A Note about eBird Reports

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All,

As eBird reviewer for NE Colorado, I was obviously busy with this weekend's reports.

Two major issues in reporting, not limited to this weekend, were recurrent.

1- For flagged species (based on rarity, not number), please give actual details. Notes like "seen closely" are not helpful in confirming the ID for truly rare species, especially those that are cryptic. "Breeding plumaged male seen well" is adequate for a male Bufflehead that is out of season, but not a similar "description" is insufficient for an Empid or most shorebirds. 

2- Only check the  "Yes" for "All obs. reported" if your list is as complete as can be. eBird stats (such as frequency, the bar graphs) are really messed up if you put in the 3 rarities and nothing else when you actually saw 24 species. Such lists will be, out of necessity, invalidated. I will try to give a heads up when possible before doing so. Simply check "No" if your list is not complete. Then the rarities reported can be validated if properly documented

3- For numbers. If a number like "2" or "3" gets flagged, when "1" is not flagged, then simple confirmation that you are certain that you saw 2 or 3 individuals (not a data entry error) is typically sufficient. However, if your report is of 200 Yellow Warblers, I need to know how you got to 200. Actual tally? Estimated repeatedly through visit to location? Careful estimate at end of visit to location? For waterbirds, I often count one by one, or by 5s or 10s - and I say so in my lists. For birds like Yellow Warblers, I do a running tally and put that in the comments. 

4- For birds seen with others, "identified by xxyyy" only works if they submit a list with photos or description. If they don't, I am left with nothing. So, consider writing your own description. It is very good practice for when you find your own rarity :o)

Now, for that LBB Gull that has been at Jumbo for months (first found by Bill Kaempfer, thank you for that nice bird), you don't need to enter a description. If you happen to get a photo, well adding that to the list is nice.

So much for the lecture. I want all of your well-identified or well-counted reports to be "validated." I can only do so with your help

Best Wishes

Steve Mlodinow