Hi Tweeters,

An area of concern for the WOS board of directors is the lack of calls to the BirdBox. The BirdBox is intended to be the best, immediate, way for a person to report a rare or unusual bird sighting. In this day-and-age when nearly everyone is carrying a cell phone, the BirdBox should be an easy and quick way to get other birders streaming to see your bird.

Unfortunately, the BirdBox is under-utilized. I realize many people do not find a lot of rarities. This survey is intended for those who are out birding regularly and who do occasionally find a bird worth reporting.

I would appreciate it if anyone who has time, and an opinion, would e-mail me personally. What I would like to know is:

1) If you don't call the BirdBox to report your sightings, why not?
2) What changes would be necessary in the BirdBox to get you to call it from the field report your sightings?
3) Do you call the BirdBox when you are birding to see if a good sighting has been reported that day that you might be able to chase?
4) What changes would you suggest in the BirdBox to make listening to calls easier?
5) Do you have experience with another state's rare bird hotline that is more user-friendly than ours?

Thanks in advance for your participation,

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA
WOS board member

* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* dgranstrand at charter.net *
photos on-line at:
http://osprey.bardill.net/gallery/