Date: 11/3/26 5:26 am From: Marv via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
The fact that this discussion is taking place on Tweeters, a place where
anyone can contribute, says it all. Tweeters cannot be all things to all
people, but I believe it has a place. I would miss it very much.
Marv Breece
Tukwila, WA
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Tweeting Rare Birds.......or NOT
To: Scott R <mryakima...>
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters...>
Scott, much appreciation for developing this program; I know many people
love it.
What I’ve been writing about is that it’s a shame that tweeters can’t still
function as it always has, a forum for people to exchange questions and
answers and general thoughts about our feathered friends as well as
sightings of both the common and the rare. All the rare-bird apps don’t
accomplish that, and I think many birders still like to have something like
that available.
I didn’t realize the “plain text” problem was so great, as Carol Riddell
pointed out, and it would be terrific if tweeters would allow photos and
recordings, but even given those limitations, it is fulfilling a need in
many of us in the birding community, and the comments of Bob and me and
others are directed entirely toward the possibility of holding on to
something we had before, but letting a little more of that rare-bird
reporting infuse this very general listserv focused on regional birds.
Of course, what Teri wrote is true, but a lot of birders aren’t focused on
rarities that they can chase, and yet they would still like to hear about
them. Tweeters could still play a role in that, although I don’t know
exactly how, except perhaps by some individuals who have seen a rare bird
telling the story there!
OR, can someone come up with an alternative to tweeters that will furnish
all that some of us are asking for? I know there are Facebook groups that
could do that, but I know some people prefer not to use that means of
communication. Are there alternatives?
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
On Nov 2, 2026, at 12:40 PM, Scott R via Tweeters <tweeters...>
wrote:
Bob, Dennis, Dan, and Tweeters,
This discussion gets at exactly the problem I’ve been working to address
with Chase Report:
Chase Report was developed to make recent rare-bird reports easier to
follow without having to sift through long lists of eBird sightings and
rare bird alerts. It’s free, requires no account or login, and has already
found a substantial following among Washington birders, with over 2500
birders having used it and about 50 users every day even in November. Select
Washington from the state menu.
For example, the Common Ringed Plover was prominently featured throughout
its stay in August. The Snohomish County Vermilion Flycatcher is also
listed, although its “likely present” assessment has become less certain
with no new eBird reports in about four days. That doesn’t necessarily mean
it has left—just that recent confirmation is lacking.
Chase Report brings together recent eBird reports, highlights higher-level
rarities, and groups sightings to help you follow a continuing bird. You
can see when it was last reported and an estimate of whether it is likely
still present, along with links to the underlying reports. Filters help
narrow the display to the birds and areas that interest you.
The app updates automatically every 15 minutes on weekends and every hour
during the week. It also offers rarity alerts through Telegram, so you can
receive notifications without having to remember to check the website.
The goal is to make it easier to spot a significant rarity among all the
locally unusual sightings—and hear about it while there’s still an
opportunity to go.
I share the appreciation for timely reports here on Tweeters. Please keep
those coming! Chase Report provides another way to keep up when a sighting
makes it into eBird but never reaches this list.
