We noticed that over the years many of us using eBird put down low counts on birds to avoid being flagged or having to do the work of describing how you made that count. We have done that, too. We know about other birders doing this, too, because we all talk in the field about this issue with them. We joke about it or talk about our frustrations or our laziness or whatever.
However, we have made a commitment this year to no longer do that.
I want to encourage everyone to make this commitment, too. If everyone starts to be diligent, accurate and have integrity to their eBird reporting, then our flagged counts will eventually get approved - and the data will improve.
What brought this up for us were the many trips made by birders to the Grand Tower Island area to look for the Anhinga around the same time - and all the low counts entered on the Black-necked Stilt in particular. Chrissy and I counted 62 Black-necked Stilts on our first pass on the levee. There were actually many more, but to avoid recounting and to keep our count conservative and as accurate as possible, we left it at 62 in our report on eBird. This did not get approved. Everyone who went there had to see they were numerous, everywhere and the easiest shorebird to ID with a scope out of the hundreds present. Still, birders were reporting seriously low numbers like 1 or 3 or 6 or 12 or such on the BNST. Only one other person put down a high count besides us. (Rhonda Rothrock reported 53 on 6/28/17 and got that approved. We reported 62 on 7/9/17 and got shot down.)
I understand folks might be looking for the Anhinga and not counting BNST, but when we put down 62 and most others put down something between 1-12, well, it seems a sort of injustice to the bird. Also, our count, made diligently and accurately, goes unapproved and looks ridiculous, when the low counts are what are inaccurate, not ours.
This is about justice for the bird, not us. BNST are desperate for good habitat to raise their young, as are most shorebirds. They found a good area this year at Grand Tower Island. That seems important to us. (By the way, the reporting on all shorebirds in this area was equally poor and inaccurate.)
I think folks can do target birding and accurately represent bird species present. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe folks get in a hurry when they target bird or don't have time. I am just putting a plea to those who might take the time, to do so.
We were lucky that the Anhinga flew over us right away when we got there late in the day - and again when we left - but even so, we were enchanted by this new and exciting area to bird and wanted to do justice to reporting all the birds present.
I hope all birders will consider this and not be afraid of true and accurate reporting.
Andy Reago
St. Louis MO
The Audubon Society of Missouri's Wild Bird Discussion Forum
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ASM Fall Meeting: September 22-24, 2017 at Lake of the Ozarks Details and Online Registration