USFW NBS? Is that banding?

I use the codes in my own database program I wrote to track my bird
sightings. I use the fully unambiguous codes (i.e. TRUS and TRES)
because it makes it much harder to inadvertantly refer to the wrong
species.

In "Birding" (I think) a few years ago, there was an article (more of a
letter or editorial really) touting the use of four letter codes, but it
proposed slightly different rules than [according to the article] the
banders use. I personally thought the many of the differences were
unwaranted and unnecessary. Specifically rejected was the full
disambiguity rule, on the grounds that it is only justified when
entering data into a computer [thus overlooking the problem of confusion
on Tweeters entirely].

The fully unambiguous rule does have problems, however. Great Blue
Heron and Green-backed Heron collided, and therefore became GTBH and
GNBH. Now that Green-backed Heron has had its name reverted to Green
Heron, the codes could change to GRBH and GRHE, but I don't know if they
have.

If the ABA were to officially adopt and specify four-letter codes, and
were they to require fully unambiguous names, then each time some new
accidental arrived on our shores some beloved code would need to change.
Imagine if an Amsterdam Roachbird showed up in New Jersey, and they had
to change the code for American Robin as a result...

== Michael Hobbs
== Redmond WA
== mikeho at microsoft.com

>----------
>From: mpatters at orednet.org[SMTP:mpatters at orednet.org]
>Sent: Friday, December 06, 1996 6:55 AM
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Re: Trumpeter Swan four letter code
>
>
>
>according to the USFW NBS official code book:
>
>Trumpeter Swan = TRUS
>Tree Swallow = TRES
>
>The rule is: If two birds have the same 4-code, one picks the next easiest
>combination IN BOTH SPECIES that resolves the conflict.
>
>