[TN-Bird] Use of alpha codes on TN-Birds Net
- From: "Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "TN-birds" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:33:41 -0500
All TN-Birds subscribers:
The use of alpha codes on this list is discouraged. There is nothing
hip about alpha codes. This is only a snob approach to birding. If
you want to be hip on TN-Birds, be inclusive of all birders -- hip or
not hip. Alpha codes have been around for about 40 years and
are not a recent discovery among experienced birders.
The alpha codes are for reporting records to the Bird Banding
Laboratory on banding schedules. "They are not required or
recommended for any other purpose," according to the
Bird Banding Lab.
I realize that there was an apology and that is appreciated.
Even the use of alpha codes such as GCB= gray catbird and
WTS= white-throated sparrow are incorrect alpha codes. Such
codes have a strict and structured style. You must understand
how to build alpha codes with the system, unless you
resort to the use of a chart. Even then, you must use the correct
chart for which your alpha codes apply. Charts do not all use
the same style.
Subscribers making up whatever bird abbreviations they wish to
communicate with hundreds of birders is not a workable approach.
The web link to the South Bay Birders Unlimited which states:
"Real Birders Use Four-Letter Words" is utter nonsense
and a snob approach to birding which this list discourages. They
should be ashamed to spread such foolishness.
Four-letter alpha codes are designed for a computer database
where the data field allows only four spaces to enter the bird
identification codes.
It is presumptuous to think that this is a spoken language or
writing style. Birders who like to be cute often call a Mourning
Dove a "MODO" but even that term has become old and
boring because it has lost its novelty. If such slang is needed
to shorten a long name, then what about a species such as
Northern Rough-winged Swallow ?
Please respect the style and user-friendliness of TN-Birds Net
and help keep this list as user friendly to all birders as possible.
Wallace Coffey
Tennessee Ornithological Society
Moderator, TN-Birds Net
Bristol, TN
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You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds
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Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Assistant Moderator Andy Jones
Cleveland, OH
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Assistant Moderator Dave Worley
Rosedale, VA
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