Hi
This example only supports the need for a central database/information
distribution centre such as has been attempted, under much critisicm, by
a couple of individuals in the birding community. I have just spent a
week in NT and information like this would have been valuable... if we
could have accessed it. I doubt we could have because we had no phone
reception for most of the trip, right thru Kakadu and Mataranka, we did
get some signal in Katherine but accessing the internet would have been
difficult elsewhere.
Having said that does not diminish the need to centralise the
information birders need. I see someone has asked 'how many other local
lists are there out there?' The question better asked is 'how can we do
this better, so we don't have dozens (?) of semi private, local lists
floating around that noone ever hears about". No one can keep a track of
these sites as they do come and go, I found one that was recommended to
be two years out of date.
Currently Eremaea probably comes closest to achieving that goal, but
everyone has to get involved and enter their sightings - the difficulty
will be in convincing those to contribute and that's not easy. I know
several good birders who, while not turning up any extreme rarities,
could offer good solid contributions, but don't. However, even getting
the ones who contribute to these 'local' lists to change their pattern
would be more than worthwhile. The SMS system currently being trialled
is very useful, but does tend to highlight extremes rather than really
interesting stuff - such as those described below.
Until this happens and we actually take some action, we will continue to
experience the issue raised by Bas - and we will continue to bird with
one eye only.
Colin
On Friday, September 09, 2011 8:05 PM, "Bas Hensen"
<> wrote:
> As a regular dry season visitor to Darwin I have noticed that in the last
> month several serious birders, contributing bird lists to the Eremaea
> site, have passed through, and missed out on unusual, or seasonal
> specialties in this area. They were clearly people with regular internet
> access. They could have avoided "missing out" by joining the local
> messaging service ntbirds (ntbirds.yahoogroups.com) at least for the time
> they were up here ( it is free). Conversely if visitors see birds that
> are highly unusual, the locals would appreciate hearing about it on their
> local site: eg: recently red goshawk sightings at Edith Falls and
> Corroboree Billabong, both unusual, did not get onto our local network .
>
> Two birders, who took the trouble to walk around the Leanyer Sewage
> Ponds, hard work in buid-up conditions, missed the little ringed
> plover(s) and white-winged black tern, which have been there since late
> August and were reported on ntbirds.
>
> A current example is the twice daily ( 9 am and 6.30 pm) visit of a
> flock of 18 flock bronzewings, since Sept 2, in the swamp area to the
> north of Holmes Jungle Nature park (access through the park, watch out 6
> pm closing for cars). Another is the unusual singing honeyeater at
> Nightcliff rock platform, and the recent arrival of the first oriental
> plover there. On past performance, the plovers should soon be there in
> the mornings on a regular basis for the next month or so.
>
> Find out up to date info about the easiest place to see chestnut-backed
> button quail, gouldian finches and more.
>
> Enough said, happy Birding, Bas Hensen
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Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
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