All, I might be more inclined to use this list serv more if it were a friendlier place. My observation has been that a few people can post whatever they choose, but a birder who isn't a "regular" tends to get shown their hat. I only use this list serv occasionally, because I tire of the snippy, condescending tone of those who believe this arena is their own personal lek. I love birding and I thoroughly enjoy most birders here in Ohio. But this list serv needs...something. A friendlier attitude, a more accommodating approach to doubts about a sighting, and basic common courtesy. This list serv belongs not to one or two people, but all the birders in Ohio. Respectfully, Susan K. Williams -- Susan K. Williams Director of Education RAPTOR, Inc. ---- Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]> wrote: ============= A word of advice to those lucky enough, and helpful enough, to find rare birds in Ohio and report them to the rest of us: please let the rest of us know via this list, ohio-birds, as well as any other methods you may choose. If you are not subscribed, simply promptly share your report with someone who is, for forwarding; their addresses are on their posts. Recent posts on all the state and provincial lists are easy to find at http://www.birdingonthe.net/birdmail.html Your own words will be *far* more valuable than a second-hand report. Of course if you are not subscribed to, or a reader at, ohio-birds, you are unlikely to read this post. The numbers of newsworthy and reliable reports that go unread on eBird or surfbirds or various specialty sites are hardly small, nor are they always timely or detailed, and they are not always actively shared more widely. If observers want the best chance that others will be able to share or confirm their interesting sightings, they should go to a regional list first and share this advice with folks in the region, and later with whomever they choose. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]