There are a lot of different ways to alert our readers about a bird
you've seen. Some reports are more effective than others. From my
perspective, effective messages mean less reading and more birding.
After rereading our guidelines ( http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm ),
I'm struck by two words that writers should consider when preparing an
Ontbirds posting - brevity and clarity.
Keep the report simple but not so simple or obscure that the average
reader struggles to comprehend the message. Start with a short subject
header giving key points (normally a bird with a one word location). The
message body should contain enough details to answer any basic
questions. Use complete names for both birds and locations (don't use
potentially ambiguous short forms). And always include clear concise
directions that will help the reader relocate the reported bird. It
might surprise some but internet email lists have their own standards,
conventions and etiquette; conclude your report with a complete
signature include poster's name, town and email address.
The reason we report birds on Ontbirds is to make it possible for others
to find the birds we've just seen. If we pay mind to why we post,
Ontbirds will continue to be successful and everyone will be happy.
Thank you for your attention.
--
Mark Cranford
ONTBIRDS Coordinator
Mississauga, Ont.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
905 279 9576
From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Jan 24 21:27:14 2006
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Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 21:25:06 -0500
Subject: Re: [Ontbirds]Admin: Keep messages clear and simple
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Hi Mark
In the interest of efficiency when composing a message to ontbirds, I
occasionally use banders code to indicate species. But, only after the
common name has already been written.
Is this a no-no?
Thanks
Tony
On Tuesday, January 24, 2006, at 09:04 PM, Mark Cranford wrote:
There are a lot of different ways to alert our readers about a bird
you've seen. Some reports are more effective than others. From my
perspective, effective messages mean less reading and more birding.
After rereading our guidelines ( http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm ),
I'm struck by two words that writers should consider when preparing an
Ontbirds posting - brevity and clarity.
Keep the report simple but not so simple or obscure that the average
reader struggles to comprehend the message. Start with a short subject
header giving key points (normally a bird with a one word location).
The
message body should contain enough details to answer any basic
questions. Use complete names for both birds and locations (don't use
potentially ambiguous short forms). And always include clear concise
directions that will help the reader relocate the reported bird. It
might surprise some but internet email lists have their own standards,
conventions and etiquette; conclude your report with a complete
signature include poster's name, town and email address.
The reason we report birds on Ontbirds is to make it possible for
others
to find the birds we've just seen. If we pay mind to why we post,
Ontbirds will continue to be successful and everyone will be happy.
Thank you for your attention.
--
Mark Cranford
ONTBIRDS Coordinator
Mississauga, Ont.
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
905 279 9576
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
Tony Beck
158-B Woodridge Cr.,
Ottawa, Ont.
K2B 7S9
(613)-828-5936
website: http://www3.sympatico.ca/beck.tony/
