Here is the OPTIONAL data collection sheet (a paper page) which may be helpful in the field (especially at sea, on ferries or other ships). We want this to be as simple as possible. This is only one of several possible pathways to enter bird sightings. Fill in what you can and return the sheet(s) to us, where the data will be keyed in to the central database, and the sheets then scanned and saved in the archives...
Here is an example usage of this form...
Observer Height means the height above the water, up to the observer's eye level. This is always recorded on any marine censusing trips, because height alters the maximum long distances the observer can see. Notes/Comments are optional, typically to record rare bird field marks or location information (and time bird seen if it is an unusual bird or target bird), or "association" info such as following a fishing boat. No distance (zero miles) is covered in a typical stationery seawatch. Optics means binoculars, telescopes, etc. The ship captain can usually provide the water temperature, also known as SST Sea Surface Temperature. Affiliation is the bird club or other organization the birder may be associated with. Please also record any other forms of marine life, such as seals.
Data Collection Sheet for LIS
and downloading this as a file for printout at your computer (in horizontal "landscape" format).
