Date: 4/26/24 11:43 am From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] RBA chat
There is another instantaneous chat for birders called BirdingApp.com BirdingApp - connecting birders . It's free to sign up. The developer is Tim Lenz and Alex ?? Tim was one of the major developers of eBird at Cornell. I have not used it yet . . . I need a rarity! Lucy DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
On Friday, April 26, 2024 at 01:34:46 PM CDT, Jim Holmes via groups.io <jfholmes...> wrote:
ALbirds is an email list serve (i.e. all the communication happens via email).
A chat using WhatsApp, Telegram, etc are basically texts that go out to a group who have joined that chat group. When someone finds a rare bird, they put out a message on the chat about what species and the location (usually with GPS coordinates).
For example, if I found a American Redstart in Sacramento, California (a rarity here) I would send a message on the chat about it and its location, people would then instantaneously get that information and be able to go immediately. It works really well for getting information out quickly (as opposed to an email which requires someone to check their email to get the information). People that chase would then send a chat that the bird is still present so that there is a stream of up to date information.
I currently belong to the following chats here in northern California:
- Sacramento Rare Birds - WhatsApp
- Yolo Birding – WhatsApp
- Rare Birds of NWCALI – WhatsApp
- Solano Rare Bird Alert – WhatsApp
- North CV Counties – WhatsApp
- Bay Area rare bird alert – Telegram
- Sonoma County birds – Telegram
- ID Discussion (for the bay area) – Telegram
I think this Alabama listserve gets a few rarities reported. A look back at the last month there was one post about the Western Grebe at Guntersville (a week after it was initially found) and one about the Bell’s Vireo at Dauphin Island (apparently wintered but nothing on this listserve when it was first found in November). Does not look like any posts about other rarities in Alabama in April (Shiny Cowbird, Cave Swallow, Western Tanager, American Flamingo (!)) made it to this listserve.
Personally, I think these chats work best locally for those that in the area (not sure I would be that interested in a text about a Cave Swallow on Dauphin Island if I lived in Huntsville) but I would be interested in real time information on a Cave Swallow on Dauphin Island if I lived in Bay Minette.
Thanks,
Jim
James F. Holmes, MD, MPH
Professor and Executive Vice Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine
Office (916) 734-1533
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> On Behalf OfBob Reed via groups.io
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2024 10:52 AM
To: <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] RBA chat
I'll show my ignorance. What's the difference between ALbirds and a chat?
Bob Reed
Tallassee, Alabama
On Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 12:34 Jim Holmes via groups.io <jfholmes...> wrote:
Does Alabama (or any region within Alabama) have a chat (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc) for rare birds?
Thanks,
Jim
James F. Holmes, MD, MPH
Professor and Executive Vice Chair
Department of Emergency Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine
Office (916) 734-1533
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