Does Australia really not have a checklist committee? Here in the U.S.,
the American Birding Association provides the "official" checklist for the
U.S., although to large extent they follow the broader AOU. Of course that
does not stop people from disagreeing and keeping their own lists
according to whatever criteria they prefer (so long as they do not submit them
to
the ABA). The whole concept of the Committee is to pass judgment on things
such as proposed lumps/splits, whether proposed new records are acceptable,
etc.
Eric Jeffrey
Falls Church, VA
USA
In a message dated 1/3/2011 9:18:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
writes:
Precisely, well said Jeff. I am not advocating a scientific discussion by
whoever would be on the committee so much as an editing of data for the
sake of differentiating various species in a universally accepted way. That
way everybody is reading from the same page.
Cheers
David Kowalick
G'day Philip,
"Allow me to express what I hope is obvious", you haven't quite explained
yourself here Philip or I suspect you don't really understand the reasons
for a committee as outlined by David. Evolution has got absolutely nothing
to do with this, David wasn't suggesting a committee that would change the
Australian list to keep pace with the evolution of new species as they
evolve!!!
What would be your process that would deliver on "Suggesting a consistent
list would be helpful", it's our evolving understanding of how many species
there are through published research that is driving this issue and leading
to an ongoing need to reassess the list.
I am all for David's suggestion, it's way overdue.
Cheers Jeff.
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Philip Veerman
Sent: Tuesday, 4 January 2011 12:18 PM
To: 'David Kowalick';
Subject: World Checklists, Grass wrens, Official list of Oz
birds etc...
I don't quite understand the concern. Allow me to express what I hope is
obvious. Evolution is an ongoing process, which means it is happening
now. At any one time, most species are and should be distinct but some
small number of species will be in various stages of separation.
Suggesting a consistent list is helpful but suggesting that there should
always be a correct answer is flawed. Then impose our various ways
(differences of opinions etc) on what constitutes enough distinction, of
interpreting these dividing lines and of course there would be troubles.
I would hate the idea of a different list every year and wouldn't be too
comfortable about the costs of doing the committee David suggests,
relative to the expenditure of those funds on more practical things. Of
course knowing about species diversity is important to doing the
conservation etc.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of David Kowalick
Sent: Tuesday, 4 January 2011 11:11 AM
To:
Subject: World Checklists, Grass wrens,Official list of Oz
birds etc...
Hi everyone,
This is all very confusing. What constitutes an accepted split? Where
does the Myall subspecies of the Thick-belled Grasswren fall? Western or
what? And what of the the C&B list? What do we take as the official
list? The world list or C&B? These days I always try to tick every
sub-species just in case it ends up being split later on. It seems
splitting very much back in fashion but it seems impossible to keep
abreast of all the developments. Surely there could be a committee set
up by Birds Australia to review the official Australian list on an
annual basis that takes into account all the latest developments? I have
always lived and died by C&B but recently that seems to no longer be the
case.In the meantime I will try not to drown in the data.
Cheers
David Kowalick
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