Subject: [Tweeters] BUBO Listing Washington
Date: Dec 16 02:37:19 2008
From: Mike Prince - bubomike at bubo.org


Firstly sorry for cross-posting (to other states), but I wanted to bring
your attention to a website that will be of interest to all listers
worldwide. BUBO Listing www.bubo.org/listing allows people to record bird
lists for any location in the world (from regions such as Continental North
America down to sites such as Ocean Shores and even your local patch) and
compare them with other users. Lists can be life lists, year lists and even
self-found lists. It is also possible to use the "targets" facility to see
which are the "easiest" missing species from any list. BUBO Listing is
unique in that it does not prescribe a single taxonomic authority that you
must use for all your lists. Instead we use the most appropriate "authority"
(or authorities) available for the particular location. Thus for a World
list you may use Clements as a base list, whilst for a North and Middle
America list the AOU is used, for Continental North America, Continental
USA, Lower 48 States etc. the ABA is used, and for individual states the
checklist published by the appropriate state ornithological society is
typically used. For Washington therefore we use the Washington Bird Records
Committee list as published at http://www.wos.org/WAlist01.htm. In this way
we provide the most authoritative list for any location, whilst we remain
totally independent ourselves by abiding by the decisions of each authority
regarding taxonomy and species status.



It's entirely free to use and quick to get started. Just go to
www.bubo.org/listing and click on Register on the left-hand side. You can
view any lists already on the system without needing to register, but will
need to register in order to add your own lists.



Note that BUBO Listing does not need you to enter all your sightings.
Instead you choose which lists you are interested in and then only enter
records that are relevant to those lists. Thus it is quick to use and also
does not attempt to duplicate major record keeping initiatives such as
eBird. Whilst the overall data we build up can eventually allow us to
produce accurate site checklists for any location in the world, I should
emphasise that the focus of BUBO Listing is more on the fun side of birding
than the scientific!



BUBO Listing started in the UK but soon expanded for World lists and several
other countries and regions. We have now put live most US states and
counties and have a total of 2205 lists online. We are adding new site
locations gradually but if there are specific sites/patches you are
interested in keeping a list for then please let us know and we will add
these immediately, in time for starting 2009 year lists!



Of course, keeping lists is not to everyone's tastes but if you do enjoy
listing as a fun part of your birding, then check out BUBO Listing! We're
keen to develop the site further and welcome your comments (which you can
send to listing at bubo.org or post in our forums at
http://www.bubo.org/listing/Forum/).



Cheers (and Merry Christmas, and successful CBCing!)

-- Mike --



Mike Prince (and Andy Musgrove)

Bangalore, India (and Norfolk, UK)



Check out BUBO Listing at www.bubo.org/listing