Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!mizar.usc.edu!burhans
From: burhans@mizar.usc.edu (Mustang Sally)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: More birder questions
Message-ID: <31353@usc>
Date: 25 Mar 91 02:08:36 GMT
References: <31315@usc> <1991Mar23.145351.8041@jato.jpl.nasa.gov>
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In article <1991Mar23.145351.8041@jato.jpl.nasa.gov> sid@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Sid Johnson WB6VWH) writes:
>
>Of the various birding software reviews that I have read on this net, as
>well as BIRDCHAT and elsewhere, Plover gets the best reviews.  As far
>as I can tell most use the program as an up front data entry program to
>a dbase program.  I have not yet seen a review of the newer program
>datahawk.

Yes, that was my impression after reading the articles a friend copied
and sent me. The disadvantage to Plover seems to be that it isn't a
world bird list program but only North America. Also, it was unclear
if it would allow you to keep lists for multiple people. Hadn't heard
of Datahawk and haven't seen any review of Birdbrain, the MAC program.
I may have to suscribe to Birder. Its come to that.

re: bird identifying question
>
>Well, you didn't mention size of the bird but since it was in agroup of
>sparrows and Juncos, the description would lead me to believe it was
>a White-crowned Sparrow.  They are quite comman here in So. Calif this
>time of year and the white crown is not always that apparent but the
>stripes that you mentioned are a good field mark for this bird.

Well this seems to be the consensus and I'm willing to accept it,
especially after seeing them in bunches at Descanso Gardens, locally.
I originally rejected this possibility because it seemed like it had
black stripes on a grey head not black and white. But hey, maybe
the lighting was bad.

As a new birder I find myself sympathetic to all common and ordinary
birds. Anything with common in the name and house sparrows (so cute!
so plentiful!) even pigeons though that is sometimes a stretch. The ones
that look healthy and have the "ancestral" coloring are really quite
beautiful if you think about it. Its just that there are so darn
many of them!

>I,m not sure what part of the city you live in but I recommend finding
>out where the nearest birdwalk is held and joining in.  That will help
>you learn the local birds in a hurry and also the key field marks to
>look for.

I live in Atwater Village, between Los Feliz and Glendale. Descanso
Gardens, I just found out, has Audobon sponsored birdwalks on the
2nd and 4th Sunday of the Month. I'm signing up! Thanks!




-- 
Jackie Burhans (burhans@usc.edu)          
Data Stylist, USC Student Affairs