Good morning, all!
I have been wondering for a while whether we're going about the business of recording events at Loch Garten in the wrong way as the interest and number of people posting seems to have taken a serious nosedive this year. I've just looked at yesterday's Daily Update thread - started by the magnificent Scylla at Mission Control in the small hours - the thread got 31 responses from only five people (including Scylla herself) and, given the greater number of both posts and posters only two years ago, I would like to know if there is a sincere lack of interest in this nest or whether it is simply down to a much bigger number of people lurking rather than posting. Incidentally the Daily Update thread from May 9th 2012 got 174 responses even though the only thing going on was incubation with the odd fish delivery.
Any thoughts?
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
And I am happy to contribute as and when, as I always have.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Perhaps there are few comments this year because there is really not a lot going on other than fish deliveries, kicking Odin off the eggs, the occasional intruder and the weather. It has been the most peaceful of nests since I started watching! And for one, I am glad. There will be time to worry when the chicks are hatched and sibling rivalry starts, and the cacophony of three demanding chicks kicks off!
And to be totally banal, I notice that the white feather which was standing upright yesterday is still with us!
I think DU should stay as a source for those who want to read what others have observed at different times of day.
But IMHO this current "thread about a thread" has run its course and needs to be allowed to sink. There have been useful comments, but with hatching action getting closer I would think more people would rather be watching nests or filling in gaps with DU.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
SheilaFE said:It has been the most peaceful of nests since I started watching!
That's what's at the bottom of it, SHEILA, as others here have said. We're all grateful but the side-effect for the DU is "nothing much to report". (I very much appreciate your timed, to-the-point, commentaries.)
The abysmal performance of the site* also has a lot to answer for - who would want to get tangled up in it just to show they're reading/watching but have no report to make because there's nothing to report?
*It is so depressing that nothing is likely to be done about it, for whatever reasons, financial uppermost I dare say.
SheilaFE said:And to be totally banal, I notice that the white feather which was standing upright yesterday is still with us!
I noticed that too ;-) I might do a video "The feather's travels". No, not even I would ask anyone to watch that! ;-D
IMAGICAT
Hazel b said: I do believe that the DU thread once took 652 messages in one day. The day Tore fledged - 12 July 2011 - there were 662 responses. [/quote] Yes even Richard Thaxton got to hear about that. [/quote] That is right Tiger, because I told him the next morning as we saw him in the car park as he was walking to work that morning, and you know what he said because I am sure I told you, and your name was mentioned Ha Ha.... Will never forget the day that Tore fledged, I think it is very special to be there at the VC when a chick is hatched or in this instance when a juvenile fledges, I think it sticks with you forever. EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
I do believe that the DU thread once took 652 messages in one day.
[/quote]
Yes even Richard Thaxton got to hear about that.
EJ's Memorial Balgavies Loch Ospreys 2023
SheilaFE said: I have read this thread with interest. Thank you Clare. I have been contributing one way and another since 2008 or 2009. We were fortunate to have the RSPB facility to keep in one place the comings and goings of the various sites. It was only LG in the beginning, but has grown, like Topsy. OK, it's frustratingly slow, unreactive, locking us out, continually requiring refreshing, but at least it is under one easy umbrella. I do use FB and like the immediacy and ease of use of it, but I remain loyal here! Tiger, I am not sure that starting the DU one hour earlier would make any difference. Folk are either here or not - I am usually not after 7.00pm!
I have read this thread with interest. Thank you Clare. I have been contributing one way and another since 2008 or 2009. We were fortunate to have the RSPB facility to keep in one place the comings and goings of the various sites. It was only LG in the beginning, but has grown, like Topsy. OK, it's frustratingly slow, unreactive, locking us out, continually requiring refreshing, but at least it is under one easy umbrella. I do use FB and like the immediacy and ease of use of it, but I remain loyal here!
Tiger, I am not sure that starting the DU one hour earlier would make any difference. Folk are either here or not - I am usually not after 7.00pm!
Agree with all you have said in your post Sheila.
I will post if I am home, and usually I find it easier to be up early and do my posting at this time.
I suppose we will find out when the Osplets arrive whether some of the usual posters will return or not, and if they do not then surely there has to be a reason why they are not posting.
Whether this is down to the site and its response time and problems etc, we do not know. It does seem a bit better at the moment, although I did lose a post this morning.
Posts in DU on May 13 2010 - 63
Posts in DU on May 13 2011 - 62
Posts in DU on May 13 2012 - 179 (Bad weather)
Posts in DU on May 13 2013 - 89
So it does vary and in 2010 and 2011 similar to the figures at the moment.
MaryGK said: Posts in DU on May 13 2010 - 63 Posts in DU on May 13 2011 - 62 Posts in DU on May 13 2012 - 179 (Bad weather) Posts in DU on May 13 2013 - 89 So it does vary and in 2010 and 2011 similar to the figures at the moment.
Very interesting analysis Mary. It is always worthwhile going and checking the facts.
Tiger Signature
MaryGK said: That is right Tiger, because I told him the next morning as we saw him in the car park as he was walking to work that morning, and you know what he said because I am sure I told you, and your name was mentioned Ha Ha.... Will never forget the day that Tore fledged, I think it is very special to be there at the VC when a chick is hatched or in this instance when a juvenile fledges, I think it sticks with you forever.
Now I completely mis remembered that. I thought that someone else entirely told me that. :)
I haven't had a chance to post here yet so better had now:-)
I would love to have the time to be here most days, but am restricted to 1-3 days per week due to life lol. As well as my job I have 2 volunteering jobs, run a meditation etc group once a week in the evening and the rest is teenagers, gardening etc.so time is precious for me on the webcams. I spend this time with 1 recorder only, so it's a full time task because I watch other cams apart from LG. Each time on I sit for 6 - 8 hours constantly but it's worth it! No doubt the forums will get very busy when the eggs are hatched, and if the site remains the same it will be difficult to get anything posted with the extra load on the system, so we shall have to wait and see if frustration and chaos ensue!!
So 75 posts on the DU thread by 11.10 am. Have things improved?