Earlier this year, I had about had it with my e-mail box being flooded with unnecessary posts - some of which amount to "Dear diary, today I saw.". I looked at the NYS-Birds instructions, with the intent of unsubscribing - at least for that period of the year when some feel the need to let you know about every last bird that lands in their favorite location. Anyway, the list is indeed archived, and you can access that. But I found that there is an option that allows you to not receive e-mails, but still allows you to post. I went with that. I feel that if you're going to use the service in any way, there is an obligation to post sightings of note (on those rare occasions that I'm that fortunate). Now my e-mail box is smaller - and I think I'm a happier person for it.
The down side is that I don't always have the most immediate information. Birding is not a full time job for me and I do like to disengage for a couple of days now and then - not even looking at the archive. I was hoping that my friends might let me know when there was a special bird around. But of course, they find it more amusing to alert me when contentious posts come along. Which is how I got here today - and why I'm posting with a different subject instead of replying to e-mail (that's not in my box). In my experience, every well intended list inevitably declines. For example, butterfly lists end up with "Cabbage White in my back yard". The parameters of a perfect list are debatable. Of course, you start with rarities. But the definition of a rarity may not always be so clear cut. The downstate folks may see things differently than the upstate folks. So too experienced people vs. not so. I see posts from the field - with updates - that get me thinking "this couldn't wait until you got home?". Do early and late dates belong? Unusual numbers? Hawk watch reports? Personally, I'm interested in that. But big hawk numbers are built off common birds. After the 57th one, I think I'd take Golden Eagle off the rarity list (hey, we'll take one anytime on Long Island). Meetings and other announcements? Discussions about various topics, such as migration? I remember one person telling me he'd like to see more of that. I can't say I disagree. Steve Walter Bayside, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
