Hi Frank -
At 09:01 PM 17/01/02 +0800, you wrote:
>my
>understanding is that all records that have been entered into the database
>by May will be included in the final publication. So you need to send all
>your outstanding forms in as soon as possible
That's essentially correct, although the exact deadline may depend on the
result of discussions regarding publication of the book atlas. However,
atlassers are encouraged to continue atlassing - indefinitely I hope. We
will continue to build the database, the value of which will continue to
grow over the years. Remember, the book is a spinoff; the database is the
core of the project and will be the source of far more information than can
be covered in the book.
Rory Poulter tells me that to date the new Atlas has received 4 million
records (old Atlas total: 2.7 million) from 250,000 surveys (90,000) over a
period of c.3.5 years (5 years). (Reasons for the lower record / survey
ratio relate to more rigorous methodology).
A message sent by Andrew Silcocks to his email list of atlassers on 19
Deember 2001 read, in part:
>Following feedback from ROs and Atlassers we have decided that we will be
keeping the Atlas going despite our contract with Environment Australia
expiring at the end of March 2002, so please keep submitting forms. We are
getting some wonderful data from the project which, among other things, we
are using to assess the changes in bird populations across bioregions. By
keeping the project rolling we will be able to investigate long term
species changes.
>
>We are seeking funding, for a minimum of three years, that will allow us
to continue to produce the record forms, keep the scanner going and
maintain the RO network. The final Atlas Newsletter is due out in Jan/Feb
and in it we will inform Atlassers of the future direction of the project
and update any RO changes. We are still intending to produce the new Atlas
book, though we have not yet raised sufficient funds to go ahead with its
production. The deadline for records to go into the book will be in the
autumn of next year.
The message for atlassers is - please keep atlassing. Newcomers are
welcome to sign up (contact details below). The Atlas lives!
Cheers,
Hugo
Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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