David and Gus, you are great! Sent from my iPhone
> On Mar 31, 2018, at 4:24 PM, [email protected] wrote: > > tl;dr > >> On Sat, Mar 31, 2018 at 12:29 PM Gus Keri <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi everyone, >> >> [Note: this email is not personal against Sean or Joshua who are some of the >> nicest people I have met along my birding adventure] >> >> Three weeks ago, I deleted all my social media birding-related accounts >> (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Flicker) and sworn not to go back >> again. I kept this emailing list subscription for rare birds alert because I >> still love birding. But I will make an exception today and write this email >> in support of David. Somehow, I feel responsible for what is going on >> between him and what I call the Secret Society of Brooklyn Elite Birders >> (SSBEB). [More on this society below.] >> >> Let me first start by saying that David’s Twitter account, Brooklyn bird >> Alert, is the best thing happened for Brooklyn birders in a long time. I am >> saying this as a Brooklyn birder and speaking on behave of many Brooklyn >> birders who are in support of David’s work but too afraid to speak out. >> >> David is doing a great job in surfing the net (eBird, Twitter accounts, >> email Lists, etc.) in search of the best information to provide to birders >> all over the city. He is working hard and his effort is well appreciated by >> the majority of birders. I applaud him and I Hope he will continue his work >> undeterred by few criticisms. >> >> I feel responsible for all this because I am the one who asked David to >> start this account. I had been following Manhattan Bird Alert for years and >> I liked it very much. When David created Bronx Bird Alert, I begged him to >> start one for Brooklyn. Initially, he hesitated because he doesn’t want to >> upset Brooklyn birders. >> >> I conducted few discussions with Brooklyn birders and found that the opinion >> is split among the elite birders but the majority of the regular (non-elite) >> birders were in support of it. After further discussion, David agreed to >> start the account. >> >> It wasn’t long before the account became very popular. Almost more than 90% >> of the Brooklyn birders I know followed it and some of them started using >> the hashtag #birdbk. I was happy. And many birders benefited from this >> account. They saw birds that they wouldn’t have heard about if it wasn’t for >> David. >> >> At the same time, I noticed that few birders didn’t follow this account. I >> had some bad experience with some of them. (Some of them might have hatred >> against me since the infamous injured Snowy Owl I tweeted about last >> November) But I thought, they will eventually come to their senses and >> recognize that this account is good for all Brooklyn birder. >> >> I was wrong. >> >> One month ago, A friend birder (I am not going to mention his name) told me >> that there had been a discussion taking place about my involvement with this >> account and some believe that I am the one who is doing all the work. And >> some birders don’t want to help this account because of me. I told him the >> account is owned and managed completely by David and he does all the work. I >> have nothing to do with it except that it was my idea. >> >> I was shocked to hear that. I couldn’t believe such level of personal hatred >> even existed. I knew about this SSBEB for a long time but I never though >> they will descend to this level. I knew they have monopoly over every thing >> birding in Brooklyn and they don’t like any dissent. They bully the rest of >> Brooklyn birders into silence. >> >> Those who know me well also know that I don’t keep quite when I see >> something wrong. I express my opinion freely. Some of you might remember the >> Facebook posts about birding ethics I posted a couple of months ago. >> Apparently, these posts didn’t go well with the Junta, which is the SSBEB, >> in the banana republic, that is Brooklyn, and I have always thought I was in >> America, the land of the free. >> >> One week after that encounter with the friend birder, I knew something is >> brewing. I received an email from another friend birder; also he will remain >> unnamed, addressing me in a very formal way. We had exchanged many friendly >> emails in the past year. He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. >> I knew then that whatever discussion taking place behind a closed door had >> gotten to him also. Apparently, the SSBEB is exerting pressure on the whole >> birding community. >> >> What happened two days later was the straw that broke the camel’s back and I >> decided to exit Brooklyn birding community altogether. >> >> David tweeted about a Snowy Owl in Floyd Bennett Field which is 10 minutes >> away from where I live. I immediately got in my car and drove there. The owl >> was still there. I love Snowy Owl. I know many birders also love them and >> they enjoy looking at them. >> >> I believe God send Snowy Owls to NYC every winter, especially the coldest >> ones, so people can take a break from their miserable busy lives and enjoy >> the beauty of this majestic bird, even if it is only for minutes. I believe >> every New Yorker has the right to look at one of them every winter. >> >> I immediately took photos and videos and posted them on social media >> (especially Brooklyn Bird Alert) thanking David for his tweet. I was happy >> to know that few other birders also took advantage of this tweet and saw the >> bird. This is what social media all about; spreading happiness. >> >> The following day, a group of misbehaving birders/photographers went to see >> the bird. They broke the law by trespassing onto the field to get closer to >> the bird. The bird flew away to one of the nearby island. The event was >> documented and photos were posted on Twitter. >> >> I was very angry at those birders who broke the law and wished if the person >> who saw them would have called the police to get them. The police are few >> minutes away in that field. I was very sad all day long. I had a sinking >> feeling. Something inside me told me a storm is brewing. >> >> In the evening, the injured Snowy Owl who saved me last November came >> through my window and whispered in my ear to check my twitter account. I was >> shocked to see that few birders had blocked my twitter account denying me >> the access to their tweets. They all did it at the same time. They must have >> been in an emergency meeting somewhere in a dark cave under the candle >> lights right now to decide the fate of the evil-doer Gus Keri. >> >> The SSBEB forgot all what ailing the world of birds. They forgot global >> warming, thinning of the ice cap, deforestation, destruction of habitat, >> acidification of oceans, plastic-ification of oceans and Trump >> administration’s attempt at reversing all the environmentally protecting >> laws for migratory birds. They decided that my twitter account is dangerous >> to Snowy Owls and leading this species to extinction. >> >> What shocked me the most that one of them was one of the nicest people I >> have ever known and the last person I expected to be blocked by. An >> overwhelming feeling of sadness descended on me. I didn’t know what to do. >> The SSBEB have influenced the best of them all into taking action against me. >> >> At that moment, I reached a decision that I had been thinking about for few >> months. I am done with birding altogether. I deleted all my birding-related >> social media accounts and went into the night quietly. Needless to say, I >> couldn’t sleep that night until the early morning hours. >> >> Over the last few years of birding, I got to know many birders in Brooklyn. >> The majority if them are very good people who don’t want to make any >> trouble. They kept saying to me, “he is a nasty man but a very knowledgeable >> birder and I don’t want to get on his bad side.” The culture of “fear and >> intimidation” is alive and well in the Brooklyn birding community. >> >> Many of them asked me to keep the fight against the Junta SSBEB. But what >> they don’t know that I am not young, and above all, I am not healthy enough >> for this fight. I wish I was thirty years younger with my full health. I >> would have kept my promise to the many good people who just need their >> voices heard without fear of bad repercussions. >> >> Dear David, I have not met you yet. I am hoping to do so at one of my trips >> to Central park. I don’t know how old or healthy you are. But I hope you >> will keep this account running, at least because “this town needs this >> measly one-horse institution if only to have some place where people can >> come without crawling to Potter.” >> >> Thank you every one for reading on. >> I have a feeling this might be my last communication on this list. >> So long every one. >> Gus Keri >> >> >> Sent using Zoho Mail >> >> >> >> ---- On Sat, 31 Mar 2018 05:23:38 -0700 Larry Trachtenberg >> <[email protected]> wrote ---- >> >> >> Even though “the world is turning and you can’t slow down,” I have chosen >> never to have tweeted, retweeted, used instagram, Ingraham, facebook, linked >> in or willingly participate in any form of social media. Getting old is not >> so bad considering where the world is going even if you miss a bird “here, >> there and everywhere”, as reportage of bird sightings migrates to sources >> one may choose not to use. It seems to me though not knowing any of the >> participants to this debate; isn’t the whole point of the social media thing >> once it’s out there it’s out there for better or perhaps more often for >> worse and if you choose to give the the new robber barons like Zuckerberg >> your personal info, well .... and if you choose to follow what Kim >> Kardashian eats, well; and if you tweet the identity and location of a bird, >> well .... >> >> Seems this newest bird community feud is merely a redux of the photographer >> v. birder antagonisms not to mention the debate regarding the absurd >> -unethical many would say - use of incessant play back by some charging $ to >> lead bird walks so their customers can get better photographs — all issues >> that hopefully won’t Trump reports of actual bird sightings as migration >> gets in to full swing. Happy birding. >> >> As for birds, I did see a meadowlark at Croton Point today. >> >> L. Trachtenberg >> Ossining, NY. >> >> P.s. “Can’t we all just get along” — kidding 🙃 >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Mar 30, 2018, at 8:37 PM, Sean Sime <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> -- >> NYSbirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- >> There has been much discussion off-list regarding the Twitter alert systems >> you have set up and the many unknowns I'm hoping you may be able to shed >> some light on to the list and therefore I'm replying here. >> We all agree there can be great benefit to information sharing via social >> media. Yet there are many who are concerned regarding your practice of >> posting sensitive species locations, currently daytime roosting owls, but >> given line #4 in your post, "There are no restricted species" it would imply >> nesting species as we move into season as well. >> >> While many people in Kings County were eager to give the birdbk hashtag a >> try it quickly seemed to push the limits of our local birding community's >> ethics in this regard. This post is in no way an attempt to have a >> discussion regarding what level of intrusion on bird life is appropriate. >> While most of us follow the ABA Code of Ethics or follow similar guidelines >> via local organizations or eBird it is easy to understand different people >> have different opinions on the matter. >> >> What I am wondering and I'm hoping you will shed some light on is the >> apparent harvesting of data outside of the purview of people who are using >> the hashtag, whether from eBird, local text alerts or what have you. What >> seems particularly troubling is that multiple people have specifically DM'd >> you and asked that you do not use their tweets and you continue to retweet >> them anyway, although apparently stripping their names from your posting. >> >> Given the current events, it seems appropriate people should have a full >> understanding of how their data is being gathered, stored and used. >> >> While reasonable people may disagree on what is ethical birding or not I see >> less room for different interpretations when it comes to ignoring a member >> of the birding community's direct request to have you not use their data. As >> one human being to another this seems to be completely lacking in civility. >> I hope you will take the time to respond to these concerns to the list as >> they are shared by many people in the NYC birding community. >> >> Kind regards, >> >> Sean Sime >> Brooklyn, NY >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Fri, Mar 30, 2018 at 7:52 PM, David Barrett <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Birds are back! There have been 38 Manhattan alerts already today, including >> American Bittern. It's been a big day in the other boroughs, too. And the >> season is just getting started. >> >> These alerts cover both rarities AND non-rarities of interest, such as the >> first few arrivals of expected migrants, like the Palm and Louisiana >> Warblers we had today. Posts of birding news or general birding conditions >> are fine, too. >> >> >> To receive these alerts, follow the accounts on Twitter that are of interest >> to you. The alerts are always publicly-viewable and searchable, both on >> Twitter and on the web. Click on the links to see the stream of recent >> alerts: >> >> Manhattan: @BirdCentralPark, https://twitter.com/BirdCentralPark, #birdcp >> >> Bronx: @BirdBronx, https://twitter.com/BirdBronx, #birdbx >> >> Brooklyn: @BirdBrklyn, https://twitter.com/BirdBrklyn, #birdbk >> >> Queens: @BirdQueens, https://twitter.com/BirdQueens, #birdqu >> >> You can set your phone to notify you with sound or vibration as alerts >> arrive. >> >> To issue alerts yourself, first become a followed user by sending a direct >> message on Twitter to one of the above accounts. Or email me and I will get >> you set up. >> >> Then to send an alert you just "tweet" using the appropriate hashtag as >> above. For example, to send an alert for Queens: >> >> Piping Plover at Rockaway Beach Edgemere #birdqu >> >> I have written software that will see your tweet and immediately and >> automatically relay it from the main account to all followers. >> >> If you have never used Twitter before, it's easy. You can make a free >> account for yourself in a few minutes on the web or by downloading the >> Twitter app on your device. See my site for complete directions on getting >> started with Twitter and on using these alerts: >> >> https://bigmanhattanyear.com/ >> >> I hope these alerts will make your birding more productive and enjoyable. >> Email me with any questions. >> >> >> These alerts are a great adjunct to eBird -- you can post quickly to them >> without having to halt your eBird list and go through all the steps of >> finalizing and sending your list. >> >> >> Twitter also has some advantages over listservs: >> >> 1) It allows you to attach map screenshots, photos, and videos *directly* – >> no photo site needed. >> >> 2) It allows followers to immediately view these multimedia files without >> opening a browser. >> >> 3) It's faster to use in the field -- no need to write a topic heading or >> provide name/city signature. >> >> 4) There are no restricted species. >> >> 5) You'll get "likes!" And you can carry on discussions publicly or >> privately with other birders. >> >> 6) You do not need a smartphone -- just a regular phone that can send text >> messages. >> >> 7) Twitter has millions of users, offering the potential for wider exposure >> and more participation. >> >> >> Good birding, >> >> David Barrett >> Manhattan >> >> >> -- >> NYSbirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- >> -- >> NYSbirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- >> >> -- >> NYSbirds-L List Info: >> Welcome and Basics >> Rules and Information >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> Archives: >> The Mail Archive >> Surfbirds >> ABA >> Please submit your observations to eBird! >> -- > -- > BTW > -- > NYSbirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > ABA > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
