Bird sighting website??

theboywithnohats · #1 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 08:16 PM

Hey

I am just testing the water as it were, as to whether or not people would find a user submitted bird sighting website useful??

My idea for it would be that users could register and share sightings with one another...as I sometimes find it difficult to find out where the best places/best sightings are as I cannot often speak to fellow followers in my area due to other commitments, and often go out on a whim!

It would of course be free to become a member...perhaps with a small amount of advertising/donation asking to cover server costs??

Let me know what you think!!
Phil

SheffieldPete · #2 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 08:38 PM

A good free one would be a good thing. www.birdguides.com is great, but quite pricey to get more than the current day's sightings.

theboywithnohats · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 08:59 PM

Yea I am familiar with that site, with it being based on user submitted entries then I don't see why it couldn't be free!!

StuartDH · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 09:21 PM

I think it would be great, at least I hope so because we're doing something similar for members to keep their own diary map of sightings for all types of species. I've lost count of the amount times I've driven past somewhere only to find out a week later that there were some great sights nearby at the time.

VinceS · #5 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 08:49 AM

I think it is a good idea. At the moment you have to visit a number of websites (not many free) if you are trying to organise a field trip in an area you are not familiar with. To have access to a free and up-to-date site would be good so long as there were safeguards for rare nesting birds.

Vince

ianrose82 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 12:35 PM

Don't forget that the other sites do offer a pager service and the (usually) exact location of the bird. This is what you are paying for.

A free, up-to-date website would be great...lots of members visit their local patches/reserves regularly and it doesn't take long to post what you have seen.

SheffieldPete · #7 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 02:33 PM

The problem is, that the price of Birdguides goes towards a staff that moderate the sightings and get them on the site quickly and efficiently. If anyone could post anything you could end up with people maliciously or mischievously posting fake information, people posting locations of birds that need protection (ie harrier nests etc) or birds being kept quiet because they're on private land, people posting things in good faith that are blatently misidentifications, or people filling up the listings every time they see something mundane like a jackdaw or a nuthatch.

It's a good idea, but I feel it would need quite a bit of moderation.

epops · #8 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 04:28 PM

this ones ok if yor local to here or planning a trip this way http://www.freewebs.com/suffolkbirding/index.htm

bgvi · #9 (**permalink**) 12-02-2008, 06:36 PM

i think it would be a great idea, and i would hope that people would be mature and responsible enough not to post any duff info,
i've had some sightings that i would like to have shared with other birders
but not really found a site i could post them on,
perhaps people could also post details of birds that inhabit there local area
but may be scarce elsewhere, as in my case i could say bittern and purple sandpiper.
so yes,i think it could become a great site that would also enhance the wab site.

theboywithnohats · #10 (**permalink**) 14-02-2008, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the feedback on the idea!!

I did have in mind bogus reports and of course, 'dangerous' reports with people wanting to post the location of nests etc etc....some kind of verification process could be undertaken to prove that a user is authentic?? I have no idea what at the moment.....but any ideas anyone had would be awesome

If we could gather enough ideas then I would do a little feasibility report and see how it'd all be put together