It has been brought to my attention that birders have been repeatedly slipping into a pattern of using coded bird names (and locations) instead of spelling them out.
Please discontinue using abbreviated bird names (or locations) in code, unless it is clearly spelled out somewhere in the start of each posting. This has a place and method for use. This is not the place to use them, and proper guidelines for use has not been followed. Abbreviations are acceptable in writing, following certain style guidelines (nicely explained here: http://www.aje.com/en/arc/editing-tip-when-use-abbreviations/) or within very tight circles of people communicating for brevity where the coded word is completely understood by all. A majority of the 1,250+ subscribers and the broader base of online readership are not bird banders, and therefore will not understand the four-letter acronyms of bird names being used (if even used correctly). Using coded names may come across as elitist and is certainly exclusionary. Most recently, Yellow-headed Blackbird has been repeatedly abbreviated incorrectly as YHBB instead of YHBL. This can cause great confusion and alarm, and could be clarified in totality by simply spelling out the full bird name. Otherwise, readers are being asked to read banding code reference guides to decipher the abbreviation. The only acceptable and clear way to use an abbreviation is if it is made following abbreviation standards and guidelines. For example (hypothetically!): Today, a Yellow-headed Blackbird (YHBL) was seen at the South end of Cayuga Lake in Tompkins County, among a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. Initially the YHBL was lost in the cattails in the area known as Hog Hole, located at the very Southwest corner of Cayuga Lake, but the bird was eventually relocated and photographed at the Northeast edge of the cattails. Thanks to John Doe for finding the YHBL and getting the word out so quickly. Hopefully, this stunning YHBL were stick around for at least a few days for others to see and enjoy. In this hypothetical example, the bird name is spelled out in entirety, with the abbreviation immediately following. Only after giving the name-abbreviation association, should you use the abbreviation. Also, note that the location was made clear for anyone seeking to visit the location. I believe this point has been made clear and further discussion about it is not necessary. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to me (NYSbirds-L eList Owner) at c...@cornell.edu<mailto:c...@cornell.edu>. Thank you and good birding! Sincerely, Chris T-H -- Chris Tessaglia-Hymes Listowner, NYSbirds-L Ithaca, New York c...@cornell.edu<mailto:c...@cornell.edu> NYSbirds-L – Archives<http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> NYSbirds-L – Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm> NYSbirds-L – Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm> NYSbirds-L – Subscribe, Configuration and Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
