[Tweeters] Neah Bay trip report and rare bird alert

[Dan McDougall-Treacy]

Good points, all.
The #1 rule of improvisational theater is “Yes, and…”
It seems to apply well to this issue.
Please. Keep posting to Tweeters. Not asking the frequency or detail used by RBA/other platforms, but a simple announcement helps keep the larger birding community together.

Dan McDougall-Treacy


> On Sep 7, 2022, at 2:34 PM, Nagi Aboulenein <nagi.aboulenein at gmail.com> wrote:

> 

> 

> We’ve gone through something similar with Oregon’s OBOL mailing list. 

> 

> Personally, I’m not a fan of the fragmentation of the birding resources. Looking at what we now have in OR, you have to track something on the order of 15-20 different WhatsApp groups in order to know what birds are being seen across the state, because many/most of the folks using WhatsApp have stopped posting their updates to OBOL.

> 

> Additionally, WhatsApp groups are not archived (or at least the archives are not accessible to folks not subscribed to the WhatsApp group). Something like Tweeters or OBOL, on the other hand is an archived mailing list that anyone can later come and search for sightings reports, even if at the time that the report was posted to the mailing list, they hit Delete because they weren’t interested in it at the time.

> 

> Having said that, I suspect that we’re on an irreversible path towards fragmentation of these resources, which I find unfortunate.

> 

> Anyways, my 2 cents from an infrequent poster to Tweeters.

> 

> Cheers and good birding to all,

> 

> Nagi

>> On Sep 7, 2022, 14:20 -0700, Alex Sowers <sowersalexander1 at gmail.com>, wrote:

>> The problem with continuing to post updates and notable birds on Tweeters, is that about 90% of those on the listserv don’t care about an update on the new location of a wintering Nashville Warbler or maybe a Western Kingbird that is rare for the area. Those that are in Neah Bay would care, but those who just signed up for WA Tweeters, likely couldn’t care less about constant updates for a regional rarity that’s in one of the most inconveniently located towns in the state. If you’ve ever been on a county RBA or group chat, you’d know that every time a bird moves there’s a text sent out about the new location. Every time a bird interesting for the area (but not necessarily for the state) shows up, there’s a notification. Every time someone sees a probable rarity for the region, there’s a notification. I don’t think most people would appreciate getting spammed with all those notifications.

>> 

>> Also, there’s an extremely wide range of interests within the Tweeters community, so why subject the vast majority of people who don’t care, to constant notifications about Neah Bay? Some people are part of Tweeters for the interesting articles that are posted, some people like hearing about when the first Rufous Hummingbird shows up in spring, and some people just like commenting on the seasonal changes they’re seeing. I’d say that those who’re interested in regionally rare birds of Neah Bay are certainly in the minority. Does a backyard birder in Walla Walla really care if that Swamp Sparrow behind Butler’s moved or not? What makes a Neah Bay WhatsApp RBA great, is that you choose to join it based on your actual interest in the rare birds showing up in Neah Bay. I think WhatsApp is a great idea, but if you are anti-facebook i’m sure someone can create a spin off imessage group or something similar. 

>> 

>> If something that’s really interesting happens to show up in Neah Bay, there’s no doubt that such bird will be reported on Tweeters sooner or later. If missing out on a WA state Cassin’s Sparrow is a concern, I don’t think one would have to worry about it not being on Tweeters. Word will get out.

>> 

>> Good birding, Alex Sowers

>> 

>>> On Wed, Sep 7, 2022 at 12:57 PM Carol Riddell <cariddellwa at gmail.com> wrote:

>>> What’s the problem with continuing to post sightings to Tweeters? It will get a better spread than a WhatsApp group. Some of us, perhaps many of us, do not like to use Meta/Facebook products, due to privacy and other known concerns about Facebook, and don’t want unnecessary apps on our phones. Personally, the more places I have to check for information, the less information I find because I won’t spend my time checking multiple apps and web sites.

>>> 

>>> Tweeters has served us well for many years and I hope it will continue to do so, including timely reports of rare or just good birds that many would like to see. Just my two cents.

>>> 

>>> Carol Riddell

>>> Edmonds, WA

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