That is correct - the "official" list (C&B) was not published by a birding
organisation and the interval between issues is rather lengthy.
I personally do not think there is a role for a local committee to decide on
the merits of splits/lumps - as this soon leads to the local list being
mis-aligned with International lists. Currently we have a committee (BARC)
that rules on new records. My feeling is that Aussie birders should agree
(probably via the major organisations) to accept one international list and
go with that for better or worse! We can then spend a long time arguing
which list to accept. (If the proposed merger happens between the two major
organisations - BA and BOCA - the combined organisation will become BirdLife
Australia. BirdLife International of course published a checklist, so
whether such an organisation would be obliged to use that list is a matter
for yet more debate!)
On 4 January 2011 13:24, <> wrote:
> 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: [Birding-Aus] 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: [Birding-Aus] 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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