[Birdtalk] Re: Rare Bird Alert

Tue May 5 16:15:43 MDT 2009

I always saw Birdnet as a State Rare Bird Alert.  7 or 8 years ago when I got my first cell phone I signed my phone up to birdnet.  Whenever anyone posts anything to birdnet I get a text message.  I don't really do much chasing anymore but it came in handy quite often.  A couple times I was down in Washington County and was alerted to some very rare birds even though I didn't have access to a computer, birds I would not have known about until after I got home.  I know nowadays many people have full access to their email and the internet on the go.  But I am not yet that technologically advanced nor could I afford that monthly bill.  Maybe in the near future we will all be conected.

I also very much enjoy the 'plain' sightings and chit chat on birdtalk.  I posted a Red Crossbill at my feeders to birdtalk even though several people had already posted practically the same thing.  But I am very interested in the numbers of Crossbills showing up at feeders and wanted everyone of those messages.  Please, Please chit chat and send 'plain' bird sightings.  I have a much better understanding of the birds in Utah because of everyone's plain boring sightings.  It is like I'm birding the whole state every day.  

I read both lists, I assume most of us do. The only difference to me is that I can read the birdtalk at my leisure on my computer, where as the birdnet sightings may be more time sensitive.  I would hate to be up on the causeway, come home and find out there was a Ruff at mile post 3 or drive all the way home form work to find out there was some rare bird I could have stopped for on my way home.

This used to be more important to me when I would only check my email once a day, after I got home from work.  The situation is different for everybody.

It has never greatly upset me when the rules weren't followed exactly.  It is more important to me that people feel compfortable posting sightings and questions. 

Eric Huish 
Pleasant Grove UT 
poorwill_ at hotmail.com 
801-360-8777 

From: tanager at timaverybirding.com
To: craig.fosdick at gmail.com
Subject: RE: [Birdtalk] Re: Rare Bird Alert
Date: Tue, 5 May 2009 13:32:16 -0700
CC: dlj11350 at yahoo.com; birdtalk at utahbirds.org

BIRDNET is used to email rare bird sightings, to a large list of people that are subscribed to the list.  The genearl idea is that it is a RARE BIRD ALERT.

There is also the Utah Rare Bird Alert Hotline which is a phone in thing that Bill Fenimore is in charge of, or at least was last I heard.  Several years ago, Bill and I coordinated it so I updated a hard copy for BIRDTALK that went out every time a new bird came across birdtalk or the hotline.  Unfortunately, it became less and less of a priority for me with other things going on.  An example of that can be seen here:

http://secureserver.securesites.net/pipermail/birdtalk/2007-September/004690.html

I don't think there is a need for a hard copy RBA anymore, as if you are subscribed to birdnet, you will recieve all rare bird reports.  Of course those on birdtalk and not birdnet will miss the rare birds on birdnet.  PArt of the whole argument to jsut combine the lists, and end all the un-neccesary confusion for some.

Tim
Salt Lake City, Utah
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [Birdtalk] Re: Rare Bird Alert
From: Craig Fosdick <craig.fosdick at gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 05, 2009 2:23 pm
To: birdtalk at utahbirds.org

Don't we already have a Rare Bird Alert? My understanding is that BirdNet is Utah's RBA, no?

Craig

Craig Fosdick
Logan, Utah.

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