Now Available Online
57 Years of The Kingbird
in a Searchable Archive
NYSOA is proud to announce the launch of a new online data base of its quarterly onithological journal, The Kingbird. Now, for the first time, researchers, students, and the birding public are able to perform keyword searches of the thousands of articles published in The Kingbird since its inception in 1950. The archive is accessible free of charge here on this website.
The archive of The Kingbird represents an investment by NYSOA in the future of New York State’s birds — to the tune of $15,000 and well over 100 hours of skilled volunteer work. The new data base currently contains about 8 million words on nearly 16,000 pages comprising over 5,200 files. In addition to the searchable archive, there is an online library of 228 full issues, a special supplement, and 4 ten-year indices available for download or online browsing. The public archive and library will be updated at least once a year to ensure that it always includes all but the most recent 8-12 issues of The Kingbird.
This unique research and educational resource clearly demonstrates NYSOA’s commitment to “further the study of bird life and to disseminate knowledge thereof.” We expect that the data base will not only serve as a rich source of data for work already underway but also stimulate growth in New York State bird research. Being able to find specific information quickly with a computer will save researchers the countless hours of work that were previously necessary when sifting through hundreds of paper issues of The Kingbird.
With deep gratitude to past members who made bequests to NYSOA for educational purposes, and to all those who have contributed writings and observations to The Kingbird over the years, we encourage you to explore, utilize, and enjoy the archive – and to spread word of it to others who share our passion for birds.
Wanted: CBC Data!
Shai Mitra, Editor of NYSOA's quarterly journal, The Kingbird, invites all CBC coordinators/compilers in New York State to submit this season's count data for inclusion in the comprehensive CBC compilation to be published in the June 2010 issue. The benefits of doing so include:
1. The data published in The Kingbird clearly specify the species and subspecies reported, using uniform conventions across all the counts in NYS.
2. The Kingbird strives to present full data for effort, weather, and participants' names--none of which can be obtained easily from the official online CBC database.
3. Finally, one of the greatest pleasures of CBC participation comes from browsing through multiple counts of many kinds--rival counts for highest species lists, other counts held on the same glorious (or miserable) day as one's own count, counts that one used to attend in past years, or counts in which distant friends actively participate. Many CBC enthusiasts lament the near impossibility of doing this via a series of carefully conceived, directed searches through the official online CBC database. In contrast, The Kingbird's CBC issue can be browsed as intensively or as casually as one wishes--and can be searched electronically also! (see: http://www.nybirds.org/KBsearch.htm)
For more details from Shai, and templates you can use to submit your CBC data, check out the complete article. |
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