Info services (1 Viewer)

I've not read the new review in Birdwatching (Jan hasn't come out round my way yet - a tiny place called Manchester!), but what is the best info service available at the moment. (In your own opinion)
I have a pager which is great, but I've never tried anything else ie SMS or emails and things.
I'm mainly after peoples personal experiences and not company self- hype-crap as my pager renewal is due and I'm wondering whether to bother renewing.
Cheers, Seb

Hi Seb,

I use Birdguides website - it's about a tenth the price of a pager, and I can log on to get the details at any time I'm at home (or with access to a computer). When I'm out can be a problem, but you can for a bit extra have the info sent to a mobile phone - still cheaper than a pager, and it has the advantage that you get the messages stored for you when you're in areas with no reception (e.g. much of Northumberland's inland valleys), which you don't with a pager.

Michael

I use Birdguides for when I am at home and their texting service when in the field; this is much cheaper than having a pager as you can tell them exactly which days you want messages and also which areas you are interested in - also levels of rarity, either just new sightings or all updates, exclude non-twitchable birds.

Mine is set for just the days I am out and just first reports of scarce or rarer birds in Leicestershire/Rutland and Lincolnshire plus rare birds anywhere in the Midlands; most days I get nothing at all !! Obviously, if I went to Cornwall I could change it just by amending the pro-forma on their website.

You pay an annual subscription (I pay for texting and website info combined) and this includes 100 text messages; then you can pay for another 100 as and when you need them. I have only used 123 in eight months, and half of those were when I accidentally asked for 'all' messages when I was in Cornwall for a fortnight in September - got about 30 reports of Wrynecks in four days - and did not have a computer to correct the mistake.

Thoroughly recommended.

Steve

I use them too and am a particular fan of the summary email service..... it tells me of all the records in a few counties that interest me and rare stuff elsewhere...

I'm more interested in what I missed when I'm out birding than in the latest info so I can go chasing something though

Steve Lister said:

You pay an annual subscription (I pay for texting and website info combined) and this includes 100 text messages; then you can pay for another 100 as and when you need them. I have only used 123 in eight months, and half of those were when I accidentally asked for 'all' messages when I was in Cornwall for a fortnight in September - got about 30 reports of Wrynecks in four days - and did not have a computer to correct the mistake.

Thoroughly recommended.

Steve

Click to expand...

Thanks for your kind words about our service Steve. I just thought I'd point out for your benefit (and for anyone else who might be considering the service) that you can alter your Bird Text Alert settings without access to a computer, by sending "control messages" from your mobile phone. More at http://www.birdguides.com/birdnews/smshowto.asp

Regards

Dave Dunford
BirdGuides Webmaster

Hi Dave,

I know you've been a member for some time, but as this is your first post, let me welcome you on behalf of admin and all the moderators.

I have experience of both pager and web/Email services as I have both a Rare Bird Alert Pager and a subscription to Birdguides - In my opinion you can`t beat the pager for "up to the minute" info whilst the Web Service is great for more detailed information - directions/maps etc. Obviously the sms/text service is significantly cheaper but depending on how much info you want you can be restricted in the number of messages you can save on your phone - also reception on mobiles can be quite poor in alot of areas where I go birding whilst the pager still gives me a good signal. It all comes down to a balance between cost and how much info you feel you need I guess. Incidently I much prefer the Birdguides Web Service to the RBA web service which is significantly less user friendly.

I should also say that using the RBA Pager service you do get a helpful and personal service - I remember Andrew at RBA ringing me 10 minutes after i`d left Attenborough Gravels (and phoning in a no sign of purple heron report)without seeing the Purple Heron to tell me the bird was now showing, allowing me to do a quick 180 and head back!!