WhatsApp Group & the End of the Rarity Text Service
WhatsApp
A 'Fylde Bird News' WhatsApp group exists to provide immediate dissemination of news of scarce and rare birds found within the Fylde recording area to help everyone to see them.
Anyone who is on the group can post instant messages giving news of rare and scarce birds.
The group is administered by individuals in their own time and as such is not an official Fylde Bird Club service, thus it is open to all members and non-members alike who wish to join and have installed the WhatsApp app on their Smartphone. If you wish to join the group please email to receive joining instructions. The service is free and the WhatsApp application is a free download.
Guidelines for Using the WhatsApp Service
Please do not use this service for chat. If you want to send a personal message to someone who is using the service, please use their individual mobile number and not the group WhatsApp service. Remember, every message sends an alert to everyone!
Please do not post details of birds’ nests.
Please do post images of unidentified birds to request help as soon as possible.
Feel free to request directions to rare birds and provide such directions.
Please restrict reports to birds within the Fylde Recoding Area (Sea to A6 & Rivers Ribble to Conder)
Please use the Sightings page to submit routine records of birds that are frequently seen, (and rarities as well).
The End of the Text Service
The Club still operates a rarity text alert service, however this service will be discontinued at the end of July 2021. The Club has been reliant of the Chairman to single handedly operate this service but it has become very difficult to operate and maintain. The texting Apps used must to be regularly replaced as they always eventually stop working for group texts. Also messages frequently fail part way through sending and must be re-sent. Although many members were still using the text service, it has become too onerous to operate and members are encouraged to join the WhatsApp service.
Unfortunately members will need to use a smartphone to use the WhatsApp service, however these devices have now become dominant and anyone who hasn't switched to one yet, will find that are infinitely move useful than the old push button mobile phones.
Advantages of WhatsApp
The WhatsApp service has several massive advantages over the text service.
1) Anyone can post news of a sighting from in the field, without going through a third party.
2) Photographs of rare or unidentified birds can be posted on WhatsApp immediately for assistance.
3) Images of location maps can also be uploaded.
4) There is very little work required by the administrators
5) It costs nothing to operate or use
6) The Chairman will get a lot of his free time back and have a lot of stress removed from his shoulders every time a good bird turns up!
A 'Fylde Bird News' WhatsApp group exists to provide immediate dissemination of news of scarce and rare birds found within the Fylde recording area to help everyone to see them.
Anyone who is on the group can post instant messages giving news of rare and scarce birds.
The group is administered by individuals in their own time and as such is not an official Fylde Bird Club service, thus it is open to all members and non-members alike who wish to join and have installed the WhatsApp app on their Smartphone. If you wish to join the group please email to receive joining instructions. The service is free and the WhatsApp application is a free download.
Guidelines for Using the WhatsApp Service
Please do not use this service for chat. If you want to send a personal message to someone who is using the service, please use their individual mobile number and not the group WhatsApp service. Remember, every message sends an alert to everyone!
Please do not post details of birds’ nests.
Please do post images of unidentified birds to request help as soon as possible.
Feel free to request directions to rare birds and provide such directions.
Please restrict reports to birds within the Fylde Recoding Area (Sea to A6 & Rivers Ribble to Conder)
Please use the Sightings page to submit routine records of birds that are frequently seen, (and rarities as well).
The End of the Text Service
The Club still operates a rarity text alert service, however this service will be discontinued at the end of July 2021. The Club has been reliant of the Chairman to single handedly operate this service but it has become very difficult to operate and maintain. The texting Apps used must to be regularly replaced as they always eventually stop working for group texts. Also messages frequently fail part way through sending and must be re-sent. Although many members were still using the text service, it has become too onerous to operate and members are encouraged to join the WhatsApp service.
Unfortunately members will need to use a smartphone to use the WhatsApp service, however these devices have now become dominant and anyone who hasn't switched to one yet, will find that are infinitely move useful than the old push button mobile phones.
Advantages of WhatsApp
The WhatsApp service has several massive advantages over the text service.
1) Anyone can post news of a sighting from in the field, without going through a third party.
2) Photographs of rare or unidentified birds can be posted on WhatsApp immediately for assistance.
3) Images of location maps can also be uploaded.
4) There is very little work required by the administrators
5) It costs nothing to operate or use
6) The Chairman will get a lot of his free time back and have a lot of stress removed from his shoulders every time a good bird turns up!
An example page of the Fyde Bird News WhatsApp group
