FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] Re: Great Backyard Birdcount

[Keith Kimmerle <progne@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

David,
Several (if not all) of the street-map programs have the ability to display 
(overlay) zip-code regions on top of their on-screen moving-map displays - 
displaying zip-code boundaries like any other political boundary.  When 
used in connection with a GPS receiver-laptop link, the user can reliably 
track their position (and zip-code) anywhere in the U.S.  I use such a 
setup to record banding locations and  return/recovery locations, with the 
added benefit that the GPS unit I use will immediately provide range and 
bearing between the two (2) locations.  Depending on the quality of the GPS 
receiver, you can have a working setup that will provide 15-150 foot (5-50 
meter) accuracy for less than $175.

I've never liked how Cornell uses zip-codes to quantify location; zip-code 
areas are extremely irregular in shape and size, making it difficult to 
accurately quantify spacial distribution over large areas.  Lat/Long 
coordinates are a much more accurate methodology for quantifying spacial 
distributions.  Lat/Long blocks create a relatively uniform grid in which 
spacial distributions can be statistically analyzed due to their relatively 
uniform size and north-south/east-west orientation, even over relatively 
long distances.  There are a number of other grid systems used, each having 
their own strengths and weaknesses, with UTM being the most common.

If you (or anyone else) is interested, I have a few older versions of 
DeLorme Street Atlas USA (which the DeLorme Gazetteers are produced from) 
that I would let-go for cheap, as well as cable-ends from which a 
GPS/laptop data cable came be made for some of the Garmin GPS receivers 
(12xl and similar units).

Keith Kimmerle

At 11:57 AM 2/4/02 -0500, you wrote:
 >
 > Bryan,
 > Here's a question I hope you or someone else can answer. I wrote to those
 > responsible for the GBBC but never received a reply.
 >
 > How does one enter data if counting birds in a place that does not have 
a Zip
 > Code??? I tried to enter data last year for the Great Smoky Mountains, and
 > another time for the Cherohala Skyway, but could not...as there is no 
mailing
 > address to the places where I was counting. I assume I could use a Zip Code
 > for a place nearby, but have not found out if this is correct or not.
 >
 > Thanks,
 > David Trently,
 > Knoxville, TN
 > dtrently@xxxxxxx 

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