Date: 7/19/25 4:37 am From: Diana Beatty <otowi33.33...> Subject: Re: [cobirds] [eBird Alert] Arapahoe County Rare Bird Alert
It is my understanding that eBird protocol is to only identify to
subspecies when one has specifically identified it as such, and never as an
assumption based upon location. It would be good practice to include
comments when identifying to subspecies denoting the evidence used to
determine subspecies. This can help differentiate between a subspecies ID
and someone simply not noticing they clicked on a tally line that includes
subspecies vs. One that doesn't.
Since there were no comments on those checklists, at least so far, for the
matter indicated, we and eBird reviewers do not know which scenario
happened without speculation and additional knowledge such as the
likelihood of that subspecies and possibility of it being IDed in the
circumstances of the observation. Thus, it comes up in flags and some kind
of reviewer action is likely warranted.
Diana Beatty
El Paso
On Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 9:01 PM David Suddjian <dsuddjian...> wrote:
> eBird encourages reporting to subspecies when it is warranted. Subspecies
> *auricollis* is the expected form for our region, with ssp *virens*
> occurring further east in CO. But the question is (and thus the filtered
> status for a reviewer to consider) whether the subspecies was actually
> identified based on criteria (I haven't looked at the report). Some
> subspecies or eBird forms and groups can be readily discerned in the field.
> Others require some expert knowledge to recognize. Still others would be
> hard to confirm from most field sightings other than assuming they were of
> the expected subspecies. For example, for Spotted Towhee eBird offers the
> "Spotted Towhee (maculatus group)" as an option. It is the expected form in
> our region. But how many birders reporting it are actually aware of its
> distinguishing features, much less critically viewing towhees reported as
> that form. If you don't know how to distinguish which form you are looking
> at, then it is sort of a self fulfilling thing to report the sighting to a
> subspecific form or group. But I don't know the situation for the chat
> reports you are asking about.
>
> David Suddjian
> Littleton, CO
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM Gary Brower <grb4914...> wrote:
>
>> Yes, clearly.
>>
>> But, I wonder (and this is an eBird question) if this kind of data skews
>> the overall records collection? I.e., were all four reporters agreed on the
>> ID of the rarity?
>>
>> Gary Brower
>> Unincorporated Arapahoe County
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 18, 2025 at 6:59 PM Diana Beatty <otowi33.33...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Presumably a shared checklist. One person made the list and shared it
>>> with the others.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 6:52 PM Gary Brower <grb4914...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> That would make (some sort of) sense. So all four listers noticed this?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks!
>>>>
>>>> Gary Brower
>>>> Unincorporated Arapahoe County
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 18, 2025, at 6:48 PM, Diana Beatty <otowi33.33...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> It looks like a subspecies was denoted and that is likely what
>>>> triggered the filter.
>>>>
>>>> Diana Beatty
>>>> El Paso County
>>>>
>>>> ******
>>>>
>>>> “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,”
>>>> said *Gandalf*, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is
>>>> not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time
>>>> that is given us.”
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 6:45 PM Gary Brower <grb4914...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Why in the world is this a “rare bird”? How far out of the “normal”
>>>>> time frame are we?
>>>>>
>>>>> Gary Brower
>>>>> Unincorporated Arapahoe County
>>>>>
>>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>>
>>>>> *From: *<ebird-alert...>
>>>>> *Subject: **[eBird Alert] Arapahoe County Rare Bird Alert <daily>*
>>>>> *Date: *July 18, 2025 at 6:37:11 PM MDT
>>>>> *To: *<grb4914...>
>>>>>
>>>>> *** Species Summary:
>>>>>
>>>>> - Yellow-breasted Chat (auricollis) (4 reports)
>>>>>
>>>>> ---------------------------------------------
>>>>> Thank you for subscribing to the <daily> Arapahoe County Rare Bird
>>>>> Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in Arapahoe
>>>>> County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at
>>>>> https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN38012 >>>>> NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.
>>>>>
>>>>> eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully.
>>>>> Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and
>>>>> respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information
>>>>> visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully >>>>>
>>>>> Yellow-breasted Chat (auricollis) (Icteria virens auricollis) (4)
>>>>> - Reported Jul 18, 2025 07:45 by Julia Gwinn
>>>>> - South Platte Park--C470 area, Arapahoe, Colorado
>>>>> - Map:
>>>>> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-105.0411201&<ll...>,-105.0411201 >>>>> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S260867649 >>>>> - Comments: "Heard and seen perched on shrub beside reservoir."
>>>>>
>>>>> Yellow-breasted Chat (auricollis) (Icteria virens auricollis) (4)
>>>>> - Reported Jul 18, 2025 07:45 by Matthew Carmody
>>>>> - South Platte Park--C470 area, Arapahoe, Colorado
>>>>> - Map:
>>>>> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-105.0411201&<ll...>,-105.0411201 >>>>> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S260884572 >>>>> - Comments: "Heard and seen perched on shrub beside reservoir."
>>>>>
>>>>> Yellow-breasted Chat (auricollis) (Icteria virens auricollis) (4)
>>>>> - Reported Jul 18, 2025 07:45 by Marjorie Middleton
>>>>> - South Platte Park--C470 area, Arapahoe, Colorado
>>>>> - Map:
>>>>> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-105.0411201&<ll...>,-105.0411201 >>>>> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S260884262 >>>>> - Comments: "Heard and seen perched on shrub beside reservoir."
>>>>>
>>>>> Yellow-breasted Chat (auricollis) (Icteria virens auricollis) (4)
>>>>> - Reported Jul 18, 2025 07:45 by Colby Karnei
>>>>> - South Platte Park--C470 area, Arapahoe, Colorado
>>>>> - Map:
>>>>> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&<q...>,-105.0411201&<ll...>,-105.0411201 >>>>> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S260892218 >>>>> - Comments: "Heard and seen perched on shrub beside reservoir."
>>>>>
>>>>> ***********
>>>>>
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