Bird Mailing Lists [was: Marvadel: Time to move on]

David Bridge (David@simsc.si.edu)
Thu, 11 Feb 99 21:22:46 

>--- On Tue, 09 Feb 1999 11:41:29 John Tebbutt <tebbutt@nist.gov> wrote:
>
>Dear Marvadel Subscribers,
>
>I'm afraid that, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am no longer
>able to manage the Marvadel list at this site.
>
>Accordingly, I am sending out this appeal for someone else to take over
>administration of the list. Duties are very light: there are fewer than
>10 messages a day to the list (as you all know) and I would estimate
>fewer than 5 administrative requests (subscribe/
>unsubscribe/etc) per week on average. There are currently 131
>subscribers to the list.
>
>I've had a great time taking care of the list: I think there was a need
>for it and I think it has served a useful purpose. I hope somebody else
>will be able to step in to take my place.
>

[I am sending this reply to BOTH the MarVaDel list, 
as well as to the MDOsprey list.]

I would like to make several points.

1. We all own John Tebbutt a big thank you for running the MarVaDel list.
   In spite of what he says, running a list 365 days a year is a major
   responsibility and at times it is work.  This I know because I run
   several mailing lists.

2. While I might be able to run the list, I don't have a computer platform
   that I can use to support this list.

FUTURE:

3. I accept without questions that a birding mailing list like this is a
   good (how about great!) tool, and very useful, so I will not debate that
   issue.

4. Most successful mailing lists have a clear scope, by that I mean BOTH
   geographic area and subjects addressed.  For example there is "PaBirds",
   and there is a list for the Carolinas - "CarolinaBirds", and there are
   mailing lists many other states/regions.  In terms of subjects, what is
   acceptable:  only rare birds, or almost any birding related topic ?

5. In this area we have two lists:  MarVaDel and MDOsprey.
   To my limited knowledge neither, Delaware nor Virginia have their own
   specific birding list.  In my own mind there is some confusion about which
   of the two lists to use for posting observations.  I am a member of both
   lists.  And I frequently receive two copies of the same notice, a small
   annoyance.  While the MarVaDel list is designed to cover three states (and
   Washington, DC), one could argue that MDOsprey is limited to Maryland.
   However, members of MDOsprey also post observation from other states.

So the QUESTION is:

With changes about to occur with the MarVaDel, what is the BEST structure for
the future?  Should there be a single all inclusive bird mailing list for the
whole Mid-Atlantic area?  Should Delaware and Virginia start their own bird
mailing list?  Or should the "scope" of MDOsprey be enlarged ?

These may seem like simple questions, but there is more behind them.
You don't want the lists to get so large (and with so many messages) that
people unsubscribe from the list.  If that occurs you are clearly NOT
providing a good service.

If the lists are too small in scope than many messages get posted to several 
lists.

And then there is the "political" question, or do we call that 
"territoriality" in ornithology?

There is also the "signal to noise ratio" issue on a mailing list.
I am willing to tolerate a lot of "noise", while getting really good 
information on birds, locations, etc.

So there is a fine balance to be struck, if possible.
Different people have very different ideas about these issues.
Does anyone have any comments or suggestions ?

yours, David Bridge
David@simsc.si.edu

[raised in Maryland, and formally very active in the MOS, lives in Va,
works in Md, and frequently birds in DC and Delaware.]