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Re: eBird question- boundary birds

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 18:00:42 -0800

Chris/All,

It is 100% acceptable to report birds on two eBird lists to record them on both sides of a political boundary. People do it all of the time, and there are plenty of official hot spots with locations on both sides of a lake, river, or reservoir. eBird's analyses are robust enough to handle the presence of a Sharp-shinned Hawk on two nearby checklists, just like they will deduce that Black-headed Grosbeak is not an abundant resident of Caroline Co., Maryland in December. :) Not only is it acceptable, but I think it is appropriate to be mindful about carefully reporting species in the correct county and state.

Here is what many dedicated eBirders do when birding along county lines. Keep a full stationary/traveling checklist for the side you are on. This is your primary list where you are hearing Carolina Wrens and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Keep separate notes for the far side of the boundary and then submit a separate eBird checklist, marking it as "Incidental". To be thorough, indicate that you viewed from across the river (or similar). (In most cases, we also recommend indicating "No" for "Are you submitting a complete checklist?")  If you are right on the border, you could certainly keep two complete checklists.

Too much work for some people? That's OK, too, but please make an effort to not include species on a checklist that were only seen in another county. One helpful technique is to break up eBird data entry between members of your party so each person has fewer reports to file when you get home. While birding Jug Bay, for example, it's very convenient to have one person keep the Prince George's Co. list and another keep an Anne Arundel Co. list. Each person can file an eBird report and share with the other.

Good birding,

Bill
 
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com
>> 
>>  -----Original Message----- From: Chris Tonra
>>  Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2012 10:45 AM
>>  To: 
>>  Subject: [MDOSPREY] eBird question- boundary birds
>> 
>> 
>>  Hi all,
>> 
>>  I could ask the folks at eBird this, but figured the DC birding
>>  community deals with this issue as much as anyone.
>> 
>>  I'm wondering if anyone knows the protocol for recording birds that
>>  cross state/district boundaries. For instance, I had a Sharpie
>>  fly-over today which went from D.C. to MD. I figure I definitely
>>  shouldn't double count the bird, as the area is in the same 
> "pixel",
>>  but is there a protocol for which side I record it on? I live right on
>>  the DC/MD boundary so am having this issue come up quite a bit.
>> 
>>  Thanks
>> 
>>  Chris Tonra
>> 
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