Thank you Mark. I was wracking my brain on that one lol!
On Mon, Mar 24, 2025, 4:08 AM Mark McShane <mcshanebirder...> wrote:
> 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. > > The GABO-L posting guidelines live here: > https://www.gos.org/georgia-birders-online > > - - - > > Good Birding All, > > Mark > > 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. > > Send regular postings to <gabo-l...> > > To search GABO-L archives or manage your subscription, go to > https://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=GABO-L > > To contact a listowner, send message to <GABO-L-request...> >
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.
