admin after birdwatcing

thebeard · #1 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 07:01 PM

i always seem so snowed under after going birdwatching! i've ended up entering my data on my own ticklist, nottinghamshire birdwatchers, BTO birdtrack, my blog, some stuff on here, and sometimes reporting to locals who may find it interesting!

it seems a lot of work, but i don't think i'd have it any other way, it used to seem so simple before keeping records though

Paul mabbott · #2 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 07:11 PM

I know what you mean .... but .... why don't you just log your data into Excel (or Mapmate or some other common programme) and then just copy parts of it to relevant folks? How do you store your data?

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebeard

i always seem so snowed under after going birdwatching! i've ended up entering my data on my own ticklist, nottinghamshire birdwatchers, BTO birdtrack, my blog, some stuff on here, and sometimes reporting to locals who may find it interesting!

it seems a lot of work, but i don't think i'd have it any other way, it used to seem so simple before keeping records though

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 07:20 PM

Evening TB,

Indeed! When you take your camera out you have the added fun of post-processing and I'm sure you'd need to compare the photos to fieldguides for making IDs too! A lot of work yes, but you know that your work is not only helping others but providing essential tracking information for often important species when put into national recording schemes and site lists.

What about if the database you need to fill-in for an area recorder is a different format to your personal one? It is for me, so I have to make additional ones too...

I find winter is a good time for playing catch-up - unless of course birds and fungi are your areas, in which case you're probably still as busy as ever!

Take care,

Jason

RoyW · #4 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 07:30 PM

If it makes you feel any better, there is a lot of work for whoever you submit the data to as well!

As others have suggested you may be able to reduce the amount of work that you have to do, you should certainly be congratulated for making the effort to submit your records though. Everyone who is out observing wildlife may be able to add to our knowledge of species distribution and abundance - but only if they report there sightings to relevant organisations.
At the moment the BTO have a breeding & wintering bird atlas underway, in some areas even common species may not have been reported.

diggleken · #5 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 07:55 PM

Its a problem with anything - keeping track and personal records etc etc, then bird atlas and so on.
I dont have excel at home now, only excel reader, so any suggestions ( apart from investing in it!) for alternatives gratefully received!
My spreadsheet hasnt been updated for some time.....................

Cheers
Ken

RoyW · #6 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggleken

I dont have excel at home now, only excel reader, so any suggestions ( apart from investing in it!) for alternatives gratefully received!

'Openoffice' is a free spreadsheet/ word processing/ database software that is (more or less) compatible with other similar software including microsoft office (it will open excel spreadsheets, and can be open with excel for example).

earthdragon64 · #7 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 08:46 PM

All my bird sightings go on BTOs Birdtrack, data from there is disseminated out to local bird clubs and is also being used for the bird atlas and also goes out to vice-county recorders. So putting data onto Birdtrack should save you having to duplicate it elsewhere.

You can also keep track of your overall British Species list on there, as well as a species list for any site that you have set up with them, and a year list. What I also like is the facility to compare the date of your 1st sighting of a spring migrant in your region with the earliest sighting, and look back at this on a yearly basis.

All my other records such as Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies etc, are entered into Mapmate and I regularly send spreadsheets to the appropriate vice-county recorder.

Jason Green · #8 (**permalink**) 13-02-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyW

'Openoffice' is a free spreadsheet/ word processing/ database software that is (more or less) compatible with other similar software including microsoft office (it will open excel spreadsheets, and can be open with excel for example).

Yes, OpenOffice would have been my suggestion too - I never had a problem with the Word Processor or Spreadsheet one (I never tried the Presentation app). I went to the website a few minutes ago, but it seems you can't download applications individually so I assume you need to get the Word Processor and Presentation one together as a bundle. Just beware it doesn't conflict with your existing applications

What O/S are you on, Ken?

thebeard · #9 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 11:38 AM

cheers for the replies, its interesting to see other peoples opinions on this matter! i use excel to sort my own data. birdtrack is very useful as a tool yes, its a great way of storing data and allows for an easy way of analysing it too.

david156 · #10 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 11:50 AM

Hi.

I keep my bird list on an Excel spreadsheet. It started as a Life, Year and monthly list and recently I have added to this a county list and comparison to previous years and months. This morning i've started to add another section with links to my photos of that particular bird. Sounds a bit complex but i can quickly check and see that January this year I saw 110 species all in Norfolk compared to 86 last Jan. Will soon be adding a comment section for each species but not sure if I want that on the spreadsheet or through a link to a word document.

Cheers David