Southeast Arizona Monthly Checklists -- General Information

The March 2005 release of my monthly checklists is a complete revision of the original versions created in 1996 (with just a few subsequent minor updates since). In addition to revised content in terms of status and abundance, this release provides checklists in either Clements or AOU order formatted as WORD and PDF documents. I've also added a "forms" option for creating an on line target list.

Anyone can reproduce and distribute the checklists for personal birding purposes. Please let me know about any errors -- thanks. Please be aware that my normal copyright applies. Years of grunt work went into the data gathering, design and preparation of these checklists -- and it's an ongoing task. Please respect my work by not copying them for any type of commercial purpose without my permission. B & Bs, tour companies, guides and other birding businesses may print and distribute them to clients without my permission, provided a fee is not charged.

Checklist Area
The checklists cover an area from Mexico to just north of Dudleyville (latitude 112); and from New Mexico to just west of Sells (longitude 33). The coverage area is shown on this map and is the generally accepted definition of southeast Arizona. Data is derived from currently published  information and from my own observations since 1993.

The brief information on this page is about usage only. Please read the detailed information to gain a full understanding of the checklist content.

Checklist Taxonomy
Species are listed in Clements (2004) and AOU (7th edition ) taxonomic order. Everybody has their own preference. I'm an AviSys user so I have to put up with Clements order. However, I much prefer my finches and House Sparrow at the bottom of the page a la AOU. You can toggle the order by clicking the AOU/Clements link.

After selecting the order, click the monthly links in the appropriate boxes to display checklists in one of the following formats.

HTML format
This format is single column and intended for general browser viewing. If printed, checklists will be about 8-9 pages.

Microsoft WORD and Adobe PDF documents
Both these formats are two pages, four columns per page. You can easily create a three-fold field checklist by saving locally and double sided printing each page. Stiff card stock works best for this of course. If you use regular paper, you don't even need to print double sided - just lay the two separately printed pages back to back before folding to create a thicker, more substantial result.

Users who own WORD software can also edit and mark up the checklists. Note: If the checklists do not display properly in four columns, make sure that "Print Layout" is selected in WORD "view options" and set the magnification to "fit page". Also, make sure that all margins (left, right, top & bottom) are set to 0.3 inch. Open the monthly links in a new window (right-click) if you have problems getting the checklists to fill the display.

For problem free formatting and printing (famous last words), use the PDF versions that can easily be read by anyone who has the free Adobe reader.

Printing Tip
When printing a WORD or PDF document, make sure that scaling is set to "none" in the printer dialog box.

Target list forms
A checklist form allows you to create a list of target birds on line and then submit the list to me directly via email. Simply check the boxes then click the "submit" button at the top or bottom of the form. This should invoke whatever email program you are using with my address and the subject filled in. The body of the email should contain the list of birds that you have checked (if not, there's a problem -- see below). It's crude but functional. Add your own email address so you'll have a copy (or save locally before sending). If  there's any additional information that you want me to know about, please enter it at the top or bottom of the list of birds or as an attachment. Please do not modify the list in any way. Modified lists will not be processed correctly by my analysis software. Note: If you just have a short list of target birds, simply create a list with a text editor -- don't bother with the forms.

Important note for non Netscape email users I have only tested this feature with Netscape email. In fact, I had trouble getting it to work with Outlook Express. Before spending time checking a long list of birds, please determine that it works with your browser and email program. This is very easy and quick to do. Simply invoke one of the monthly checklist forms, check a box for any species, then click the submit button to see if that species appears in the body of the email. If not, I would appreciate hearing from you. I don't mind receiving lots of test emails. If you are unable to get this feature to work, please let me know the browser and email programs that you are using. Thanks. Feedback received: Seems to work fine with Netscape browsers and Netscape email. Works with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express on a PC but does not allow additional text to be added. Does not work at all on a MAC with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.