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Re: Important--eBird Enhancements and Sensitive Data

From:

Phil Davis

Reply-To:

Phil Davis

Date:

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:01:51 -0500

Hi Jeff:

You may already know all of this, but perhaps some others may not ...

First, I assume you are already familiar with the MD/DCRC Maryland 
Review List, as a starting point ...

         http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/mdreview.pdf

... also, but a bit more esoteric, our MD/DCRC unusual 
subspecies/form review list ...

         http://www.mdbirds.org/mddcrc/pdf/mdsubrev.pdf

Finally, the MOS Yellow Book, which shows seasonal abundance (and 
hence, rarity status) ...

         http://www.mdbirds.org/publications/yellowbook/yellowbook.html

For anyone that has never seen the yellow book, the pervious edition 
(1968) is available, online here ...

         http://www.mdbirds.org/publications/yellowbook/yb1968.pdf

Finally, here is the Endangered Animals List for Maryland, which 
includes a number of birds ...

         http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/rteanimals.asp

Hope this helps ...

Phil


At 16:37 01/27/2009, Jeff Shenot wrote:
>I share Bill's concerns, and have questions based on my experience 
>learning about birds.  I am very unfamiliar with eBird, but intend 
>to learn about it this year.
>
>Over the last ten years I learned a lot about life histories of 
>birds and their temporal and spatial distributions, with most of my 
>experience coming from Maryland.  I learned a lot from other 
>experienced birders, but I also learned a lot on my own, and a 
>consistent challenge for me was learning what is common versus 
>uncommon, or what is rare or what is sensitive, etc.  There are many 
>species with either inconsistent ranges, abundance within their 
>range, or records for breeding.  There is much to learn, before a 
>person has an understanding of sensitivities.
>
>For an observant but inexperienced person, how would they know what 
>species are sensitive when entering their data on eBird, unless 
>someone made a list of species and types of records that they should 
>use judgement on?  Perhaps MOS could do one for MD?
>
>I love birding and get out as much as I can, both to see birds and 
>to learn about them.  The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know!
>
>Thanks for all of your great input Bill (and the many other MD 
>birders who we have shared their knowledge).
>
>Regards-
>Jeff Shenot
>Croom MD

===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland  21035     USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]

MD/DCRC Web site:  http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
===================================================