This is very useful!
I know my recent report of 22 Savannah was flagged ( I entered � in Goldenrod Swale in large loose group�). I knew they were dwindling and this was a good number. Is it useful to add comments that include ( expected to overwinter in small numbers) or (typical overwintering area) relying on observers past experience with an area and or species?
Bonnie
From: Robert Ostrowski
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 6:09 PM
To: <mdbirding...> ; <bonnieott...>
Subject: Re: [MDBirding] E-bird flagging details
Hi Bonnie,
Thanks for bringing this up, because it's been something I've been meaning to comment on recently. If a report is flagged because it exceeds the number threshold (ex. 472 Savannah Sparrows when the filter is set to 50), then, like you said, we aren't really interested in hearing how you identified the bird, but rather how you arrived at that number. This lets us know that you didn't throw out a wild estimate on what would be a significant record, and it catches any typos that might've been overlooked.
Some comments one might enter in this situation:
1. "126 on the north edge of the corn field, 100 near the old barn, and 272 in the harvested fields north of the road"
2. "Carefully counted over a six mile hike"
3. "Estimate of a seemingly ubiquitous bird." This type of comment would preferably accompany a conservative estimate.
4. "Exact count" Less informative but still acceptable. It shows you double or tripled checked the entry.
You get the idea. Ultimately, I would say 99% of records flagged because of high counts get confirmed. They are either accompanied by the above comments, or it's obvious from the effort data that the number is not that significant (e.g. 30 Carolina Chickadees aren't significant on a seven mile hike, and we wouldn't need anymore information).
Hope this helps. Let me know if there's more to this question that I didn't touch on.
Rob Ostrowski
Bowie, MD
On Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 5:48 PM, Bonnie Ott <Bonnieott...> wrote:
Bill, thanks so much for your informative post regarding e-bird. I think of e-bird as a near miracle and wish it had been around 30 years ago (oh the paper records I have!)
I find I am most often flagged by numbers instead of species (most often sparrows.....surprise surprise!) I am often at loss as to what to put in the comments other than location. I know all sightings that are flagged are helped by details. Other than ...�24 Savannahs in the goldenrod swale� I really am not sure how to provide supportive details. They were very cute may be true but not scientifically useful.
Bonnie
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