I have been posting and reviewing posts for some 10 or so years now on both MN and MOU servers. My observations around their use is that a wide variety of people with various amounts of experience and expertise use this service. I observe the clashes to be between the two extremes - those who use the service as a technical tool to forward their expertise and enhance scientific understanding and conservation of birds and those who like looking at birds in their backyard as an enhancement to their lives and like to share what they see. If this service was originally designed for use of the former then I agree that rules and guidelines should be clearly defined. If it was designed for the latter then I would say lets just have what we have and invite others to jump in.
As many of you can tell, I have scientific training in ornithology and also just love looking at the feathered beasties. I get value out of all of it and out of every post that comes before me. I don't read the ones I don't want to. I scrutinize the ones I want to. At this time of the year, or just recently to be more specific, I really scan every post for a bird that I may be interested in. I don't care what the format or the author - I scan for bird names. Could there be a clearer way to put bird names in a post - sure. But I think that would ultimately require guidelines being put in front of everyone every time they post. When I first started posting, I was afraid of "doing it wrong" so I posted very little, got flamed a few times and withdrew, joined again and got the hang of it for the most part and have kept in there. I do get flamed occasionally because some folks just don't like folksy stories about birds that occasionally seep out of me. I do post bird names in all caps sometimes when I remember or think it of special note. After 17 years in Minnesota, quite honestly, I still do not really know what birds are unique or special or worth special note in a posting. However, it is through this service that I have learned about many that are. This service is a huge teaching device - not just an information source. There are master teachers who use this and minimalist birders like me who use this. I have learned more about birds by accessing this service than all the years I have birded, the experiences I have had in the field or looking out my window, or studied in school. I would like this service to be open to everyone and those of you who are master birders, aged and ripened like a fine wine, those of you who are professional teachers, list keepers, county occurence mappers, variation nuancers, and anyone with any expertise at all - use this service to teach us. Use this service to share you knowledge with the world of people even slightly interested in birds. Teach us. Hear what we have to share and offer additional info. Accept our ignorances and minor offerings and hear where we might be open to hearing refined information from you. So for me, let's invite anyone who has an interest in birds to share their knowledge and apparent ignorance. Let's allow fledgling birders to mingle with the pros. Let's accept unconditionally and release our tolerance and judgments. We have birds in common. Let's nurture that. The birds will ultimately be the winners. Thomas Maiello Spring Lake Park
