The codes are easy to write but difficult to read. They are like mysteries,
once someone explains them you can follow how they got there, but you are
unlikely to figure them out on your own. Unless you use them every day, it's
always a puzzle.
I've said this a bunch here, and I'll say it again:
There are 2 kinds of jargon - the technical kind that increases the precision
of communication among specialists (say, the dorsal surface of the distal-most
portion of the most proximate bone, or "Richardson's" Cackling Goose), and the
kind that becomes an in-group/out-group code (like "newts" for neutralization
assays, or BTYW).
If clear communication to all on the list (or wherever) is your goal, don't use
abbreviations. If you want to show you belong to an exclusive group and you
mean to keep your message cryptic to anyone outside the group, then codes are
great.
IMHO
Kevin
-----Original Message-----
From: bounce-9258656-3493...@list.cornell.edu
[mailto:bounce-9258656-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Mike Powers
Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2011 9:44 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Cc: Jeff Holbrook; John and Fritzie Blizzard; Jay William McGowan; Brenda Best
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] abbreviations
Hi all,
Here is a nice write-up demystifying "birder shorthand" for those that
are interested in learning more:
http://www.nabirding.com/2011/03/11/birder-shorthand-demystifying-the-code-of-banders/
Cheers,
Mike
--
Mike Powers
Horseheads, NY
On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 2:52 AM, Brenda Best <bestb...@me.com> wrote:
> At the opposite end of the spectrum, lots of people, especially beginners,
> may not know what a Gaviforme is without looking it up.
>
> Brenda
> --
> Brenda Best
> Durhamville, NY
> bestb...@me.com
>
> Sent from my iPad
> On Mar 15, 2011, at 7:36 PM, Jeff Holbrook <mycte...@stny.rr.com> wrote:
>
> To Those Who Maybe Interested,
>
>
>
> Just as an FYI, a great new resource for those who want to learn the four
> letter alpha codes or at least have a reference for those times when folks
> forget the cayugabirds-l and other list's guidelines, the" Crossley ID Guide
> to Eastern Birds" is awesome. It is the first guide that I have seen that
> includes the alpha codes. Even the USGS web pages that list the codes are
> not as a good reference as this guide due to the splits and omissions. For
> example, Gaviformes are typically not included as they don't typically
> migrate. Regardless, this is a great reference, but not so much a field
> guide, as reported by others on this list previously. With texting and space
> constrained social networks, i.e. Twitter, etc., four letter alpha codes are
> seeing increased usage by birders across the US.
>
>
>
> Just my two cents. I have no financial ties to anything relating to this
> post. I just thought some folks might like to know or be reminded of this.
>
>
>
> Kind Regards,
>
> Jeff Holbrook,
>
> Corning, NY
>
>
>
>
>
> From: bounce-9256884-3493...@list.cornell.edu
> [mailto:bounce-9256884-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of John and
> Fritzie Blizzard
> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 17:56
> To: Jay McGowan; CAYUGABIRDS-L
> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] abbreviations
>
>
>
> THANKS, JAY. I'm sure many folks on the listserv, especially, new
> birders, aren't happy with the shorthand/texting.
>
>
>
> Fritzie
>
>
>
> ***********************************************************************
>
> Jay wrote:
>
>
>
> While very useful as shorthand for both bird banders and general birders, we
> to avoid these abbreviations on the listserv, since not everyone knows them
> and they can get confusing when people try to use them without knowing the
> exceptions to the rules.
>
> Cheers.
> -
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
--
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
--
