I've begun putting together some web pages oriented to the casual birder
and perhaps less casual wildlife photographer, covering the Malheur
area (i.e. most of southeast Oregon).

The "glue" is not begun yet, i.e. I've scanned some maps that you'll
be able to click on to get info on particular areas, no background
pages are done, no root page is done, etc.

But I've got a couple of sample "place" and "species" pages done. I'd
enjoy getting some feedback - even brickbats! A couple of folks have
already peeked at the first couple of sample pages and seem to enjoy
the format, but your comments are encouraged.

These aren't intended to be comprehensive in terms of describing all
birds (or other wildlife) which can be seen in the area or an
exhaustive guide to all of the interesting points within "Malheur
country", but rather are intended to be an overview.

I've automated the page layout process and finished testing it today,
so I'll be able to crank out pages like crazy when I have some spare
time. Once they're cranked out, the format won't changed, so if
you don't like it yell now or be forever silent!

I'm not as worried about language issues, i.e. grammar and spelling,
as I've not yet figured out how to automate prose production and know
I'll have to check and double check this stuff forever once folks
start reading it!

However, do point out any factual errors, i.e. "avocet aren't mammals,
dummy!"-type comments would be useful.

If you check the pages out, you'll recognize some of the photos :)
You'll also see that I need to spend another day or so uploading
images from Photo CD!

Here's the address of the directory in which the pages are stored:

http://www.xxxpdx.com/~dhogaza/malheur

Netscape will give you a page listing the various files. If you click
on a file name netscape will display it for you - since I have no
root page yet, you gotta do this rather than chase links from a
home page. Don't worry, it's simple - to open another file afterwards,
just click on the "back" button on the toolbar and click on another
file.

Do this rather than attempt to follow the links you see highlighted
on the various pages - most of the files the links point to don't
exist yet!

If folks like this approach I'll keep tweeters informed of major
increments of content (progress, I mean!). And if folks really
like the format I could assist others who want to put together
similar guides for other areas, particularly if you have a way
to run simple C-language programs...

Enjoy!



- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>