Reporting Sightings

Jlstasz@aol.com
Wed, 20 Jan 1999 08:07:42 EST 

Ellen Paul wrote:

"As to your point that not all regions are covered by birders and most don't
pass on their records - I agree.  There really is no mechanism for submitting
all sightings of everything, much less sorting and classifying so much data.
If the information is gathered in the context of a survey or atlassing effort,
then it is recorded.  But now that the DOWO on Smith Island has been reported,
how many more people need to run down there to see it?  However, most people
just out birding don't report anything except rarities.  Meaning rarities for
the entire region, not just one small island.  If I follow your argument, then
I'd be running all over the place to see common species because I haven't seen
them in a particular county or town yet.  Wow.  I only wish I had that much
time on my hands! "

There is indeed a mechanism for compiling and sorting all sightings. Since the
Summer of 1995, all reports submitted to Field Notes have been computerized,
including Rock Doves, Starlings, and House Sparrows. The Fall Season 1998 has
more than 20,000 lines of data. I made an estimate that if most of the active
birders contributed...100,000 lines each reporting season would be about
average. 

Many active biders stay within a well-defined range, usually their home
county. Marshall and I work to cover areas not usually checked by others and
fill the gaps. We actively "census/survey" all species. Our quest is not to
see "every species in every county", but to understand the distribution and
abundance across the region. More importantly, we try to collect information
that will be useful over time. Although the Maryland Breeding Bird Atlas was
just recently published, the information within it is out-of-date for a number
of species. 

Migratory pathways are poorly understood for most species. Important migratory
stopover sites can not be determined without a much greater effort in looking
at the detail. The more common species are perhaps less understood than the
rare ones. The published record has always focused on "rare" species, in part
because that is what the readership desired. The limit of words [set by the
Editor/Publisher] have left the "common" species out in the cold. 

Marshall and I are working on developing in Cyberspace a way to have all
species reported, recorded, and analyzed. . If you already computerize your
findings, or have the use of a spreadsheet program [like LOTUS or QuatroPro]
and want to start, please contact me directly. We will also take photocopies
of daily lists, bur prefer those which have #'s of each species and not just a
checkmark. We encourage all to send reports of all species

Good Birding!

Jim

Jim Stasz
North Beach MD
jlstasz@aol.com

ps: We canoed several miles, including what would technically be called "into
the Bay". Marshall had to endure my constant grousing: "I am too old for this.
Next time we get a power boat." This was more to keep my spirits up [I am
really getting old for some of it], and recommend a canoe over any power boat
when it is safe.