On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 18:31:31 -0700 Denny Granstrand
<dgranstrand at charter.net> writes:
> 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/

Among the reasons that I don't use the Birdbox anymore are:

When you access it you either have to hold a tape recorder to the
phone or jot notes like crazy in order to get the directions to a bird
which is being reported.

Often you have poor cell phone reception in out of the way places
and it is as easy to wait until you get home to Post to TWEETERS or OBOL.

It is easier to try and arrange the information in an E-mail, you
can leave out the "mmmms", "uhhs", and the "I meant right turns".

And after posting a sighting some of us don't care to hear our
own voice - it never seems to sound like me!

I have no suggestions on improving the system, it might just be
easier to get a PDA or Lap-top and hook up to e-mails by satellite phone.

Wilson Cady
N45 35.618' W122 13.738'
Washougal, Skamania County, WA
gorgebirds at juno.com