lostriver at seanet.com writes:
> My first reaction to the CBC map was that every other Puget Trough
>circle
>should be eliminated. If they are having the effect of draining
>volunteers
>away from less convenient circles, that would improve the overall state
>CBC
>representation.

The concentration of circles reflects the needs and desires of birders and
not
the needs of a valid scientific study. On the other hand, the CBCs have
never been
presented to the public as part of a scientific study, except in passing,
an unlike
the censusing for the Breeding Bird Atlas, for which volunteers were
actively
saught for empty squares.

>Upon further consideration, however, I suspect that most
>former volunteers for the eliminated circles would merely move to a
>neighboring Puget Trough circle, thus gaining nothing and losing coverage.

True, true.

I have an even more radical suggestion: once we get the statewide
Important Birding Area
project organized we should encourage people to bird those areas in
general and especially during the breeding season and CBCs. The knowledge
that one is doing something meaningful might attract at least a few people
away from the safety & comfort of convenient latte availability.

Kelly also asked: "Who wants to drive a gazillion miles to the rain
forest at the peak of rainy season and spend a wet miserable day counting
chickadees when you can drive a few
blocks and pick up a latte every hour as you count crows in Seattle?"

Or better still, sipping lattes and listening to the Counting Crows.

------Herb Curl