When the discussion about rare bird posting options began a little over a week ago, I was not sure a new list was needed. As others have pointed out, NYSBirds serves a variety of purposes well, and it already has a relatively large user base. To create yet another source for alerts -- in addition to NYSBirds, eBird alerts, and the county-oriented Twitter/SMS alerts -- might only serve to further fragment reporting. It probably would be better for those who do not want certain kinds of reports to learn how to use Gmail filters and labels (as I do) to limit what appears in the inbox and what triggers an audible alert on the phone (the latter more restrictive than the former).
That said, I did experiment with creating two lists using Google Groups, which I believe offers the most feature-rich environment and, like Yahoo Groups, is free. The first, designed just for Manhattan, already has some reports on it, so you can see the look and functionality: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/manhattan-rare-bird-alert I also created but did not populate a similar list for New York City. I am not sure what area people want covered. If there is sufficient interest, I would be happy to work further on implementing such a list -- which is, to say, setting a geographical range for it, fine-tuning the posting rules, and requesting people to sign up for posting privileges. Send your feedback directly, if you wish. David Barrett Manhattan On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 3:53 PM, Lloyd Spitalnik < ll...@lloydspitalnikphotos.com> wrote: > When I disbanded Metro Birding Briefs it was because I felt it outlived > its usefulness. There were too many other places were reporting their > Rarity sightings and info was getting diluted. It didn't take much time > out of my life to run it. I'm not interested in resurrecting it but > somebody (Andrew B. or even Dave K.) could set it up quite easily. > Initially all it requires is setting up a list of acceptable birds to be > reported. I used YahooGroups which is free to set it up. The main thing is > whoever volunteers to do it has to be very strict about what is sent to the > list. Integrity of the list is paramount. At least that's the way I > maintained it. Several people over the years were taken off the site. > Birding Dude and Dave, how about it? > All my best, > Lloyd > ll...@lloydspitalnikphotos.com > > On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 1:29 PM, Arie Gilbert <ariegilb...@optonline.net> > wrote: > >> Paul, >> >> I concur. However... >> >> Not everyone seeks the same info from 'the list'. Some folks actually >> like the daily reports of non rarities, {go figure} such as visitors who >> can get an idea of whats around by reading the archives in preparation for >> a trip to this area, etc. >> >> Back in the early days of the internet, with dial-up modems and pay per >> amount of time/data, there was a convention that should be resurrected. >> Trip reports were prefaced 'TR' in the subject line, rare birds were 'RBA', >> requests for information were 'RFI', and so on. That way after downloading >> the subject headers in one pass, {to save one from using up their monthly >> limit } one could go back in a second pass and download just the messages >> interested in. >> >> As far as too many Western tanager reports, provided its in the subject >> line its quite rapid to hit delete, but for those who are encumbered by >> work and other annoying distractions, knowing that a bird is still present >> { ie what is otherwise construed as too many reports } helps. >> >> If one uses an 'email client' such as Thunderbird, one can set up >> 'filters'. These can automatically delete unwanted messages and more. >> >> But what if we think of the list as a newspaper kinda. There is the >> comics, the financials, the sports pages, the local news etc. Do folks >> complain there is too much news and not enough comics? >> >> I wish that more stuff around the state was reported, and cross-posted >> from regional lists as well. In addition to TR or RFI or RBA adding the >> 'county' in the subject line would help too. >> >> Or perhaps we can get Lloyd to come out of retirement and put his Metro >> Birding Briefs back on. ;) >> >> Arie Gilbert >> North Babylon, NY >> >> WWW.Powerbirder.blogspot.com >> WWW.qcbirdclub.org >> >> >> >> >> >> On 11/30/2016 9:28 AM, Paul R Sweet wrote: >> >> Personally I'd rather my inbox fill with reports of genuinely rare birds >> than mundane daily lists of birds seen in Central Park. E-bird is an >> appropriate place for this data? What if everyone posted their daily bird >> walk lists to this list? Just my opinion. >> >> Paul Sweet | Department of Ornithology | American Museum of Natural >> History | Central Park West @ 79th St | NY 10024 | Tel 212 769 5780 >> <(212)%20769-5780> | Mob 718 757 5941 <(718)%20757-5941> >> >> On Nov 29, 2016, at 10:20 AM, Deborah Allen <dalle...@earthlink.net> >> wrote: >> >> In my opinion, one report per day giving the general area where the bird >> was found is sufficient. >> >> Deb Allen >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: brian.whip...@gmail.com >> Sent: Nov 29, 2016 9:27 AM >> To: Dennis Hrehowsik , "nysbirds-l@cornell.edu" >> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Western Tanager city hall pk Manhattan YES >> >> I'm not tired of it. I still haven't been able to find time to see the >> bird, what with being out of town for Thanksgiving and being at work, so I >> appreciate the updates. I still want to know if I have a chance whenever I >> find time to run to City Hall Park. I would guess I'm speaking for other >> birders too. In my opinion, a rarity is post-worthy for as long as it's >> present. Thanks for posting, Dennis. >> >> On Tue, Nov 29, 2016 at 9:17 AM Dennis Hrehowsik < >> deepseagangs...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> I'm sure everyone is tired of reports about this bird and (I won't say >>> but) it continues in same location of city hall park (east west path in NE >>> corner) for anyone who was considering trying for it. Bird was hunkered in >>> a tree with yellow leaves on south side of east west path near city hall >>> gate it made one or two little half hearted nasally calls which alerted me >>> to its presence. >>> >>> Dennis Hrehowsik >>> Brooklyn >>> -- >>> >>> NYSbirds-L List Info: >>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.NortheastBirding.com%2FNYSbirdsWELCOME&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=Cz0KH9r3tTLtL8kkEdwiKM%2BFn5ZFt%2Fl1IpxabBgNQyU%3D&reserved=0> >>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.NortheastBirding.com%2FNYSbirdsRULES&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=PXn5YZoHhaEyQglMgdgisZQfGYH9PGr1eOsDeGtJXf4%3D&reserved=0> >>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.NortheastBirding.com%2FNYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=v%2BYWy6tDbVgu7zt0du7HZCLmsYxy0%2FQpEwXO9syZZoc%3D&reserved=0> >>> >>> ARCHIVES: >>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mail-archive.com%2Fnysbirds-l%40cornell.edu%2Fmaillist.html&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=VkF%2F77S0h4DgDqua8n7IN8u9504tyZ3DcUuJVV2LwCo%3D&reserved=0> >>> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfbirds.com%2Fbirdingmail%2FGroup%2FNYSBirds-L&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=MphipAfqUXOsYbsK51WVnvExfJVzcqGPDNWCYYbC9EY%3D&reserved=0> >>> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbirdingonthe.net%2Fmailinglists%2FNYSB.html&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=FN4u%2F5JSW8bfeqr2LKFW%2FBCEXJ0F1Wn2lKkxmN6%2FhqI%3D&reserved=0> >>> >>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fcontent%2Febird%2F&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=oafB7MJxufemOOx8QRO2Gduv14PO6VkxsoeajEPFNQM%3D&reserved=0> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> -- >> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >> Welcome and Basics >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northeastbirding.com%2FNYSbirdsWELCOME&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=BUk4RUPZ96Za7u2MQkERFwYe3FeqanVtIZH9X0ywMGY%3D&reserved=0> >> Rules and Information >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northeastbirding.com%2FNYSbirdsRULES&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=08V6B2Th2gL9RKJIcF7BUOc3g7AzBfN8Lej%2BCam3XR8%3D&reserved=0> >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northeastbirding.com%2FNYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=RShcxDkwBWoXEg%2FO2shHoxnafF9ioNaIu7yQR2zJODs%3D&reserved=0> >> *Archives:* >> The Mail Archive >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mail-archive.com%2Fnysbirds-l%40cornell.edu%2Fmaillist.html&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=VkF%2F77S0h4DgDqua8n7IN8u9504tyZ3DcUuJVV2LwCo%3D&reserved=0> >> Surfbirds >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfbirds.com%2Fbirdingmail%2FGroup%2FNYSBirds-L&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=MphipAfqUXOsYbsK51WVnvExfJVzcqGPDNWCYYbC9EY%3D&reserved=0> >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbirdingonthe.net%2Fmailinglists%2FNYSB.html&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=FN4u%2F5JSW8bfeqr2LKFW%2FBCEXJ0F1Wn2lKkxmN6%2FhqI%3D&reserved=0> >> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fcontent%2Febird%2F&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=oafB7MJxufemOOx8QRO2Gduv14PO6VkxsoeajEPFNQM%3D&reserved=0> >> *!* >> -- >> >> -- >> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >> Welcome and Basics >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northeastbirding.com%2FNYSbirdsWELCOME&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=BUk4RUPZ96Za7u2MQkERFwYe3FeqanVtIZH9X0ywMGY%3D&reserved=0> >> Rules and Information >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northeastbirding.com%2FNYSbirdsRULES&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=08V6B2Th2gL9RKJIcF7BUOc3g7AzBfN8Lej%2BCam3XR8%3D&reserved=0> >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northeastbirding.com%2FNYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=RShcxDkwBWoXEg%2FO2shHoxnafF9ioNaIu7yQR2zJODs%3D&reserved=0> >> *Archives:* >> The Mail Archive >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mail-archive.com%2Fnysbirds-l%40cornell.edu%2Fmaillist.html&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=VkF%2F77S0h4DgDqua8n7IN8u9504tyZ3DcUuJVV2LwCo%3D&reserved=0> >> Surfbirds >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surfbirds.com%2Fbirdingmail%2FGroup%2FNYSBirds-L&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=MphipAfqUXOsYbsK51WVnvExfJVzcqGPDNWCYYbC9EY%3D&reserved=0> >> BirdingOnThe.Net >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbirdingonthe.net%2Fmailinglists%2FNYSB.html&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=FN4u%2F5JSW8bfeqr2LKFW%2FBCEXJ0F1Wn2lKkxmN6%2FhqI%3D&reserved=0> >> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* >> <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fcontent%2Febird%2F&data=01%7C01%7Csweet%40amnh.org%7Cd5b314e8500c486e865308d4186b2e8d%7Cbe0003e8c6b9496883aeb34586974b76%7C1&sdata=oafB7MJxufemOOx8QRO2Gduv14PO6VkxsoeajEPFNQM%3D&reserved=0> >> *!* >> -- >> >> -- >> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> >> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >> *Archives:* >> The Mail Archive >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> >> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> >> BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> >> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* >> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* >> -- >> >> >> -- >> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> >> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >> *Archives:* >> The Mail Archive >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> >> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> >> BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> >> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* >> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* >> -- >> >> >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 2016.0.7924 / Virus Database: 4664/13509 - Release Date: 11/30/16 >> > > > > -- > All my best, > Lloyd > Lloyd Spitalnik Photography > www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com > <http://www.lloydspitalnikphotos.com/main.php> > -- > *NYSbirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> > *Please submit your observations to **eBird* > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* > -- > -- 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/ --
