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Re: an extraordinary count.



On Thu, 9 Dec 1999, Jack Peachey wrote:
> 
> 	I am  amazed and as a hard working compiler angry at the number of
> extraordinary sightings of rare birds at least for winter reported on the
> Hilton Head CBC. Harry, you  must have thrown up when  you saw that count.
> Please carolinabirders read Harry's editorial comments concerning this
> count. Since probably most of you aren't aware of what I am talking about
> the following will help explain my distress with that count. Let's see-7
> Eared Grebe, an unheard of number for SC,  4 Great Crested Flycatcher with
> no details-there are only a few records for the state, 2 Eastern Kingbirds
> with no details and no accepted winter records for the state, a Northern
> Rough-winged Swallow with no details and one specimen winter record for the
> state, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Wood Thrush with no details and there are no
> acceptable winter records for the state and very few anywhere in N.A. in
> winter! A Red-eyed Vireo and Black-throated Blue Warbler with no details-no
> SC winter records for either bird. 2 Common Redpoll with no details-very
> few acceptable winter records for SC. 
> Because of the above citations, I don't believe any of it-from the 7
> Red-throated Loon to the 32 House Sparrow. 
> 	Is there a Carolina Bird Club member among the hordes of observers on that
> count? If so call me at 843-347-5810 or send me an e-mail?

 
This seems like a problem not only with the Hilton Head count, but with
the editing process up the line.  I would think that those records would
be summarily deleted by the regional compiler, and I wonder why they
weren't.  Once they appear in print, they cause problems.

Having compiled a few counts myself, what Jack reports strikes me not so
much as something to get angry about as simple incompetence. Compilers are
volunteers, and the main qualification is that the compiler be willing to
do the organizing work.  Maybe someone who knows SC birds and does the
Hilton Head count could volunteer to get more involved in the compiling
side of it?  

But in most parts of the country, obvious errors that aren't caught by the
count compiler are caught by the regional editors.  These seem to have
slipped through.  I don't have the issue in front of me, so I don't know
who the regional head for the Carolinas is (Harry, as Jack implies?).  I
hope this doesn't come across as an attack on that unknown person, but
perhaps if he or she is reading this, they could explain what happened.

Chris Hill