OK. In my opinion, we should first lay out the 4 (or more if anyone wants to nominate another) Featured Topic ideas and vote on them. And what do you all think of my targets? Am I overambitious, underambitous, or what? I'll do The Extinct Bird of North America and New World Vultures nominees and the base for Ratites and Procellariiformes: would someone else like to flesh out the details? Without delay, they are:
Extinct Birds of North America
edit| Article Title | Current Class | Target Class |
|---|---|---|
| List of Extinct Birds of North America Since 1500 | NA | FL |
| Ivory-billed Woodpecker | B | FA |
| Bachman's Warbler | C | GA |
| Eskimo Curlew | Start | GA |
| Passenger Pigeon | FA | FA |
| Carolina Parakeet | C | FA |
| Labrador Duck | Start | GA |
| Great Auk | FA | FA |
Pros: This topic covers extinct birds, which are generally better known than some of the other bird species in other topics. There is a lot of taxonomic variety in this group, so no one would be bored of doing another vulture article. There are a lot of sources out there on these birds, and the history section would be a major focus in the article.
Cons: Extinct birds have been called depressing. This topic is featured on North America. This uses a very narrowly defined meaning on North America - currently missing Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands and Hawaii- because it only deals with what the ABA defines as North America ornithologically.
Possible Additions: Extinct Subspecies, like Heath Hen and Dusky Seaside Sparrow.
Support:
New World Vultures
edit| Article Title | Start of Project Class | Current Class | Target Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| New World Vulture | B | B | FA |
| American Black Vulture | Start | FA |  Done
|
| Turkey Vulture | Start | FA | Done
|
| Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture | Stub | GA | Done
|
| Greater Yellow-headed Vulture | Stub | GA | Done
|
| California Condor | B | FA | Done
|
| Andean Condor | B | FA | Done
|
| King Vulture | Start | FA | Done
|
Pros: This topic covers several South American species, which are poorly represented among the North American and Australian biased GAs and FAs. This family is cool and interesting. All of them are alive and well.
Cons: All the birds are vultures. The two yellow-headeds will be extremely hard to get to GA.
Possible Additions: Cathartes, a start, if we decide genera should be included in a FT.
Support:
Procellariiformes
edit| Article Title | Current Class | Target Class |
|---|---|---|
| Procellariiformes | Start | FA |
| Procellariidae | FA | Done
|
| Diomedeidae (albatrosses) | FA | Done
|
| Hydrobatidae (storm-petrels) | GA | FA |
| Pelecanoididae (diving petrels) | Start | FA |
Pros: This order includes four highly interesting families of birds who spend their entire lives out at sea. These are family and order articles, which should have plenty of information. We already have two of them at FA. They live across the globe.
Cons: All are seabirds.
Possible Additions: None that I can tell
Support:
Ratites
edit| Article Title | Current Class | Target Class |
|---|---|---|
| Ratite | B | FA |
| Ostrich | B | FA |
| American Rhea | Start | GA/FA |
| Darwin's Rhea | Start | GA/FA |
| Southern Cassowary | Start | GA |
| Dwarf Cassowary | Start | GA |
| Northern Cassowary | Stub | GA |
| Emu | FA | Done
|
| Great Spotted Kiwi | GA | Done
|
| Little Spotted Kiwi | Start | GA |
| Rowi | Stub | GA |
| Tokoeka | Stub | GA |
| North Island Brown Kiwi | Start | GA |
Almost Certainly Include:
| Article Title | Current Class | Target Class |
|---|---|---|
| Rheidae | Start-ish | FA |
| Casuariidae | Start | FA |
| Apterygidae (kiwis) | B | FA |
Pros: This topic covers birds from around the globe. Many of the biggest or most famous are included in this topic. We could knock out an entire order completely by doing this.
Cons: Some of the cassowaries and kiwis could be hard to bring to GA.
Possible Additions: We could include more recently extinct species, namely Elephant Bird (B), Moa (B), Kangaroo Island Emu (Stub), and King Island Emu (Stub).
Support:
Falconiformes
edit| Article Title | Current Class | Target Class |
|---|---|---|
| Falconiformes | Start | FA |
| Accipitridae | Start | FA |
| Osprey | Good | FA |
| Secretary Bird (Secretary Bird) | B | FA |
| Falconidae | Stub | FA |
Pros: This order includes four highly interesting families of birds. Two articles are in reasonable shape. Cons: Family articles are hard Possible Additions: None that I can tell
Support: