[wisb] Re: Too Many Christmas Bird Count Circles?
- From: Owen Boyle <odboyle@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:14:28 -0600
Andrea clearly posted in a good faith effort to generate discussion. I
won't presume to speak for the list, but discussion seems to me more
appropriate here than ranting. Please keep the discussion civil folks.
Thanks,
Owen Boyle
Milwaukee
On 11/29/2011 3:22 PM, Chris West wrote:
> Andrea,
> I'm sorry, but what you are talking about makes no sense whatsoever. If you
> were to "decommision" so to speak any counts that were "substandard" (which
> appears to be any count with less than 10 field parties) you would have to
> discontinue almost all of the CBCs in the state. Even the small CBCs
> contribute valuable data over many years time if the same sections are
> covered each year.
> I don't know what you're talking about when you're complaining about not
> being able to cover your count circle adequately. You said you have 15-17
> field parties covering your CBC. I compile two CBCs and I wouldn't know what
> to do with that many people!! The sections would be so small that your
> entire circle could be counted before noon!
> I have a better idea. Instead of complaining about missing 3 Juncos just
> because you didn't have another person to count that 12 X 12 ft patch, why
> don't you send half of your counters over to this side of the state and help
> fill out those count circles that are "substandard" and make them more
> "standardized"!
>
> I think you'll find that only the Milwaukee counts, Madison, Appleton, Green
> Bay and maybe La Crosse or Wausau will have more than 6 field parties. For
> most of the counts in the state, you'll find that we're all begging for help,
> time and time again with no answer. I know that's the case over here.
>
> I currently have 3 field parties (including myself) to cover the Retreat CBC
> (which btw totaled over 100 species last year between 5 people, rivaling
> Madison) and it's one of the better CBCs in this area!
>
> As for the Columbus CBC, I have only 3 people to cover that too. If I don't
> get more, I might not run it this year! So quit complaining about not having
> enough. You'll tick off a lot more people besides me.
>
> I think the solution for you guys is to quit piling all your counts all on
> the same day! Just look at it: Madison, Milwaukee, Appleton, Green Bay,
> Wausau, La Crosse, Stevens Point, etc. They all take place on the same day!
> If you want more people for your count circle, spread them out! There are
> three whole weeks in the count period! Surely that's enough days to schedule
> a couple counts in each part of the state per day (i.e. 3-8 counts per day
> somewhere in the state).
> Then there'd be plenty of birders for each count and nobody would ever go
> with "substandard" numbers of observers ever again!
>
> End rant. --Chris W, Richland County CBC compiler for Retreat and Columbus
> CBCsPast and present participant on Retreat, Platteville, Richland Center,
> Bridgeport, Kickapoo, Sauk City CBCs.
>
> P.S. For everyone else: Let me know if you'd like to help "standardize"
> either of my CBCs and help out. It would be much appreciated.
>
>
>> 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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>
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