I have received several queries regarding what compilers
should do with recently introduced, recently feral or just
plain origin questionable things found during CBC's.

Here's my position:
If Christmas Bird counts are about tracking trends in populations
then there is value in tracking introduced species. I find Wild
Turkeys particularly problematic. The rate of growth in turkey
populations is almost certainly an artifact of unbridled introduction
rather than reproductive success. Regardless of where one stands
on the wisdom of releasing yet another non-native species to
the Pacific Northwest without regard for environmental impacts,
the damage has apparently been done. And chances are the only
real mechanisms in place for tracking the long term outcomes will
be bird counts like the CBC's. So, yes, count the damned turkeys
unless you know for a fact that they, along with the peacocks and
Guinea Fowl escaped from Farmer Jed's Poultry Emporium.

You got Mute Swans and think they're wild? Count 'em. Maybe we
can gather enough data to keep them in check before we have another
Chesapeake Bay on our hands.

Pink-footed Geese? Ruth would never speak to me again if I didn't
let her count them.

But compilers, you can help me out by rendering a reasoned local
opinion on the state of legitimacy for the feral livestock you
are reporting. And compilers always retain the right to NOT
report an origin questionable species. And the regional editor
reserves the right to mark OQ in the database.

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

You've got to accentuate the positive
eliminate the negative
latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mr. In-Between.
- Johnny Mercer

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