The Birdingpal web site (1 Viewer)

[bkrownd]

FYI, it appears that the Birdingpal site is no longer maintained. I've been trying to get my defunct e-mail address removed for a year now, and I've never received any replies from the admin or seen any changes.

 

[Hamhed]

I would hate to find out this is true. All of my Birding Pal experiences have been good ones. I've emailed them just now to see if they respond.

Steve

 

[Hamhed]

I got an answer from Vince in less than 2 hours. He suggests using this link:

http://contactpals.com/birding/contactAdmin.jsp

Like Birdforum, support is necessary for the continuation of the system. I would like to think he is getting that support.

Steve

 

[bkrownd]

Odd that you got a reply in 2 hours, but I sent 3 or 4 requests for change over the last year and heard nothing and seen no action on my request. Maybe their strange messaging system has a bug causing it to fail for some users?

 

[dantheman]

Odd that you got a reply in 2 hours, but I sent 3 or 4 requests for change over the last year and heard nothing and seen no action on my request. Maybe their strange messaging system has a bug causing it to fail for some users?

Might seem obvious but do you check your spam folder to see if replies get directed there?

 

[Hamhed]

Odd that you got a reply in 2 hours, but I sent 3 or 4 requests for change over the last year and heard nothing and seen no action on my request. Maybe their strange messaging system has a bug causing it to fail for some users?

I believe they operate on a paid membership system now. Have you contributed lately? It's been a while since I sent anything; I think it is $5 per year. It could be I'm about to lose communciation also!

Steve

 

[Jim M.]

I believe they operate on a paid membership system now. Have you contributed lately? It's been a while since I sent anything; I think it is $5 per year. It could be I'm about to lose communciation also!

Steve

From their website:

Please consider helping us keep Birding Pal going.
A subscription of $10 a year makes you a Pal
and verifies your identity qualifying you to contact Pals.
Please Subscribe Here. We use Paypal.com

 

[bkrownd]

I shouldn't have to send money to get them to change the information posted about me on the site. |:S| I got an e-mail from someone here about 8 months ago talking about some visitor they met who was upset with me for not replying to messages I never received. I imagine there are dozens of those. :/

Nothing in the SPAM bin that I've seen. (Though my request shouldn't required a reply.)

 

[Malloot]

I have tried a dozen of times to get removed from the Birdingpal site. I simply don't have the ability anymore to guide someone. Never had any reply and my details are still mentioned.

 

[pppppvvvv]

That's the internet today I'm afraid.. if you aren't buying something, then you are the thing being sold.Either your data or advertising revenue on your page hits. Thus it is often very difficult to cancel membership on a site.. The site needs you, active or not, to increase it's profile.

Can you delete your birdforum account, out of interest?

 

[Hamhed]

I have tried a dozen of times to get removed from the Birdingpal site. I simply don't have the ability anymore to guide someone. Never had any reply and my details are still mentioned.

Advice from a local birder is sometimes all that's requested. Guiding is definitely optional.

Steve

 

[Malloot]

Advice from a local birder is sometimes all that's requested. Guiding is definitely optional.

Steve

Most of the time people ask me for guiding, but I always provide them some advise where to find there target species. And always a link to waarneming.nl where they can easily find their target species.

www.waarneming.nl
www.waarnemingen.be
www.observado.org.

 

[bkrownd]

One thing that irked me early on about birdingpal is that most people who contacted me were obviously looking for a free guide rather than paying the (well-known) local guides for their time and services. When I respond that I can't guide them but I'd be happy to provide them with plenty of local information, I rarely hear back with requests for such information. (sigh)

If I was retired perhaps I'd have the time to escort dozens of visitors a year around the island(s)...but then I'd be a professional guide charging a fee to pay the bills.

OTOH I have used birdingpal to contact people near my destinations in the past, hoping for localized information and answers, and now I know why some of them never responded, since the site is rarely updated. I suggest looking to the local "listserves"/forums/facebook/audubon chapter instead.

 

[Hamhed]

bkrownd, why is it wrong with someone hoping to get guiding services for free? I wouldn't volunteer to pay an entry fee for a music concert if it was available for free. There is no shame there.

Since there are almost no bird species in my area that I haven't seen before, it is gratifying to help others find the local species, life birds for many. For me, money can't replace my satisfaction in seeing the look on their faces and sharing in their excitement.
It's a shame that many of you are having negative experiences with the Birding Pal site. I have had no trouble with the site and have so far enjoyed many pleasant birding excursions with a wide variety of visitors. When I started with Birding Pal I wasn't retired but I am now and looking forward to helping more birders - shoot me an email an let's go birding - no charge!

Steve

 

[bkrownd]

bkrownd, why is it wrong with someone hoping to get guiding services for free?

What irked me is that most people really weren't interested in information, suggestions, asking questions or exploring on their own. If I wasn't going to give them a free tour and transportation they went silent. Crickets. I originally signed up with birdingpal to share information about the local landscape, flora & fauna, natural history and ecology, and few people show any interest in any of that. The general lack of basic curiosity and enthusiasm is troubling.

 

[Hamhed]

Sounds like you ran into some hardcore listers. I did have some contacts who were not so interested in anything but birds but the service is called "Birding Pal". Then there is the other extreme who really just seem to want someone to talk to. Not sure which is worse...

Steve

 

[bittern]

Change of email address

FYI, it appears that the Birdingpal site is no longer maintained. I've been trying to get my defunct e-mail address removed for a year now, and I've never received any replies from the admin or seen any changes.

There have been some changes with respect to who is running the BirdingPal site. Nevertheless I asked for my e-mail to be changed last week and it was done the same day.

It does seem though that I am getting far less requests to take people out here (Geneva and nearby France) than a few years ago. It might just be that there are less business related trips to Geneva than previously as the majority of the people I take out are here on business and not regular tourist birders. It might also be because now there is a charge!

Cheers,

Mike

 

[bkrownd]

There have been some changes with respect to who is running the BirdingPal site. Nevertheless I asked for my e-mail to be changed last week and it was done the same day.

Truly odd that they can fix yours in a day and ignored my repeated requests for over a year.

 

[Hamhed]

I think you have a good point, Mike. Not as many calls in the last year for me either. I don't know what it takes to keep the Birding Pal site going but surely it can't be done for nothing forever. Still, the same people who don't (or can't) pay for a guide are probably also reluctant to pay for the site's privileges.
By the way, it is all vacationing birders who seek me through Birding Pal.

Steve

 

[bkrownd]

Eventually one of the users complained and someone from the site e-mailed me through normal e-mail. I was able to get some information in my profile changed. I suspect my e-mails to the admin via their messenging system weren't getting through.