Subject: Avisys question
Date: May 30 07:25:23 1999
From: Jack Stephens - Jsteph02 at sprynet.com


Bob,

You had questions about the attribute functions and subspecies recording
using Avisys. I first started using Avisys simply to keep track of my life
birds. I was paranoid about losing my field guide with the sightings
scribbled in the margins, and having a computer program saved me from having
to type in all those names. All I cared about then was whether or not I had
seen a species or not. With time however, things change. For example, I now
routinely enter the sightings when I go to a particular location, or when I
go out with others. It makes it easy to generate a "Spencer Island" list, or
to list all the birds I have seen with my daughter. I can also find all the
places I have seen a particular species, say Hooded Merganser for example.
One day that might prove useful to help others find a target bird. Avisys is
also useful to make a "hit list". On a recent trip to California, I could
list all the birds on the California state list that I hadn't seen, scan it
and pick out the possibles (I got eight out of eight!, full report to
follow). And lastly, since this function is automatic, I now keep track of
my ABA and life totals. Without Avisys I would have no idea that the Allen's
Hummingbird I saw last week was Life Bird #768, ABA bird # 472. In spite of
myself, I now see ABA bird #500 as a goal out there to shoot for.
To get back to your questions, if you want to keep track of subspecies,
simply record the subspecies in the "comment" section of your sighting. If
those subspecies are ever split into full species status, you can easily
create a new species in Avisys and convert those sightings over. This
process is covered in the Avisys manual. In terms of attributes, I have
largely ignored them until now since most of the "pre-loaded" attributes
have to do with habitat, male/female, nesting status etc. that I don't keep
track of. They can be modified however, and if there is something you *do*
want to keep track of (birds seen with your best friend, birds seen on a
wire, birds seen on Tuesday, whatever) you could modify the attribute list.
Again this process is covered in the Avisys manual. Anything in attributes
can be typed in as a comment, attributes are designed for information you
will be adding repeatedly.
Jerry Blinn from Silverdale wrote the program and is very good about tech
support. He is on Tweeters and may be reading this (Hi Jerry!). If I have
stated anything incorrectly hopefully he will correct me. He has answered
all of my dumb questions patiently and thoroughly, if questions arise I
wouldn't hesistate to call or e-mail him.

Jack Stephens
jsteph02 at sprynet.com
Edmonds, WA