Date: 3/24/25 1:08 am From: Mark McShane <mcshanebirder...> Subject: [GABO-L] ADMIN - Using Banding/Bird Codes in Georgia Birders Online (GABO-L) Posts
Hi All/Marla,
PUFI is the code for Purple Finch!
- - -
Regarding using banding/bird codes in Georgia Birders Online (GABO-L) posts, here is what the official posting guidelines have to say:
the FULL NAME of a reported bird should be used, at least in the first reference to that bird within a message. Abbreviations and non-standard names should be avoided; they are of little use in a database search.
- - -
Common best practice in most bird/birder forums and bird messaging groups is that the first time a bird is referenced in a post or message in which the initiator of the message wishes to use a banding/bird code to refer to a bird, the writer of the post should FIRST list the COMMON NAME of the bird, followed by the CORRECT CAPITALIZED banding/bird code IN PARENTHESES.
For the first use in such a post of Purple Finch the example would then be formatted as:
Purple Finch (PUFI)
Any subsequent referral to the bird in the same post could then be made by using the already listed, and linked, banding/bird code as desired instead of the full common name, Purple Finch example:
PUFI
A sample post excerpt showing proper usage of a banding/bird code in a post would be:
I saw my first Purple Finch (PUFI) at my bird feeder a few days ago, it was so amazing! I discovered that two PUFI were seen two days ago at my neighbor's bird feeder. My neighbor and I are now both trying to research and provide the correct and best food items in our bird feeders in order to attract as many PUFI to our yards and feeders this season as possible. Today my neighbor told me that because PUFI are such beautiful birds they are going to put up maybe ten more bird feeders hoping to attract a whole flock of PUFI before the end of the season and try to train the birds to come back next and every year!
A small s could be added to the end of the capitalized banding/bird code to denote multiple birds instead of just one, as in PUFIs... or not.
- - -
One big problem of using codes is that many birders, even very experienced ones, use incorrect codes in some cases.
The codes officially originated are not always what one would think they should naturally be because of conflicts with another bird name/code in the initial generating of the code, so different than obvious codes have to be generated.
There are also different sets of codes in use in the world by different organizations. Each different coding system uses methodology to resolve potential code name conflicts to come up with their codes, and there are many conflicts, and so many unexpected codes.
- - -
Folks who do not know about the codes, or how to look them up, or who don't want to look them up (not that they should), get confused, some people use incorrect codes, there are different codes from different systems, and time and energy is wasted thinking about these codes. Every year one usually gets involved in, or hears, a discussion about banding/bird codes somewhere along the way, usually it's a debate concerning if the correct code is being used and why.
However, following the best practices detailed above basically solves the whole in-writing problem, even if an incorrect or different code is used at least the reader knows what bird the writer is talking about, instead of the writer just talking about a code. The reader can follow the bird referenced with the code in the post or article and be clear through to the end. Using the code shortcut method may not be the best writing solution but it can make it easier to refer to a certain species over and over again (especially a bird with a long and/or multipart and/or hyphenated name for example) in a post or write-up.
In GABO-L posts it's ok to use codes following the above best practices, but maybe best not to.
Mark McShane
Georgia Birders Online (GABO-L) co-admin
Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia
You must be a subscriber to post to GABO-L.
Instructions for subscribing (and the guidelines) are found here:
http://www.gos.org/georgia-birders-online Please read the guidelines before posting.
