On Fri, 5 Nov 2010 15:24:44 +0000, BTO GBW
wrote:


kay;904411 Wrote:


Has anyone asked Garden Bird Watch for their response?

We completely understand the suspicion that sometimes surrounds 'citizen
science' projects, especially where some form of subscription is
involved.

That's beginning to sound like it's a money spinner. It is
interesting that BTO charge gardeners for the infoprmation rather than
the other way round.

The year-round BTO Garden BirdWatch (GBW) certainly has
scientific merit, with a sizeable publication record of peer-reviewed
scientific papers.

Could you expand on that and tell us what scientific merit it has?


The survey relies on its robust and repeatable
methods to collect large-scale information on how birds (and other taxa)
use gardens and how this use varies over time,

But only in participating gardens.

in relation to
surrounding habitat, within garden practices and geographic location.

Please tell us how you work that out?


Although there is variation in the ability of individual participants,
and in the amount of time they spend carrying out the recording, our
statistical models typically include a site-effect, which enables us to
control for this variation. From a statistical perspective, the sheer
size of the project increases its robustness, since it is the underlying
patterns that are important.


It's not even the ability of individual participants that is a
problem; it's the unknown factors outside of participating gardens
that make this whole exercise look like nonsense to me.. OK , it's a
bit of fun for the gullible but is it of any use other than to make
the BTO a few bob?

Have you ever tried to count sparrows coming and going in a garden?

We have loads of them and I defy anyone to count them and know whether
the same ones are counted over and over again?


The survey is self-funded, through the generosity of its participants.

I'm sure it is :-)) Would that be the point of it?

and without this funding we would not be able to operate such a scheme.
GBW data feed into conservation indicators and have real value, allowing
us to collect information for a habitat that is difficult to monitor.

Like what habitat?



It
is worth noting that the BTO is an independent and impartial research
organisation. It does not campaign and it is well-respected for its
rigorous scientific position.


Well, how about proving it here on this newsgroup.

No better place!