The Importance of Our Members

Hi all

I realise there have been some disagreements over the past few days and some of our long-term members have said they are leaving. I sincerly hope this doesn't happen as everyone on here makes such a valuable contribution to the forum.
I just wanted to bring us back to why the forum is here. BIBY is here because we want and need people to reconnect with nature and to reconnect with birds. The forum is for people, regardless of whether they know a lot, or know little but want to learn, can exchange ideas, opinions, photos and share the knowledge they have. I think the value comes from those who are learning being able to learn from those 'hard core' birders who really know their stuff, and those birders being able to share all their wonderful experience.
With the photo section I think it is great that we not only have some photographers who take stunning photos, but also the amatuers who want to share what they are seeing. Photo quality does not matter and I apologise if my recent posts about getting good quality photos for the website has indicated that. I want people to be learning and sharing together, regardless of their skill or knowledge level.
So I encourage everyone when using the forum to remember their manners, be courteous to each other and remember that there is a real person on another computer screen reading your responses - it is easy to forget at times that tone etc does not come across.
Remember we are all here because we love birds! So I hope that the wonderful community that is the BIBY forum continues. Please know that regardless of how much you know about birds, you are all valued members of the BIBY community.
Holly