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Introduction

Last post 06-20-2009, 8:16 PM by Cavan Wood. 9 replies.
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  •  06-19-2009, 1:15 PM 101754

    Introduction

    Hi I just joined and know nothing about bird ID, so except a lot of what is this. I farm in South East Iowa and take lots of photos. I started in 73, did school, portraits, weddings and other commercial shots, now I just shoot for myself. I’m not good at spelling or grammar so expect a lot of misspelled words, the spell checkers should have a field day with me.


    Kurt
  •  06-19-2009, 3:48 PM 101772 in reply to 101754

    Re: Introduction

    Hi Kurt!  Welcome to Whatbird - hope you enjoy it.  I look forward to seeing your photos and the people here love to try and ID the birds.  Just be sure to give us the location and time of year and that will help the identification alot.

    Welcome,

    Nancy

     


    Nancy

    Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
    -- William Cullen Bryant



  •  06-19-2009, 5:16 PM 101778 in reply to 101754

    Re: Introduction

    welcome to whatbird. don't worry about spelling and grammar. have seen lots of mistakes on this forum, but i haven't seen the first spelling or grammar correction. most of the energy is saved for healthy debate over bird identification. 

    you'll need to know how to attach pics to your posts. it's not obvious. there are two methods.

    Options Tab:  If your pic is 640 KB or less, this will allow you to point at the pic on your computer and add it to your post.  This method limits you to one pic per post.  At the top of the post you will see several tabs:  Compose, Options, Related, Preview.  Click on the Options tab and click the "Add/Update" button under "File attachment".  The rest should be obvious.  Don't worry that you don't see your pic in the preview.  By the way, if your pic is larger than 640 KB, you can use Microsoft Office Picture Manager to resize it.  Click Picture then Resize.  If you don't have this software, there are a multitude of other programs that do the same thing.

    Tree Icon:  On the Compose tab, there are a bunch of icons.  One looks like a tree.  If you mouse over that icon it says "Insert/Edit Image".  You can use this icon for pics that are larger than 640 KB or if you want more than one pic on a post.  It takes a little more work.  You need to supply a URL for the pic(s).  I add pics to my gallery, copy the link of the full resolution version of the pic, and paste that URL into the form that comes up when you click the tree icon.  You will want to resize the pic if it goes off the page.  I have heard that your post will have to be approved if you have more than four pics in a post, so you probably want to limit the pics to four per post.

    Good luck!


    "A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."
    --Chinese Proverb
  •  06-19-2009, 6:00 PM 101782 in reply to 101778

    Re: Introduction

    Thanks Nancy and John, I'll try a test of a pic and see if it works. This is a ground nesting Bird, size about the same as a Sparrow and like color, but don't think is is. It's not the best pic but it was hiden and blends in well also. Taken today in Lee county Iowa in a bean field.


    Kurt
  •  06-19-2009, 7:02 PM 101787 in reply to 101782

    Re: Introduction

    Wow!  Nice photo.  I think it may be a Lark Sparrow.  I'm sure someone will let us know for sure.  That's a very distinctive face pattern.

    Nancy


    Nancy

    Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
    -- William Cullen Bryant



  •  06-20-2009, 5:01 AM 101844 in reply to 101787

    Re: Introduction

    Thanks Nancy for the kind words. I did not think the shot was very good for ID’ing as it does not show much other than the head, Glad you like the shot.


    Kurt
  •  06-20-2009, 12:02 PM 101935 in reply to 101754

    Re: Introduction

    kurt, help is on the way. i posted a request in the "Help Me Identify a Bird" forum to direct attention to this bird identification request. in the future, that is where you should post identification requests. i know you were testing the picture upload process, but i bet you also would like to identify your bird.
    "A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song."
    --Chinese Proverb
  •  06-20-2009, 12:34 PM 101939 in reply to 101935

    Re: Introduction

    Although I have never seen one in the flesh, that facial pattern is unmistakable as a lark sparrow.

    Welcome to whatbird Kurt.

    Scott

  •  06-20-2009, 3:47 PM 101966 in reply to 101939

    Re: Introduction

    Scott I believe you nailed it. A search on Wikipedia shows “Lark Sparrows nest on the ground, laying 3-6 eggs in a grass cup nest sheltered by a clump of grass or other vegetation. The eggs are white with black scrawling.” That describes the nest and eggs to a T. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.


    Kurt
  •  06-20-2009, 8:16 PM 102023 in reply to 101966

    Re: Introduction

    Actually it was Nancy that nailed it.  I just agreed with her.

    Scott

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