[Birding-Aus] Re: Local extinction!
Martin....@dse.vic.gov.au
It is very important that all birdos/naturalists forward ALL their
sightings to the state atlas or other plant/animal database. Without this
knowledge we cannot collectively and effectively manage our natural
heritage. There's alot of 'little bird books' out there with lots of data
I suspect and most of it will end up being lost ...
In Victoria the primary vertebrate & invertebrate fauna database is the
Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW). My colleagues in the AVW section can
provide AVW Field Data Books (free) to anyone interested (Australia post
address required) in making their observations available to help manage
our Victorian fauna.
Those interested can contact me directly.
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Wildlife Biologist - Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500),
East Melbourne 3002
VICTORIA
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notice:
This email and any attachments may contain information that is personal,
confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright.No part of it should be reproduced,
adapted or communicated without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
It is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and remove viruses.
If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by return email, delete
it from your system and destroy any copies. You are not authorised to use, communicate or rely on the information
contained in this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
===============================
Peter Shute
their sightings to "the state database". Do you mean the Victorian
database, or are there databases for every state?
How many such databases are there, and who owns them? Assuming that
people who do submit data generally choose one database and submit their
sightings only to that, does this mean that there is also a wealth of
data spread across several disconnected databases? Does anyone ever
gather the data into one database? Does anyone submit their data to
more than one?
Peter Shute
birding-a...@vicnet.net.au wrote on Wednesday, 7 May 2008 2:15
PM:
> Good to see Jen Spry, encouraging people to atlas their data.
>
> It is very important that all birdos/naturalists forward ALL their
> sightings to the state atlas or other plant/animal database.
> Without this
> knowledge we cannot collectively and effectively manage our natural
> heritage. There's alot of 'little bird books' out there with
> lots of data
> I suspect and most of it will end up being lost ...
>
> In Victoria the primary vertebrate & invertebrate fauna
> database is the
> Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (AVW). My colleagues in the AVW
> section can
> provide AVW Field Data Books (free) to anyone interested (Australia
> post address required) in making their observations available to
> help manage
> our Victorian fauna.
>
> Those interested can contact me directly.
>
> cheers, Martin
Martin....@dse.vic.gov.au
This is my understanding of the various fauna databases available to
naturalists to submit their data. As far as I'm aware only certain
eastern Australian states have any form of fauna atlas. Victoria has had
its atlas (Atlas of Victorian Wildlife) for about 30 years now.
As you can see there are a number of bird related databases but only a few
of these record all details associated with sightings of fauna and have
associated mapping systems and analysis tools so wildlife can be managed
by the relevant land manager agency.
As a Victorian I send most of my observations to the Atlas of Victorian
Wildlife (AVW), but while travelling anywhere interstate I send data to
the Birds Australia Atlas. In addition there are sometimes specific
projects that use BA atlas forms (eg. the Victorian Lurg Woodland Bird
Survey) that I sue for those projects. My atlas for most sightings is the
AVW as one almost always sees other fauna when out birding (mammals,
frogs, reptiles, crays etc). I recommend the AVW for those who do most of
their birding in Victoria (especially if you record other fauna as well)
but understand some people are happy with using the Birds Australia
BirdData method of lodging their sightings directly.
Link: Birds Australia BirdData -
http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/atlas-birdata.html
It's worth being aware that Birds Australia has a data exchange agreement
with the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife which means that each database swaps
its avifauna information with the other. So reporting to the AVW means
your sightings eventually get into the BA database.
I've generated the following information showing the current state
government fauna databases and, where these do not exist, the relevant
birding group sightings web pages.
a. Australia
Birds Australia Atlas - Australia wide coverage, birds only
Link: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/resources/databases.html
b. Queensland
Environment Protection Agency (Qld) - Coastal Bird Atlas, Queensland
coastal birds only
Link:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/MappingFandD/ContributeData/CoastalBirdAtlas.html
c. New South Wales
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Department - NSW only, all fauna
Link:
http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp
d. Victoria
Department of Sustainability & Environment - Victoria only, all fauna
Link: [in preparation] (email: biodiver...@dse.vic.gov.au)
Note: currently available on CD-ROM and known as Victorian Fauna Display
(see: http://www.viridans.com/FISVFD/VFD1.HTM)
e. ACT
Canberra Ornithologists Group - ACT only, birds only
Link: http://canberrabirds.org.au/Index.htm
f. Tasmania (books only)
University of Tasmania, Fauna of Tasmania - various animal groups
Link: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/FOT2/BookletFOT.htm
g. South Australia
Birds South Australia, SA only, birds only
Link: http://www.birdssa.asn.au/
h. Western Australia
Birds Australia WA - WA only, birds only
Link: http://www.birdswa.com.au/sightings.htm
i. Northern Territory
Birds Australia Atlas 2 - NT, birds only
Link: http://birds.rhyme.com.au/
Hope this helps ... and of course interested to hear what I may have
missed !
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Wildlife Biologist - Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St.,
East Melbourne 3002
VICTORIA
Notice:
This email and any attachments may contain information that is personal,
confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright.No part of it should be reproduced,
adapted or communicated without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.
It is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and remove viruses.
If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by return email, delete
it from your system and destroy any copies. You are not authorised to use, communicate or rely on the information
contained in this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
===============================
Paul Dodd
Is it possible to submit atlas data electronically? I use Eremaea for
recording sightings and as we know from previous discussions on birding-aus,
there are other systems in use also. I know that data can be exported from
Eremaea in a format that could be sent to someone else - I presume the other
systems have similar functionality.
BTW - I've changed the subject so that others can ignore the message if it
doesn't interest them.
Thanks,
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Melbourne
Hi Peter, good questions!
cheers, Martin
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1418 - Release Date: 6/05/2008
5:17 PM
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1418 - Release Date: 6/05/2008
5:17 PM
Carl Clifford
You certainly can submit data to the BA atlas. Just go to http://www.birdata.com.au/homecontent.do
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Dave Torr
sightings in a "home made" database which covers the world. I would be more
than happy to export them to Eremaea or Birdata in a file, but I am not
prepared to sit down and re-enter them all by hand to either program. If you
wish to record a world list then of course Birdata is not suitable as it
only covers Aus - Eremaea is fine but really needs some form of bulk input
method I think - was that what you wanted Paul?
> unsubscribe(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
Peter....@callista.com.au
Australia reporting website. (the new national one, rather than the state
one)
Everyone that watched the Land of Parrots program would have thought
"gee..i'd love to see that many budgies flying around". And if such a
breeding event was recorded, i'd imagine quiet a few people would like to
travel to see it. Some people might prefer to go and see something like
this, rather than twitch a ship-assisted house crow. ; )
So if people observe any mass flockings of birds, whether as a case of
environmental changes (floods attracting waterbirds), potential
migrational movements, mass breeding events or gatherings for partner
selection etc, then they could be reported to Birdline Australia, even
if the species is a common one. Even just general large-scale
environmental changes could be recorded too, such as bushfires, floods and
droughts. This might turn into a valuable research tool. For example, if
budgies turn up towards the edge of their range in Southern Victoria, and
6 months beforehand an innundation occurred in the Northern Territory
resulting in a breeding explosion, then we might be able to peice together
a legitamate reason why budgies are now turning up in Southern Victoria.
etc.
I'm not sure if this type of reporting occurs much, but i think most
people usually just report threatened or out of range species.
Paul Dodd
I will look at Birdata when I get home from the office.
What I really meant in my questions to Martin was is it possible to send
BULK data to the atlas – rather than having to retype it. The main issues
with this are that site identifiers (site names, sizes and locations) vary
from system to system and species identifiers (common names and scientific
names) vary depending on which revision of which checklist are in use. There
was some discussion about a year ago of the relative cell sizes used by
Eremaea and Birdata and how they differed, for example. I also note that
Eremaea seems to use the latest Christidis+Boles nomenclature, but they
don’t seem to have included the species splits and lumps currently.
From: Carl Clifford [mailto:carlsc...@mac.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 7 May 2008 5:08 PM
To: Paul Dodd
Cc: Martin.O'Br...@dse.vic.gov.au; 'Peter Shute'; birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Fauna/Birding atlas data exchange
Hi Paul,
You certainly can submit data to the BA atlas. Just go to HYPERLINK
"http://www.birdata.com.au/homecontent.do"http://www.birdata.com.au/homecont
John Tongue
Just a couple of points:
Birds-Tas also collect and collates bird sightings data, and produces
an annual "Tasmanian Bird Report" of these. DAta can be sent to the
Secretary of Birds-Tas at
Also, on the BA Birdata site, over what period of sightings are shown
on their maps? Following my question earlier today about Red-
whiskered Bulbuls in Melbourne, the concensus of relies seemed to be
that there have been no Bulbuls in Melbourne for some years, and yet
the Birdata map still shows dots. I couldn't find any reference on
the site as to how old the sightings might be.
Thanks,
John Tongue,
Ulverstone, Tas.
Paul Dodd
one survey at a time, which is a bit of a problem for anyone that has been
birding for even a short while. I would hope that there would be some way to
send bulk data to the atlas in a common file format.
Paul
From: Dave Torr [mailto:davi...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, 7 May 2008 5:16 PM
To: Carl Clifford
Cc: Paul Dodd; birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Fauna/Birding atlas data exchange
I don't think that does what I (and I assume Paul) want - I record all my
sightings in a "home made" database which covers the world. I would be more
than happy to export them to Eremaea or Birdata in a file, but I am not
prepared to sit down and re-enter them all by hand to either program. If you
wish to record a world list then of course Birdata is not suitable as it
only covers Aus - Eremaea is fine but really needs some form of bulk input
method I think - was that what you wanted Paul?
On 07/05/2008, Carl Clifford <HYPERLINK
"mailto:carlsc...@mac.com"carlsc...@mac.com> wrote:
Hi Paul,
You certainly can submit data to the BA atlas. Just go to HYPERLINK
"http://www.birdata.com.au/homecontent.do"
\nhttp://www.birdata.com.au/homecontent.do
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Hi Martin,
Thanks,
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Melbourne
Hi Peter, good questions!
HYPERLINK "http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/atlas-birdata.html"
\nhttp://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/atlas-birdata.html
It's worth being aware that Birds Australia has a data exchange agreement
with the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife which means that each database swaps
its avifauna information with the other. So reporting to the AVW means
your sightings eventually get into the BA database.
I've generated the following information showing the current state
government fauna databases and, where these do not exist, the relevant
birding group sightings web pages.
a. Australia
Birds Australia Atlas - Australia wide coverage, birds only
Link: HYPERLINK "http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/resources/databases.html"
\nhttp://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/resources/databases.html
b. Queensland
Environment Protection Agency (Qld) - Coastal Bird Atlas, Queensland
coastal birds only
Link:
HYPERLINK
"http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/MappingFandD/ContributeData/Coas
t"
\nhttp://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/MappingFandD/ContributeData/Coa
st
alBirdAtlas.html
c. New South Wales
NSW National Parks & Wildlife Department - NSW only, all fauna
Link:
HYPERLINK
"http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp"
\nhttp://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp
d. Victoria
Department of Sustainability & Environment - Victoria only, all fauna
Link: [in preparation] (email: HYPERLINK "http://biodiversity.info"
\nbiodiversity.info@HYPERLINK "http://dse.vic.gov.au" \ndse.vic.gov.au)
Note: currently available on CD-ROM and known as Victorian Fauna Display
(see: HYPERLINK "http://www.viridans.com/FISVFD/VFD1.HTM"
\nhttp://www.viridans.com/FISVFD/VFD1.HTM)
e. ACT
Canberra Ornithologists Group - ACT only, birds only
Link: HYPERLINK "http://canberrabirds.org.au/Index.htm"
\nhttp://canberrabirds.org.au/Index.htm
f. Tasmania (books only)
University of Tasmania, Fauna of Tasmania - various animal groups
Link: HYPERLINK "http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/FOT2/BookletFOT.htm"
\nhttp://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/FOT2/BookletFOT.htm
g. South Australia
Birds South Australia, SA only, birds only
Link: HYPERLINK "http://www.birdssa.asn.au/" \nhttp://www.birdssa.asn.au/
h. Western Australia
Birds Australia WA - WA only, birds only
Link: HYPERLINK "http://www.birdswa.com.au/sightings.htm"
\nhttp://www.birdswa.com.au/sightings.htm
i. Northern Territory
Birds Australia Atlas 2 - NT, birds only
Link: HYPERLINK "http://birds.rhyme.com.au/" \nhttp://birds.rhyme.com.au/
Hope this helps ... and of course interested to hear what I may have
missed !
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Wildlife Biologist - Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St.,
East Melbourne 3002
VICTORIA
Notice:
This email and any attachments may contain information that is personal,
confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright.No part of it should be
reproduced,
adapted or communicated without the prior written consent of the copyright
owner.
It is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and remove viruses.
If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by return
email, delete
it from your system and destroy any copies. You are not authorised to use,
communicate or rely on the information
contained in this email.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
===============================
HYPERLINK "http://www.birding-aus.org" \nwww.birding-aus.org
HYPERLINK "http://birding-aus.blogspot.com" \nbirding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: HYPERLINK "mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au"
\nbirding-a...@vicnet.net.au
===============================
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1418 - Release Date: 6/05/2008
5:17 PM
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1418 - Release Date: 6/05/2008
5:17 PM
===============================
HYPERLINK "http://www.birding-aus.org" \nwww.birding-aus.org
HYPERLINK "http://birding-aus.blogspot.com" \nbirding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: HYPERLINK "mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au"
\nbirding-a...@vicnet.net.au
===============================
===============================
HYPERLINK "http://www.birding-aus.org" \nwww.birding-aus.org
HYPERLINK "http://birding-aus.blogspot.com" \nbirding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,send the message:
unsubscribe(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: HYPERLINK "mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au"
\nbirding-a...@vicnet.net.au
Chris Sanderson
I can't speak for the Victorian Atlas, however it is definitely possible to
send bulk data to the Birds Australia Atlas. Andrew Silcocks manages the
database, and would prefer the data in excel spreadsheet form but can deal
with access databases. He's away at the moment but I'm sure would be keen
to talk to you about this if you want to explore the issue further.
Regards,
Chris
2008/5/7 Paul Dodd <pa...@angrybluecat.com>:
> "mailto:Martin.O'Br...@dse.vic.gov.au <Martin.O%27B...@dse.vic.gov.au>"
> Martin.O'Br...@dse.vic.gov.au <Martin.O%27B...@dse.vic.gov.au>
> alBirdAtlas.html<http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/MappingFandD/ContributeData/CoastalBirdAtlas.html>
Carl Clifford
It is possible to export data from one database as a CSV (comma
separated variable) file and then import into another database....but.
If all fields in the two databases are not labeled exactly the same,
there will be headaches. I am in the process of importing my sightings
from 2 different databases (on 2 different OS) into another database
on a different OS. It has been very much a learning experience. I
definitely learned not to do it again :)
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
Paul Dodd
events to Birdline (Victoria). I notice that they accepted my report of the
migrating honeyeaters at Point Addis, which means that other people get the
opportunity to see for themselves. I suppose the only caution on this is
that there are people at the other end of all the reports that have to
filter the ones that warrant publishing from those that don't (for whatever
reason) - the last thing anyone would wish is to swamp them.
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Melbourne
-----Original Message-----
From: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
[mailto:birding-a...@vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1418 - Release Date: 6/05/2008
5:17 PM
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.9/1418 - Release Date: 6/05/2008
5:17 PM
Martin....@dse.vic.gov.au
BA atlas) can accept any amount of data in a number of electronic formats
(Excel spreadsheets, dbf files, comma delimited etc). My colleagues in
the AVW section here in East Melbourne have a standard set of files and
supporting information that can be sent to any interested observer via
email. The information is all in a ZIP file and can be accessed by
emailing a request to their address (biodiver...@dse.vic.gov.au)
The AVW also of course has paper recording sheets for submitting data and
it is this system I most often use, as I submit data as it's generated
after each trip. One of the benefits of using the AVW is that data
submitted is checked and reviewed and copies of observers information are
then sent back after it has been key-punched into the database. This
means you have neat copies of your data in a standard format for filing or
passing on. You can also access any of this data at a later stage by
request to the AVW staff.
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Wildlife Biologist - Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St. (PO Box 500),
East Melbourne 3002
VICTORIA
~~~~~~~~~
Hi Martin,
Is it possible to submit atlas data electronically? I use Eremaea for
recording sightings and as we know from previous discussions on
birding-aus,
there are other systems in use also. I know that data can be exported from
Eremaea in a format that could be sent to someone else - I presume the
other
systems have similar functionality.
<< snipped >>
Tim Dolby
Thanks Peter. I like you idea about reporting mass flocking, large scale migrational movement, mass breeding events on Birdline Australia. Interestingly (for this very reason) I have just put up a record of large numbers of Flock Pigeon in Bowra, Queensland.
A good example of the sort of thing you are talking about was the large number of Oriental Pratincole at Eight Mile Beach (FN Western Australia) in February 2004. For example on a bird count, conducted by Frank O'Connor and Clive Minton, they calculated that there were 2.88 million birds! The previous estimate for the entire East Asian-Australasian flyway was just 75,000 birds.
Also I would suggest the congregation of Banded Plover, Australian Pratincole and Inland Dotterel near Terrick Terrick NP (Victoria) in November 2007 would qualify for national reporting.
Thanks,
Tim Dolby
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter....@callista.com.au [mailto:Peter....@callista.com.au]
Sent: Wed 5/7/2008 5:18 PM
To: birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Cc: Tim Dolby
Tim Dolby
The last Red-whiskered Bulbul that I've seen at Wilson Reserve in Ivanhoe (Vic) was January 9 2006. I saw a single bird and another was heard calling. This bird can be notoriously difficult to see, so let's not declare them locally extinct in Victoria just yet.
In terms of local extinctions, I'm still hoping a Night Parrot will once again turn up in Victoria. The last Vic record was in the Wonga Lakes area (Wyperfeld NP) in 1911.
FYI John, info on the other birds you asked about earlier:
Eurasian Tree Sparrow are common (a proverbial "dead cert") at Ceres in Brunswick, particularly near the canteen. (See http://www.ceres.org.au/). Sit down, have a coffee, and they will come. They are also common at Melbourne Zoo, once again, near the main canteen.
One of the best places to see Song Thrush in Melbourne is Royal Botanic Gardens, however I see them almost daily at Johnson Park, a small park in Northcote, Melbourne. They often call from the top of television antenna, particularly the houses on the south side of the park. If you dared to use call back, they will almost certainly come in. (For a sound recording of Song Thrush see http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/birdsong.shtml.) Song Thrush are also regularly seen at Melbourne Zoo. Look in the areas of undergrowth, i.e. places you'd expect to see Blackbirds.
Cheers,
Tim Dolby
-----Original Message-----
From: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au on behalf of John Tongue
Sent: Wed 5/7/2008 5:27 PM
To: Martin.O'Br...@dse.vic.gov.au
Cc: birdi...@vicnet.net.au
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Re: Local extinction!
Hi All,
Just a couple of points:
Birds-Tas also collect and collates bird sightings data, and produces
an annual "Tasmanian Bird Report" of these. DAta can be sent to the
Secretary of Birds-Tas at
Also, on the BA Birdata site, over what period of sightings are shown
on their maps? Following my question earlier today about Red-
whiskered Bulbuls in Melbourne, the concensus of relies seemed to be
that there have been no Bulbuls in Melbourne for some years, and yet
the Birdata map still shows dots. I couldn't find any reference on
the site as to how old the sightings might be.
Thanks,
John Tongue,
Ulverstone, Tas.
Lawrie Conole
There's an indigenous bird database application called BirdInfo (web page
currently down, but Google it and you'll find the URL) which allows you to
export data in a form ready-made for the Birds Australia atlas, and in a
form that at least the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (amongst the state
atlasses) is able to deal with.
It's not the prettiest of applications (what Windows app is!?), and it comes
with a mildly steep learning curve, but it's fantastic for those like me who
like to output data in various forms to play with - and it'll keep your
twitching totals updated for you at the same time.
The advertorial ends here ... (Simon Bennett doesn't have any shareholders
as far as I know, so I have no $$ stake in BirdInfo - just a happy user).
L.
--
++++++++++++
Lawrie Conole
28 Reid Street
Northcote, VIC 3070
AUSTRALIA
lconole[at]gmail.com
0419 588 993
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
===============================
Alastair Smith
Birdinfo has been recently updated with the Christidis and Boles 2008
taxonomy and has been reduced to $50 (down from $99).
Peter Shute
Also, Paul Dodd mentioned that Eremaea can only import one survey at a
time. That might be right - I haven't tried it - but a quick look
indicates that perhaps you can only import a single *site* at a time.
I'm guessing that if the data includes dates then you could import
multiple surveys for a single site.
Peter Shute
Alastair Smith
That would be something that you would need to take up with the Eremaea
programmers. I directly export my data (in excel format) to both Birds
Australian and the Canberra Ornithologists Group.
Cheers
Alastair
Peter Shute
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au
===============================
Peter Ewin
I should have been away but have been at a workshop discussing climate changes and its potential impacts on biodiversity - scary stuff.
I have been tempted to respond in the past to the various discussions of birding databases and the various Atlas databases but have usually just remained an interested spectator. However, the discussion below by Martin raises some interesting points and so I thought I should contribute this time.
The main advantage I believe of contributing records to a state government database is that is the where decisions on conservation issues are usually being made.
As Martin says, NSW has the Atlas of NSW Wildlife (based pretty well on the Victorian model) and this has been going for nearly 20 years. This is the database I contribute my records to (mainly because I have been involved in the development and distribution of the database in the past). However, since I now live in Victoria (but work in NSW) I have got a Victorian Atlas book for the odd interesting record I make in Vic (yes Martin I will send them in eventually). I usually only contribute records of threatened species to the database, but I will also usually record a list of species seen in the same vicinity (including ferals) to get an idea of the common species (I am certain I have commented previously that unless you record common things you never have an idea of what is declining or incresing). Exceptions to this are if I am visiting a new reserve (or having an extended stay in a previously visited one) or doing sytematic survey as part of my work (then everything gets recorded). We try to get most surveys that DECC does incorporated this way, but it doesn't always work out that way (everyone thinks that their own database is the best for their owjn project). It also includes lots of published records, records from consultants (who should be supplying the data as part of their Scientific Licence) and from the public. It also has 'licensed' from other bodies (Australian Museum, CSIRO) though these are only made available to staff using the database (the web-based application does not include these records). There have been licences in the past with SA (to be updated soon) and I think some discussion has been had with Victoria so we have records in these states for areas adjoining NSW, and we have an agreement in the past with Birds Australia (though this has not been updated and is a major limitation in the dataset we have).
Going back to my original point, however, is that the Atlas is being used to drive decisions by DECC (and others) for biodiversity in NSW. Examples include:
It is the main dataset used by consultants during the development process. There is no legal requirement for them to consult any records, but the Atlas is the minimum that we would require. Many consult other places (Museum, BA, etc.) but this list is ever-grwoing and there is only so much time and money that consultants have to spend on searches.
For processes such as the determing the distribution of threatened species for native vegetation management (and biobanking) it is the main dataset (along with some specialists knowledge) utilised (including predicting areas of potential habitat).
Other decisions on targeted threatened species management (such as areas for fox control, reserve design, forestry harvesting) are also based on Atlas records.
The Atlas of NSW Wildlife is a crucial dataset that would mean that DECC would not be able to do many of its required functions if the dataset was not available. I understand that many of the other databases serve a function (personal lists, twitching locations, etc.) but I would encourage people in NSW (and Victoria) to contribute their records to the state database. The site listed below should have a link to a spreadsheet that allows submission of records electronically (the preferred format) but excel or database format data can be accepted as long as it has the essential information (what, where, when and who as a minimum). I know many people contribute to the BA Atlas and I hope our head office people are close to resolving the issue of data exchange so that double handling is not required, but if you submit data electronically (or have digital records for NSW) send the Wildlife Data Unit an e-mail and hopefully they can get your data into the Atlas.
Cheers,
Peter> To: psh...@nuw.org.au> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Re: Local extinction!> From: Martin.O'Br...@dse.vic.gov.au> Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:02:28 +1000> CC: birdi...@vicnet.net.au> > Hi Peter, good questions!> > This is my understanding of the various fauna databases available to > naturalists to submit their data. As far as I'm aware only certain > eastern Australian states have any form of fauna atlas. Victoria has had > its atlas (Atlas of Victorian Wildlife) for about 30 years now.> > As you can see there are a number of bird related databases but only a few > of these record all details associated with sightings of fauna and have > associated mapping systems and analysis tools so wildlife can be managed > by the relevant land manager agency.> > As a Victorian I send most of my observations to the Atlas of Victorian > Wildlife (AVW), but while travelling anywhere interstate I send data to > the Birds Australia Atlas. In addition there are sometimes specific > projects that use BA atlas forms (eg. the Victorian Lurg Woodland Bird > Survey) that I sue for those projects. My atlas for most sightings is the > AVW as one almost always sees other fauna when out birding (mammals, > frogs, reptiles, crays etc). I recommend the AVW for those who do most of > their birding in Victoria (especially if you record other fauna as well) > but understand some people are happy with using the Birds Australia > BirdData method of lodging their sightings directly.> > Link: Birds Australia BirdData - > http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-projects/atlas-birdata.html> > It's worth being aware that Birds Australia has a data exchange agreement > with the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife which means that each database swaps > its avifauna information with the other. So reporting to the AVW means > your sightings eventually get into the BA database.> > I've generated the following information showing the current state > government fauna databases and, where these do not exist, the relevant > birding group sightings web pages.> > a. Australia> Birds Australia Atlas - Australia wide coverage, birds only> Link: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/resources/databases.html> > b. Queensland> Environment Protection Agency (Qld) - Coastal Bird Atlas, Queensland > coastal birds only> Link: > http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/site/MappingFandD/ContributeData/CoastalBirdAtlas.html> > c. New South Wales> NSW National Parks & Wildlife Department - NSW only, all fauna> Link: > http://wildlifeatlas.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wildlifeatlas/watlas.jsp> > d. Victoria> Department of Sustainability & Environment - Victoria only, all fauna> Link: [in preparation] (email: biodiver...@dse.vic.gov.au)> Note: currently available on CD-ROM and known as Victorian Fauna Display > (see: http://www.viridans.com/FISVFD/VFD1.HTM)> > e. ACT> Canberra Ornithologists Group - ACT only, birds only> Link: http://canberrabirds.org.au/Index.htm> > f. Tasmania (books only)> University of Tasmania, Fauna of Tasmania - various animal groups> Link: http://www.zoo.utas.edu.au/FOT2/BookletFOT.htm> > g. South Australia> Birds South Australia, SA only, birds only> Link: http://www.birdssa.asn.au/> > h. Western Australia> Birds Australia WA - WA only, birds only> Link: http://www.birdswa.com.au/sightings.htm> > i. Northern Territory> Birds Australia Atlas 2 - NT, birds only> Link: http://birds.rhyme.com.au/> > Hope this helps ... and of course interested to hear what I may have > missed !> > cheers, Martin> > Martin O'Brien> Wildlife Biologist - Threatened Species & Communities Section> Department of Sustainability and Environment> 2/8 Nicholson St.,> East Melbourne 3002> VICTORIA> > > > > > > > Notice:> This email and any attachments may contain information that is personal, > confidential, legally privileged and/or copyright.No part of it should be reproduced, > adapted or communicated without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. > > It is the responsibility of the recipient to check for and remove viruses.> If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by return email, delete > it from your system and destroy any copies. You are not authorised to use, communicate or rely on the information > contained in this email.> > Please consider the environment before printing this email.> ===============================> www.birding-aus.org> birding-aus.blogspot.com> > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, > send the message:> unsubscribe > (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)> to: birding-a...@vicnet.net.au> ===============================
_________________________________________________________________
Be part of history. Take part in Australia's first e-mail archive with Email Australia.
http://emailaustralia.ninemsn.com.auwww.birding-aus.org