tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877329083449604066.post958995177164425504..comments2023-12-31T23:14:03.126-08:00Comments on North East Birder Ramlings: Birding at technology in the 21st centuryAndrew Kinghornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098341343031091500noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877329083449604066.post-32927944367786266932010-09-30T13:53:46.920-07:002010-09-30T13:53:46.920-07:00you just have to go with what you think will be be...you just have to go with what you think will be better and not regret it if your pan backfires! And my 'local twitching' more involves going to the place early morning, having a look around and seeing what you can see anyway. You might see what you're looking for and you have as much chance of finding your own goodie here as you do on your patch! :)<br /><br />Just out of interest Joseph, how far away are your patches, as on your blog you seem to always have to drive to Strathbeg, Ythan etc? I guess I might be rather lucky its less than an hours bike-ride to most of my stomping grounds! ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925490044758161899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877329083449604066.post-18076778618755572412010-09-28T07:07:17.988-07:002010-09-28T07:07:17.988-07:00Liam, when it comes to pagers and SMS systems, I a...Liam, when it comes to pagers and SMS systems, I am equally 'primitive' lol in that I also wait until I'm home - quite frustrating in its own way! However that's soon going to change as I am signing up to the SMS system for the local grapevine (ABZ Text). I agree with you that patching is better than twitching. However, I would say that you can be left frustrated and wound up as a result of missing a bird regardless of how far you travel, even if the bird is 25 miles away from one of your patches, especially on the day of a fall or a good day in general when there is likely other birds elsewhere that you wish you could have seen.<br /><br />JosephJoseph Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105829078247550891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877329083449604066.post-594482713359101152010-09-26T05:34:49.861-07:002010-09-26T05:34:49.861-07:00agreeing with Joseph. Since I can't even affor...agreeing with Joseph. Since I can't even afford a pager, and can't be bothered to get the news via mobile, i just have to wait until I'm home, like some flippin caveman! ;)<br /><br />But i reckon patching is better than twitching unless (1) its a really, really nice bird or (2) its close enough not to really wind you up if you miss it. <br /><br />And may I thank you for the first real birding debate I've had since my temporary banishment from BF!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925490044758161899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877329083449604066.post-28554205473479942622010-09-25T05:04:48.700-07:002010-09-25T05:04:48.700-07:00Hi Andrew,
Got to agree with you 100% on these th...Hi Andrew,<br /><br />Got to agree with you 100% on these things. However I just thought I'd draw you to the attention of what I think is another draw back of technology, especially when you are out in the field. I would say for some individuals, although you may criticise this, the existence of the SMS system can almost get you too attracted to going for 'other people's birds', and can leave you very disappointed. Lets say you're at your local patch and there has been a fall of warblers, nothing particularly noteworthy so far but a good scattering of commoner migrants (Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat, Redstart, Black Redstart), and you've only been a quarter of the way round your patch. A Dusky Warbler comes through in a place a fair distance a way from where you are birding at the time and nowhere near any of your other local patches (but still in your county), and you are keen to see it. You travel all the way to see it, leaving your local patches behind you. You're excited on the way, but when you get there you find yourself staring into the gorse bush which it has been seen in with no success, and nothing else has been seen there that day. You've failed to see the bird, and you are left very frustrated and thinking it was a waste of time when you could have been trying to find that scarce or rare passerine at your local patch, knowing that you had as good a chance as anyone of finding something because no-one else was checking it.<br /><br />My point is really that technology over entices some birders to other people's birds, and that it can have consequences and leave you annoyed and exasperated. Also, but obviously not in all cases, it can stop you finding your own birds, and finding birds is essentially the ultimate reward. I am not applying these points to a particular person, I am half basing it on personal experience and knowing that people in general can be left frustrated.<br /><br />Feel free to voice your views on this,<br /><br />JosephJoseph Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105829078247550891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877329083449604066.post-26293434749858026102010-09-24T14:29:58.998-07:002010-09-24T14:29:58.998-07:00Don't get me started !! ;)Don't get me started !! ;)Ghost of Stringerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13731973883798167086noreply@blogger.com