - according to their interest, not according to their private "means", nor according to their access to an Institutional Library.


Surely it is time that HANZAB entered the world of the "Commons" - as a
shared intellectual property. That's what the Internet would be perfect
for. Surely it is time for Birds Australia to enter the Internet age?

COG once played a role in the old body, the RAOU, prior to the disastrous "corporatisation" process which resulted in the formation of Birds Australia and the separation of COG (and other regional affiliates). Does COG have any involvement in Birds Australia, these days? Can we attempt to influence them to see the merits of regarding HANZAB as part of the Commons?

Denis Wilson
"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com