Howard County Bird Club

Q & A

I like the book site guides. There must be a need for such a book, so why isn't Birding Howard County, Maryland (BHCM) being reprinted?

Yes, there is a need. Unfortunately, because Howard County is not a major birding destination, there is a rather small pool of potential buyers (especially for a second edition). The biggest problem for a book of this type is maintaining the timeliness of the material. Howard County's park system has expanded dramatically in the last decade and continues to do so. Anything that is printed is almost immediately out of date. Posting it on the website also allows both resident and non-resident birders to investigate county locations. It is true that the Bird Club will make no money from this method of presentation, but the profit from the annual seed sale allows us to continue to contribute to habitat projects. We are fortunate that the Mountjoy bequest provides a cushion for special projects and unusual expenses

If BHCM is to be put on-line, will the whole book go on-line? Will the whole book go on-line at the same time?

We anticipate posting the Birding Year, Species Accounts, and Howard County Checklist by the end of 2007. Individual site guides should begin to appear in early 2008. We expect it to take several years before all sites are posted.

Yes. Data is needed. This revision will include not only bird lists, but also sightings of mammals, butterflies, reptiles, etc. at every location. Each major site needs a person to compile the information. Even if you have no desire to be responsible for a site, do forward observations whenever you visit a site. The more eyes and ears the better!

If additional data is needed for specific sites, can more than one person work in the same park/site?

Yes. Although one individual has been designated as having primary responsibility for compiling data, any number of people can collect and contribute sightings. Multiple visitors always see more than one. Some sites do not yet have a compiler so there is an opportunity for you to take on one site as your own. Email the webmaster if you wish to take on a site.

If I choose a site, does this commit me to visit it every two weeks as the checklist chart shows?

No. Visit when you can. Some people have more time and interest in a particular location than others. You choose the time and frequency of visits. The checklist is intended to allow easier tracking of species if you visit frequently. A master checklist, kept by the compiler for that site, will become the basis for either a simple bird list by species or a seasonal checklist which will be attached to each site write-up. In a few cases, a published seasonal checklist may be created by landholders such as Department of Recreation and Parks in addition to those that already exist. You may forward your sightings after every visit or seasonally (or when they are requested). If you wish to resign as a compiler, you may do so at any time.

I don't have any knowledge of or interest in butterflies, frogs, dragonflies, etc. or anything except birds. Do I really have to look at all those other organisms?

If I find something I can't identify, would it be useful to take a digital photograph? Could I send a photo to someone?

Yes. Not everything can be positively identified on the basis of a photograph, but email the webmaster and we will do our best to identify it. If necessary, images will be forwarded to people with acknowledged expertise.

No. It will be on-going. We hope that Site Guides will be put on the website starting in 2008, even though they may be preliminary.

Yes. Data and photographs will be credited (although not each individual sighting will be credited). In the published version of BHCM, individuals who made significant contributions to a particular site were listed at the end of the write-up. That practice will continue. Some individuals whose contributions encompass many sites may be listed in the Acknowledgments section.

There are some excellent county birding areas that are not on the regular site list. Will they be covered?

You are correct. Sites such as Alpha Ridge Landfill, the University of Maryland Central Farm, West Friendship Park and several locations shown on maps as "sites" are not open to the public. Most of them will be covered eventually. They will continue to be censused during club field trips and at other times by individuals who have permission to visit the properties. Abbreviated site descriptions of these sites will be posted to help birders determine whether they wish to watch for scheduled field trips.