UAE bird observations on eBird

[Sandman]

Hi again.
During my long trip to Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne this week, I'm amusing myself with eBird (http://ebird.org/).
I have uploaded all my personal bird-records since my early beginning in 1976 until March 31 2011, and I am really pleased with the result. The only negative aspect I have found so far is that it follows Clements taxonomy, so species like Daurian Shrike and Turkestan Shrike are not yet split, not even as a subspecies-group. But I know eBird is working hard on updating this.


I have uploaded all the UAE data I have from 2009-2010, that is all my own data as well as all of your submitted data.
Check out this link (http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?reportType=location&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2011&parentState=AE-&countries=AE&getLocations=countries&continue.x=60&continue.y=11&continue=t)
Keep in mind that it is only 2 years worth of data, but still quite useful.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this

[Sandman]

Just went through a few species on the above link and noticed two errors; check Scrub Warbler. One record from Ghantoot, so obviously need to contact the observer and tell him about the Graceful Prinias.
I also had in error entered 10 Sand Partridge from Dubai Creek Park. Changed it promptly to Grey Francolin.
So, quite useful in error-checking at least.

[Scott]

Hi Tommy,<O:p</O:p
I use eBird, and I think it is a generally for the greater good to have one central repository. A couple years ago I entered all my records since 1988. Many were rejected because at that time there was a limited list of countries for which you could enter records. I believe that is no longer the case and you can now enter records from every country in the world. They have several import options making it easy for anyone that has some kind of computerized list. Aside from the taxonomy issue there is the potential problem of duplicate records, and access to those records. If we send you our records and also enter them in eBird and then you re-enter our records that will skew the data. If we only entered records in eBird, could you access those for your lists here, or would we have to double up on our reporting? Can the record committee, OSME or others extract whatever records they wish, including observer name and contact info? Finally, the data is only as good as the regional reviewer. They will have to set up automatic flagging for rare/out of season/unusual quantity entries, and vet every one flagged. It seems like you are already doing most (all?) of the heavy lifting on gathering and maintaining records here. Are you up for even more?<O:p></O:p>

[Sandman]

Hi Scott
I am already the regional eBird reviewer and an automatic flagging list was sent to eBird 15 minutes ago (a few hours spent making it, but it's fun).
Feel free to enter your records in eBird parallel to what I'm doing (with your records), the data will only be skewed as in several observer on same date, but that is OK.
But please, pretty please, send me your records directly, either as a printout from eBird, or an Excel download, or by any other means :-)
I's vital that it's entered in the national database as well.
Hopefully, in a few years from now, everything can go via eBird - that would be really nice.

[Scott]

Hi Tommy,
I will continue to enter my records in eBird and sent them along to you.
Did you receive the spreadsheet I emailed about a month ago?
Many thanks for all that you do.

[Sandman]

Very good Scott. Appreciated.
I'm pretty sure I got them, I'm about 3 months late with data-entry. Busy, busy......