Let me say something about process on the MOU web site.  Occurrence maps 

are the maps that are available under the "Occurrence Maps" box on the 

moumn.org front page.  Occurrence maps are the result of review of The 

Loon seasonal reporters and can be considered as peer reviewed 

material.  Nothing goes into the "Occurrence Maps" until it is published 

in The Loon.



I think that Drew is referring to the "Species Maps" for the current 

season when he indicates that the Least Tern is indicated as confirmed 

breeding.  The Species Maps are raw input.  They will indicate what 

birds have been reported, not what has been accepted. For casual and 

accidental species only MOURC decides if a species is "accepted" or "not 

accepted".



The current MOU policy related to "confirmed breeding" is different for 

first county records of breeding and following records for breeding.  

The observer indicated the checkbox for feeding young was checked.  The 

notes for this submission are:



    *Feeding Young -*Adult bird carrying food for young or feeding

    recently fledged young. Note: Some adults carry food a long distance

    or may be engaged in courtship feeding. One of the best signs to

    look for is the repeated carrying of food in the same direction.



The code in the seasonal report interface does not check if this is a 

first county record and does not check what species the bird is when 

indicating "confirmed". This analysis is done by the Summer seasonal 

report compiler when the Summer seasonal report is generated.



Please remember that the "Species Maps" are raw data and the "Occurrence 

Maps" are reviewed data.



Thanks.



On 8/14/2014 11:31 AM, Drew Smith wrote:

> (Posted by Andrew D. Smith <[log in to unmask]> via moumn.org)

...

> I was surprised to see earlier today on the MOU website, that the Least Terns

> being observed in Rock County are now considered as "confirmed" breeders.

> This has also been included on the "Occurrence Maps" on the MOU website,

> prior to the birds even being voted on (and accepted) by MOURC. Wow.

...

> Thank you.

>

> Drew Smith



-- 

David Cahlander [log in to unmask] Burnsville MN 952-894-5910





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