Hi -
I think one of the reasons OBOL has appeared to decline since the end of
December is because we have had a lot of wet and windy weather, and fewer rare
or otherwise noteworthy sightings have been made. 2015 was a banner year for
birding here in Lincoln County, with White-winged Dove, Common Ground-Dove,
Brown Booby, Mountain Plover, Great-crested Flycatcher, etc. The Mountain
Plover is still around (as of a couple days ago, anyway) but there has not been
as much to report. Wallowa winters are always interesting, but this year has
been pretty average. No Gyrfalcons in the news except Wallowa Co. A thin
scattering of Pine Grosbeaks, but none very persistent. etc. etc.
Wayne
From: "Mary Garrard" <springazure1@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "boo" <boo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "R. Adney Jr." <rfadney@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "obol" <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Midvalley Midvalley Birding"
<birding@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2016 9:05:36 AM
Subject: [obol] Re: this saddens me
Hi everyone, I don’t think I could have survived January and early February
without BOO. Knowing there was this group of highly engaged people, many of
whom are friends if not friendly acquaintences, who care deeply about the place
we love so much made it possible for me to reduce my level of anxiety to a more
or less manageable level. So I want to thank Treesa for setting it up and
everyone who participated, posted relevant links, commiserated, and rejoiced.
And I think that how it has evolved into more general discussions of issues
around the conservation of birding habitat, the politics involved, etc, is a
natural and good place for it to go.
I was never a regular user of OBOL even when it was the only Oregon source for
information about birds, mainly because I’m most interested in what’s happening
in my own area, which is the mid-valley. I like seeing the reports of FOY
arrivals, what goes on in people’s backyards, etc. So I generally visited OBOL
right before I would go elsewhere in the state to bird—always Malheur….
I agree that one of the reasons OBOL may have declined has indeed been the
proliferation of regional list serves. The mid-valley now has two, one under
the radar, so I have started visiting OBOL more often to see what might not
have been posted on the original mid-valley list serve. I don’t yet use eBird,
although it’s on my list of things to do this year.
I don’t have a solution for people who feel OBOL has lost its' groove. The
engagement level on BOO shows that there was a crying need for just such a
resource. I am fine with with the separation of the two list serves.
Finally, Rich, if you have not yet unsubscribed, I hope you reconsider. I
appreciate widely divergent views on a common interest as long as discussions
stay civil. I imagine that OBOL will pick up as things level out….if they ever
do. This may just be the new normal.
Warmly,
Mary
On Mar 5, 2016, at 9:25 PM, Maria Michalczyk <mariam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I enjoy BOO, not as strict as OBOL and allows for real dialogue. It is
refreshing.
Maria Michalczyk
I Love Pekingese
Sir Lance a Lot
