Someone asked whether any of the databases could produce an
Australian list with or without these islands.
In 2009 I bought Wildlife Recorder. It defines a large number of
countires, states, provinces, territories, etc. The "name" of these
entities is unimportant. I think WR uses "Locations". Locations can
be nested, and it defines this for much of the world.
It lists Christmas Island, Cocos Keeling Islands, Macquarie Island,
Heard MacDonell Islands as separate entities. I first thought this
was a problem, but it isn't. In fact it makes it easy. This only
affects the entry of data. I enter data for Cocos and it brings up a
list of the birds for Cocos to choose from, etc. Similarly for each
state. This was also true for the states of Vietnam, Brasil,
etc. He has put an enormous amount of work into creating and
maintaining these lists.
But I can then create any list I want. For my "Australian" list, I
tick Australia (to pick up the states, Lord Howe, Norfolk, etc),
Cocos, Christmas, Macquarie and Heard. It is very flexible. It is
one of the reasons that I purchased WR.
The only complaint I have is that it includes Ashmore Reef in Western
Australia. But he is willing to fix this if possible.
As for the email storm I created .... Someone had a dig at birding
on Cocos, so I gave a little back. It was a trip of a lifetime that
may never be repeated on those islands. Why do people get so het up
about other people's lists or whatever? Lists are your own. Create
whatever lists you want. But don't complain about others. Tony has
a web site that you may choose to list your "Australian" total. This
requires a standard definition, and he has used C&B2008 except he
does not include the AAT. This is a fun list. Don't be so serious.
There was not one single comment about the climatic conditions or
whatever else may have led to this event.
I was offended that some people seem to consider that the people who
live on Cocos and Christmas are not Australians, or maybe are second
class citizens, or are worthy of having a dig at. They are
Australians. QED. The territories are Australian. QED. They are
not the same as PNG before 1975 when it got independence. Australia
administered PNG under I believe a UN agreement. PNG was never part
of Australia.
Tourism is an important industry and employer for Cocos and
Christmas. Birding tourism is becoming an important part of this
tourism. Congratulations to Lisa Preston, Richard Baxter, David
James, Peter Barrand, Coates Wildlife Tours and others who are promoting this.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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