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

[pamela johnston]

Mike's conclusions remind me of the results of a birdnotes search for 
seasonal variation in the numbers of a given species. The CBC numbers which 
form the backbone of the database can swamp other entries. If I believed 
what I read there a few years ago, Mourning Dove is most commonly seen in 
Portland in December.

Increasing year-round entries to the database by many observers will help to 
iron out this effect, but in the mean time it gives an impression that 
winter is THE season for many resident birds.

I'll also throw in better optics as an aid in finding and identifying those 
little sparrows, skulking about in their kacks, as a contributor to 
increased reporting. When I think of the lousy binos I once had...

Pamela Johnston


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Patterson" <celata at pacifier.com>
To: "Obol" <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 5:55 PM
Subject: [obol] Lies, damned lies and White-throated Sparrows


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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