Can we start a new forum?

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Andy
Andy's picture
Can we start a new forum?

Sorry if this posts twice - my computer is being silly.

I was wondering if we might be able to start a new forum with the BIBY forum. Specifically, I was thinking it would be great if we could have a social forum. I know we have an introductions forum, but perhaps a more social and chatty forum would be good, too. Members could chat about their non-birdy activities, and maybe plan get-togethers.

I was thinking about this after seeing the documentary about the twitchathon. I was really pleased to see that one of the groups consisted of loud-mouthed beer-drinking guys (who were they?) who broke the stereotype of birdwatchers as being mild-mannered retirees. Of course, members of the latter group are great; I just thought it was nice to see some diversity. A social forum might allow members with similar non-birdy interests (e.g., beer...) to get to know eachother better.

Also, I've been looking at non-birdy forums (horse forums) and many of them have a thriving online (and offline) social community. Perhaps it would be nice to have something similar here.

Are there any other members interested in this idea? What do the admin people think?

Thanks,
Andy.

Andy
Andy's picture

Meant to say "a new forum withIN the BIBY forum".

soakes
soakes's picture

I think this is a great idea. I break any mould of your traditional bird-watcher ... and I'm sure plenty of other people do too... maybe we need a new mould?

Specifically I would like to discuss other types of wildlife...

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

Andy
Andy's picture

Yey I'm glad someone likes my idea! If the admin people are happy with it, hopefully they'll set up a new forum soon so that we can start.

In the meantime, though, perhaps we can use the existing forum for the social purpose. So, Soakes... in what way are you not a traditional birdwatcher?

daggert
daggert's picture

I too watched that abc show on the twitchathon. It was very interesting. As with the chat forum, sounds ok.

Green
Green's picture

Hey Andy,
I watched that show too & thought along the same lines as you about how those guys didn't fit into "my' idea of what birdwatchers looked like (is there a "way" ppl should look just b/c they like to watch/spot birds, LOL).
I also think ur idea about chatting about topics - not bird related - is a great idea :-)

Cheers from Green

Andy
Andy's picture

Hi Green and John,

Yeah I agree there is more variety in birdwatchers than what people may think. That's why I was so pleased that the doco included the beer-drinking guys. One thing that especially pleased me was the fact that they were still really keen and knowledgeable birdwatchers who were serious about seeing lots of birds. John, that article sounds great. I love the contrast between the two groups.

One of the reasons I wanted to set up a social forum was to get some idea of the variety among BIBY foum members. Do most people fall within a certain age range? Do we have varied interests in music and movies, etc? What do we do for fun, apart from birdwatching? I might email the BIBY people to see if we can get a social forum started.

Andy.

Holly
Holly's picture

Hi guys,

I will bring your suggestions through to the rest of the BIBY crew.

Holly

Andy
Andy's picture

Hi Holly,

Have you had a chance to discuss with the BIBY crew the addition of a social chat forum? I think it will be nice to have casual chatty forum where birdy people can discuss the non-birdy areas of their lives, or can discuss birdy stuff in a casual manner.

Thanks,
Andy.

magpie
magpie's picture

Good idea!
I probably break the mould of your stereotypical birdwatcher too.. Im about 25 years younger than people who non-bird people seem to associate with birdwatching.
Wouldn't mind finding out if there are many other under 30's here :D

Andy
Andy's picture

Hi Magpie,

Yep that's exactly what I was wondering - whether many forum users break the age stereotype. I turned 26 a couple of months ago, and have been into birds since I was in early primary school.

Not sure if Holly has had a chance to chat with the other administrators about starting a new forum...

Anyway, where abouts do you live Magpie? (Sorry, I'm sure it's stated somewhere in one of the other forums.)

Andy.

magpie
magpie's picture

hi Andy, I live on the NSW Central Coast

Anonymous

Sorry to be so slow in responding to this thread. I've had some techical problems and wasn't getting the alerts. Sad, I know! Anyway, what would you like to call the thread - "Social"? Give me a name and I'll set it up.

Andy
Andy's picture

Excellent! Yes "social" will be fine. Thanks!

Anonymous

Let me know if you want any change to the description.

birdie
birdie's picture

Great idea Andy

I don't work in a birdy environment, and sometimes when I talk to people about my interest they look at me as if I have two heads!! especially in the momrnings when I am walking along with a crick in my neck gazing upwards eternally hopeful.
I have just started work in a sales office of a retirement village under construction. Just my luck they put my office in the middle of a plover nesting ground.
They are nutters when they are guarding their little ones

Sunshine Coast Queensland

birdie
birdie's picture

oops sorry but I have been wrong in my identification.
Someone told me they were plovers and I have never questioned it. Turns out to be a Masked Lapwing and now that I have read about it they have a name for dive bombing etc. These two have two llittle chicks with them so no wonder.

Sunshine Coast Queensland

magpie
magpie's picture

It gets on my goat when people call the Lapwings plovers (not you birdie, other people!). Even some 'wildlife' people i know call the masked lapwing a plover! When there are clearly other species of bird called plovers and they dont even look the same.

Gelmir
Gelmir's picture

Good to see some younger people enjoying bird watching! I myself am 36, but I pass for a very young 28 most days. I can't say that I meet too many people under the age of 40 that are strictly into birding but I have met quite a few that are keen bird photographers.
I currently live on Sydney's Northern Beaches. There are plenty of good spots to see birds here like Long Reef, Warriewood Wetlands, Manly Dam and the odd secret spot, so if anyone wants to meet up to see some birds (at the moment we've got the Peregrine Falcons and Osprey nesting), then let me know and we'll sort something out.

Andy
Andy's picture

Hi Gelmir,

Thanks for contributing to the social forum. Maybe Sydney will be my next spot for a birdy holiday. If so, I'd love to make use of your knowledge of the area.

Not sure if you've seen the introductions forum lately, but there's a man from Scotland who is coming to Sydney in a couple of days, and he's been disappointed by the lack of response from Sydney birders regarding good birding spots in Sydney. Perhaps you could post a brief message, letting him know about the good spots you've mentioned here?

Thanks,
Andy.

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