Hi all,
I have been atlassing since 2001.
While I think the BirdLife Atlas is fantastic, until BL can produce an app
with which I can enter my data in the field using nothing but my Android
phone, BirdLog wins for me.
Entering data on paper sheets or long atlas spreadsheets is extremely time
consuming and if you enter as many lists as I do (every where I go) you
are less inclined to do it if you have to enter data into huge hand written
proformas or spreadsheets full of codes etc. This means 'boring places' and
boring/common species do not get representative coverage.
No birder can be bothered filling out a full survey sheet for ten different
roadside reserves that just contain noisy miners (a valuable piece of data
mind you!). BirdLog enables the birder to do the survey, enter the data on
the spot and move on.
I am an ornithologist and consulting ecologist so I see great value in bird
data recording, thats why I do it. I think Hugh Possingham is another big
fan of eBird and he describes it in a few of his articles and blogs.
I must say, the moderators of eBird are doing a great job. I have been
pulled up for writing the wrong species at sites, this is always from "fat
finger syndrome" this is a recurring problem with digital data entry. It
occurs when a birders fingers populate the wrong field for the species they
are after when entering data on a smart phone. The same as a typo while
writing an emaik (email - note the example I give). I think this issue is
the main reason for the Banded Stilts (should Black winged) in Sydney and
the Olive Whistlers in Sydney (should be golden).
Moderators usually get to these errors especially when rarities are entered
instead of common species, it may take time though as they are volunteers
and have day jobs and lives.
If you are concerned about quality in eBird - eBird needs you!! Please sign
up to be a moderator. Your care and consideration for data quality and
control will be very valuable.
As others have said, when using any citizen science dataset I always
approach with caution and do my own moderation before using any data for
research. Being able to see who the observer is and any notes about the
observation always helps with this.
Regards,
Kurtis
On 19/06/2015 2:00 AM, <> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Wondering about Aussie native birders and which group of
> birds were your most challenging. (Donald G. Kimball)
> 2. The Atlas and eBird (Graeme Stevens)
> 3. Re: RFI Helmeted Guineafowl (Joe Gilmour)
> 4. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Mick Roderick)
> 5. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Gary Davidson)
> 6. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Peter Shute)
> 7. Re: EBird (Helen Larson)
> 8. Re: EBird
> 9. Yandina Creek Wetlands (Greg Roberts)
> 10. A positive conservation story (Laurie Knight)
> 11. Bad news on the Seabird front (Laurie Knight)
> 12. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Martin Butterfield)
> 13. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Michael Ramsey)
> 14. Re: Wondering about Aussie native birders and which group of
> birds were your most challenging. (Rod Warnock)
> 15. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Sonja Ross)
> 16. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Carl Clifford)
> 17. Re: The Atlas and eBird (Peter Shute)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 11:26:27 -0700
> From: "Donald G. Kimball" <>
> To: Philip Veerman <>
> Cc: birding-aus <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Wondering about Aussie native birders and
> which group of birds were your most challenging.
> Message-ID:
> <CACidVwsJfzDkRoGHuHJw4kmnF3rOuQbDrdySAAe5=
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Philip Veerman wrote..."I know the species near
> here. For what it is worth, apart from the north eastern edge of Aus,
> White-naped cf Strong-billed cf White-throated Honeyeaters live in
> different
> places." That is an excellent point and of course that is what having a
> field guide at hand is all about. I also agree that when one doesnt live
> in Aus the scatter gun approach to learning makes it a bit daunting but a
> wonderful experience no matter what I find.
>
> On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 2:22 AM, Philip Veerman <>
> wrote:
>
> > Really the issue is about travelling more than birds. People visiting
> here
> > tend to travel a lot and have short times in many different parts of the
> > country, so not become very familiar. Sure some groups have more species
> > that are similar than other groups. Honeyeaters are a fair group to
> include
> > but others would say thornbills, fairy-wrens or seabirds or waders. Some
> > even think raptors are difficult. I never have difficulty identifying
> > honeyeaters but that is because I don't travel much. I know the species
> > near
> > here. For what it is worth, apart from the north eastern edge of Aus,
> > White-naped cf Strong-billed cf White-throated Honeyeaters live in
> > different
> > places.
> >
> > Philip
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Birding-Aus On Behalf
> > Of
> > Donald G. Kimball
> > Sent: Wednesday, 17 June 2015 4:48 PM
> > To: birding-aus
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Wondering about Aussie native birders and which
> > group
> > of birds were your most challenging.
> >
> > As a traveler to Aus and one who just loves your country and birds I was
> > recently wondering which group of birds caused the most work in learning
> > among my mates on birding-aus.
> >
> > For me it has been the honeyeaters. I love this group of birds but yet I
> > find there are so many of them and I am constantly studying field guides
> to
> > brush up and enhance my skills these days to make accurate and good
> > identifications when I come back. Good example is White-naped vs
> > Strong-billed vs White-throated.
> >
> > What group have caused you the most work/research? Just wondering.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Don Kimball
> > <HR>
> > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > <BR>
> > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > </HR>
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:07:09 +1000
> From: Graeme Stevens <>
> To: "" <>
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I also watch the discussion about eBird with interest and from my limited
> observation it can be great fun as a personal birding tool - but here's
> some thoughts that may get me "flamed" - I hope not - just a contribution
> to make sure we use the right application for the right purpose and
> understand their limitations (in the Australian context). Please tell me if
> I am misguided. My main concern is around data integrity. I see the
> following on the eBird Australia site and that gives me comfort for the
> time being. i.e. that there is no data transfer yet to the Birdlife
> Australia Atlas - thank heavens!: "All data entered through Eremaea eBird
> will be passed onto the Atlas. We have not yet set up a transfer link
> between the Atlas and Eremaea eBird, but we are in discussions with them ?
> so watch this space!"
>
> Do they intend eBird to eventually provide clean data to the Atlas?
> or will the Atlas staff have to apply the moderation because I see no
> evidence of adequate eBird moderation of data entry.
>
> It is a concern to me because as I see it, eBird is a great personal tool
> and very feature rich. Fabulous for personal recreational birding. However
> that is not necessarily compatible with the data quality required for a
> scientific data set used for EIS work (for a Birdlife fee) for example. I
> have read the eBird statement on filtering and reviewing data and that is
> fine and dandy but on my reading their filtering for species occurrence is
> at State level in Australia? Whoa!!! So if someone records Mallee Fowl for
> Bondi, the eBird filter wont find that one?? Maybe I am misinterpreting?
>
> I currently see regular duplicated data in eBird as each person naturally
> wishes to have a personal data set - so for example, three people out
> together generate three lists of the same or similar species for the same
> location. That of course may not matter if you are only interested in a
> binary record of species presence at a site.
> However some records I see entered, for areas I know well, would never get
> near the Atlas database without requests for verification and URFs. e.g.
> the Warriewood Wetlands in Sydney which is one of my Atlas "favourite
> sites" and is an eBird "hotspot" has a count of 10 Western Gerygone for a
> date in 2013. Now I know you never say never with bird behaviour and
> distribution, but I reckon that might have attracted the Atlas moderators
> attention and a question or three?? But then yes, they do occur in NSW and
> have been recorded in (generally western) Sydney! Graeme Stevens
> disclaimer:Long term Atlasser with lots of skin in that game! - and very
> pleased to be corrected on any of the above. I also recognise that the
> current version of the Atlas has real limitations as a personal tool and
> record - but that was not it's original purpose. A new portal release is
> under development I understand.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:11:50 +1000
> From: Joe Gilmour <>
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] RFI Helmeted Guineafowl
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>
> Hi Tania,
>
> I'm not sure about other locations but Magnetic Island is a place I go
> to a couple of times a year. I've never seen them there in over ten
> years of looking.
>
> I have seen them further south, near Emerald.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Joe
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:08:44 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Mick Roderick <>
> To: Graeme Stevens <>,
> "" <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID:
> <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
> I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of a
> recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific rigour for data
> analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and I don't know if that has ever
> been its intention.
> eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I am constantly
> seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I assume these are most often
> made by birders in unfamiliar territory because it is often things like
> Corvids that get misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course (single bird in
> winter). I've seen this many times on other eBird lists where the bird was
> obviously a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive
> Whistler and Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see Little Ravens
> reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens occur. It must be very
> difficult for the very few moderators to keep on top of it all.
> I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> advancing.?Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW Twitchathon
> funds from last year. As far as I know it is still being decided how the
> eBird data will be used.
> Mick
> ? From: Graeme Stevens <>
> To: "" <>
> Sent: Wednesday, 17 June 2015, 21:07
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I also watch the discussion about eBird with interest and from my limited
> observation it can be great fun as a personal birding tool - but here's
> some thoughts that may get me "flamed" -? I hope not - just a contribution
> to make sure we use the right application for the right purpose and
> understand their limitations (in the Australian context). Please tell me if
> I am misguided. My main concern is around data integrity. I see the
> following on the eBird Australia site and that gives me comfort for the
> time being. i.e. that there is no data transfer yet to the Birdlife
> Australia Atlas - thank heavens!: "All data entered through Eremaea eBird
> will be passed onto the Atlas. We have not yet set up a transfer link
> between the Atlas and Eremaea eBird, but we are in discussions with them ?
> so watch this space!"
>
> Do they intend eBird to eventually provide clean data to the Atlas?
> or will the Atlas staff have to apply the moderation because I see no
> evidence of adequate eBird moderation of data entry.
>
> It is a concern to me because as I see it, eBird is a great personal tool
> and very feature rich. Fabulous for personal recreational birding. However
> that is not necessarily compatible with the data quality required for a
> scientific data set used for EIS work (for a Birdlife fee) for example. I
> have read the eBird statement on filtering and reviewing data and that is
> fine and dandy but on my reading their filtering for species occurrence is
> at State level in Australia? Whoa!!! So if someone records Mallee Fowl for
> Bondi, the eBird filter wont find that one?? Maybe I am misinterpreting?
>
> I currently see regular duplicated data in eBird as each person naturally
> wishes to have a personal data set - so for example, three people out
> together generate three lists of the same or similar species for the same
> location.? That of course may not matter if you are only interested in a
> binary record of species presence at a site.
> However some records I see entered, for areas I know well, would never get
> near the Atlas database without requests for verification and URFs. e.g.
> the Warriewood Wetlands in Sydney which is one of my Atlas "favourite
> sites" and is an eBird "hotspot"? has a count of 10 Western Gerygone for a
> date in 2013. Now I know you never say never with bird behaviour and
> distribution, but I reckon that might have attracted the Atlas moderators
> attention and a question or three??? But then yes, they do occur in NSW and
> have been recorded in (generally western) Sydney! Graeme Stevens
> disclaimer:Long term Atlasser with lots of skin in that game! -? and very
> pleased to be corrected on any of the above. I also recognise that the
> current version of the Atlas has real limitations as a personal tool and
> record - but that was not it's original purpose. A new portal release is
> under development I understand.
> ?
>
> ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
> ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
>
> ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR>
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:02:11 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Gary Davidson <>
> To: Graeme Stevens <>, Birding-aus Aus
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID:
> <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> I am an eBird reviewer for my region in British Columbia, Canada. I don't
> know how your regions are defined in Australia, but here, they are all
> relatively small geographically. Each region has its own reviewer, and each
> reviewer can change and adjust the filters as they apply to their own
> specific region. The filters are designed to filter out unexpected species,
> out of season occurrences, and unusually large numbers.?Reviewers regularly
> see all the records that have been filtered for one reason or another. At
> this point they are NOT part of the database; they are flagged as INVALID.
> They remain that way until the reviewer has had time to evaluate any field
> notes or photos that might have been submitted with the record, or, contact
> the observer for those details. The reviewer must then decide, based on the
> evidence provided,?whether or not to deem the record VALID or leave it as
> INVALID. I believe that if the reviewers do a good job, and the filters are
> set appropriately, no obviously erroneous?data will get through. That's a
> big IF, though! It means that first the country has to be divided into
> small enough regions to be properly managed, and second, there needs to be
> enough people willing to put their hand up to act as a reviewer.?I know
> that when I took on this region, there were already filters in place -
> presumably put in on a much broader scale than appropriate. I have had
> to?make adjustments to many of my filters, and?I continue to 'tinker' with
> them on an ongoing basis. If there is a weakness to eBird, it is perhaps
> not in the system itself, but rather in the?shortage of people willing to
> take on a region and then to give it the time required to make it
> effective.Gary DavidsoneBird ReviewerCentral Kootenay Region
> ? From: Graeme Stevens <>
> To: "" <>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 4:07 AM
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I also watch the discussion about eBird with interest and from my limited
> observation it can be great fun as a personal birding tool - but here's
> some thoughts that may get me "flamed" -? I hope not - just a contribution
> to make sure we use the right application for the right purpose and
> understand their limitations (in the Australian context). Please tell me if
> I am misguided. My main concern is around data integrity. I see the
> following on the eBird Australia site and that gives me comfort for the
> time being. i.e. that there is no data transfer yet to the Birdlife
> Australia Atlas - thank heavens!: "All data entered through Eremaea eBird
> will be passed onto the Atlas. We have not yet set up a transfer link
> between the Atlas and Eremaea eBird, but we are in discussions with them ?
> so watch this space!"
>
> Do they intend eBird to eventually provide clean data to the Atlas?
> or will the Atlas staff have to apply the moderation because I see no
> evidence of adequate eBird moderation of data entry.
>
> It is a concern to me because as I see it, eBird is a great personal tool
> and very feature rich. Fabulous for personal recreational birding. However
> that is not necessarily compatible with the data quality required for a
> scientific data set used for EIS work (for a Birdlife fee) for example. I
> have read the eBird statement on filtering and reviewing data and that is
> fine and dandy but on my reading their filtering for species occurrence is
> at State level in Australia? Whoa!!! So if someone records Mallee Fowl for
> Bondi, the eBird filter wont find that one?? Maybe I am misinterpreting?
>
> I currently see regular duplicated data in eBird as each person naturally
> wishes to have a personal data set - so for example, three people out
> together generate three lists of the same or similar species for the same
> location.? That of course may not matter if you are only interested in a
> binary record of species presence at a site.
> However some records I see entered, for areas I know well, would never get
> near the Atlas database without requests for verification and URFs. e.g.
> the Warriewood Wetlands in Sydney which is one of my Atlas "favourite
> sites" and is an eBird "hotspot"? has a count of 10 Western Gerygone for a
> date in 2013. Now I know you never say never with bird behaviour and
> distribution, but I reckon that might have attracted the Atlas moderators
> attention and a question or three??? But then yes, they do occur in NSW and
> have been recorded in (generally western) Sydney! Graeme Stevens
> disclaimer:Long term Atlasser with lots of skin in that game! -? and very
> pleased to be corrected on any of the above. I also recognise that the
> current version of the Atlas has real limitations as a personal tool and
> record - but that was not it's original purpose. A new portal release is
> under development I understand.
> ?
>
> ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
> ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
>
> ??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
> <HR>
> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> <BR>
> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> </HR>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 10:31:12 +1000
> From: Peter Shute <>
> To: 'Mick Roderick' <>, 'Graeme Stevens'
> <>, ""
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Because the observer names are recorded, there's probably nothing stopping
> researchers from excluding records from people who have entered what they
> consider to be incorrect ids, or only using records from people they
> consider to be reliable.
>
> Peter Shute
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Birding-Aus
> > On Behalf Of
> > Mick Roderick
> > Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2015 8:09 AM
> > To: Graeme Stevens;
> > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> >
> >
> > I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of
> > a recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific
> > rigour for data analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and
> > I don't know if that has ever been its intention.
> > eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I
> > am constantly seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I
> > assume these are most often made by birders in unfamiliar
> > territory because it is often things like Corvids that get
> > misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> > Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course
> > (single bird in winter). I've seen this many times on other
> > eBird lists where the bird was obviously a Black-faced
> > Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive Whistler and
> > Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> > they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see
> > Little Ravens reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens
> > occur. It must be very difficult for the very few moderators
> > to keep on top of it all.
> > I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> > Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> > advancing.?Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW
> > Twitchathon funds from last year. As far as I know it is
> > still being decided how the eBird data will be used.
> > Mick
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:06:07 +1030
> From: Helen Larson <>
> To: Carl Clifford <>, Sonja Ross
> <>, ""
> <>, Paul Coddington
> <>, Roger Giller
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] EBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"
>
> I always use a small notebook (writing things down engraves things in my
> memory better than typing with two fingers). And then transfer observations
> to eBird, which I have been using since 2012 and find very useful. There is
> a small army of regional eBird moderators who keep an eye on odd/erroneous
> observations. They have picked up my penchant for writing down House when I
> mean Tree sparrow and vice versa etc. And they queried my records of Guam
> rail (now extinct in the wild) so I wrote and pointed out the dates of the
> records, as I was lucky enough to live there before the tree-snake got them
> all.
> Hotspots are an ongoing mess, with an example being a local (Mission
> Beach) rainforest walk, which apparently includes waders from Cairns
> Esplanade. Some of the data may get entered as a day's outing, which might
> cover 100 km and many habitats, as different people are differently picky
> about what they record. So hotspots for me are rarely used. But you can
> select any site from a map and it will bring you recent records. And if
> the hotspot errors really annoy you, you just write to eBird and point them
> out.
> I have just installed the new eBird app, tested it yesterday after my
> beach walk. It sat there fixing my location at home then brought me flags
> of about 20 sites nearby that I had logged over time. Picked the beach,
> entered the birds quickly and far more easily than the clunky Birdlog app I
> hardly used (now deleted).
> That said, it is still easier to scribble in a notebook walking along a
> trail than typing on a small screen, trying not to trip over rocks or tree
> roots.
> But in a car, I used the Birdlog app while we were driving in the middle
> of nowhere and saw good birds en route - the app got its lat and long fix
> quickly, very useful, and you tidy it all up on eBird and notebook later.
> The new eBird app will make that even easier, but will never replace my
> little notebook.
> Helen
>
> <')/////==<
>
>
>
> > From:
> > Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 17:16:07 +1000
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] EBird
> > CC: ; ;
>
> >
> > My writing is pretty ordinary too ( I have the arthritis in the knuckles
> from regular canings about it), but at least I can read it, mostly. I will
> just stick to the system that works for me.
> >
> > Carl Cliffor
> >
> >
> > > On 17 Jun 2015, at 3:57 pm, Sonja Ross <> wrote:
> > >
> > > Maybe they are based on e-Bird lists i.e what has been reported by
> birders from sightings in the area. I just find that I?m more accurate
> with numbers using my iPad mini as my writing is untidy and my numbers end
> up being wrong if I?m walking for a while! It might be worthwhile putting
> your comment/query on the Facebook version to see if any of the testers
> respond, or maybe Margaret or Richard Alcorn.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >> On 17 Jun 2015, at 3:50 pm, Carl Clifford <>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Hi Sonja,
> > >>
> > >> They don't seem to be state lists, but if they are there are big
> holes in them. Each location was slightly different. I would like them to
> be accurate, as there were several species, such as Eastern Ground Parrot,
> that I thought I would have to travel a couple of hundred Km or so to see.
> > >>
> > >> Meanwhile, I think I will stick to the good old Mk I notepad and
> pencil
> > >>
> > >> Carl
> > >
> >
> > <HR>
> > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > <BR>
> > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > </HR>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:10:29 +1000
> From:
> To:
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] EBird
> Message-ID:
> <
>
> >
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> I use "Birds Near Me" app which is map based and find that works very well
> - it uses the ebird data and shows hotspots on a google map.
>
> Its not a data entry tool however.
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2015 08:57:42 +1000
> From: Peter Shute <>
> To: 'Roger Giller' <>, Sonja Ross
> <>
> Cc: Paul Coddington <>,
> ""
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] EBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> The eBird app has just been released for iOS. Looks very similar to
> BirdLog, but now one can search for hotspots by town names rather than
> having to use postcodes. I haven't tried entering any data yet.
>
> Oddly, when I searched for Wandiligong, the only results it returned were
> local businesses rather than the town itself. Selecting one of those
> resulted in a list of nearby hotspots, so the end result is the same.
>
> Peter Shute
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:15:12 +1000
> From: "Greg Roberts" <>
> To: "birding-aus" <>
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Yandina Creek Wetlands
> Message-ID:
> <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Many of the folk here will be aware of a campaign to protect the
> nationally significant Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast.
>
> The bad news at hand is that the Sunshine Coast Council has
> rejected
> numerous appeals to acquire the 200ha wetlands for a reserve under its
> Environment Levy Plan. The council is not interested in purchasing
> even one of the three properties containing the wetlands and has
> declared that their protection is not a matter of ?high priority?,
> although work began at the site recently to drain the area. The Mayor
> of the Sunshine Coast, Mark Jamieson, has refused requests to meet a
> delegation of concerned citizens to discuss the proposal.
>
> The good news is that both the Commonwealth and the Queensland
> governments are showing an active interest in the wetlands. Following
> intervention by federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, a team from
> his department recently inspected the wetlands to determine if the
> drainage works presently underway breached Commonwealth laws that
> protect the endangered species and migratory shorebirds that frequent
> the area. And now the Queensland Environment Minister, Steven Miles,
> has declared his intention to inspect the wetlands and has asked for
> an urgent briefing from his department.
>
> I have suggested what people can do to further the cause in this
> blog
> post:
>
>
> http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/yandina-creek-wetlands-update-council.html
>
> Greg
> http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 10
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:39:52 +1000
> From: Laurie Knight <>
> To: Birding Aus <>
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] A positive conservation story
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Bitterns are booming in the UK
>
>
> http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/18/bittern-conservation-programme-flying-high-birds-boom-again
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 15:43:14 +1000
> From: Laurie Knight <>
> To: Birding Aus <>
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Bad news on the Seabird front
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>
> for those of you who didn?t see it yesterday
>
> http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/06/17/4253305.htm
>
> Global seabird decline greater than expected
> Wednesday, 17 June 2015
> Anna Salleh ABC
> Seabird dive The global seabird population may have fallen by almost 70
> per cent since 1950, a new study suggests.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 12
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 16:26:29 +1000
> From: Martin Butterfield <>
> To: Peter Shute <>
> Cc: Mick Roderick <>, Graeme Stevens
> <>, ""
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID:
> <CANX9cvjPWEMzUmJG2a02=
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> There are also errors which creep in to Atlas data. I remember in
> particular noticing a record of Black Currawong in the Goulburn NSW area
> some time back. As I type the Birdata list for postcode 2620 (some rural
> parts of the ACT and Queanbeyan NSW) contains records for Red-winged
> Parrot, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed Pardalote, and Yellow-throated
> Scrubwren . To my knowledge all of these are just about impossible in the
> COG Area of Interest (roughly Cooma to Goulburn to Yass with Canberra more
> of less central). There are also a much larger of species that I don't
> recollect ever being reported to COG from postcode 2620 - although have
> been recorded once or twice in other parts of the ACT - and are thus just
> about possible in the area.
>
> My point is not to dump on the Atlas but to point out that in any huge data
> set there are going to be a few outliers and its up to users to approach
> them with caution!
>
> Thinking about this and others matters to do with eBird and other data
> systems in Australia birding led me to compile a rather lengthy blogpost
> <http://eBird and other birding data> on the topic.
>
> Martin
>
> Martin Butterfield
> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>
> On 18 June 2015 at 10:31, Peter Shute <> wrote:
>
> > Because the observer names are recorded, there's probably nothing
> stopping
> > researchers from excluding records from people who have entered what they
> > consider to be incorrect ids, or only using records from people they
> > consider to be reliable.
> >
> > Peter Shute
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Birding-Aus
> > > On Behalf Of
> > > Mick Roderick
> > > Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2015 8:09 AM
> > > To: Graeme Stevens;
> > > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> > >
> > >
> > > I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of
> > > a recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific
> > > rigour for data analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and
> > > I don't know if that has ever been its intention.
> > > eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I
> > > am constantly seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I
> > > assume these are most often made by birders in unfamiliar
> > > territory because it is often things like Corvids that get
> > > misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> > > Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course
> > > (single bird in winter). I've seen this many times on other
> > > eBird lists where the bird was obviously a Black-faced
> > > Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive Whistler and
> > > Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> > > they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see
> > > Little Ravens reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens
> > > occur. It must be very difficult for the very few moderators
> > > to keep on top of it all.
> > > I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> > > Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> > > advancing. Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW
> > > Twitchathon funds from last year. As far as I know it is
> > > still being decided how the eBird data will be used.
> > > Mick
> >
> > <HR>
> > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > <BR>
> > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > </HR>
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 13
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 19:46:11 +1000
> From: Michael Ramsey <>
> To: Martin Butterfield <>
> Cc: Peter Shute <>, ""
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Agree with Martin here, some comments have been all about the inaccuracies
> if eBird data. A 2 minute search of Birdata data today revealed
> White-throated Honeyeaters, White-browned Treecreepers and Splendid
> Fairy-wrens in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, completely out of range.
> When or will ever this inaccuracies be fixed by Birdata. They have been
> there at least 10 years to my knowledge. At least eBird has a dedicated and
> passionate group of reviewers that are consistently trying to ensure
> accurate data. Sure some things slip through but in large it's pretty
> accurate. Birdata and the atlas to remain clunky and old in technology
> terms. EBird has just released a new app that is easy to use. Birdata and
> Birds Australia are not using a valuable resource here by not using Ebird
> data. Cornell use eBIRD it in the USA, why can't Birds Australia?
>
> Michael
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On 18 Jun 2015, at 19:22, Martin Butterfield <>
> wrote:
> >
> > There are also errors which creep in to Atlas data. I remember in
> > particular noticing a record of Black Currawong in the Goulburn NSW area
> > some time back. As I type the Birdata list for postcode 2620 (some rural
> > parts of the ACT and Queanbeyan NSW) contains records for Red-winged
> > Parrot, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed Pardalote, and
> Yellow-throated
> > Scrubwren . To my knowledge all of these are just about impossible in
> the
> > COG Area of Interest (roughly Cooma to Goulburn to Yass with Canberra
> more
> > of less central). There are also a much larger of species that I don't
> > recollect ever being reported to COG from postcode 2620 - although have
> > been recorded once or twice in other parts of the ACT - and are thus just
> > about possible in the area.
> >
> > My point is not to dump on the Atlas but to point out that in any huge
> data
> > set there are going to be a few outliers and its up to users to approach
> > them with caution!
> >
> > Thinking about this and others matters to do with eBird and other data
> > systems in Australia birding led me to compile a rather lengthy blogpost
> > <http://eBird and other birding data> on the topic.
> >
> > Martin
> >
> > Martin Butterfield
> > http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
> >
> >> On 18 June 2015 at 10:31, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >>
> >> Because the observer names are recorded, there's probably nothing
> stopping
> >> researchers from excluding records from people who have entered what
> they
> >> consider to be incorrect ids, or only using records from people they
> >> consider to be reliable.
> >>
> >> Peter Shute
> >>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: Birding-Aus
> >>> On Behalf Of
> >>> Mick Roderick
> >>> Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2015 8:09 AM
> >>> To: Graeme Stevens;
> >>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of
> >>> a recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific
> >>> rigour for data analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and
> >>> I don't know if that has ever been its intention.
> >>> eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I
> >>> am constantly seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I
> >>> assume these are most often made by birders in unfamiliar
> >>> territory because it is often things like Corvids that get
> >>> misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> >>> Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course
> >>> (single bird in winter). I've seen this many times on other
> >>> eBird lists where the bird was obviously a Black-faced
> >>> Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive Whistler and
> >>> Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> >>> they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see
> >>> Little Ravens reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens
> >>> occur. It must be very difficult for the very few moderators
> >>> to keep on top of it all.
> >>> I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> >>> Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> >>> advancing. Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW
> >>> Twitchathon funds from last year. As far as I know it is
> >>> still being decided how the eBird data will be used.
> >>> Mick
> >>
> >> <HR>
> >> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >> <BR>
> >> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> >> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> >> </HR>
> > <HR>
> > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > <BR>
> > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > </HR>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 14
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:36:20 +1000
> From: Rod Warnock <>
> To: "Donald G. Kimball" <>
> Cc: Philip Veerman <>, birding-aus
> <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Wondering about Aussie native birders and
> which group of birds were your most challenging.
> Message-ID:
> <CAE-VREk==rTs=
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Interesting topic Donald and I too am one that struggles with
> identification but a sobering thought sustains me. Why did it take the many
> ardent birders until the mid 1960s to find we had Sarus Cranes mixed in
> with the Brolgas?? So what chance does the average birder have with smaller
> birds?
> Best regards
> Rod Warnock
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2015 at 4:26 AM, Donald G. Kimball <>
> wrote:
>
> > Philip Veerman wrote..."I know the species near
> > here. For what it is worth, apart from the north eastern edge of Aus,
> > White-naped cf Strong-billed cf White-throated Honeyeaters live in
> > different
> > places." That is an excellent point and of course that is what having a
> > field guide at hand is all about. I also agree that when one doesnt live
> > in Aus the scatter gun approach to learning makes it a bit daunting but a
> > wonderful experience no matter what I find.
> >
> > On Wed, Jun 17, 2015 at 2:22 AM, Philip Veerman <>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Really the issue is about travelling more than birds. People visiting
> > here
> > > tend to travel a lot and have short times in many different parts of
> the
> > > country, so not become very familiar. Sure some groups have more
> species
> > > that are similar than other groups. Honeyeaters are a fair group to
> > include
> > > but others would say thornbills, fairy-wrens or seabirds or waders.
> Some
> > > even think raptors are difficult. I never have difficulty identifying
> > > honeyeaters but that is because I don't travel much. I know the species
> > > near
> > > here. For what it is worth, apart from the north eastern edge of Aus,
> > > White-naped cf Strong-billed cf White-throated Honeyeaters live in
> > > different
> > > places.
> > >
> > > Philip
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Birding-Aus On
> Behalf
> > > Of
> > > Donald G. Kimball
> > > Sent: Wednesday, 17 June 2015 4:48 PM
> > > To: birding-aus
> > > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Wondering about Aussie native birders and which
> > > group
> > > of birds were your most challenging.
> > >
> > > As a traveler to Aus and one who just loves your country and birds I
> was
> > > recently wondering which group of birds caused the most work in
> learning
> > > among my mates on birding-aus.
> > >
> > > For me it has been the honeyeaters. I love this group of birds but
> yet I
> > > find there are so many of them and I am constantly studying field
> guides
> > to
> > > brush up and enhance my skills these days to make accurate and good
> > > identifications when I come back. Good example is White-naped vs
> > > Strong-billed vs White-throated.
> > >
> > > What group have caused you the most work/research? Just wondering.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Don Kimball
> > > <HR>
> > > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > > <BR>
> > > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > > <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > > </HR>
> > >
> > >
> > <HR>
> > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > <BR>
> > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > </HR>
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 15
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 21:05:02 +1000
> From: Sonja Ross <>
> To: Michael Ramsey <>
> Cc: Martin Butterfield <>,
> "" <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Hi Michael & Martin,
>
> I believe BirdLife Australia is working on a new portal which will be more
> user friendly and utilise the information we incorporate in our e-Bird
> lists. Budget restrictions don?t allow making major changes fast or easy
> always. I imagine they won?t spend time trying to fix inaccuracies while
> trying to get the new system up and running.
>
> The new app is an update/improvement on the BirdLog one I think.
>
> Sonja
>
>
> > On 18 Jun 2015, at 7:46 pm, Michael Ramsey <>
> wrote:
> >
> > Agree with Martin here, some comments have been all about the
> inaccuracies if eBird data. A 2 minute search of Birdata data today
> revealed White-throated Honeyeaters, White-browned Treecreepers and
> Splendid Fairy-wrens in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, completely out of
> range. When or will ever this inaccuracies be fixed by Birdata. They have
> been there at least 10 years to my knowledge. At least eBird has a
> dedicated and passionate group of reviewers that are consistently trying to
> ensure accurate data. Sure some things slip through but in large it's
> pretty accurate. Birdata and the atlas to remain clunky and old in
> technology terms. EBird has just released a new app that is easy to use.
> Birdata and Birds Australia are not using a valuable resource here by not
> using Ebird data. Cornell use eBIRD it in the USA, why can't Birds
> Australia?
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On 18 Jun 2015, at 19:22, Martin Butterfield <>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> There are also errors which creep in to Atlas data. I remember in
> >> particular noticing a record of Black Currawong in the Goulburn NSW area
> >> some time back. As I type the Birdata list for postcode 2620 (some
> rural
> >> parts of the ACT and Queanbeyan NSW) contains records for Red-winged
> >> Parrot, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed Pardalote, and
> Yellow-throated
> >> Scrubwren . To my knowledge all of these are just about impossible in
> the
> >> COG Area of Interest (roughly Cooma to Goulburn to Yass with Canberra
> more
> >> of less central). There are also a much larger of species that I don't
> >> recollect ever being reported to COG from postcode 2620 - although have
> >> been recorded once or twice in other parts of the ACT - and are thus
> just
> >> about possible in the area.
> >>
> >> My point is not to dump on the Atlas but to point out that in any huge
> data
> >> set there are going to be a few outliers and its up to users to approach
> >> them with caution!
> >>
> >> Thinking about this and others matters to do with eBird and other data
> >> systems in Australia birding led me to compile a rather lengthy blogpost
> >> <http://eBird and other birding data> on the topic.
> >>
> >> Martin
> >>
> >> Martin Butterfield
> >> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
> >>
> >>> On 18 June 2015 at 10:31, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Because the observer names are recorded, there's probably nothing
> stopping
> >>> researchers from excluding records from people who have entered what
> they
> >>> consider to be incorrect ids, or only using records from people they
> >>> consider to be reliable.
> >>>
> >>> Peter Shute
> >>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: Birding-Aus
> >>>> On Behalf Of
> >>>> Mick Roderick
> >>>> Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2015 8:09 AM
> >>>> To: Graeme Stevens;
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of
> >>>> a recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific
> >>>> rigour for data analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and
> >>>> I don't know if that has ever been its intention.
> >>>> eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I
> >>>> am constantly seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I
> >>>> assume these are most often made by birders in unfamiliar
> >>>> territory because it is often things like Corvids that get
> >>>> misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> >>>> Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course
> >>>> (single bird in winter). I've seen this many times on other
> >>>> eBird lists where the bird was obviously a Black-faced
> >>>> Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive Whistler and
> >>>> Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> >>>> they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see
> >>>> Little Ravens reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens
> >>>> occur. It must be very difficult for the very few moderators
> >>>> to keep on top of it all.
> >>>> I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> >>>> Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> >>>> advancing. Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW
> >>>> Twitchathon funds from last year. As far as I know it is
> >>>> still being decided how the eBird data will be used.
> >>>> Mick
> >>>
> >>> <HR>
> >>> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >>> <BR>
> >>> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> >>> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> >>> </HR>
> >> <HR>
> >> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >> <BR>
> >> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> >> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> >> </HR>
> >
> > <HR>
> > <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> > <BR>
> > <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> > </HR>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 16
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:57:39 +1000
> From: Carl Clifford <>
> To: Michael Ramsey <>
> Cc: Martin Butterfield <>,
> "" <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> The reason that Cornell Lab uses eBird, is that it is a joint project
> between CLab and the Audubon Society. I think it runs on servers at CLab.
>
> Carl Clifford
>
>
> > On 18 Jun 2015, at 7:46 pm, Michael Ramsey <>
> wrote:
> >
> > Agree with Martin here, some comments have been all about the
> inaccuracies if eBird data. A 2 minute search of Birdata data today
> revealed White-throated Honeyeaters, White-browned Treecreepers and
> Splendid Fairy-wrens in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, completely out of
> range. When or will ever this inaccuracies be fixed by Birdata. They have
> been there at least 10 years to my knowledge. At least eBird has a
> dedicated and passionate group of reviewers that are consistently trying to
> ensure accurate data. Sure some things slip through but in large it's
> pretty accurate. Birdata and the atlas to remain clunky and old in
> technology terms. EBird has just released a new app that is easy to use.
> Birdata and Birds Australia are not using a valuable resource here by not
> using Ebird data. Cornell use eBIRD it in the USA, why can't Birds
> Australia?
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On 18 Jun 2015, at 19:22, Martin Butterfield <>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> There are also errors which creep in to Atlas data. I remember in
> >> particular noticing a record of Black Currawong in the Goulburn NSW area
> >> some time back. As I type the Birdata list for postcode 2620 (some
> rural
> >> parts of the ACT and Queanbeyan NSW) contains records for Red-winged
> >> Parrot, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed Pardalote, and
> Yellow-throated
> >> Scrubwren . To my knowledge all of these are just about impossible in
> the
> >> COG Area of Interest (roughly Cooma to Goulburn to Yass with Canberra
> more
> >> of less central). There are also a much larger of species that I don't
> >> recollect ever being reported to COG from postcode 2620 - although have
> >> been recorded once or twice in other parts of the ACT - and are thus
> just
> >> about possible in the area.
> >>
> >> My point is not to dump on the Atlas but to point out that in any huge
> data
> >> set there are going to be a few outliers and its up to users to approach
> >> them with caution!
> >>
> >> Thinking about this and others matters to do with eBird and other data
> >> systems in Australia birding led me to compile a rather lengthy blogpost
> >> <http://eBird and other birding data> on the topic.
> >>
> >> Martin
> >>
> >> Martin Butterfield
> >> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
> >>
> >>> On 18 June 2015 at 10:31, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Because the observer names are recorded, there's probably nothing
> stopping
> >>> researchers from excluding records from people who have entered what
> they
> >>> consider to be incorrect ids, or only using records from people they
> >>> consider to be reliable.
> >>>
> >>> Peter Shute
> >>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: Birding-Aus
> >>>> On Behalf Of
> >>>> Mick Roderick
> >>>> Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2015 8:09 AM
> >>>> To: Graeme Stevens;
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of
> >>>> a recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific
> >>>> rigour for data analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and
> >>>> I don't know if that has ever been its intention.
> >>>> eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I
> >>>> am constantly seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I
> >>>> assume these are most often made by birders in unfamiliar
> >>>> territory because it is often things like Corvids that get
> >>>> misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> >>>> Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course
> >>>> (single bird in winter). I've seen this many times on other
> >>>> eBird lists where the bird was obviously a Black-faced
> >>>> Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive Whistler and
> >>>> Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> >>>> they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see
> >>>> Little Ravens reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens
> >>>> occur. It must be very difficult for the very few moderators
> >>>> to keep on top of it all.
> >>>> I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> >>>> Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> >>>> advancing. Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW
> >>>> Twitchathon funds from last year. As far as I know it is
> >>>> still being decided how the eBird data will be used.
> >>>> Mick
> >>>
> >>> <HR>
> >>> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >>> <BR>
> >>> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> >>> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> >>> </HR>
> >> <HR>
> >> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >> <BR>
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> >> <BR>
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> >> </HR>
> >
> > <HR>
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> > </HR>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 17
> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2015 21:13:52 +1000
> From: Peter Shute <>
> To: Michael Ramsey <>
> Cc: Martin Butterfield <>,
> "" <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> Message-ID: <>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> There was a thread about birdata a few weeks ago. Apparently, a
> programming error means results are being returned from a wider area than
> expected in postcode searches. I.e the base data is actually much better
> than the search results indicate.
>
> However, the species distribution map does show a Black Currawong near
> Goulburn.
>
> If the quality of the birdata data is good, but the user interface is
> lacking, perhaps the answer is to abandon the birdata interface for eBird,
> and get the eBird programmers to add a flag that can be set by a Birdlife
> Australia representative to indicate that a survey has been checked and
> approved by them.
>
> Peter Shute
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On 18 Jun 2015, at 7:46 pm, Michael Ramsey <>
> wrote:
> >
> > Agree with Martin here, some comments have been all about the
> inaccuracies if eBird data. A 2 minute search of Birdata data today
> revealed White-throated Honeyeaters, White-browned Treecreepers and
> Splendid Fairy-wrens in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, completely out of
> range. When or will ever this inaccuracies be fixed by Birdata. They have
> been there at least 10 years to my knowledge. At least eBird has a
> dedicated and passionate group of reviewers that are consistently trying to
> ensure accurate data. Sure some things slip through but in large it's
> pretty accurate. Birdata and the atlas to remain clunky and old in
> technology terms. EBird has just released a new app that is easy to use.
> Birdata and Birds Australia are not using a valuable resource here by not
> using Ebird data. Cornell use eBIRD it in the USA, why can't Birds
> Australia?
> >
> > Michael
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On 18 Jun 2015, at 19:22, Martin Butterfield <>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> There are also errors which creep in to Atlas data. I remember in
> >> particular noticing a record of Black Currawong in the Goulburn NSW area
> >> some time back. As I type the Birdata list for postcode 2620 (some
> rural
> >> parts of the ACT and Queanbeyan NSW) contains records for Red-winged
> >> Parrot, White-browed Treecreeper, Red-browed Pardalote, and
> Yellow-throated
> >> Scrubwren . To my knowledge all of these are just about impossible in
> the
> >> COG Area of Interest (roughly Cooma to Goulburn to Yass with Canberra
> more
> >> of less central). There are also a much larger of species that I don't
> >> recollect ever being reported to COG from postcode 2620 - although have
> >> been recorded once or twice in other parts of the ACT - and are thus
> just
> >> about possible in the area.
> >>
> >> My point is not to dump on the Atlas but to point out that in any huge
> data
> >> set there are going to be a few outliers and its up to users to approach
> >> them with caution!
> >>
> >> Thinking about this and others matters to do with eBird and other data
> >> systems in Australia birding led me to compile a rather lengthy blogpost
> >> <http://eBird and other birding data> on the topic.
> >>
> >> Martin
> >>
> >> Martin Butterfield
> >> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
> >>
> >>> On 18 June 2015 at 10:31, Peter Shute <> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Because the observer names are recorded, there's probably nothing
> stopping
> >>> researchers from excluding records from people who have entered what
> they
> >>> consider to be incorrect ids, or only using records from people they
> >>> consider to be reliable.
> >>>
> >>> Peter Shute
> >>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: Birding-Aus
> >>>> On Behalf Of
> >>>> Mick Roderick
> >>>> Sent: Thursday, 18 June 2015 8:09 AM
> >>>> To: Graeme Stevens;
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] The Atlas and eBird
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I think you've hit the nail on the head Graeme. It is more of
> >>>> a recreational birders' tool and not one with any scientific
> >>>> rigour for data analysis. I mean, it just can't be really and
> >>>> I don't know if that has ever been its intention.
> >>>> eBird is also very attractive to 'travelling' birders and I
> >>>> am constantly seeing erroneous records appearing in lists. I
> >>>> assume these are most often made by birders in unfamiliar
> >>>> territory because it is often things like Corvids that get
> >>>> misidentified. Just this week we've seen someone reporting
> >>>> Masked Woodswallow from Sydney's Eastlakes Golf Course
> >>>> (single bird in winter). I've seen this many times on other
> >>>> eBird lists where the bird was obviously a Black-faced
> >>>> Cuckoo-shrike. The same person has entered Olive Whistler and
> >>>> Banded Stilt from Western Sydney in the past week. Clearly
> >>>> they are misidentifications. In the Hunter I constantly see
> >>>> Little Ravens reported from places I know only Aussie Ravens
> >>>> occur. It must be very difficult for the very few moderators
> >>>> to keep on top of it all.
> >>>> I think the duplication of data issue has been discussed here earlier.
> >>>> Yes, the BirdLife portal is currently being developed and is
> >>>> advancing. Funding assistance has been provided from the NSW
> >>>> Twitchathon funds from last year. As far as I know it is
> >>>> still being decided how the eBird data will be used.
> >>>> Mick
> >>>
> >>> <HR>
> >>> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >>> <BR>
> >>> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> >>> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> >>> </HR>
> >> <HR>
> >> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
> >> <BR>
> >> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
> >> <BR>
> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
> >> </HR>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
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> ------------------------------
>
> End of Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 20, Issue 16
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