Australia

If you are lucky enough to be the first eBirder to visit a site, then you have the joy of being able to name it yourself. Here are some tips on how to create a site name that is not only meaningful to yourself, but also to other birders who might want to view the list of birds you recorded, or even visit the site too.

 

What information should I put in my site name?

Any site that you wish to share should be suggested as a hotspot rather than being kept as a personal site. Despite the name, they need not be “hot”, nor represent the best places to go birding. Hotspots are sites where anyone can submit their records. With this in mind, most sites that you set up will most likely be suitable to become hotspots. The hotspot naming conventions in the eBird help pages explains how to refine the name of a location to describe exactly where you saw the birds and allow others to easily find it as well as analyse landscape variables associated with the location. Ideally, the more specific information the better, but try not to be too specific! In brief:

1. The name of the site should be the name of the site. For example, if the site is White Lake, then name it simply White Lake.

2. If the name might be ambiguous within the region, add the locality in parentheses, e.g. White Lake (Douglas).

3. If the site is a sub-site of a national park or other conservation reserve, specify the reserve name first, followed by two dashes and the site name, e.g. Grampians National Park–Delleys Dell.

4. If the site is not open to the public, add (restricted access) to the site name, e.g. HMAS Cerberus Naval Base (restricted access); or for private property: 12 Smith St, Collingwood (restricted access).

 

What should I try to avoid when naming a site?

Vague descriptions that might conflict with other people’s (also vague) sites, e.g. ‘the corner’, ‘backyard’, ‘my house’.

Personal descriptions unable to be recognised by others, e.g. ‘mum’s house’, ‘Julie’s backyard’.

 

Now I know this, how can I adjust my site names?

For personal locations, you can change the name by going to “My eBird” and then clicking on “Manage my locations.” Click “edit” next to the location you wish to edit. Select the “Rename” radio button and then type the new name into the window that appears above the map. When you’re finished click “Rename.” Your changes should be reflected in your lists.

Although you can edit the names of your personal sites, once a location has been accepted as a hotspot, only an administrator can make changes. You can however still create a “personal name” for the hotspot, which appears in your own “My Locations” list.

Remember, if the location is shared among all eBird users, an eBird administrator may change the name. It is very easy to contact your eBird moderator if you believe a hotspot has been named inaccurately. At the bottom of the Eremaea eBird home page are the words CONTACT US. This links to a page where anyone can ask questions, make comments, point out errors, etc.