What The Loch Garten Group Has Meant to You?

Nice idea for a thread, Tiger    - I saw this first when I came on today, and immediately thought of how as you say, it has become such a harmonious group .  We are all of course such a huge mix of ages, personality types and each with naturally a different input,  and from different places in both the UK and the world.  What is astounding is how well we are all getting on, and as you also say, self regulating , which I think has been the strength of this group.

To me, it has been a 'window on the world' as we hear from folks everywhere, from the extreme South and North of our own country, and from those from other countries round the world, about their day and their weather, and their highs and lows.  Whenever I log in, I never fail to be excited about what may be mentioned in the posts today - and of course as we have become closer, we have been able to include our worries about ourselves and our loved ones, and to occasionaly have a good Rant or a good Moan!  To me, it is all summed up in two things: our sharing of our great love of our beloved Ospreys, and our caring for each other. This has all meant a great deal to me, and I suspect to many others, too.

For me it has been the joy of being able to read & occasionally comment on the various areas of Osprey life & behaviour. It has been a pleasure (that will hopefully continue) to be able to pick & choose which aspects I look at, for instance I’ve been a constant follower of the News from other nests & Satellite tracking threads, I check what’s happening daily with the Daily news & Loch of Lowes & occasionally dip into the weekly thread. It’s great to have a forum that enables you to pick & choose what you read & due to the threads info doesn’t get lost in a deluge of meaningless posts.

Most of all it’s been about the thoroughly nice bunch of people and lack of  WUM’s & Trolls. Having followed the LG site since 2003, then the blog with comments & finally this forum since its inception; I have to say that this forum has always been thoroughly readable; whilst I’ve now stopped reading the comments on the LG blog due to the constant bickering, snipeing & people that post without thinking.

Many thanks to you all & hopefully we’ll meet the other side of the upgrade!!

Oh, hellen, please feel that you can come and join us!  And do tell us about your experiences at Loch Garten afterwards - some of us have never been lucky enough to go, and would love to know everything about it.

What a lovely idea for a thread Tiger! This group has enhanced my enjoyment of ospreys amongst other things. It is so nice to be able to chat to others from all over the world, about anything and everything on the different threads. Everyone is so friendly, and I have learned so much history, geography, science etc and seen some wonderful photographs. Thank you!

Great thread Tiger.

The Loch Garten Group for me has brought together all things osprey related - from others interseted to many other osprey nests & their daily news. This has been tremendous for me as I have no hi-tech webcam in place or many volunteers but I have had so much enthusiasm for my nest I have been totally overwhelmed.

Thanks to all who have enjoyed my updates & I hope to find you all when this group ends.

Val Gall

I agree with everyone's comments,  -I used to read the official blogs , then in 2009 some of the blogs that went with that but it got spoiled by some people. This a very friendly place, and with the various threads going on under the main LG osprey heading it is possible to choose which to read, if time is short. It can also be very educational at times, on osprey and many other matters!
In fact it is so ideal it is a shame it will be altered.. Hope it all gets sorted  ok in the end.

Oh Tiger, what a super thread.

Well, to me firstly, the group has added so much to my knowledge of Ospreys. But more than that, and perhaps more important to me (in that I could have acquired knowledge of Raptors and Ospreys in particular from various places) is the camaraderie - which is a really good word to use if you look up the dictionary definition.

Yes, Tiger, it has indeed been harmonious  ( just that one brief incident of the Troll from Glasgow  [my hiking friend said he sounded drunk, when she read his posts] and the two posts from a potential troll who thought better of it and didn't post again). I haven't had any experience of forums (living under a stone) and excepted everyone's  civility and friendship face value ! Thinking as I do , the best of everyone I come across.  OK , a little naive I suppose. But until proved other wise , I like people, except we all have foibles, and maybe ''hope for the best''.

This has been the very best of Groups and long may it last - way passed the new software. I really appreciate you all . And it's just great that we all have Ospreys in common (along with a lot of other things I'm sure).

I often think of BigRab and trust he is prospering - a very talented guy. Wish he was still posting .

Fantastic idea for a thread, Tiger :-)- It's difficult for me to put nto word how happy this group has made me feel.  Mind you perhaps I should take off that old pair of boxing gloves I found in a cupboard this morning ;-)

The word "harmonious" is a great way to describe the group.  If there's one better on the internet, I've yet to find it.  It is wonderful that the love of wild birds can bring people from throughout the world together in such a close fashion. 

This is a magical place and the best part is I feel like I'm among friends.  The two best parts are I feel like I'm among friends, and I've learned a phenominal amount about Ospreys.  The three best parts are I feel like I'm among friends, I've learned a phenominal amount about Ospreys, and there's always a guaranteed smile.  The four best parts...  I'll start again.

Well if you can't show salutations to Mony Python's Flying Circus, in an internet post now.  When can you?


Paul.

Great thread Tiger, but how can I follow all that which has already been said.  I just love the LG Group.  I am addicted to it now.  I really don't know how or why I found the site, but it was probably at the same time I heard about LotL too, and started learning about osprey.  I suspect that without the webcam the group just would not work.  The webcam is what has drawn everyone in, and thus the so very informative threads on so many varied, informative and interesting topics which have been created.  I have learned so much about ospreys during the time I have been a part of it all and have been encouraged to read more about them.  I have found so many wonderful people who share my love of these beautiful birds.  And to cap it all we have the Weekly Chat were we can learn from each other on a range of topics and share highs and lows, laughter and tears, experiences good and bad and to you all I thank you for being my ether friends!  Long may this group continue in some form which retains the essence of what we have now!

If there were a university degree course on osprey I know of several people contributing to this Group who would be awarded a First Class Honours Degree!