Marian/Ann:
I bet software is doing all that extra typing that is so bad for some people
with old injuries. Not everyone has the same technology or the same
mobility as others on the listserve. As you build relationships with other
birders the neighborhood lake might take on more significance once you know
where they live and bird. If not, I have been known to send a one word
question to the person privately--for instance, "Accotink?" and I don't need
to bother the listserve with it. The person will learn to put the name in
so they don't have to answer a bunch of emails from those who are
interested.
Those of us who are juggling as fast as we can take encouragement from
knowing we aren't the only one who has to squeeze in birding during those
odd bits of time, so yes we will comment that we were picking up the kids or
running errands. If someone doesn't like that sort of thing it is simple to
delete the post instead of getting worked up about it.
Due to the frequent complaining that occurs sometimes on here and other
listserves, some people decide to quit posting or never post rather than be
bothered by snippy private and public messages. Those people are out there!
Laura Kammermeier recently wrote about declining memberships in birding
organizations everywhere--is it just the economy, or do harsh interactions
also contribute? It is hard to keep up the enthusiasm and keep showing the
love when you feel like you're being pecked to death by ducks (it's an old
saying, so please no technical critiques involving anatomy, etc. I know
ducks don't do that, but it describes the feeling well).
Quoting the moderator from 9/17/09: "10. DELETE KEY. The subscribers of
Va-Bird are a diverse group, but we're all here for the same reason: we love
birds and birding. If a particular posting or thread is bothersome to you,
use your DELETE KEY first. If it continues to bother you, CONTACT THE
LISTOWNER at va-bird-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. Let the listowner or moderator
determine what is appropriate or inappropriate for the list." I have been
astonished at the things that presumably mature adults will occasionally
write to me regarding subjects from this listserve. I use my delete key
often now, and there are places I will not volunteer or donate money any
more. Life's too short. I'm done here.
Jan
Richmond
-----Original Message-----
From: Marian Kirk [mailto:mariangk@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 6:12 PM
To: mlowry@xxxxxxxx
Cc: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Re bird names in postings
Have you noticed that Ned Brinkley posts the complete English name and
ALSO the scientific name. Surely we can follow his example at least
with complete English name. It would help many of us.
I also agree with the post suggesting more complete geographic
information. "Seen at the neighborhood lake" tells me absolutely
nothing.
Another suggestion... keep it simple. We don't need to know you were
driving to the grocery store after taking a child to school, or on the
way home from Sunday church.
Ann Kirk
Cape Henry Audubon
Chesapeake, VA
On Sep 12, 2010, at 3:18 PM, Michael Lowry wrote:
One compromise might be to use the 4-letter Alpha codes long used by
banders. Here is a web link to acompilation from the Bird Population
Institute sorted in phylogenetic order and in alphabetic order by
common
name.
http://www.birdpop.org/alphacodes.htm
The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center has them sorted by common name
and by
the alphacode.
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/bandsize.htm
Note that the example given of BTGW is not such a code because it is
not
unique.
For a fall, Virginia sighting, an (East Coast) Black-throated Green
Warbler[BTNW] is not unusual but a (West Coast) Black-throated Grey
Warbler[BTYW] would be an outstanding rarity.
Mike Lowry
Newport News, VA
-----Original Message-----
From: KarenNyere@xxxxxxx [mailto:KarenNyere@xxxxxxx]
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 12:52 PM
To: pbsullivan2@xxxxxx; va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Re bird names in postings
Here, here to Paula and Mike! Karen Nyere Alexandria
In a message dated 9/12/2010 10:41:49 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
pbsullivan2@xxxxxx writes:
Just want to second the motion for Mike Webster's posting re bird
names but
add another point insofar as postings are concerned.
Too often the poster assumes familiarity with their local birding
geography. Please!
let us all know where that bird is that you are so excited about.
It isn't
enough to name
some road or feature that only folks in your locality know. This is
a huge
state, tons
of territory. Put the city or county in that posting as we so often
have
no idea where
you are talking about.
P.B. Sullivan,
Spotsylvania County
Postscript: my hummer brigade numbers fewer each day.
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Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia
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