This goes to the mandarin duck conversation as well, what IS "nature"?
Awhile back I recall there were some reports of finch species on San
Cristibol island. They'd adapted to life there but clearly didn't "belong,"
as such I question if they should have been reportable. I wonder the same
for the invaders of the Hawaiian chain. By some odd wind, the reportable
but freakishly odd dusky warblers (Stellar's Sea Eagle, and Bat Falcon)
blown in too small a population to establish a founder population illicit
excitement. As flotsam, various established populations of munias,
whiteyes, bishops on the southern US West Coast are on the cusp of
establishment. I've heard some of the smartest eBird reviewers I've known
describe Canada Geese as "domesticated freaks" that aren't "countable"
(they approve others, but don't count their own) (there are beautiful
papers describing the adaptation of Canada geese to migrating via sky
scraper rooftops!) with disgust. I'll admit I don't count every house finch
and yellow-rumped warbler.
What if! Chuck Darwin had caught the FIRST pioneering finch on the islands
and watched with geologic patience for its pair, … what if he'd had eBird
and citizen science to do the work for him! What if he'd missed it because
of differentially applied definitions? Someone smarter and more creative
than I would make the best of it.
This is only to say, poor definitions in science leads to poor science, and
perhaps where Cornell has fallen short in it's "citizen" science
project. Evolution
uses the dinglehoppers, snarfblatts, and thingamabobs you give to it.
But ditto, clarification, perhaps by adding categories might be nice. I've
been known to request "leave unconfirmed" in the notes section on a rarity
I couldn't double verify to my personal satisfaction (by sight and sound),
it'd be nice to leave those off the list, and tune reports manually.
I digress…
Stephen
On Sun, Feb 20, 2022 at 7:56 AM Dennis Paulson <
dennispaulson at comcast.net>
wrote:
>
And Rock Pigeons breed in just those rocky areas widely in eastern
>
Washington. They nest on cliff ledges exactly as they do in their native
>
range. I think they commute in flocks between their nesting habitat and
>
nearby croplands, just as I saw them doing in Israel. I wonder if anyone
>
has paid much attention to those populations. Are they variable like so
>
many populations of Rock Pigeons, or have they reverted to the original
>
plumage type?
>
>
Dennis Paulson
>
Seattle
>
>
On Feb 19, 2022, at 6:57 PM, Steve Hampton <stevechampton at gmail.com>
>
wrote:
>
>
I'm not an eBird reviewer but I can tell you that native wild Rock Pigeons
>
generally occur in rocky habitats in arid regions from Spain and Morocco
>
across southern Europe and northern Africa and the Middle East to India and
>
Mongolia. Anywhere else they are considered feral and come in a variety of
>
color patterns.
>
>
Birders in North America should use the "Rock Pigeon (feral)" option.
>
>
>
>
>
>
On Sat, Feb 19, 2022 at 6:48 PM Carol Riddell <cariddellwa at gmail.com>
>
wrote:
>
>>
Dennis Paulson raised a great question about why some pigeon sightings
>>
turn up as rare birds in eBird. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) is the listing
>>
on the basic checklist. If you want to report a wild type, you have to add
>>
a species to the checklist and select Rock Pigeon (wild type). That is
>>
considered a rare bird. But how are we to determine what is a feral pigeon
>>
and what is a wild type Rock Pigeon? There is no guidance in eBird that I
>>
can find. When should we consider using the wild type category and what
>>
evidence of a rare pigeon sighting would eBird reviewers want to consider
>>
when deciding whether to include the report in the public data?
>>
>>
I think knowing this would be as useful to birders who do not use eBird
>>
as it would be to eBirders. We all want to improve our birding skills and
>>
learn how to distinguish things in the field. Any answers from any local
>>
eBird reviewer who might feel so inclined? Thanks.
>>
>>
Carol Riddell
>>
Edmonds, WA
>>
_______________________________________________
>>
Tweeters mailing list
>>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>>
>
>
>
--
>
Steve Hampton
>
Port Townsend, WA (qatáy)
>
>
>
_______________________________________________
>
Tweeters mailing list
>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
>
>
_______________________________________________
>
Tweeters mailing list
>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
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>