[wisb] Re: Too Many Christmas Bird Count Circles?
- From: Mike Ramsden <mcramsden@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <harrierhawk1@xxxxxxxxx>, wisbirdn wisbirdn <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:26:25 -0600
Andrea and all,
You bring up an interesting question. To answer it would probably require some
objective for what is supposed to be the purpose of the CBC surveys. Are they
mainly used in a scientific fashion to better monitor trends in bird
populations? Do they lead more people to become environmentalists? Are there
social benefits? etc.
If we are after scientific trends, I would argue that consistancy year to year
is probably better than having more thorough coverage. Even diluted,
half-hearted coverage will be of some value if it is done the same way each
year. And I would go as far as to say that even if one was able to count 99%
of all the birds in each circle, the coverage would still be diluted and spotty
given such a small sample area of the state. And there are still all the
variables you can't control like the weather that make things even more diluted.
Don't get me wrong; I applaud the efforts of compilers like yourself whom are
striving to be as thorough as possible. I agree with you that the more field
parties per circle, the better, and we should be looking at ways to increase
the participation. I guess it is just the cynic in me that thinks it is
impossible to do a disservice to the results by having fewer circles.
Mike Ramsden
Beloit, WI
> Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:46:36 -0600
> Subject: [wisb] Too Many Christmas Bird Count Circles?
> From: harrierhawk1@xxxxxxxxx
> To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> All,
> With the holiday's falling squarely on two key weekends this year, the
> problem of coverage is particularly acute! I am well aware that the
> proverbial "can" is being opened by raising this topic, but let me offer my
> Milwaukee circle as an example:
> In the most populated area of the state I have the benefit of coverage far
> better than many areas. Here's how it roughly breaks down: I will
> probably have 15-17 field parties to cover 24 sections within the circle
> (some "popular" locations within a particular section sometimes have their
> own parties, like Lake Park, so certain sections receive multiple coverage
> because of this). Of those 24 sections, 5-6 of my field parties will have
> to cover at least 2 sections. In several cases, only one field observer is
> available to cover 2 sections by themselves! In addition, several other
> parties are currently dividing their time between the Milwaukee and a
> neighboring count.
> Please do not misunderstand, I do not outline the Milwaukee count to
> "complain", but merely to illustrate that even in an area with many
> participants to draw on, there are challenges to ensuring complete coverage
> of the circle. Perhaps, in regions of the state with a multitude of
> counts, certain counts ought to be "decommissioned". This would also be
> appropriate for other counts that have ongoing substandard levels of
> participation. My thoughts are that diluted, half-hearted coverage does a
> disservice to the purpose of these winter survey's. Personally, I would
> prefer a smaller number of counts with more thorough coverage.
> Andrea Szymczak
> Milwaukee CBC participant & compiler, Palmyra count participant
> Waukesha, WI
>
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