[wisb] Re: RFI: WSO records question

Chris et al., here are some quick answers:

1. Yes, all submitted records are archived such that more exact locations could 
be re-constructed. We (the Records Committee) have this down as a long-term 
project to tackle with the goal of getting all the data into eBird (as other 
states have done). Habitat info could be gleaned from the reports but I'm not 
sure it would be specific enough to be valuable.

2. By "field report" I think you mean Rare Bird Form, and those are published 
in the Passenger Pigeon (not the Badger Birder). The WSO Records Committee has 
designed a template for a new website devoted solely to WSO Records and will be 
working on content development in the upcoming year. Certain things will happen 
fast, others will take some time but one of the ultimate goals, among many 
others, will be to have a searchable database of all rare bird reports. This 
will include specific information on each record, including photos, the 
original submitted text, dates, locations, etc.  We'll also have summaries of 
records by species and photo galleries accompanying each.  See Michigan's RC 
page for a good example of where we're headed here in WI, albeit it'll take a 
few years: http://www.michiganaudubon.org/research/recordscommittee/

Stay tuned,

Ryan Brady - WSO Records Chair
Washburn, WI



> From: little_blue_birdie@xxxxxxx
> To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [wisb] RFI: WSO records question
> Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:30:19 -0500
> 
> Hey everyone, 
> Hopefully someone can answer this for me: 
> First, I was looking over the rare bird records that are posted on the WSO 
> website and I was thinking how nice it would be if location (like exact 
> location, not just county) would be included with the record. Does anyone 
> know if the WSO actually keeps any of the records that have been submitted 
> (rather than just archiving and then tossing the actual paper)? and if it 
> would be possible to reconstruct exactly where each and every one of the rare 
> bird records on the website was found? 
> If this is possible, I would love to create a WI map of rare birds (using 
> Google Maps), including every rare bird the WSO has records of and plot 
> exactly where it was. My goal would be to look for patterns of occurrence, 
> not only within species, but also rarities in general. Also, if there are any 
> records of the habitat the birds were found in, I'd love to have that info as 
> well as I'm also looking for patterns of rarity occurrence in specific 
> habitats. 
> 
> My other question, is: Does the WSO keep on hand the actual field reports? I 
> know they are published in the Badger Birder, but it would be nice if these 
> could be transferred to an online searchable archive. It could be by species, 
> or by location, but have the entire record report from the field observer 
> available online along with any photos. I think this could be another 
> valuable resource, if only to serve as an example on how to write a good rare 
> bird report. 
> 
> 
> --Chris
> 
> Happy Birding! --Chris W, Richland County Interpretive Naturalist Mississippi 
> Explorer Cruises
> http://mississippiexplorer.com/chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://swallowtailedkite.blogspot.com/ 
> http://www.nabirding.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/swallowtailphoto
> 
> "The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, though its first 
> material expression be destroyed; a vanished harmony may yet again inspire 
> the composer; but when the last individual of a race of living things 
> breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a 
> one can be again."
> 
> (From William Beebe's "The Bird: Its Form and Function," 1906) 
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