As an Aus birder working in the UK, can I express my pleasure that the balance
of opinion has come down in favour of maintaining the current format - and
express deepest thanks those who maintain the site.
The eclecticism of the site makes it stand out from dozens of other birding
sites that I access regularly. Birding Aus is not just eclectic but also
egalitarian, the essence of Australia.
"New chums" are not overawed or deterred from posting, the country's most
expert birders contribute, a regular picture of what is being seen around the
whole country is given and topical items of general interest are posted.
Inevitably some hobby horses emerge that turn on their riders but not
necessarily all readers. The latter is life, we are not all turned on by the
same items of discussion. Better to have the opportunity to ignore than not to
know what other birders think are matters of importance. A little tolerance is
necessary in life and birding.
Currently living in the most intensively served birding community in the world,
the UK, I can access daily UK rarity lists (eg through BirdGuides), daily
photographic lists of rarities (eg Surfbirds), sites for the UK RSPB reserves,
Bird Observatory postings, UK Bird Mapping sites (eg Birdtrack), London Birders
for daily sightings and discussion of the area in which I live and the websites
of several other major UK birding organisations. However nothing corresponds to
Birding Aus, nothing gives such a comprehensive glimpse of all aspects of a
whole country's birding.
I read, or scan, all postings with interest - and some nostalgia. On my regular
returns I feel that I have kept up with Australian birds and birding (aa well
as birding in Tromso). I usually have new birding places in mind to visit in
Australia when the opportunity arises, and old places to re-visit.
Part of my reasoning may reflect a far less than comprehensive knowledge of
computer matters. (It is an age thing.) Scanning Birding Aus is like dealing
with a comprehensive Index and selecting the topics that interest me, or might
interest me, but knowing that I have access to all contents. I do not feel that
my computer illiteracy is hiding important information from me. The managers of
websites such as Birding Aus should never over-estimate the knowledge of their
users, or aspiring users - and information as to the use of the site cannot be
too basic.
Angus Innes
PS I am a volunteer guide at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trusts' London Wetland
Centre. I would happily provide details of this magnificent facility, situated
on the edge of Inner London, to any visitor from Australia who wanted to put in
a few hours birding when passing through London.
_________________________________________________________________
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