I could not agree less with you on this, Philip. Yes, field guides DO show
the differences between species and often highlight the differences between
them. However, it is often the subtle or, at least, not immediately obvious
differences that are diagnostic. I, for instance, really enjoy the debate
and discussion on gull and tern ID as I believe that by following this
discussion it allows me to build my knowledge and will give me the ability
to participate in these discussions in the future. Anyone can look up a
field guide and see that there *are* differences between Common, Arctic and
White-fronted Terns, for example, but to have an expert in the field
describe the process that they use to identify a tern from a photograph is
incredibly helpful. In the case of an Australian Hobby and a Peregrine
Falcon the differences may be more pronounced, but it is no less valuable to
hear an expert point out the key ID features - furthermore, we may have
absolutely no idea of the level of expertise of the people that are
requesting assistance with ID, so to help them out with the key features to
look for is beneficial both to them, and to others reading birding-aus that
may have similar questions. One of the things that people refer to often
about birding-aus subscribers is their generosity in providing information
when requested - let's not kill that off by referring people to field guides
instead of helping them.
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Victoria
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Philip Veerman
Sent: Thursday, 31 January 2013 1:27 PM
To: 'Tom Tarrant'; 'Greg and Val Clancy'
Cc:
Subject: Hobby or Peregrine?
Tom,
Yes maybe, in the case of a doubtful identification but there is a limit to
how much we should all be retyping the text of field guides. People do have
other things to do. Someone else already provided hints and I could do so
too and add some and sometimes I do, but in this case, there are multiple
cues available on this series of photos why it is Peregrine Falcon, these
are pretty much as described and shown in the various field guides.
Philip
-----Original Message-----From:
On Behalf Of Tom Tarrant
Sent: Thursday, 31 January 2013 10:02 AM To: Greg and Val Clancy
Cc: Birding-Aus Aus Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Hobby or Peregrine?
Greg,
It might be a bit more helpful to the list if you elaborate why you reach
that conclusion....
Tom
On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 6:17 AM, Greg and Val Clancy
<>wrote:
> They are Peregrine Falcons.
>
> Greg
> Dr Greg. P. Clancy
> Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
> PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
> 0266493153 0429601960
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Sandra & Neil Shelley Sent:
> Wednesday, January 30, 2013 9:47 PM To: Birding-Aus Aus Subject:
> [Birding-Aus] Hobby or Peregrine? Observed a pair of falcons at
> Gunnamatta Ocean Beach (Victoria) on Tuesday, but can't decide if they
> were Australian Hobby or Peregrine Falcon.
>
> Photos can be viewed at
> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/**9k20m0ybd9fp03b/s-fJW_Ywyb<https://www.dr
> opbox.com/sh/9k20m0ybd9fp03b/s-fJW_Ywyb>
>
> *Neil Shelley*
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