Well, I read the user's guide, searched product forums and THOUGHT I knew what to do! 

Here is what I was attempting to do.  After seeing both the Bare-throated Tiger Heron and Amazon Kingfisher I wanted to add to ABA checklist for my life list (I do understand that there has been NO official action by either the State or ABA committees, but both of these are gimmees!!). 

I also know I have this great software and I have been spending money on buying checklist updates when if I just put in a little time I can do everything with this software and why waste the capabilities.

So, I determined to do this myself.  After reading and searching, I thought that all I needed to do was add both birds using the Checklist editor; however, after following the video tutorial for editing the checklist, I noted the little "?" list and when I clicked on it, it was blank for the bird.

My assumption is that I also need to add the bird using the Taxonomic editor.  If that is the case, I appreciate a simple answer as I think I can figure that out using the user guide and tutorials rather than making you type a long response.

Thanks,

Lee Hoy

Hi Lee,

Here goes the example for adding the Amazon Kingfisher to your ABA 2009 w/subspecies taxonomic list.

1. Click on the Advanced toolbar button to open the Advanced button set
2. Click on the Tax Edit toolbar button to open the Tax Editor.
   1. Type "Amazon Kingfisher" into the Thing text field. (TIP: SmartSearch field: "ama;kin" will match on amazon kingfisher.) This is the internal BD thing for this bird. Just happens to match the common name in use. Don't worry about this, just trying to add extra info.
   2. Select your "ABA 2009 w/subspecies" tax list from the Taxonomic List dropdown.
   3. Select teh Preferred Common Name from the dropdown if it is not already set. Choose from the available options.
   4. In the Preset field, type "Belted Kingfisher" (TIP: SmartSearch match on "belt"). This will preset Kingdom through Species for you so all you have to change is the species designation. Big time saver when you are creating a tax list. Notice that it auto-fills these fields for you.
   5. Change Genus to "Chloroceryle", by putting the cursor in the Genus field, press DELETE key on keyboard to clear field and type the above name.
   6. Change Species to "amazona" using the same process.
   7. Set the Sort After dropdown to where you think the species should be placed.
   8. Click the Add button.
3. Click the Checklists toolbar button to open the Checklist Editor
   1. Use the right hand side (Thing Checklist) only in this example, but you could use the left side also.
   2. Type "ama;kin" into the Name field on the right side - Thing Checklist side.
   3. Click the Load button. The grid is loaded with all known locations for this bird.
   4. Type the location you want to add into the Location field.
   5. Click the "Add" (Plus Sign) button. This will add that location to the Grid and check the "F"ound column.
   6. Click the Update button.

Repeat for next bird. That is it. About 60 seconds!

Let me know if I can assist further. Be sure to follow the steps in order as it is important. Don't miss any button clicks specified.

Jeff

I suspected that was the case!!  Almost too easy really!!  There is no excuse for me to not be able to maintain a taxonomic list!! 

Thanks for all your work on this software!  And the fast responses!

Lee Hoy

Hi Lee,

You are exactly correct. Any location automatically obtains things assigned to it or any of its descendants. Apply your location assignment at the most specific location you have defined in Texas for this. For example, if you have the county defined (or maybe the park within the county) where you saw the bird, then assign that bird to that location. It will be adopted by all ancestors of that location.

For example, if you saw it in County X, then of course it also occurs in TX, and also occurs in North America and so on.

Jeff

You can find a video tutorial demonstrating the steps laid out above now here: http://www.birdersdiary.com/Documentation/BDV37/Video_Tutorials/Taxonomy_Editor_-_Adding_a_New_Thing_to_a_Tax_List.htm 

Jeff