[Tweeters] eBird and Sensitive Species

[Jamie Acker via Tweeters]

Good evening Tweeters!
First off, let me state that I am a huge fan of eBird.  When I go on horizontal hold at least there will be some record of my tribal knowledge.
I also am extremely grateful to those unsung heroes, the eBird reviewers who privately and politely educate us on why our ID is so misguided. I recently was the recipient of an eBird reviewer’s critique that questioned a mis ID’d Prairie Falcon.  Which leads me to the topic of eBird and Sensitive Species.
eBird is not perfect but it does a fairly good job of handling Sensitive Species.  There are different degrees of sensitivity apparently.  For instance, Sharp-tailed Grouse is listed as a Sensitive Specie, but an eBird search will highlight multiple observations on Siwash Creek Road, a well know location for them. Other species, such as Gyrfalcon, eBird leaves as a purple rectangle to presumably hide the exact location.
HOWEVER, photographs will appear of Gyrfalcons in the “Recent Photos” for a particular region, along with the photographers name.  It doesn’t take a great deal of sleuth work to track down the route that the observer used.  Especially if there is a checklist submitted with a “0” under species but a lengthy period of time spent at the location.
I am maybe overly sensitive to Gyrfalcon reports, as they are indeed a powerful, rare, and privilege to see.  They are also highly prized by falconers.
So, please don’t advertise your sitings of gyrs.  There are at least two ways that I am aware of and utilize to do so in eBird.  The first is to flat out hide your observation.  This can take up to 24 hours to occur, so it is best not to submit the checklist for 24 hours and then hide it. It will also hide your photos from public view. The other method to hide the observation is to list several other species at that location.  The gyr entry will not appear in public view but will appear on your checklist, just as a hidden record will. What the public sees is a list of the other species seen, the location, and the number of species (less one). However, in “Recent photos” your photo of a gyr will appear to the public.
My recommendation is to hide the observation.
Thanks, and somewhere out there a gyr thanks you.
Enjoy the Season!
-Jamie



owler637 at gmail.com
Bainbridge Island, WA
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