[Birdtalk] Please share bird sightings from Bear River Refuge

[mjw22 at comcast.net]

Betsy & all,
   Along the lines of collecting data to improve the knowlege of bird distribution at Bear River and statewide, sightings should be encouraged to be posted a) to eBird (www.ebird.org) which can b) provide you with a nice emailed list to c) forward on to listservs (and other interested parties).
    At the risk of being redundant, I'm echoing sentiments shared by others but eBird is a very impressive database.  However, it is only as impressive as the data it contains.  There are many states (ranked online) who are contributing vast amounts of data to what will eventually be a resource equal to their collective efforts.  It is no secret that Utah is underbirded (if only because of the vast, unpopulated expanses) and we have a lot to learn about the distribution and abundance of certain species but surely we should contribute the relatively large amounts of data for these "Hot Spots".  If you go to ebird.org and click on "View and Explore Data", select Utah to search for "Hot Spots" and choose Bear River, you'll see that some data already exists.  Bridget's great data would do wonders to flesh out the bar graphs and other datasets contained within ebird.  In addition, now it becomes part of a much bigger set of data, usable to anyone with an internet browser.  You could eve
n print bar graphs and provide specific species data to visitors to the refuge.  Potential refuge visitors could even look on there to see what they're likely to see.  
   I'll stop there.  The benefits continue.  Thanks for your call for data.  It's certainly important...without the people and programs who contribute to, collect and organize the data, there would be no meaningful data at all.

Good Birding,
Matt 


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Betsy_Beneke at fws.gov
> 
> Utah Birding Friends,
> 
> There are many times of the year when refuge staff are not able to get out
> to the refuge to compile a list of birds currently present.  Bridget Olson
> does her fairly intensive waterbird/raptor surveys as frequently as she
> can, but sometimes other duties preclude her getting out there every week.
> Sometimes she can only get out there once a month.  Personally, I'd like to
> do this every day, but I think my boss would frown on the idea.  Actually,
> he already has.
> 
> Therefore, I'm asking your help.  For those of you who visit the refuge,
> and keep a list of your sightings, I'd REALLY appreciate it if you would
> share those observations, so that we can pass them on to the public.  I'm
> not expecting an intensive survey, like Bridget does.  Just a list.  And
> comments on abundance, only if you care to give them.  You can call, or
> email, or drop a list off at the wildlife education center - what ever
> works.  And certainly, only at your convenience.
> 
> I just figure that you all might not know we appreciate receiving this
> information, if we never ask for it!  Thanks so much for your help!
> 
> Betsy
> 
> Betsy Beneke
> Outdoor Recreation Planner
> Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
> 2155 West Forest Street
> Brigham City UT  84302
> 435.734.6436  office
> http://bearriver.fws.gov
> 
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