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Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Sep 14 6:00 pm
by MDB8
Over the years I have posted many photos to this website - perhaps a thousand. I ceased posting during Melissa's peak activity. I decided that she had turned this website into a personal Blog. She inserted herself into every single thread. I think she made about 3600 posts in her first year. I didn't join a personal Blog, so I departed. Now she has her own Blog (which I know nothing about).

Prior to Melissa's appearance here, there was plenty of activity. Posts often had 10 to 30 replies.

WRT Facebook, I have never joined Facebook or any similar service except for Flickr which I joined in order to obtain help in IDing birds I had photographed. I shall never join Facebook or any similar service for reasons that are becoming more apparent to those who pay attention. TANSTAAFL, as Robert Heinlein wrote. There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Someone told me that Melissa had left and this website was moribund and perhaps I should take a second look. I tried posting a few photos, but there was little interaction. I never stopped posting to Flickr. So there are thousands of images there that are "new" from the time I stopped posting here. Pushing 7500 images now. I don't need Egoboo and just post when I have a question (like today) or else just wish to share something I find interesting.

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Oct 26 2:35 pm
by glenscotia
I used to come to this site all the time, almost daily, mostly for the bird IDing - if i had questions or to help out others. I haven't been birding as much at all, some of it is just busy life stuff with little kids but around all the drama with the owls and when someone was using a mouse on a string to lure them in Boundary Bay - just kind of put me off all together. There was another experience when I went with a friend to see a Pygmy Owl in Chilliwack and showed up to a hoard of people, started talking with an someone who seemed like a nice older man, appreciating nature until he said, yeah, should have been here on Wednesday, Jim-bob threw a rock at it to try to make it fly so we could get better pictures. Up until that point, everyone i had met out birding had been pretty nice. I kind of just got sick of the whole idea and the impression that adding my presence to birds just trying to live their lives was not helpful.

I do like the British Columbia Birds facebook group, but really am more of observer than participant in that too. For the same reason.

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Oct 27 11:44 am
by accordionboy
Hi.. I keep checking this forum. I think it's a good idea (but for the ego attitudes sometimes!).. I come here to find out more about birds and to learn.. What puts me off is the belittling attitude by some of the "experts" who seem to have forgotten that we all make mistakes and that learning should be a fun journey.

I have checked out the BC Birds on FB and other FB birding groups. but I still check in here.

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Dec 29 9:18 am
by Guyzerr
MDB8 wrote: Sep 14 6:00 pm Over the years I have posted many photos to this website - perhaps a thousand. I ceased posting during Melissa's peak activity. I decided that she had turned this website into a personal Blog. She inserted herself into every single thread. I think she made about 3600 posts in her first year. I didn't join a personal Blog, so I departed. Now she has her own Blog (which I know nothing about).

Prior to Melissa's appearance here, there was plenty of activity. Posts often had 10 to 30 replies.

WRT Facebook, I have never joined Facebook or any similar service except for Flickr which I joined in order to obtain help in IDing birds I had photographed. I shall never join Facebook or any similar service for reasons that are becoming more apparent to those who pay attention. TANSTAAFL, as Robert Heinlein wrote. There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Someone told me that Melissa had left and this website was moribund and perhaps I should take a second look. I tried posting a few photos, but there was little interaction. I never stopped posting to Flickr. So there are thousands of images there that are "new" from the time I stopped posting here. Pushing 7500 images now. I don't need Egoboo and just post when I have a question (like today) or else just wish to share something I find interesting.
How dare you blame the inactivity on her. She had a lot to offer this site and the birders that frequented it and she did it for free. Most were grateful, some like yourself jealous because it wasn't them getting the attention anymore. She spent more time educating folks that wanted to learn about birds instead of attempting to amass favorable comments on pictures they post, although she did get them because she's a darn good photographer. She dedicates hundreds of her hours and lots of her hard earned money to the younger ones while you sir do what?

I've been involved in forums for at least 20 years. Seen them come and go and maybe this one has seen it's day. Only time will tell. Personally I stopped visiting because of attitudes from people just like you.

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Jan 01 6:00 pm
by Jdunster
Please can we have a 2019 resolution to get past the bickering about who did what, when, and why. Whatever happened before is of little relevance now. For those feeling aggrieved on either side of the debate it is time to let it go.

The site still has some potential for those of us who do not want to be on a Facebook site. It would be nice to see it return to images posted, questions asked and answered in a friendly way. :)

jd

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Jan 01 10:43 pm
by therobwalker
Seconded

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Jan 02 12:04 am
by Owlet
exactly.

it's time to leave the stuff in the past - there are much bigger problems we have to face.

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Jan 06 1:04 am
by SCizzle
It's been a while since I've visited or posted on this site. Haven't done much birding as of lately as I have been busy with other things in life. I mainly use this site for interesting birding news like rare birds, new hotspots or to read people's birding adventure stories. Not really all that interested in looking for fancy bird photos since those can easily be found through a quick Google search.

Re: Where have all the birders gone ?

Posted: Jan 08 10:57 pm
by riotambopata
I'm new here, and keen to help the site stay active. I will be visiting often to see what's going on. I posted a question on the ID forum today, and hope I might add my view to others who do the same when I feel confident enough to jump in.

Chris