[obol] Lies, damned lies and White-throated Sparrows

[Barbara Combs]

The story of one site with one observer who knows how to
identify WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and uses a consistent protocol shows the
jump in numbers.  I checked on Cornell's web site for my Cornell FeederWatch
data for 3 earlier years:  1991/92, 1992/93, and 1993/94.  I dropped out of
the program after that because I did not have the time to spend on the
program.  I recently dropped back in, and have 3 years of data to the
current season.  Each count consists of 2 consecutive days.  Counts
are spread throughout the fall/winter/early spring season a couple of weeks
apart, for a total of 10 counts.  Some people count every week now that data
entry can be done online, but I did not.

1991/92:  1 bird, Nov. 23
1992/93:  0 birds
1993/94:  0 birds

2004/05:  1 bird on 8/10 counts
2005/06:  1 bird on 8/10 counts, 2 individuals on 1 count
2006/07:  1 bird on 3/10 counts, 2 individuals on 1 count

In 2006/2007, the bird at my feeder usually came first thing in the morning
and then was gone for the rest of the day.  Once in a while it would be
there mid-day, but not very often.  I missed this bird more than I might
have if I had gotten up earlier more often to start the count.



On 4/30/07, Mike Patterson <celata at pacifier.com> wrote:
>
> I've have spent a bit a time with Christmas Bird Count sparrow
> data and put in my two cents at:
>
> http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/
>
> Be forewarned, it's chock full of numbers and graphs and all
> manner of quasi-sciency stuff.  If you're not interested do go
> there.
>
> --
> Mike Patterson
> Astoria, OR
> celata at pacifier.com
>
> Dusty Book of the Month: _The Hawks of North America_
> http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/004483.html
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-- 
Barbara Combs   obie '70
Eugene OR
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