Re: Western Tanager at Riverbend, VA
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Sat, 10 Oct 98 13:34:57 EDT
Re: Hotlines
Hotlines are run by volunteers. The level of expertise and available time of
these volunteers varies greatly. Some RBA compilers are nationally-known
field birders, most are not. They have to sift through a lot of reports from
(again) a wide variety of birders. Most ask for a call-back number if they
want more details. If they have a question, you may well get a call-back.
In some cases the report is so unlikely that it is ignored, eg. White-tailed
Ptarmigan in Bethesda, Audubon's Shearwater in a park in Boston (both are
true reports to RBAs); the Ptarmigan was actually checked out and turned out
to be a pure white feral pigeon.
Reports can also get ignored if they get lost in the shuffle -- we have had a
number of interesting reports in the last month not posted on VON -- since
others of that particular species were included, we assumed the compiler
missed ours or it fell through the various cracks in the email or voice mail
system. We did not feel this was deliberate or a negative comment on our
birding abililities.
However, when a bird that represents a true rarity is reported, the compiler
has to make a decision. Probably the *best* is to emulate the Brits (who
update their (pay-for-call) rare bird alerts 5-6x a day and certainly don't
have time to check everything out) and say "an unconfirmed Greater Whatsits
was reported at the Minsmere RSPB reserve this morning. This tape will be
updated when the report is confirmed." This is *exactly* what the NY RBA
did with the Broad-billed Sandpiper -- the initial report was "a possible
BBSP was seen at Jamaica Bay -- we will update when and if confirmed." When
the bird was refound the next day, a special update was posted late that
evening. We called the tape and finalized our tentative plans to go for it,
with good results. The report was not ignored. However, William Benner's
post to BirdChat was really the initial clarion call (thanks, Bill).
Some compilers are reluctant to report birds that seem unlikely or rare,
sometimes this is only if they don't know the caller, sometimes everyone
gets the treatment. One rather painful episode in this area was in the mid
1980s, when a Limpkin was called in to the Voice from Columbia, MD (as I
recall). Claudia Wilds was then the compiler, and she wasn't satisfied with
the report, and it was not included in that week's VON. It wasn't until two
weeks later that someone went over and saw a perfectly fine Limpkin feeding
happily in folk's back yards. It finally got on the Voice, but by then the
bird had left. As may be apparent from this story, I missed it.
So as you see, a compiler sits on a fine edged sword. If everything is reported
no matter how unlikely, the report loses credibility. If everything is treated
with skepticism worthy of a records committee, the report loses utility for
birders (especially "twitchers", those chasing rarities). Best to report as
unconfirmed and then try to get someone out to check on the bird.
People making reports also have to show a little common sense and include all
salient details, if the bird is truly unusual. And be prepared to answer
some questions without feeling defensive.
But I feel that RBAs are a "quid pro quo" situation -- if you take advantage
of them, then you should also participate. If some of your birds don't get
included, well,these things happen. If you have a problem, call and find out
why. Birding is not an ego trip, or at least it shouldn't be...
Gail Mackiernan
gail@umdd.umd.edu