Guidelines for Contributors to The Canopy Report


  Here's a bit of detailed information for individuals who are considering submitting photos and/or written reports to The Canopy Report. First of all, let me say that I will graciously accept even the most bare-bones report, or even a photo that requires further study to determine a solid i.d.. That having been said, be aware that I intend to forward valid reports to the regional editors of North American Birds, and by extension to the Central American Avian Records Committee. I've had my fair share of encounters with state and regional avian records committees, and have a good sense of the kind of detail that merits the inclusion of a sighting in the permament ornithological record. Records committees tend to be an unforgiving bunch (and rightly so), and I expect to be no less discerning, except in that I place great faith in the word of the guides at the Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge, whose skills are well-known to me. Regardless of said congeniality, reports without supporting details will be forwarded as such, and I would be quite grateful to those individuals who take a few moments to elaborate on the details of their sighting. The criteria listed below are based on similar details drawn from the websites of avian records committees elsewhere in the ABA area, and should give one a good sense of how a report to any such authority should be composed. Return to The Canopy Report Homepage


  Basic Information

Your name, and those of other observers (including that of your Panamanian guide).

Date and rough time of observation, and the length of time for which the bird was observed.

Location of sighting (your Panamanian guides can be helpful in providing details beyond the general site name. GPS coordinates are, of course, extremely helpful.

General conditions of the sighting, including lighting, distance from the bird, the level of the bird relative to the ground, and the optics employed in the observation.

Information Regarding the Bird

Name of the species sighted- Latin names are quite helpful, given that common names have been revised since the publication of A Guide to the Birds of Panama, and that European and U.S. authorities employ occasionally differing taxonomies.

Number of individual birds observed, and gender/age of these birds if observed and/or distinguishable.

General size and shape of the bird(s)- many i.d. problems can be resolved by the general impression of the bird; comparison with familiar species is quite acceptable.

Plumage color and pattern, including the soft parts of the bird (the difference between several similar species often boils down to bill and leg color).

Behavior, including vocalizations if heard. Remember that any video camera or even a digital point-and-shoot with a Quick-Time function can yield audio recordings that may prove diagnostic; if you need advice regarding manipulating these media feel free to contact us.

The means by which you determined this species' identification, including comparison to possible look-alike species. The answer to this question might be, "Because Carlos told me so!", which is an honest statement. In that case I will reach out to Carlos for confirmation.

Any number of other details might be of help: other species associated with the bird in question; habitat type, both generally and specifically (i.e. a certain kind of tree), and the observer's level of experience with neotropical birds. I'd rather receive more information than absolutely necessary, should you be so inclined.

Photographs, of course, are generally the most practical form of incontrovertible evidence. Some species are easily identified from any reasonably-detailed image, but some require a shot from a particular angle or of certain body parts. Please make an effort to share the most diagnostic image available. JPEG format is preferred for submissions of a photographic nature, so contact us if this format is not available to you for any reason, and we'll work around it. Modest-sized audio recordings in Mp3 format are excellently evidential, and easily e-mailed. Video is also a wonderful means of documentation, but please do not send me large video files; if you have recordings in this format of a particularly rare species, please send stills from video if you can, and let me know that this media is available. I will advise the Bird Records Committee of your material, and you may be contacted directly to arrange forwarding of this evidence.

Please be aware that I will share your reports with the Central American Bird Records Committee unless specifically instructed otherwise for whatever reason; I will honor any such requests. I will also record your communication regarding any bird, verbatim, in a special section of this website, where it will be available to you or any ornithological authority upon direct request. In this way I can avoid being accused of doctoring reports. Photos shared with this site will be made available publicly only on this site, and privately only for purposes of documentation; any request to reprint these images in any forum will be directed to you without opinion. Please click here for more details regarding this site's observation of copyright laws.

 


  Thank you for your contribution to The Canopy Report- the information you provide will become an important part of the region's ornithological database, and the world's awareness of the avian wonders of Panama will lead to an increase in eco-tourism in this country, the most important factor in preservation of Panama's spectacular natural areas, and the birds contained therein.  


Copyright © Ken Allaire. All rights reserved. Reproduction, modification, or republication of the images or content contained herein without authorization for any purpose or to produce any product is a violation of the copyright herein and is strictly prohibited.