[Birdtalk] Re: The Listserv discussion

[Matt Mills]

Hey everyone,

Just to chime in on the listserv discussion. I agree with Eric Huish that I don't mind too much about who posts what where and that I feel there is a need for 2 listservs. However, that said, deep down I wish that each one was used properly, without discouraging anyone from posting.

I think for starters that any regional listservs (such as the one for Utah County, or Cache County or etc.) should be done away with. That way, any announcements from those listservs could be posted to BIRDTALK and the entire state could have the option of attending outings, meetings etc. in any county/local club.

Any musings, questions, postings of photos of common birds, day-to-day sightings, announcements etc. would go to BIRDTALK, which would receive BY FAR the bulk of all e-mails. 

BIRDNET or UTAH RBA or whatever we can call it would be for rare birds only. On the Utah Checklist all Review birds are indicated with a # and other seasonal abundance is given (http://utahbirds.org/checklistUtah.htm).

I'm sure most know what is rare and what isn't, but generally speaking - a rarity would fall under the categories of a vagrant (such as the Ruff), or a seasonal rarity (such as a hummingbird in winter in Provo), or a rare event such as an unusually high concentration of a rare bird. 

Perhaps I am missing something here, and other opinions are welcome, but that seems to narrow it down. I for one enjoy the idea of having a separate line for rare birds so that on the rare occasion (pun intended) that it is used, everyone is excited to read that message.

If it  was made clear that BIRDNET was for rarities and BIRDTALK was for everything else then most posts would end up in the right place.

I also am not personally interested in sending e-mails to people who post to the 'wrong' list - perhaps I'll leave that to the webmaster.

Take care,

Matt Mills
Provo
mattymills2005 AT yahoo.com