Some comments from my limited knowledge:
The Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW) encourages recorders to use
Australian Map Grid (AMG) references which can be accurate to 100m. (So
do Lawrie Conole and I have different understandings of the AVW
system?). One hassle about this is finding which map no. goes with a
particular AMG coordinate. You can get the AMG coordinate from the
Melbourne Melways but not the map no.
The AVW also provides an excellent service in terms of species or area
lists and maps which, for me, provides a valuable feedback.
I do not understand Martin O'Brien's differentiation between the AVW and
the Wetland Database. The AVW incorporates, as I understand it, records
from sources like the BOCA unusual sightings, the RAOU Atlas records for
Victoria.... but does specialise in records of rarer/eendangered species
such as Blue-billed Duck. When should a BBDuck record go to the Wetland
Database and when should it go to the AVW ? Why not integrate the two ?
The Gould League's Timelines project (based on the world wide web) is
going to attract a lot of records (and they recognise the problem of
verification and the expertise of the observer). Are there any plans to
integrate this with other databases ?
To end with a plug, I maintain a database of records in the City of
Bayside and would welcome any contributions. I am a member of the City's
Friends of Native Wildlife and our records are used in things like
commenting on the spread of the Noisy Miner and the accompanying
displacement of White-plumed Honeyeaters (with implications for
vegetation planting), measures to protect our locally endangered species
(Superb Blue Wren, Common Bronzewing...), preventing disturbance of our
wader/tern roosts..., retention of Tree Lucerne (a great resource for
our rarer wintering honeyeaters - Fuscous, Spiny-cheeked...). We are
aiming to produce an annual bird report (as in the UK) but there are
other priorities !
Michael Norris
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