"Smart people learn from their mistakes. But the real sharp ones learn from the mistakes of others."
― Brandon Mull
Yes. There are some Chipping Sparrows in Wisconsin during the winter season, but this eBird map illustrates how uncommon they actually are:
Naturally, these are just ones that have been spotted by a birder and reported to eBird, but there are likely more undetected by overwintering in remote locations. But take a look at outright laziness of this Chipping Sparrow snip from a recent Wisconsin eBird checklist:
This record should not be accepted. One does not argue the case for Chipping Sparrow merely by stating what it isn't ― one must make a positive case for the species being reported by describing the salient features and field marks of that species. What color was its bill? Its eyestripe? Its supercilium? Did it make any vocalizations? If so, describe them. Oh, you saw a small passerine, did you? Well then it definitely wasn't a crow.
Laziness seems to be a common feature of today's eBirder. I can't tell you how many times someone has come to me with a verbal report for my opinion and when I offer suggestions I get “Definitely wasn't a ____.” Oh really? I don't know that. Why ask me, then? Was it a Brewer's Sparrow? They've already decided what they want it to be, say a Pacific Loon versus a Common Loon in an example that comes to mind.
Spring is coming and so too are waves of misidentifications, even when photographs are included in reports. Embarrassing. I stopped submitting checklists to eBird in 2018, partly for the reason that the scrutiny of vague reports were accepted without much critical review, much like this one. In the end it doesn't really matter ― what birds exist do so whether or not they're reported. As a robust citizen scientific project, eBird fails. When reviewers fail to do their due diligence, the entire project becomes folly and a questionable endeavor. Let's face it: for birders, the reality is that eBird's most significant role in birding serves as a scorecard and not scientific instrument.
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell