Hi Everyone, Reminder about full bird names.....

I know we talked about this a while back but some of us (including me) become forgetful after awhile.

If in the 1st pic we could put the full name of the bird and if we have duplicates in the same posting we can than shorten it.

Thanks;this will help all newbie bird watchers coming into the forum.

Have a good day!

right-o!

Huh? Don't understand what you are saying.

Hey EB. Well, don't use the short names like HOSP for house sparrow. Not everyone knows the abbreviations.

Ah, ok. :)

Thanks.

I could NEVER memorize these abbreviations anyway!

Here they are though. At least the list I refer to.

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/aspeclst.htm

I appreciate the reminder! I had to look at a bunch of photos and posts the other day before I finally realized that BOSS = "black oil sunflower seed." And I only figured it out because I recognized the seed in the "BOSS feeder" and knew the name that was on my bag of it.

In more formal venues, the first time an abbreviation is used, it's put in parentheses behind the full name. ex. House Sparrows (HOSP) can cause real problems for nesting bluebirds... I know we aren't that formal, but using the full name every so often definitely helps!

Thanks Resin. That's also what I was talking about.

Oh Resin, I'm very guilty of that.

ME too...in fact told DH am waiting to get my hand smacked!! lol :)

haha. DH!!!

Could I add a plea for less experienced folk like myself? Please let the tone of any corrections remain as gentle as seems to be the norm for this forum. If Bubba Newbie from SC posts a photo and says "look at the beautiful Goldfinch at my feeder!" and people jump in to say, "well, Bubba, that's actually an American Goldfinch, chances are that Bubba will either be embarrassed or will roll his eyes -- and will leave the forum.

I've known some serious birders, and I don't expect to get to their level of knowledge or accuracy any time soon... but I love the birds in my yard, and I love all the photos and information I find on this forum. I know the growth of the new BirdFiles and all the fabulous contributions being made by folks here may bring an additional awareness of proper names and "getting it right" to this forum. I hope the tone here will stay friendly to both serious birders and casual bird-lovers.

Thanks!

Well see, that's the problem with forums. It's too easy to infer a tone that was not implied.

Having been a part of this forum for over a year, with many posts every day, I think I can confidently say that everyone on this bird forum is pretty friendly and never mean to come off as a know-it-all or abrupt in any corrections. Most of us are only backyard bird watchers.

So please… ANYONE… don't feel any pressure as a newbie. No one is asking anyone to post names by order or family, simply a full common name so that others can learn what birds they have.

Well...I Just learned that there is more than one goldfinch! I figured that there was?probably? a different one in the Africa/Europe flyway, I didn't know that there was a different one here in N. America..

you know, it will be really fun now to link to our own bird files when we want to share a new bird!

I don't post here much (yet), but I'm a dedicated lurker, and this is definitely one of the friendliest, most helpful forums on DG (and that's saying a lot!). I'm just hoping it will stay that way even with the new (and necessary) emphasis on accuracy for BirdFiles entries. :-)

Gosh yes, Marna! I am SO excited about BirdFiles!

We must also remember we do span the globe here so there are cultural differences. So that must be kept in mind...and a few people here have a VERY DRY sense of humor!

Now, Marna is just upfront funny! LOL

it's amazing to watch the progress of bird files.

You mean, loud and in your face, eh nanny? ;)

Nooooo....hmmmm.....we wouldn't want you any other way than how you are!! :)

good. cuz I ain't-a-changin' NOW!

Good fer yoo mrs ed! :-)))

hahah. I'm too lazy anyway!

Oh my golly, this is the kindest, and most informed, group of people with whom I've ever conversed. I've learned so much about birds by posting photos and asking questions of those who are experienced.

Thanks for the reminder about abbreviations.