Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

I don't equate "interesting" with "rare".  Rare birds are often
well-characterized - not least of all in weekly RBA posts.  Interesting
birds (self-defined) run a much larger gamut than that, and I can point to
a lot of eBird checklists where there's no additional context whatsoever
for such species.

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:10 PM, Dominic Garcia-Hall  wrote:

> I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
> context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
> a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary.
>


--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

I don't equate "interesting" with "rare".  Rare birds are often
well-characterized - not least of all in weekly RBA posts.  Interesting
birds (self-defined) run a much larger gamut than that, and I can point to
a lot of eBird checklists where there's no additional context whatsoever
for such species.

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:10 PM, Dominic Garcia-Hall  wrote:

> I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
> context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
> a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary.
>


--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[brian . whipple]

Please limit postings to 2 cents.

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:11 PM Dominic Garcia-Hall 
wrote:

> I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
> context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
> a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary. In fact, I'd say
> once a rarity has had its initial few ebird reports, further comments tend
> to revert away from repeated descriptions of plumage and start to become a
> running track of where the bird is, or behaviour notes etc. Obviously the
> ability to look at / manipulate other facets of the eBird Big Data-set is
> totally invaluable.
>
> The GroupMe system we use in Northern New Jersey is very good for sharing
> rarity info. And tends to not suffer from reports of common birds, and is
> invite only so is kind of self-policing. But as others have pointed out,
> it's another app people gotta download and install on their phones
>
> Personally i think nobody should be dissuaded from reporting. As David B
> pointed out, it's not hard to set email filters, and someone somewhere
> might just get themselves a lifer that otherwise would have gone un-shared
> if people hold back.
>
> Just my 3 cents
>
> Good birding.
> Dom
>
> www.antbirds.com
>
> www.aventuraargentina.com
>
> + 1 646 429 2667 <(646)%20429-2667>
>
> On 30 November 2016 at 17:19, Phil Jeffrey  wrote:
>
> The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
> Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
> pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
> Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
> although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
> list archives (!) for quite some time either.
>
> eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
> eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
> context so they read as:
>
> an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat
>
> and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
> that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
> rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
> removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
> valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
> mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.
>
> So no, eBird is not the solution.
>
> Phil Jeffrey
> Princeton
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:
>
> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent
> place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to
> NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin
> McGowan's  post here
> https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/msg20105.html
> regarding the original intent of the list.
>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[brian . whipple]

Please limit postings to 2 cents.

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:11 PM Dominic Garcia-Hall 
wrote:

> I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
> context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
> a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary. In fact, I'd say
> once a rarity has had its initial few ebird reports, further comments tend
> to revert away from repeated descriptions of plumage and start to become a
> running track of where the bird is, or behaviour notes etc. Obviously the
> ability to look at / manipulate other facets of the eBird Big Data-set is
> totally invaluable.
>
> The GroupMe system we use in Northern New Jersey is very good for sharing
> rarity info. And tends to not suffer from reports of common birds, and is
> invite only so is kind of self-policing. But as others have pointed out,
> it's another app people gotta download and install on their phones
>
> Personally i think nobody should be dissuaded from reporting. As David B
> pointed out, it's not hard to set email filters, and someone somewhere
> might just get themselves a lifer that otherwise would have gone un-shared
> if people hold back.
>
> Just my 3 cents
>
> Good birding.
> Dom
>
> www.antbirds.com
>
> www.aventuraargentina.com
>
> + 1 646 429 2667 <(646)%20429-2667>
>
> On 30 November 2016 at 17:19, Phil Jeffrey  wrote:
>
> The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
> Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
> pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
> Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
> although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
> list archives (!) for quite some time either.
>
> eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
> eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
> context so they read as:
>
> an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat
>
> and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
> that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
> rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
> removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
> valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
> mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.
>
> So no, eBird is not the solution.
>
> Phil Jeffrey
> Princeton
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:
>
> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent
> place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to
> NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin
> McGowan's  post here
> https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/msg20105.html
> regarding the original intent of the list.
>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Dominic Garcia-Hall]

I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary. In fact, I'd say
once a rarity has had its initial few ebird reports, further comments tend
to revert away from repeated descriptions of plumage and start to become a
running track of where the bird is, or behaviour notes etc. Obviously the
ability to look at / manipulate other facets of the eBird Big Data-set is
totally invaluable.

The GroupMe system we use in Northern New Jersey is very good for sharing
rarity info. And tends to not suffer from reports of common birds, and is
invite only so is kind of self-policing. But as others have pointed out,
it's another app people gotta download and install on their phones

Personally i think nobody should be dissuaded from reporting. As David B
pointed out, it's not hard to set email filters, and someone somewhere
might just get themselves a lifer that otherwise would have gone un-shared
if people hold back.

Just my 3 cents

Good birding.
Dom

www.antbirds.com

www.aventuraargentina.com

+ 1 646 429 2667 <(646)%20429-2667>

On 30 November 2016 at 17:19, Phil Jeffrey  wrote:

> The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
> Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
> pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
> Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
> although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
> list archives (!) for quite some time either.
>
> eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
> eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
> context so they read as:
>
> an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat
>
> and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
> that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
> rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
> removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
> valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
> mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.
>
> So no, eBird is not the solution.
>
> Phil Jeffrey
> Princeton
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:
>
>> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an
>> excellent place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park
>> lists to NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See
>> Kevin McGowan's  post here https://www.mail-archive.com/n
>> ysbird...@cornell.edu/msg20105.html regarding the original intent of the
>> list.
>>
>>
>> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Dominic Garcia-Hall]

I find most people reporting to eBird are pretty good about including
context (location etc) in the comments field - not least because when it's
a genuine rarity eBird mandates some kind of commentary. In fact, I'd say
once a rarity has had its initial few ebird reports, further comments tend
to revert away from repeated descriptions of plumage and start to become a
running track of where the bird is, or behaviour notes etc. Obviously the
ability to look at / manipulate other facets of the eBird Big Data-set is
totally invaluable.

The GroupMe system we use in Northern New Jersey is very good for sharing
rarity info. And tends to not suffer from reports of common birds, and is
invite only so is kind of self-policing. But as others have pointed out,
it's another app people gotta download and install on their phones

Personally i think nobody should be dissuaded from reporting. As David B
pointed out, it's not hard to set email filters, and someone somewhere
might just get themselves a lifer that otherwise would have gone un-shared
if people hold back.

Just my 3 cents

Good birding.
Dom

www.antbirds.com

www.aventuraargentina.com

+ 1 646 429 2667 <(646)%20429-2667>

On 30 November 2016 at 17:19, Phil Jeffrey  wrote:

> The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
> Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
> pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
> Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
> although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
> list archives (!) for quite some time either.
>
> eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
> eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
> context so they read as:
>
> an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat
>
> and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
> that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
> rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
> removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
> valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
> mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.
>
> So no, eBird is not the solution.
>
> Phil Jeffrey
> Princeton
>
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:
>
>> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an
>> excellent place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park
>> lists to NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See
>> Kevin McGowan's  post here https://www.mail-archive.com/n
>> ysbird...@cornell.edu/msg20105.html regarding the original intent of the
>> list.
>>
>>
>> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
list archives (!) for quite some time either.

eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
context so they read as:

an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat

and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.

So no, eBird is not the solution.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:

> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent
> place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to
> NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin
> McGowan's  post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/
> msg20105.html regarding the original intent of the list.
>
>
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Phil Jeffrey]

The current intent of the list as given on the list's website is not what
Kevin McGowan indicated may or may not be the original intent - and I've
pointed this out recently - its even linked at the end of every message.
Certainly this has not been a purely RBA list for quite some time -
although that's more difficult to demonstrate given that there weren't any
list archives (!) for quite some time either.

eBird is only one tiny notch up from just a basic list of species.  The
eBird reports - and I use them for trip research - are frequently without
context so they read as:

an interesting bird was seen somewhere in tens of acres of habitat

and the lack of narrative is hopeless if you want to go find anything
that's of interest to you that might drop below the anointed level of
rarity.  I believe that eBird has damaged local birding lists by the
removal of context from sightings.  IMHO, that context is extremely
valuable to all level of birders and why I run my own list as I do.  I've
mostly stopped reporting sightings to eBird for this reason.

So no, eBird is not the solution.

Phil Jeffrey
Princeton

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 4:50 PM, Paul R Sweet  wrote:

> Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent
> place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to
> NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin
> McGowan's  post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/
> msg20105.html regarding the original intent of the list.
>
>
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

RE: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Rick]

I find some granularity in reporting useful in order to keep tuned to the 
cadence of seasonal flux, especially in times of growing weather 
irregularities, even if that means noting odd appearance dates or unexpected 
frequencies of commoner stuff. This requires judgment on the part of reporters, 
however, and as noted can be overdone.

Rick


Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE KöszDevice


 Original message 
From: Paul R Sweet <sw...@amnh.org> 
Date:11/30/2016  4:50 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: NYSBIRDS-L <NYSBIRDS-L@cornell.edu> 
Cc:  
Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species 

Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent 
place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to 
NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin McGowan's 
 post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/msg20105.html 
regarding the original intent of the list. 


-Original Message-
From: bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu 
[mailto:bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Deborah Allen
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 4:28 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling 
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that 
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address 
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and 
Thailand!). We have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird 
walks sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and 
the other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - 
and that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying 
the local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the 
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

-

Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often 
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some 
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots, 
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of 
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during 
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and 
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and 
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey 
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one 
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble 
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property 

RE: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Rick]

I find some granularity in reporting useful in order to keep tuned to the 
cadence of seasonal flux, especially in times of growing weather 
irregularities, even if that means noting odd appearance dates or unexpected 
frequencies of commoner stuff. This requires judgment on the part of reporters, 
however, and as noted can be overdone.

Rick


Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE KöszDevice


 Original message 
From: Paul R Sweet  
Date:11/30/2016  4:50 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: NYSBIRDS-L  
Cc:  
Subject: RE: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species 

Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent 
place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to 
NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin McGowan's 
 post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/msg20105.html 
regarding the original intent of the list. 


-Original Message-
From: bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu 
[mailto:bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Deborah Allen
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 4:28 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling 
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that 
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address 
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and 
Thailand!). We have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird 
walks sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and 
the other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - 
and that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying 
the local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the 
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

-

Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often 
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some 
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots, 
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of 
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during 
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and 
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and 
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey 
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one 
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble 
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property is about 332 feet long 
by 177 feet wide, of which area

RE: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Paul R Sweet]

Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent 
place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to 
NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin McGowan's 
 post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/msg20105.html 
regarding the original intent of the list. 


-Original Message-
From: bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu 
[mailto:bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Deborah Allen
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 4:28 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling 
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that 
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address 
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and 
Thailand!). We have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird 
walks sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and 
the other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - 
and that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying 
the local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the 
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

-

Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often 
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some 
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots, 
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of 
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during 
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and 
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and 
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey 
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one 
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble 
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property is about 332 feet long 
by 177 feet wide, of which area the church occupies a space about 78 by 120 
feet at the Broadway end, while at the Church Street end the Church School 
takes off another slice about 30 feet wide. The space remaining consists of the 
main yard at the rear of the church, between it and the school, and a wing on 
either side of the church, each about 120 feet long by 48 feet wide. A narrow 
walk completes the circuit of the churchyard, about twenty feet from its outer 
edge. The grounds contain three large, ten medium, and forty smaller trees, not 
counting several that were being removed at the time of my

RE: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Paul R Sweet]

Daily lists are great and as I mentioned previously E-bird is an excellent 
place to record such data. If everyone posted their Central Park lists to 
NYSBIRDS-L it would certainly dilute the power of the list. See Kevin McGowan's 
 post here https://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/msg20105.html 
regarding the original intent of the list. 


-Original Message-
From: bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu 
[mailto:bounce-121044213-11471...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Deborah Allen
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 4:28 PM
To: NYSBIRDS-L
Subject: [nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling 
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that 
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address 
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and 
Thailand!). We have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird 
walks sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and 
the other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - 
and that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying 
the local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the 
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

-

Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often 
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some 
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots, 
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of 
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during 
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and 
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and 
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey 
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one 
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble 
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property is about 332 feet long 
by 177 feet wide, of which area the church occupies a space about 78 by 120 
feet at the Broadway end, while at the Church Street end the Church School 
takes off another slice about 30 feet wide. The space remaining consists of the 
main yard at the rear of the church, between it and the school, and a wing on 
either side of the church, each about 120 feet long by 48 feet wide. A narrow 
walk completes the circuit of the churchyard, about twenty feet from its outer 
edge. The grounds contain three large, ten medium, and forty smaller trees, not 
counting several that were being removed at the time of my

[nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Deborah Allen]

With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and
books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and Thailand!). We
have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird walks 
sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and the 
other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - and 
that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying the 
local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

-

Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots,
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property is about 332 feet long
by 177 feet wide, of which area the church occupies a space about 78 by 120
feet at the Broadway end, while at the Church Street end the Church School
takes off another slice about 30 feet wide. The space remaining consists of the
main yard at the rear of the church, between it and the school, and a wing on
either side of the church, each about 120 feet long by 48 feet wide. A narrow
walk completes the circuit of the churchyard, about twenty feet from its outer
edge. The grounds contain three large, ten medium, and forty smaller trees, not
counting several that were being removed at the time of my count, and a number
of shrubs and flowers, grass-plots and grass grown graves. Even the most
nerve-hardened native bird would hardly select such a spot for a summer home,
nor attempt to take up winter quarters there.

Throughout the greater part of the summer and winter the noisy flock of English
Sparrows domiciled here holds undisputed sway. It seems probable that the
native birds that occur in the churchyard during migrations are such as are
attracted to the green spot while passing in their flights directly over it,
and that they are in no case stragglers from the temporary residents of the
near-by country or parks. I have visited the churchyard many times in 

[nysbirds-l] St. Paul's Church, Manhattan 1903-04 - 41 species

[Deborah Allen]

With the recent attention on lower Manhattan parks due to the continuing 
Western Tanager and multiple Chats, we thought it might be interesting to take 
a look at the birds that people reported in those same parks in the past. 
Reading many 19th-20th century articles about NYC birds in the Wilson Journal 
of Ornithology, the Auk and elsewhere, is much like reading the NYS list today 
- including the article we place below. Some may find lists and anecdotal 
observations of any era boring - but for us they are a gold mine. We have made 
it one of our endeavors to track and understand how the local avifauna has 
changed through time...and such notes, sightings, reliable reports (including 
Christmas Count lists) are the foundation that allows us to evaluate and write 
about what happened here in the past and to grapple with the why of the 
changes. For example, unless multiple birders took the time to write that 
Bobolinks were common nesters in certain parks in several boroughs of NYC in 
the early 20th century, we would be left thinking that these birds were always 
rare in NYC. Think of the Bobwhite Quail that bred at NYBG (Bronx) and other 
parks into the early 1930s, or the amazing occurrence of a Blue-gray 
Gnatcatcher in Central Park in 1901, or the first nest of the species in New 
York State in 1963. Without these sorts of anecdotal accounts how would we know 
the number of sparrow species that once were common summer residents in NYC 
parks in the 19th Century (Vesper Sparrow anyone)? What seems like dull (or 
amazing) reading today, may be very different to NYC birders in 2050 reading 
bird lists from different parks of the Big Apple in 2016.

Delete is a good key on your computer. Not a big deal...but we'd prefer to see 
people reporting...it keeps a buzz going on a list...and we can keep grappling
with the facts to better understand, the Why? How? and When? It’s great that
birders make so many lists. We encourage them to take those data and address
another important question: what does it mean? Meanwhile we have our articles 
and
books to write and field research to do (greetings from Nepal and Thailand!). We
have an amazing contingent of fellow birders who join us on bird walks 
sometimes seven days per week (during migration) - in Central Park and the 
other parks of NYC. They tell us about what they have found all the time - and 
that makes us smile because they are seeing/doing/learning - and enjoying the 
local environment and its birds.

We hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and wish you all the best for the
Hanukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa Holidays,

Deborah Allen and Robert DeCandido, PhD

-

Ornithology of St. Paul's Church [1903-04]


Even under unpromising conditions, and in unexpected places, there is often
something for the bird-student to investigate. This is illustrated by some
surprising records from city parks, and even from the smaller green spots,
oases in the great desert of brick and mortar.

As such a record I here submit, for whatever it may be worth, the results of
observations in Saint Paul's Churchyard, New York City, made mostly during
intervals of a few moments at noon, and occasionally in the morning, and
covering the migration periods of spring and fall of 1903, and spring of 1904.

Saint Paul's Church property is situated nearly midway between the East and
North Rivers, fronting east on Broadway, Church Street at the rear, Vesey
Street on the north side and Fulton Street on the south, and it is thus in one
of the busiest and noisiest sections of the city.

At the rear of the property, along Church Street, there is the constant rumble
and roar of the elevated railroad. This church property is about 332 feet long
by 177 feet wide, of which area the church occupies a space about 78 by 120
feet at the Broadway end, while at the Church Street end the Church School
takes off another slice about 30 feet wide. The space remaining consists of the
main yard at the rear of the church, between it and the school, and a wing on
either side of the church, each about 120 feet long by 48 feet wide. A narrow
walk completes the circuit of the churchyard, about twenty feet from its outer
edge. The grounds contain three large, ten medium, and forty smaller trees, not
counting several that were being removed at the time of my count, and a number
of shrubs and flowers, grass-plots and grass grown graves. Even the most
nerve-hardened native bird would hardly select such a spot for a summer home,
nor attempt to take up winter quarters there.

Throughout the greater part of the summer and winter the noisy flock of English
Sparrows domiciled here holds undisputed sway. It seems probable that the
native birds that occur in the churchyard during migrations are such as are
attracted to the green spot while passing in their flights directly over it,
and that they are in no case stragglers from the temporary residents of the
near-by country or parks. I have visited the churchyard many times in