ADMIN: Webpage v. archives

Thanks to Jim Flynn who, in response to my request, added the information to the list of birds seen on the field trips for the 2000 Fall GOS meeting at Statesboro previously submitted and which will now make the list now useful for researchers. This is a learning experience for us all.

I would also like to explain why a webpage, though valuable, does not and is not created to fulfill the function of a true searchable archive.

Webpages are:

1. Not permanent. ("Permanent" is used in the sense of as close to perpetuity as one can get that we find in a university Listserv.)

2. Often the content of a website depends on the space available according to the server's rules and charges; the likes and dislikes of the webmaster, who may decide at any time to quit renewing this or that particular page; the entire webpage may be discontinued or revised in whole or in part losing part or all of the important data. That sounds a whole lot like "not permanent," doesn't it?

3. Not computer searchable. To explain, if there are several separate pages on a website, one cannot enter a search that will include more than one page at the time. That is, of course, better than nothing, especially if they are consistently titled, etc., but by posting them here on GABO, the birds included in those lists are included in the search for any particular period of time chosen or for the whole period from the beginning of the list to the ever-moving present.

Often people post a trip report and put their birdlist on their webpage. Then when that particular page is discontinued, so is the list. We haven't seen that many trip reports on GABO, but please remember to include your list of birds when and if you post a trip report. (Georgia birds, that is.)

True, there is a size limit of 200 lines (for virus protection) for postings on this list , and that means you may have to separate your report into separate postings, still they are valuable. Just be sure all parts are identified consistently , by place, date and part number. To shorten the subject line, using TR (for TRIP REPORT) would be helpful.

I am sure there are some other points that may need to come out are not covered here, but this message is intended to make you aware that every post should be thought of in terms of what it is worth to the birders who have GABO archives to research in. They are open to the general public, although posting is available only to subscribers. For that reason, please use the full name of the bird, properly spelled, at least with the first use, if it has a direct connection with the post. It may get lost if it is abbreviated. Certainly, for non-English speakers, "butterbutt" will not have much meaning. I don't expect the term to disappear, however. Just consider how you would want to look for a bird, if you are the researcher.

Researching is no big deal, as some of you may think. Just whatever strikes your fancy that you want to know about over a period of time. Next year, for example, there will be a lot of hummingbirds if I were to research the month of October. Also, I have found from a post recently posted by Bette Turlington that there is a page by Georgann Schmalz on Fernbank's website that gives the early/late dates for the Atlanta area. Maybe we can get that on GABO also. I was surprised at some of those dates, and would be glad to have it updated as necessary. Perhaps we can get that for the State, hmmmm....

There are many uses for the archives, and the location posters, such as Marion Dobbs, do a great service for creating an archive within an archive in this lovely Listserv list. Also, Walt Chambers. whom I personally dragged into GABO at the last Fall meeting at Jekyll, has almost created Oxbow Meadows (but how about those bird names, Walt?), Gene Kerferl, Lydia Thompson and others at the coast, Jim Flynn all over the state, as well as Earl Horn, Giff Beaton, Eran Tomer and Brad Bergstrom, et al. This is not a star report, so I am just writing names at random, not forgetting you, Deb Barreiro, and thinking of Elaine Young whom I recently contacted. All of you whose names are not included (I have already included you, Georgeann!) please don't get your feelings hurt. I value you all. And I hope we value each other.

Thanks to all of you.

Barbara

Barbara Passmore Valdosta Listowner, GABO-L