They get called Northern Flickers, Dark-eyed Juncos and
Yellow-rumped Warbler, if unspecified, just like usual.
What I'm suggesting is that you let your teams know that
they can sort to subspecies.

Those of us who've been doing CBC's for a while (and Gene
is most definitely included here) used to count Red-shafted
Flickers, Audubon's Warbler and Oregon Juncos. When all
these got lumped, we stopped. This makes using the database
over a thirty or forty year stretch kind of a pain in part
because it's 3 different searches and in part because one
goes from knowing they're Oregon Juncos to assuming they're
Oregon Juncos.

And since it is likely that Fox Sparrows and Canada Geese
will be split in the near future, this will be good practice.

But again, this is not something compilers and counter have
to do. It was just a heads up that the online entry forms
have this added flexibility.

Eugene Hunn wrote:
>
> Mike, et al.
>
> As a long-time CBC compiler I've often been faced with the issue that the
> precise number of the unusual subspecies may be reported but that parties
> which failed to note a "slate-colored" or a "yellow-shafted" don't
> specifically identify the varieties counted. I have felt that it is
> reasonable, if not entirely certain, to assume that barring a specific note
> to the contrary, a "Drk-eyed Junco" refers to the Oregon junco and that a
> Northern Flicker, otherwise unspecified, will most likely refer to a
> Red-shafted. This seems preferable to reporting large numbers of "flicker
> ssp." or some other such evasive response.
>
> Gene.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Patterson" <celata at pacifier.com>
> To: "OBOL2" <obol at lists.orst.edu>; "tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 4:07 PM
> Subject: From the regional CBC Editor
>
> > There are only 18 days to the beginning of the 2002-3
> > Christmas Bird Count season.
> >
> > I've a couple of recommendations that I hope to see
> > attempted this year.
> >
> > Recognizable subspecies-
> > The new online data entry forms allow for a much wider
> > capacity for reporting recognizable forms within a species
> > complex. Fox Sparrow can be reported as Sooty, Slate-colored
> > or Red, now. Canada Geese, juncos and Yellow-rumps can all
> > be reported to subspecies. When editing, I find it interesting
> > how often Slate-colored Junco is report, compared to say...
> > Oregon Junco (which is left in the Dark-eyed Junco box).
> >
> > No, you don't have to sort them, and no counting Myrtle
> > and Audubon's separately won't get you an additional tick
> > on the species count for the day, but distinctions at the
> > subspecific level provide useful information about winter
> > distribution.
> >
> > Sharing resources-
> > By my count there are 89 counts in the region (this includes
> > some nearby counts in Idaho and British Columbia) and 34%
> > of them are happening in the first weekend. This leaves
> > some of you with nothing to do after the first weekend of
> > the season. Please consider doing more than one count
> > this year. There are many counts (especially those that
> > run on the weekdays) that run with a minimum of observers.
> > If you really want to feel loved and appreciated volunteer
> > to be on one of the smaller counts.
> >
> > The CBC FAQ is at:
> > http://home.pacifier.com/~mpatters/cbc/cbc2002.html
> >
> > --
> > Mike Patterson
> > CBC editor for Oregon and Washington
> > Astoria, OR
> > celata at pacifier.com
> >

--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
celata at pacifier.com

A child who becomes acquainted with the birds about him
hears every sound and puzzles out its meaning with a cleverness
that amazes those with ears who hear not.

-Neltje Blanchan

http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters/bird/bird.html