Idea

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rainbowkookaburra
rainbowkookaburra's picture
Idea

Hi guys, i have a suggestion to put on the home page. a 'featured bird photo' or something, like just a photo from Best Photos forum and put it on the home page.

heva1
heva1's picture

Yeah I'll second that... and a prize of a good Red for whoever's photo makes it to the homepage? :)

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

birdie
birdie's picture

Hi Guys

That idea will never fly in this forum no matter how many people like it. I think you will find that they ( the people running the forum) would never want to introduce any element of competition as a regular thing here. It is, I guess, important to remember that there are many people who enjoy the forum who are not photographers but who just love to study birds and their behaviours.

We have to be careful in the photography threads not to be seen to be too elitist. I believe this is a big turn off in some other birding forums. I am not speaking from experience here as I only really frequent this one, but rather from what I have picked up over the last year and a half in different threads.

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

bushanwater
bushanwater's picture

Good point Birdie. This is after all a bird forum and there are photography forums out there that are for posting photographs to for comment on photographic content. Having said that I think this is a great place to show photographs depicting bird behaviour that is not necessarily photographically pleasing but non the less suits a bird observer's forum.

See Yez
Trev

DenisWilson
DenisWilson's picture

In my personal opinion, bird photographs on this forum ought be interesting, and informative, or to help establish an ID of a mystery bird.
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I do get frustrated with the trend towards this forum becoming an advertisement for a particular camera, or lens, or whatever.
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Sure we can all learn, and do better, by seeing stunning photos.
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But I really only stay on here to try to learn and to help others learn - about birds, not photography, and especially not about someone else's favourite camera systems, etc.
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The reality with cameras is that we all have the best camera/lens combinations we can afford, or can justify the expenditure on.
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No amount of being told by someone else that we really ought have such and such brand camera or lens, will not assist me getting it - will it?
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I drive a small, old Japanese 4WD. Being told endlessly that Mercedes make better cars does not help me, does it? Same for the endless camera discussions here. It is MEANT TO BE A BIRD FORUM first and foremost, surely?
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Denis

birdie
birdie's picture

Yes that is right Denis, but in defence of the photography buffs, they are posting in the best photograph thread so I guess it can be said that if someone doesn't want that then don't follow that thread. As we all can observe, this is ,in fact, the case and only those that are interested in photography and its various facets are posting in this thread these days.

I personally am very interested in photography but I am also just as interested to learn about the various behaviours and identifications etc of all birds posted here.

I don't like it to be a competition though, but I am human, and love taking photos , so it is nice to share and have a pat on the back occasionally when you do something good.
I really enjoy the forum and am always on the lookout for something unusual to post! Doesn't happen very often though as I am an opportunist rather than someone who has all day to seek out birds in their natural habitats!! :)

Cheers Denis

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

heva1
heva1's picture

Hi all, I was only kidding about the bottle of red as a prize for best photo ..honest!
I am certainly guilty of asking photograpghy questions on this birding forum, but I think that's because I mostly photograph birds and for me they are both intertwined and untangleable (I think I made that word up) hobbies. I enjoy learning about birding and photograpghy alike but see Denis's point that this is a bird forum first and foremost. So I will endevour to 'zip-it' when tempted to ask a photograpghy question about a bird photo and thus start a non-birding thread.
Since I joined this forum earlier in the year I have learnt heaps about birds and love seeing other peoples bird pics and really enjoy the banter....so don't kick me out!!

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

DenisWilson
DenisWilson's picture

Relax, folks.
I didn't start this thread, and I only came in after some discussion had already occurred.
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Birdie, I take the point about the camera discussion being largely restricted to the "best photograph" thread. Not all members are as disciplined as you are in which thread they use, though.
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Heva, no-one is proposing to kick anyone out - and you will be pleased to know I am merely a single member, and do not have that power anyway. Personally, I enjoy helping people like yourself with genuine queries about birds - whether it be bird IDs, or new members with queries on how to attract birds to a garden, or about parrots with Beak and Feather Disease.
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Cheers
Denis

Andy
Andy's picture

Hi all,

Just wanted to contribute the opinion of someone who has never posted a photo in the "best photos" section but who regularly visits there.

I never feel intimidated by the technical discussions that occur there. I think it's lovely that people share their helpful hints and experiences regarding cameras etc, and I think that perhaps people not interested in that stuff will just skip those posts. But it's interesting to consider that some people, as Denis mentions, might get frustrated at the number of "camera equipment" posts.

Also, the feeling that I get is that everyone here is "nice". Consequently, I would never feel unwelcome to post a dodgy photo taken on a cheap camera. In addition, I never picked up on an "elitist" theme - even the experts seem quite happy to laugh at themselves about taking a "broken" camera to be "fixed".

One of the things I love about this forum is that everyone seems genuinely interested in others' experiences, and happy to help other birdwatchers.

Not being able to convey "tone of voice" in this post, and not wanting to engage in excessive use of smiley faces etc, I need to point out that I said all the above in a friendly and interested way, and was not saying that Denis is wrong and I'm right. Just wanted to put forward my epxerienc of the forum and relate it to the issue of the photo section.

In sum: I think everyone here is nice; I get the feeling that dodgy photos from cheap cameras are welcome.

heva1
heva1's picture

Hi Denis, yes, you in particular, have helped me heaps with my bird knowledge, and introduced me to links on the computer that I didn't know existed.
Andy-I agree we are all 'nice' people on here!and I also agree it's difficult to convey tone in a post and we can often be misunderstood or taken literally when making a joke 'cos you can't see the smile that goes with it.
As for dodgy photos I post heaps of them for ID or interesting sightings without any worries at all and I'm sure will continue to do so.
Glad that's we got that sorted out then! happy birding/photographing everyone.

Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best

birdie
birdie's picture

Hi all

Andy I was definitely not referring to anyone in this forum as being elitist, as we are all nice people aren't we??

The point was that I have gathered that in other forums some have found this to be a problem. It's nice that everyone here feels welcome. I too enjoy getting advice from Denis etc and it's good to know that he is always scouting the forum for when that knowledge is needed. A year ago I knew very little about the habits and ID's of birds. It is amazing how much you can pick up from reading here.

Have fun everyone in whichever birding activity you are into.
Cheers
Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

Andy
Andy's picture

Hi Birdie,

Yep, I agree, no-one here seems elitist, we are all nice! :-)and yeah of course I know you weren't referring to anyone here being elitist. I should have clarified what I meant when I said that I don't perceive elitist behaviour here - that is, it's a shame that some posts on other websites give that impression, and it's great that that doesn't happen here. And that's why we all keep coming back!

I often tell my partner about how nice this forum is. John (partner) tells me about the guitar / music forums he visits, and some of them sound horrible! People are often ridiculed for posting "stupid" questions. I love the fact that here on the BIBY forum, everyone with different levels of knowledge and experience share their questions and observations etc.

Often when I'm having a bad day, I'll visit the forum to cheer myself up.

Bye for now :-)

birdie
birdie's picture

He he Andy!! My husband often comes in with an incredulous look on his face and asks me what I find to type about at all hours when I am on here. I think he expects to find some hot online chat room stuff or something!!

But all he finds is birds and photos of birds!!!

Just as well we are all into different things isn't it?!
Unlike him I find watching lawn bowls like watching paint dry!!

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

marj
marj's picture

My personal opinion is that we stick to the Birds in Backyardsmission "Birds in Backyards is a research, education and conservation program focusing on the birds that live where people live. Get involved by becoming a member and taking part in our online surveys. Learn about how you can create bird-friendly spaces in your garden and local community. Find out more about Australian birds and their habitats."

I would not be interested in having a photo competition, and think discussion of photography should be secondary to the discussion of birds and their welfare - even in the best photo thread.

... but online groups have a tendency to evolve in ways that don't suit all members.

birdie
birdie's picture

Marj

Just as an aside... are you on the team from BIBY? I noticed you posted something about editing and deleting a post . That's why I ask.

If you scare off the shy people that are attracted to us by our friendly and informative stuff, then surely that is against the mission anyway? I feel that the photographs are a great way to attract people to become interested. I only found the forum with a quick on line search to find information about a bird in my own back yard.

I love your photography Marj and really respect your knowledge, but if you don't mind my asking... why the hostility in some of your posts? We are all different but getting the "ordinary Joe" to be aware of our birds and their habitats is surely the object here?

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

marj
marj's picture

Hi Birdie,

I'm not on the team, but I can edit posts and often fix up problems people are having with the tags.

I'm not sure where we are in disagreement. I love the photos, and comment to that effect regularly. As a member, and administrator, of many online bird forums I see the real advantage of this one is that it welcomes ordinary people who are interested in a bird they saw in their back yard.

That is why I do not want to see it develop into a photo competition. If people are interested in that, or in discussing equipment and techniques for bird photography in great depth, I can recommend forums that focus on that.

We have previously discussed introducing an element of competition, and I expressed my concerns at that time, too.

There is no hostility in any of my posts. My comments may be rushed, too brief, insufficiently chatty, with too few smileys, but they are not hostile.

:') :'D :') :'D :') :'D

birdie
birdie's picture

OK Marj

Understood. It is too easy to misinterpret the written word isn't it.

Actually, I am disappointed that I recently posted about a goanna that was at least 1.5 m long being chased by birds. I thought it was enormously interesting, though the photos were not good. It was only 50m from my office and the back gardens of the villagae where I work. But nobody seemed interested. I reposted it under interested sightings but still no comments. maybe it is a common occurence? I'd be interested to share anyone's experience with this behaviour?

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

DenisWilson
DenisWilson's picture

Hi Folks
It seems people are getting very sensitive out there in BiBY Forum-world. I suggest we just keep on smiling.
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I felt Marj was unduly harshly criticised for supposedly being "hostile". I have never sensed that at all, in any of her posts, which I find to be consistently helpful.
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Birdie - I saw your interesting post about the Goanna, but did not have time to comment. I have been away from my home computer for 10 days straight, and have been barely able to catch up with my email traffic, via borrowed computers, etc.
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I personally dislike adding comments which do not do anything other than acknowledge that I have read the post. LOL and ROTFL are not expressions which I find satisfying. But that is just me being "boring".
But I suppose that overlooks the desire of the poster to have an acknowledgment that people have indeed seen your photos and and liked them.
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Keep up the good work - I always look at your photos and postings - because I know they will be interesting.
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Cheers
Denis

birdie
birdie's picture

Thanks Denis, yes it is good to know that the cyber void hasn't lost your post and it did reach somebody . I felt like getting up at 4.00am this morning to post that there was a stupid butcherbird with insomnia in my garden somewhere!! He or she stuck its head out of the roost to say hello to whoever was up. When there was no reply it went back to sleep I guess and repeated the same trial every 15 -20 mins till iti found some takers who were awake. Needless to say I am having an early night tonight!

Have you had much dust down your way? Didn't see many birds flying far up here today, it was wild. Can't imagine it was much fun for birds at all.

Cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

DenisWilson
DenisWilson's picture

Hi Birdie
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Did you mentioned "dust"?
We had a thunder storm before the dust arrived, to give the dust something to stick to.
Then enough wind to blow dust to New Zealand.
My daughter is visiting from Canberra, and she could hardly see out the car window to drive into the village.
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I live on a ridge, 30 Km from the coast, but 3000 feet high (700 metres). Robertson overlooks the Illawarra coast, just south from Wollongong.
Consequently, with the height and the way the hills drop away suddenly (the Illawarra Escarpment) our hills act like the curved edge of an aeroplane wing, and the wind speeds up to get to the other side.
So, we get all sorts of weather extremes - in bucket loads.
Rain, wind, the occasional dust storm. You name it.
I had a tree snap in half today - in the huge winds.
Very exciting.
Quick clean-up to rescue crushed plants.
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All the local birds were flying as little as possible today, and keeping very low. Bowerbirds and Rosellas and Wonga Pigeons walking around, and eating from the ground. Not a good day for Fantails and Thornbills.
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By the way, your Goanna - might it not have deliberately climbed the tree to get to a nest, not been "chased up there" as you had supposed.
Cheers
Denis

birdie
birdie's picture

hi Denis

Sounds like more excitement than the good blow and choking dust that we experienced here.
As for the Goanna. no, my friend and fellow birder, Roy, actually witnessed the first battle which was on the ground ( he may have been up there before hand though. Roy witnessed the magpies, butcher birds and a particularly vicious koookaburra having a real go at it and he said it bolted up the tree from there. Then the Kookaburra came in at torpedo speed and struck it a few blows on the head.
From there, the miners took over the harassment.
Roy is retired and spends a good part of the day scouting the area for birds. He has seen plenty of wrens in the scrub but They are about 2-300m up the road, a bit far for me to keep an eye on the office! ( with credibility anyway)
However, with the blooming of the bottlebrushes etc I was able to observe my little friar bird that turned out to be a noisy on close up. Shows the importance of the garden.

cheers

Birdie

Sunshine Coast Queensland

rainbowkookaburra
rainbowkookaburra's picture

I never did say anything about a "competition"

I meant just a random photo from a random thread on "bird photos", and put it on the home page!

Perhaps a different photo each day.

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