ROUGH DRAFT

OK all, remember this is a “rough” draft. I’ve tried to incorporate the ideas we’ve been mauling around and refine this info to make it practical. It is likely a few thoughts here can be reworded to make the ideas clearer. It may be that something needs to be deleted or added. Typos always seem to be overlooked, can you find them? Somehow I got heavy on what “appears” to be a comparison to OBOL. (After all, this announcement is going onto OBOL). It may be that was unavoidable simply because OBOL has been the standard, so to say, for many years, and it looks like with the WhatsApp platforms we are taking things to another level, which is a good thing. So. I’ve tried to make it clear that the WhatsApp groups are not in competition with OBOL, but should enhance one another. I’m thinking at this point, now that we have hashed around what to put forth as THE way for interested birders to sign on, it may not be such a great idea to put out our phone #s to the general public. Email is probably better. But I have to admit that using the various created web links are easy and convenient and it is not too hard to deal with the possible fall out of a few who may cause problems by deleting or blocking them. So for consistency, how about if we just use the web link? I think I’m the only one who does not like it as much, but I can handle the change......hehe. So if you are OK with a web address for admission to a group, can you send me yours (if it is not already here) so I can incorporate it here? So I went ahead and put in your email addresses in case someone wants to contact you personally. If you’d prefer your phone # let me know. Take a few days to digest this and put forth your comments on the admin group site like we’ve been doing. Brodie, if you want to pass this on to some of the other administrators in Portland for review feel free to do so. I also will send this on to Liz Holencik in Newport since she is the other administrator for Lincoln. Also, if I’m overlooking someone who this should go to, forward such to them. Also (Brodie), you might consider writing a paragraph on communication platforms as you mentioned, fostering the idea of how these various communication outlets serve different purposes, Now that we are taking this huge step for mankind, I’m kind of stoked because of the possibilities. Some of our ideas seem to be like the acorn ready to sprout into the oak tree. Later. Hi All, As many already know, birders in parts of Oregon are using the “Whatapp” platform for the sharing of local birding information/news. Those of us who oversee them sense the need to explain the system, and make known what is available to Oregon birders. There are 6 such platforms that have now been created, and many members of such have benefitted. The locations are: 1) The 4 counties surrounding the Portland metro area, 2) Tillamook and Clatsop Cos in NW Oregon, and Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties in S.W.Washington 3) Lincoln County 4) Mid (Willamette) - Valley 5) The Malhuer area 6) and most recently, NE Oregon. For those unfamiliar with the WhatsApp ap, it is basically like a glorified texting service, so that when someone texts birding info, it simply goes to everyone signed onto the group. A main take away is “real time” birding news. If you are an active local birder or county lister, it is the fastest way to receive local birding news. A side benefit is that it has certainly fostered a healthy sense of community among the various groups, something quite beneficial, some of which may not have been accomplished otherwise. It may be of interest to know that in other parts of the country birders are using this or a similar platform. The country of Canada has 18 such groups spread out across the their borders. The logical question arises when something new like this takes place is, “Why do we need this when we could just continue using OBOL for such?” A fair question, which is mostly answered by observing the evolution of OBOL over the last number of years. OBOL had already drifted away from being a source of local birding info as more and more local info was being disseminated on local list serves around the state. As there are some 1700 OBOL members, one has to wonder how pertinent local birding info is on a statewide network, and just how many members actually want to read about birding news from other parts of the state? Some certainly do, but much of the local birding info will never make it there, and that simply does not appear to be changing. There are probably other good reasons why local birding info no longer makes it to OBOL as much as it used to. However, OBOL will continue on and still be a useful resource for birding info, but more in a general way. And it is certainly the best place to post state RBAs. But for certain local birding info/news, especially local rarities, the WhatsApp platform is hard to beat. And in all likelihood it was inevitable that it would materialize as it fits the needs of those interested in local birding and listing. And since there are now 6 such groups, the administrators of these groups feel the need for a little more organization, communication, and refining of the system to make things more practical for Oregon’s birders. The WhatsApp system is here to stay, and is becoming an integral part of communication for some of Oregon’s birders. Most of us see it as the next obvious step for sharing birding info. Technology moves forward whether we like it or not. Resistance to such is usually equivalent to not wanting to deal with change. For some of us it can be overwhelming to learn new things to keep up with the ever changing world around us. The infamous lyrics of Bob Dylan might apply here, “You better start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times they are a changing.” In writing this, we are also wanting to avoid the idea of competition with OBOL. It simply has a different purpose - local vs state wide. It really is just a spin off of OBOL or the local list serves. Will anything really change in the way birders post to these because of the creation of the WhatsApp groups? Not significantly. Regarding the sharing of local birding info on list serves, any birder has the option to do so. If a birder really wants to have local birding info broadcast on them, he might consider signing onto the various WhatsApp groups and transfer the local birding info there. The reverse actually happens on a regular basis - posts from OBOL are made known to whatever WhatsApp group could use the info. With all that being said, it is intended that a site will be created where all the birding info from Oregon’s WhatsApp groups will be compiled in one location/website. I suppose that would make some of Bob Dylan’s stones float for those who don’t like change and who can go to such a site, bypassing the “hassle” of having to deal with learning a new ap. But the downside is it won’t be real time news. One of us is also planning on the creation of a directory to be available on the OBA website so that interested birders can have quick access to the available groups, with instructions on how to sign on. Another good source of info that gets onto the local forums are eBird reports for rare birds. Since many are signed up for local rare eBird alerts, these naturally gravitate to their associated WhatsApp group location for obvious reasons. The Portland group started in July of 2019 and has now grown to over 100 members. With so many eyes in the Portland area, almost nothing gets missed, and real time info kicks into high gear. It may be of interest to know that when the Lark Sparrows showed up at the Broughton Beach fire station on May 18, 2020, some 80 posts went out that day from searching birders as well as birders intending to look for it. Talk about communication! By comparison, and to more or less elaborate the point being made, only 2 went to OBOL. The next WhatsApp group to come on the scene was the Mid Valley group in March of this year. Now there are 6 of them, and their usefulness in the field has paid off. For instance, on 10/3/20 Hendrick Herlyn was over at Newport when Susan Kocis posted that a Barred Owl was at Mike Miller County Park. After more inquiry, Hendrick was able to relocate it for a nice county tic, something which was simply not going to happen otherwise. Another fine example is as follows: On 9/23/20 Craig Turner posted that a Brown Booby was on the water just west of the bridge in Newport. Liz Holencik got the post, put the pedal to the metal and sped over there, arriving in a few minutes just as the bird was taking off to the west, never to be seen again. Needless to say, she was quite ecstatic in seeing a lifer, and specifically relayed how delighted she was at seeing how this system for “real time” communication worked precisely on her behalf. If interested, there are 3 things one needs to know. First, you need a smart phone. Second, you need to download the WhatsApp ap. Then use the appropriate web address below to become part thereof. You can also contact the stated list administrator with any questions. Portland - (Brodie Cass Talbot. Brodiecasstalbott@gmail.com) Clatsop/Tillamook - (David Bailey. davidcbaileyoregon@gmail.com) Lincoln County - (Liz Holencik. eholencik@gmail.com) https://chat.whatsapp.com/EbC1Oq6HNPXL4aHNcT3cQd Mid Valley - (Bill Tice. ticebill7@gmail.com) https://chat.whatsapp.com/FmH36bnozVAK8Kf3PhCd17 Malhuer area - (Aaron Beerman. aaron.beerman@gmail.com) NE Oregon - (Nolan Clements. There is general agreement among the administrators that the benefits have been quite good, as opposed to any disadvantages which range from none to negligible. Sure, some tweaking is always necessary when this type of thing gets started, but it has been well worth it. No policing has needed to be done yet, like what is necessary on OBOL from time to time. But there are police (administrators) overseeing the forums just in case. The guidelines are pretty loose, and I’m not sure everyone is aware that there are guidelines for the Portland group, and none (?) for the others. It is assumed that birders will be reasonable and courteous in using the forums so as to not need the police. In general, these are for the purpose of relaying birding info, the location birds posted, when last seen and other related info, and, very limited chit-chat. It should also be noted that in general no one is excluded from joining. In certain areas a list serve works just fine, so they are to be encouraged. Areas of potential for such a platform are 1) Eugene/Lane County 2) Jackson/Josephine Counties 3) Central Oregon/Bend area 4) Coos/Curry Counties 5) Klamath County 6). Roseburg/Douglas County 7). Hood River to Willow Creek along the Columbia River If there is enough interest a certain area, and some want to pursue a WhatsApp platform, feel free to contact Aaron Beerman (see above) to assist you in such. The groups are more apt to work best if a few local birders in a given area become the nucleus for such, and for promoting it as well. Someone who lives in one of the afore mentioned areas might consider signing on to one of these groups to see how they work so as to get an idea if it would work in their area. Sometimes the discussion on any of the groups can be all but dead, but when a rare bird gets reported, they can really spring to life. It is amazing what a rare bird can do for a group of birders.