New Bird Society for Andalucia

[Collalba]

Just a line to inform folk, that Andalucia now has its very own bird society? Well the web site and new forum (see navigation bar on web site) are now up and running. http://www.andalusiabirdsociety.org/

I know the folk busy with the on-going process of developing the web site and forum would appreciate your views.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

[Colin Key]

This looks very good, and very professional. From a personal "taste" point of view I do not like the use of brown and orange backgrounds (these are not "hit" colours for most people).

The one trip report I scanned through was good but rather "dreary" in appearance - I am currently writing some location guides for "Fórum Aves" and am making use of Google Sat images or maps for locations, and including some "on site" photos; it does not add to the quality of the information, but does make the threads/posts more appealing.

The one thing which really does strike me is that there are no names of REAL PEOPLE (although I might have missed something on my quick visit) - internet anonymity is not a great selling point!!

I will return, and probably register, when I have more time.

Best wishes, and the best of luck with this admirable venture,

Colin :smile:

[Collalba]

This looks very good, and very professional. From a personal "taste" point of view I do not like the use of brown and orange backgrounds (these are not "hit" colours for most people).

The one trip report I scanned through was good but rather "dreary" in appearance - I am currently writing some location guides for "Fórum Aves" and am making use of Google Sat images or maps for locations, and including some "on site" photos; it does not add to the quality of the information, but does make the threads/posts more appealing.

The one thing which really does strike me is that there are no names of REAL PEOPLE (although I might have missed something on my quick visit) - internet anonymity is not a great selling point!!

I will return, and probably register, when I have more time.

Best wishes, and the best of luck with this admirable venture,

Colin :smile:

Thanks Colin. Be interesting to see your 'finished' location guides. Be good to receive the links when they are done. Perhaps post it up on the Andalucian forum and might inspire people to get cracking on the same for Andalucia. I know what you mean about 'real people', but its early days yet and sure some proper folk will appear. The whole project is a work-in-progress at present, with many things going on behind the scenes i.e. the education programme for here and being adapted for Morocco, India and Kenya. The content needs folk such as yourself to fill the gaps. The web site will certainly contain loads more information once they get over the initial set-up and iron out problems/bugs.

Thanks again.

[MichaelF]

Looks nice.

Couple of niggles:
1. if you follow a 'Read more' link, and then use the 'back' button to return to return to the main page, it kicks back to the top of the main page, instead of to where you were reading (means you have to scroll down all over again to get on to the next item)
2. (very minor!) capitalisation is a bit erratic in places, e.g. 'Greater flamingo' in the header but then 'Greater Flamingo' in the paragraph; e.g. 'Bald Ibis Breed in the wild' (should be 'Bald Ibis breed in the wild')

[AndyB]

Nice looking site. Congrats to those who put it together. I'm sure it will be a very helpful resource for locals and visitors. Some really interesting articles. Hadn't heard about that Long-tailed Shrike. Nice shot!

[Collalba]

Looks nice.

Couple of niggles:
1. if you follow a 'Read more' link, and then use the 'back' button to return to return to the main page, it kicks back to the top of the main page, instead of to where you were reading (means you have to scroll down all over again to get on to the next item)
2. (very minor!) capitalisation is a bit erratic in places, e.g. 'Greater flamingo' in the header but then 'Greater Flamingo' in the paragraph; e.g. 'Bald Ibis Breed in the wild' (should be 'Bald Ibis breed in the wild')

Thanks Michael and have pointed those responsible towards your post. Hopefully things will be attended to soon. Like I've mentioned in an earlier post, the whole thing is a work in progress. However, I have been asked to thank all those making 'constructive remarks' as a work in progress it is easy for those involved not to spot the obvious!

:eek:

[Collalba]

Nice looking site. Congrats to those who put it together. I'm sure it will be a very helpful resource for locals and visitors. Some really interesting articles. Hadn't heard about that Long-tailed Shrike. Nice shot!

Thanks Andy, I am certain it will be a great local resource for those living in or nearby Andalucia, plus of course those intending to visit. It will 'only' get better.

The image gallery is currently being worked-on and should appear on the site soon. :cool: I think!

[Collalba]

Well the Society is gradually getting to the point of establishing itself. We opened our bank account this week!!

The area causing most concern has been how to structure membership applications. We've got the initial set-up in place i.e. Sign-on as a forum member (free), then go to subscribe section in personal profile page and click, this takes you to the subscription area in paypal where membership subscriptions can be paid using virtually any type of credit card. Then hey presto you are a member!

Project wise the Society is already working with Audubon New York and adapting their fine educational programme For the Birds! Essentially this is an elementary education programme that teaches environmental awareness and appreciation of nature through the study of birds. Together with a friend of ours, Barbara Vagliano of New York, we are intending to develop and adapt this programme to suit Spain and our trial area here in Ronda. During an 8 or 16-week session, public school students, in grades two through five (ages 8 to 10), learn about their natural environment through classroom lessons, outdoor field trips, a live bird program, and a conservation project designed to provide bird habitat in the local community. For the Birds! is a well-rounded curriculum that is aligned to performance standards in Math, Science and Technology and English Language Arts, it also focuses on local birds and local habitats. This place-based learning encourages a sense of pride in one’s own community. Gaining knowledge of the local environment empowers students to take an active interest in protecting it.

Another project we are working on is the production of Lesser Kestrel nest boxes and you can see this discussion in progress by going to this link http://www.andalusiabirdsociety.org/...php?topic=31.0

I will update our progress on this thread as and when. I hope you all take the time and look at the site and forum. As always your advice and encouragement are much appreciated.

:certifiable:

[Collalba]

For all you very patient folk who have been sitting on the edge of your seat, taking all manner of tranquillisers, sweating and fretting then relax! Our all new and shiny newsletter is now available to download by following the link given here:

http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/images/stories/pdf-files/newsletter_march09.pdf

Be warned the editor has used artistic license to fill page after page and (as has already been pointed out) has also included grammatical and spelling errors galore!

:beer:

Peter

[Colin Key]

Just had a quick glance at this (I was especially interested in the Bald Ibis project since six of those birds turned up here this year at Lagoa dos Salgados) Peter and all I can say is "Five Stars" - absolutely excellent.

Colin

[Collalba]

Just had a quick glance at this (I was especially interested in the Bald Ibis project since six of those birds turned up here this year at Lagoa dos Salgados) Peter and all I can say is "Five Stars" - absolutely excellent.

Colin

You are very kind Colin. Thank you for the comment(s) and very pleased you enjoyed the newsletter. I agree the Bald Ibis project is interesting and more so since the larger colonies in Morocco may well come under threat in the not too distant future (the ever creeping hand of unsustainable and unwanted development).

Peter :)

[Collalba]

Hi one and all,

Please be advised that the main site and blog/forum are now under the one name andaluciabirdsociety.com as opposed to old addresses of .org

Andalucia is now spelt with 'C' not as sometimes in the past with a 'S'

Thanks and apologise for any inconvenience caused by these changes.

:beer:

[Collalba]

All have been extremely busy here updating the web site, an ongoing process, and designing a new logo.

Talking of the new logo I welcome comments and suggestions to the attached draft.

Peter

[Colin Key]

All have been extremely busy here updating the web site, an ongoing process, and designing a new logo.

Talking of the new logo I welcome comments and suggestions to the attached draft.

Peter

Peter,

The new logo is rather "busy" - you need something which is simple and easily recognisable, and distinctive. Woodchat Shrike, Bee-eater, or a nice portrait of a Hoopoe with crest erected would be ideal.

Colin

[Collalba]

Peter,

The new logo is rather "busy" - you need something which is simple and easily recognisable, and distinctive. Woodchat Shrike, Bee-eater, or a nice portrait of a Hoopoe with crest erected would be ideal.

Colin

Thanks Colin. I am working a little with my hands tied behind my back as many folk wanted both swifts shown. I did try with mirror images seperating both, but it didn't work and various other permitations went by the way of the overflowing waste bin! I have now made the actual image bigger allowing the birds to fill the frame more and with less sky, better balance I think. Incidentally the second choice of most of the members was Woodchat Shrike. I think the fact that Andalucia is the most likely place to see both of these swifts, and at the same site/s, made it 1st choice for many.

I attach the new model with the enlarged image. Happy to receive more suggestions and/or comments. Thanks for your time everyone.

Peter

[Collalba]

The European Union has granted funds to the Andalucian LIFE project conservation and management in special protection areas for steppe birds. It aims to improve conservation of species and their habitats. Andalucia is the region with the greatest number of species of these birds in Spain. A total of 25 species of which 15 are under some degree of threat. Funding of EUR 8.6 million represents 55% of the total project budget, the Junta de Andalucia will provide 2.9 million and the rest will come from other associated beneficiaries. More information on the ABS Forum.

http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/forum/index.php/topic,213.0.html

Peter :smile:

[Collalba]

ABS are holding a field meeting at Fuente de Piedra December 12th 2009. They are meeting at 10:30hrs in the main visitor centre car park. It is proposed to take lunch in the village at a suitable time and those arriving early are advised to meet first in the Camp Site Venta.

The group are hoping to find good numbers of Common Crane, Stone Curlew, Little Bustard and a host of other wintering birds. If you are able to come along, then you are all welcome.

Peter

[Collalba]

Field Meeting 27th February - Laguna de Medina (near Jerez de La Frontera)

Meeting 1000hrs, Saturday the 27th of Ferbruary 2010, at the car park in front of the laguna. Approx 2km walk around the walkway where in the open fields we'll be looking for resident Stone Curlew, migrants can include Woodchat Shrike, Yellow Wagtail, Northern Wheatear. Along the walkway and scrub and reedbeds there should be lots of hirundines including Red-rumped Swallow, Sand Martin etc. If the weathers kind we can expect Hoopoe, Reed, Great Reed and Cetti's Warblers. On the water's edge we can keep a look out for Little Bittern, Squacco Heron with Red-knobbed Coot and White-headed Duck being the rarer birds out on the water. Black-neked, Little and Great crested Grebes should all be present and there is normally a good raptor presence with Black-winged Kite breeding, Marsh Harrier, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite migration and often a passing Osprey hunting. Weather and water levels play an important factor on the presence of Eurasian Spoonbill and Greater Flamingo presence but there should be loads of duck and other species. There is a hide that we'll walk to and scopes are advised.

Lunch will be around 1400hrs near Benalup (hopefully we can sit outside...) and after we can drive the short distance to the N side of La Janda to see what's there.

More information: http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/forum/index.php/topic,258.0.html

Peter.

[Collalba]

Field Meeting – 24th April 2010
Malaga Province – Fuente de Piedra
Leader: Peter

Meet at the main visitor centre car park at 10am. At this time last year the small pools near to the main centre were producing a great show of waders and all in summer plumage, so with other spring migrants likely the day should prove very worthwhile. We will concentrate our efforts around the main centre and main approach road to the village during the morning, take a lunch in the village and then proceed to Laguna Dulce in the afternoon (yes there is plenty of water there this spring). Both areas visited are known to produce a rarity or two and with terns, waders, raptors and many other birds putting in appearances who knows what we may turn-up? We hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend.

Peter

[Collalba]

The timing of this year's International Bird Fair in Tarifa could not have been planned better as it coincides with the main autumn migration in the Strait of Gibraltar. Raptor and other bird migration is a real spectacle in the area of the Fair and should be a date to include in your diary under the heading 'An event not to be missed'!!!

For more information follow the link below:

http://www.andaluciabirdsociety.org/abs-bird-diary-blog/94-special-events/93-international-birdfair-comes-to-tarifa.html

:certifiable:

[Collalba]

We are currently busy building a useful Comparative Field Guide for the many similar or related species seen here in Andalucia. It is without doubt a real bonus of a resource for resident and visiting birders dealing with key id features both with text and photographs. Needless to say it is a major undertaking and progress is slow, but the pages for Lesser Kestrel - Common Kestrel are complete and progress well advanced with Thekla Lark - Crested Lark.

Peter