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UMichBirders for Sunday, December 13, 2009
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Subject: [birders] Re: Ebird
From: miherp(AT)comcast.net
Date: 13 Dec 2009 5:22am
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To the list members, this communication is only intended to serve as a coun=
terpoint to a well thought out criticism of e-bird.=C2=A0 I hope this is no=
t considered off-topic as it relates directly to how I, and a few other bir=
ders in Michigan, use this tool.=20
I never thought I would take exception to something posted by Mike Mencotti=
, but since I use e-bird in exactly the way that has been targeted, I feel=
I must respond.=C2=A0=C2=A0 I travel extensively=C2=A0for my job.=C2=A0 Mo=
st of my travels have been domestic, but have recently taken an internation=
al component as well.=C2=A0 When I do travel for work I can safely say that=
I have RELIED on e-bird=C2=A0for my research prior to traveling.=C2=A0 It =
allows me to have an idea of what birds can reasonably=C2=A0be expected in =
an area, versus those that are unlikely to=C2=A0 be found.=C2=A0=C2=A0=20
For example, as I write this I am in Louisville, KY. On my way down here I =
stopped at one of my favorite birding spots in Indiana, Muskatatuk NWR .=C2=
=A0 It is a great place and as long as you avoid the hunters, you can see a=
lot of cool birds.=C2=A0 Since I have been there before,=C2=A0I didn't bot=
her to do my usual e-bird search and picked up a Bird Checklist at the visi=
tors center (after giving the=C2=A0$5.00 donation that I always leave).=C2=
=A0 The checklist indicated that Red Headed Woodpeckers are a common specie=
s all seasons of the year here.=C2=A0 I birded for 4 hours and found=C2=A0a=
ll 6=C2=A0other types of woodpecker listed, except the red headed.=C2=A0 (I=
even had killer looks at a Pileated WP on the ground!!!).=C2=A0=C2=A0 Afte=
r I got back to my hotel, I looked up e-bird and found that NO ONE has obse=
rved a red-headed woodpecker at Muskatatuk in at least=C2=A05 years!!!=C2=
=A0 Now I don't feel so bad.=20
I agree that=C2=A0anyone can post anything on the list, however, the qualit=
y assurance folks are pretty good.=C2=A0 I once observed an Osprey at Fish =
Point Wildlife Area in Tuscola County on Christmas Day (2007).=C2=A0 There =
is no doubt about what bird it was, it was an Osprey=C2=A0for goodness sake=
s.=C2=A0 However, the e-bird=C2=A0Q/A person disallowed the observation bec=
ause I didn't have a picture.=C2=A0 Trust me, it was an Osprey and I did se=
e it in late=C2=A0December, end of discussion.=C2=A0 As a result, I do tend=
to=C2=A0believe most of what is populated in their observation data base.=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=20
The caution to look out for outliers is sensible, but please don't take the=
perspective that=C2=A0the use of e-bird means you are a lazy birder!!!=C2=
=A0 It is a tool that helps persons like myself maximize our=C2=A0time and =
enhance the effectiveness of the time we get in the field.=C2=A0 Unfortunat=
ely, I won't be eligible for retirement for 25 years and=C2=A0will probably=
=C2=A0have to work until I drop at my desk.=C2=A0 Anything that helps me ge=
t the most out of my time in the field will always be greatly appreciated.=
=20
So if this means I am a "net vulture" or a "lurking ludicrous lister " so b=
e it.=C2=A0 I stand by the concept of e-bird and will continue to do so.=C2=
=A0 =C2=A0=C2=A0=20
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Michael Mencotti " < MMencotti @ dcds . edu >=20
To: birders@ umich . edu=20
Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 6:26:13 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern=
=20
Subject: [birders] Ebird=20
I have noted that a number of b irders have said that they like to use Ebir=
d to find certain species in a new area. Well, good luck with that. The pro=
blem I find with Ebird is with the integrity of the sightings. Just like wi=
th all parts of the Internet, we find this =E2=80=9C good-new s -bad-news =
=E2=80=9D situation: The good news is that anyone can publish anyt hing on =
Ebird ; the bad news is that anyone can publish anything on Ebird .=20
I have researched that program for Oakland County, a specialty of mine, and=
found way too many in credible sightings: Red-necked Grebe at Heritage Par=
k, 5 Snowy Egrets in a small backyard pond in subdivision of Farmington Hil=
ls, etc.=20
Yes, the state has =E2=80=9C editors =E2=80=9D who question certain sightin=
gs; yes, the program allows for notes and documentation for unusual sightin=
gs, but one is left with the impression of =E2=80=9C take the sightings wit=
h the proverbial grain of salt. =E2=80=9D I have found that this program of=
fers nothing to me that my own data doesn =E2=80=99 t offer.=20
I suppose we can all ignore the outliers, but if a birder uses this list to=
find species in a certain area , disappointment may be in store. For me, n=
othing beats researching the habitat and habits of a bird, finding the prop=
er habitat and proper place on the calendar, and getting out and digging up=
the bird. It is a little more =E2=80=9C work, =E2=80=9D but birding has ne=
ver been =E2=80=9C work =E2=80=9D for me. This whole chasing - a - pos t ed=
- bird syndrome =E2=80=93 whether on a list service or on Ebird =E2=80=93 =
has created a new species of birder : the Net Vulture.=20
Mike Mencotti This electronic transmission and any attached documents or ot=
her writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addr=
essed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or other=
wise protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in =
error, please immediately notify sender by return email and destroy the com=
munication. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any acti=
on concerning the contents of this communication or any attachments by anyo=
ne other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited. ---=20
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Subject: [birders] Re: Ebird
From: Bob Tarte <theduckpen(AT)att.net>
Date: 13 Dec 2009 9:03am
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On Dec 12, 2009, at 6:26 AM, Mencotti, Michael wrote:
> This whole chasing-a-posted-bird syndrome =96 whether on a list =20
> service or on Ebird =96 has created a new species of birder: the Net =20=
> Vulture.
>
Actually, I've never chased a dead bird in my entire life.
--
Bob Tarte
Author of Fowl Weather and Enslaved by Ducks
Info and animal photos at www.BobTarte.com
---
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* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
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Subject: [birders] cranes, cranes, cranes
From: Lathe Claflin <lathe.claflin(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 13 Dec 2009 10:56am
Greetings,
A number of us in Jackson Co have been watching the comings and goings
of Sandhill Cranes in the area but I have not seen anyone post
anything recently. So I will. At the bend in the NW corner of Dalton
Rd, which can easily be reached by traveling W from Hawkins, there is
a major roosting spot for cranes. Thousands (3,000-4,000 by count
estimate) can be seen there in late afternoon and first thing in the
morning. Just before they go into the roosting area on flooded (now
frozen) lowland near the Portage River, they can be found in corn
fields adjacent to Dalton. Some are within15 to 20 yds of the road
offering excellent photo opportunities. If you look carefully, you
can pick out this year's young - the facial skin has turned a dull
red.
Lathe
--
Lathe Claflin
eastern Jackson County
---
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Subject: [birders] RE: ebird
From: Ed Lewandowski <scotchman12year(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 13 Dec 2009 8:34am
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I completely agree.=A0 It does have a few hang ups but the resource for dat=
a is unbelieveable.
=A0
I brag about using it everytime I go out with friends not using it yet.
=A0
You can check departure dates on recent postings=A0in any county for a spec=
ific bird.=A0 If you are in a big year competition or something how valuabl=
e would that be?=A0=20
=A0
I can look at new birding spots.=A0 Leaving work early just to get out and =
get some fresh air and maybe some birds.=A0 I use eBird just to get an idea=
.=A0 It is such an easy way to find new things.=A0 I am a wanderer and this=
is my online fix.=A0 I love maps and the hybrid map is so cool.=A0 I actua=
lly go out of my way to try new places I would never have heard of such as =
For Mar Nature Center.=A0 Next year, my goal is to check out lesser birded =
Genesee Co. just because eBird shows me there is a good spot there to bird.=
=A0 I would never have thought of=A0that otherwise.
Keeping county and state list for the lifetime, year, and month.=A0 What a =
major pain that would be to keep track of.=A0 It tracks stuff you wouldn't =
even think of.
Check my life list for Lapeer SGA, Belle Isle, Houghton Lake, and=A0my back=
yard=A0just for kicks.=A0 Not too shabby.=A0 How else could I keep that kin=
d of data?
At the end of the year, this will be my ultimate reference for Scott Jennex=
and his state birding statistics.
=A0
They even keep updating their services frequently.=A0 I can't say enough gr=
eat things about it honestly.=A0 I know more birders now because of it and =
try to help others find birds.=A0 Many of the regulars seem to be connected=
with other known birders in a bird finding network.=A0 This is great=A0for=
those that want to compare notes it is a great way to meet local birders i=
n your county.=A0 It is a great window to many opportunities.=A0 Hope more =
folks add this to their new years resolutions to take notes on their birdin=
g experiences.=A0=20
=A0
I will drop it after this but I can even go back at each checklist and thin=
k about my past trips.=A0 It helps complete my best birds and experiences o=
f the year.
=A0
Happy Birding
Ed Lewandowski
Auburn Hills
ocbirdguy.blogspot.com
--- On Thu, 12/10/09, Jim VanAllen <jeva(AT)live.com> wrote:
From: Jim VanAllen <jeva(AT)live.com>
Subject: [birders] RE: ebird
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 8:12 PM
Birders,
James is right, ebird is loaded with fantastic features and it would be gre=
at to see the Michigan numbers start to compete.
It would be awesome if everyone on this list started recording their Birdin=
g data on ebird. Not only is it fun to see your personal and state stats bu=
ild up, but I've found this to be a very valuable tool in planning an outin=
g. =A0The bar charts are great. You can pull up bar charts for the whole st=
ate or any county, then scroll down and see what species are expected that =
particular time of the year (the annual bar chart is divided into four bars=
per month) giving resolution down to the week). Then you can right click o=
n any species to open the map view in a separate window. The map shows a bu=
llet point for every location that bird has been sighted. The Yellow points=
are in the past 30 days.=A0
Aside from chasing a bird posted on this list, it is the most reliable way =
I've found to improve the odds of finding targeted species.
The more data that gets put in there the more valuable it becomes!
Give it a try.
Jim VanAllen
Tuscola County=A0
From: 93fox(AT)earthlink.net
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] ebird
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:54:57 -0500
For some reason, Michigan just isn't that well represented on =A0ebird. =A0=
I have attached lists of the top counties based on checklists submitted for=
both Michigan and Wisconsin below. =A0Note the huge difference in numbers =
between the states. =A0I don't really see any reason why Michigan's and Wis=
consin's checklist totals shouldn't be about the same. =A0Once a state has =
a lot of users like Wisconsin it can have it's own regional portal and flic=
kr group. =A0In southeastern Michigan Macomb has the least coverage, the mo=
st checklists any one person has submitted there for this year is 14. =A0Th=
e next least covered counties are Livingston and Washtenaw. =A0Oakland Coun=
ty is pretty well covered, eight people have submitted over 50 checklists t=
his year. =A0Another cool feature that ebird has is a map showing all repor=
ts of rare birds in the US on ebird. =A0You can access it near the bottom o=
f the ebird home page.
James Fox
Michigan
772 Tuscola
890 St. Clair
901 Macomb
937 Cheboygan
940 Livingston
1053 Ottawa
1054 Allegan
1374 Washtenaw
1392 Isabella
1401 Chippewa
1420 Monroe
1718 Muskegon
1829 Berrien
1953 Saginaw
2469 Kent
3072 Wayne
6531 Oakland
7533 Bay
Wisconson
1819 Bayfield
2013 Marinette
2099 Walworth
2195 Winnebago
2227 Iowa
2513 Vernon
2664 Dodge
2908 Columbia
3019 Sauk
3288 Rock
3297 Racine
3374 Waukesha
3794 Douglas
3988 La Crosse
4055 Brown
5239 Ozaukee
6371 Florence
17555 Milwaukee
19959 Dane---
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Subject: [birders] n. mich bohemian waxwing
From: "Heron Wren" <heronwren(AT)umich.edu>
Date: 13 Dec 2009 5:56pm
I saw a flock of about 40+ bohemian waxings on Saturday in Harbor Springs
(along 119 near the golf course north of town.) I go up north a lot, but
have never seen them there, so I was wondering if there is an BW irruption
this winter or was I just in the right place at the right time?
---
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