ABA Field Notes & Bird Database (long)
Jlstasz (Jlstasz@aol.com)
Wed, 8 Apr 1998 20:54:31 EDT
Hi Folks!
Since the Fall of 1995 all reports sent to the Middle Atlantic Coast Region of
Field Notes have been entered into LOTUS 1-2-3 *.WK1 files. This is in
anticipation of combining all of the files into a Database. We have been
averaging about 15,000 lines each of the 4 reporting Seasons. Each line has
the following information (arranged in columns of the Spreadsheet):
Column A: Checklist #
Column B: Species Name
Column C: # of birds ("+", "lots", "100s", "flock", "nest", "note" are also
acceptable)
Column D: Month (numeric 1,2, 3, etc......12)
Column E: Day (numeric 1,2,3,etc....31)
Column F: Year (2 digits...we will fix all entries before 2000)
Column G: Location (e.g. Chincoteague NWR, Leesylvania SP, Lake Anna,
Richmond, Flemming Mill Rd, etc.)
Column H: County (full name)
Column I: State (VA,MD,DE)
Column J: Observer(s) Name(s)
Column K: Source (your name, VON, VA Birdline, Valley Birds, etc.)
Column L: Comments (anything at all that explains more: e.g. "nest with 3
eggs"; "adult"; "3 m., 4 f."; "f and 6 downy young"; "photos taken"; "see
written report")
Although we prefer LOTUS 1-2-3 *.WK1 files, we can also read many other
formats, such as Excel and QuatroPro. If you are interested in receiving a
sample file, please send me an e-mail.
Spring - March 1-May 31
Summer - June 1 - July 31
Fall - August 1-November 30
Winter - December 1-February 28(29)
The Middle Atlantic Coast Region includes all of Maryland and Virginia east
of the mountains. Essentially, in Maryland it covers all reports from
Frederick County east, and in Virginia, all areas east of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. The majority of reports received are from Maryland birders
(calling all Virginians!), and a huge volume of reports also come from the
Voice of the Naturalist, Virginia Birdline, and Baltimore Birdline (which each
send ALL their reports), as well as from monitoring such email discussion
groups as Valley Birds and MDOsprey. Individual reports are most valuable
though, so I urge anyone willing to send me a separate report for each season,
even if you regularly call your sightings into the Voice or Virginia Birdline.
A large number of sub-regional editors help with the assimilation and
computerization of the data. If you actively bird any of their regions, I ask
that you submit reports directly to them rather than to me. If you are
willing to serve as a sub-regional editor for any of the uncovered counties or
Regions of Maryland or Virginia please let me know promptly. It would be a
GREAT help!
Currently, the sub-regional editors are:
Patty Craig: Saint Mary's County s (P.O. Box 84, Lexington Park, MD 20653).
Elizabeth Pitney: Wicomico County (7218 Walston Switch Rd., Parsonsburg, MD
21849).
Jo Solem: Howard County (10617 Graeloch Rd., Laurel, MD 20723).
George M. Jett: Charles County (9505 Bland Street, Waldorf MD 20603)
JETT.GEORGE@epamail.epa.gov.
Ethel Engle: Caroline County (20789 Dover Bridge Rd., Preston, MD 21655).
Sam Freiberg: Montgomery County (8733 Susanna Lane, Chevy Chase, MD
20815-4713).sammarcy@erols.com
Al Haury: Anne Arundel County (852 Redwood Trail, Crownsville, MD 21032)
cactuswren@erols.com.
Good Birding!
Jim Stasz
Secretary
ABA Field Notes, Middle Atlantic Region
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com