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Database file for N.C. birders



Hi Everybody,

This message would be of interest to N.C. birders who have Microsoft Access
Database program (Office 97).  The rest of you may find this long message
outside your area of interest.

One of the things I have learned from birding with Simon Thompson is to
think about what is possible as I enter into a new birding habitat.  Part of
the mental equation is knowing what is possible or likely with respect to
the time of the year.  In that vein, I have been working on a database file
for some time that combines a number of variables to include:
    the N.C. checklist -  a 428 species checklist is what I used,
    the ability to view the list by coastal or piedmont/ mountain
geographical area,
    generally expected frequency designations by week - accidental, very
rare, rare, occasional, uncommon, fairly common, common, abundant,
    and breeding status in the state - yes or no.

Those of you familiar with databases know that you can design "queries" that
for instance could answer the question "What species would I expect to find
in coastal N.C. the 3rd week of June, and what would each species generally
expected frequency be in their most likely habitat?"  I have set up 48
queries (week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4 of each month of the year) for the
coastal geographic area and the 48 again for the piedmont/ mountain
geographical area.  One of the weaknesses of the database is the vast
variation of habitat within the definition of coastal or piedmont/ mountain
geographical areas.  For instance, Ruffed Grouse may be uncommon in only a
very small area and totally absent in the rest of the defined piedmont/
mountain geographical area.  Certainly if available a specific checklist for
a defined area would be much more accurate (say "Birds of Southeastern North
Carolina" checklist put out by the Lower Cape Fear Bird Club).  Still, with
this weakness recognized, I found the query helpful in directing my birding
efforts.

Those of you familiar with databases know that you can also design "reports"
that would print out in a ready to go into the field checklist format.  I
have designed ready to print field checklist reports for each of the 48
coastal and 48 piedmont/ mountain periods.

I wrote this file for my own purposes, but would be willing to share with
folks who would be interested and able to use the file.

You must have a Windows Microsoft Access Database program to use the file as
I have written it.  I suppose it might be possible to export the file into
the other database programs but I have no ideal.  You computer geeks out
there would know better than I (you know who you are) if that were possible.
Since that is beyond my need for personal use I don't care to figure it out.
If you want a copy send $3 (to pay for my cost of 2 floppy disk and postage
stuff) to Stephen Harris, 8701 Highland Ridge Lane, Charlotte, N.C.  28216.
I will be happy to share a few copies with those of you that are interested
and able to use the file.  This is not by any means a commercial product and
your expectations should not go beyond mine - that of an amateur birder
tinkering around with a database program to make hopefully better use of
some of the information available.  It works for me on my computer - no
other warranty than that.  I make no promises on your system.  My only aim
is to be perhaps helpful to other fellow N.C. birders.

Good birding to you,

Stephen Harris
srharris@mindspring.com
Charlotte, NC