Gang Gang and COG survey question

[John Harris <>]

I have seen no Gang-Gangs in Gungahlin but I am interested in the answer to Jenny’s question because I have always found this a difficult ‘ethical’ question regarding repeated sightings generally.

I have been reporting one or both of a pair of Spotted Crakes in the little Crace wetland virtually every week for well over a year now. It is clear they are the same two birds. Not long ago I noticed Geoffrey Dabb used the phrase ‘now common’ with regard to SC. I know Geoffrey can access other records than mine but it did make me wonder if my reporting helped give an impression that SCs are common. Similarly, I could have reported the breeding of a Musk Duck (singular) in Yerrabi Pond every day for a month if I wished (I didn’t) but how many breeding records is that?  I reported it a few times. What if other Gungahlin members reported the same breeding event regularly?. Are Crakes, for example, becoming more common or is the increase in observers the real factor?  It does make me wonder how often the same birds get reported and how this influences any calculation of their frequency.

From: Jenny Smits <>
Date: Saturday, 5 April 2014 11:13 am
To: 'Canberra Birds' <>
Subject: [canberrabirds] Gang Gang and COG survey question

Family of three gang gangs in my liquid amber as I write.

 

Could I clarify something for the COG Gang Gang Survey – I see gang gangs nearly every day in Deakin. They are often in my liquid amber this time of year, across the road at my bosses (Stonehaven Cres) or at La Trobe Park, Deakin. My sightings are only incidental and are generally the same family group of 3.

I wonder whether it is important to the COG survey to enter each sighting everyday even though it is the same group, in the same place, feeding on the same forage? I guess it depends on the question the survey is trying to ask…

 

Thanks in advance

Jenny Smits

 

 

 

From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Saturday, 5 April 2014 10:37 AM
To: 'calyptorhynchus .'; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Lorikeets in Hughes (and Gang-Gangs)

 

Hi John,

 

I think point number 2 covers what happens when it is wet. I can’t see where Gang-gangs would go in wet weather as the whole area was pretty wet in that period.

 

With the Rainbow Lorikeets in my area (Kaleen), yesterday I had two feeding in the rain in the tree in my front yard where I reported 5 birds a week or so ago. I am yet to be convinced that the birds we see locally are anything other than aviary escapees and email conversations with several people tend to agree with me. Despite the rain I stood under the tree and watched them for about 10 minutes – sorry, no Gang-gangs but I am waiting for them to arrive in a neighbour’s yard where they fed in a Hawthorn last year.

 

Cheers,

Mark

 

From: calyptorhynchus .
Sent: Saturday, 5 April 2014 9:47 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Lorikeets in Hughes (and Gang-Gangs)

 

A flock of eight Rainbow Lorikeets screeching past in Hughes this morning. 

 

No Gang-Gangs in Hughes since the 24 March (when the rain started). I had seen or heard them almost daily since the beginning of the year till then. 

 

When people have entered all their Gang-Gang data at the COG/ALA site it will be interesting to see if all GG records in the ACT ceased in this wet weather. If they did it could either be because:

 

1. GGs leave Canberra in wet weather

2. Observers don't get out and GGs are less vocal/obvious in wet weather.

 

Or a combination of 1 and 2.

 

--
John Leonard