Greetings
In 2001 I volunteered to perform data entry of NSW Atlassing sheets, and subsequently was provided with the data entry program and a number of Atlas sheets by Brian Curtis; from memory, I processed several hundred data sheets.
I commented to Brian Curtis on what I saw were several deficiences both in the sheet design and on the way in which data entry was made. In particular, the sheets asked the observer to record habitat type details, but there was no provision in the data entry program for this information to be entered onto the database. Also, I considered that it was practicable to redesign both the Atlas sheet and the data entry program to allow for sub-species/hybrid forms specifically to be recorded. There were other points also, but these two mentioned above were the main ones.
Brian Curtis suggested I forward these suggestions to Don Howarth, which I did in November 2001.
It occurred to me that one of the main sticking points might be in the re-design of the form, so I did a quick version of it to show you what it might look like when re-laid in accordance with my suggestions for the inclusion of more habitat entries and named subspecies and also forwarded this to Don Howarth on 29 November 2001.
I considered I was wasting my time doing data entry for what I considered an obviously inadequate and easily-corrected system, and ceased my data entry volunteering.
Time passed. Nothing happened.
In October 2005, still having heard nothing, I contacted Murray Coward, Secretary NSWBA, providing him with duplicates of my original letters to Don Howarth. He subsequently advised he had sent a synopsis of them to the other members of the NSWBA executive, and said further “I will let you know of the outcomes of any responses”.
More time passed. Nothing happened.
In May 2008, I queried Murray Coward as to any response or update, without reply.
More has time passed. Nothing has happened.
Does anyone know what is the current situation with NSW Atlassing and data collection forms? The suspense is killing me.
Regards
Ralph Reid ============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
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Yes, the NSW Bird Atlassers are an independent organisation, independent from Birds Australia. http://www.nswbirdatlassers.com/
Tim Hosking, Dubbo
Hello Paul,
I assume you are connected with NSW Branch of BA in some capacity.
I am not a member, as joining was rather pointless at the time, with my being a fulltime carer for my invalid wife.
Regardless, I did have some spare time at home, and so I “put my hand up” to do some voluntary work in the form of Atlas data entry as I thought this might be a constructive contribution.
However, I became concerned that I was to a large extent involved in a rather mis-conceived activity and in having my informed suggestions ignored, and so turned my attention and time resources to other things.
I am rather uncertain as to why a NSW Atlas is being compiled, given the comprehensive coverage given by the BA Birdata website, but I guess you have a good reason for doing what you are doing.
Best of luck to your endeavours.
Ralph Reid
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Not being familiar with the interstate branches, I initially assumed that the “BA” in “NSWBA” referred to here stood for Birds Australia, I take it then that the NSWBA is completely independent of the Birds Australia Atlas?
Peter Shute
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Hi Ralph,
I can’t coment on what happened to your suggestions for improvement of the NSWBA data collection and handling system as I don’t know. However, I can say that there is provision in the data entry system for the habitat details to be entered, and make their way into the database. I will agree with you that the system needs improvement and have been pushing for this myself for some time.
You are not on my copy of the membership list, are you a member? If you were you would have seen my note in the latest newsletter regarding habitat recording and why I think we should dispense with it, basically because most birders are not sufficiently skilled to identify the different habitats and secondly, because most sheets that come in involve multiple habitats and it is impossible to tell which bird was in which habitat.
In defence of the committee I should point out that they are all very busy at the moment putting together a NSW Bird Atlas publication. They are all volunteers and give their time freely for the love of birds. They are not professional data management people. It’s like most clubs and societies in this country, the general members complain about the committe and the way they do things but very few put up their hands to take over any of the work of running things when it cames to the AGM and election of officers.
Paul Osborn