MANCHESTER BIRDING GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS TO THIS SITE

This web site is designed for birders (county or otherwise) interested in birds, birders and birding in the county of Greater Manchester and I would like the content of this site to reflect this, in that I would welcome any suitable items of interest from all birders for the possible inclusion here. The more content the site has, the more it becomes a useable resource for birding in the county, so I have listed below the guidelines for submitting items of interest to each section on the site. All items should be sent to me at the following email address along with anybody needing to contact me if they are in any doubt, if these guidelines do not cover your specific needs or if you would just prefer to, at ian@mckerchar1.freeserve.co.uk or alternatively to contact me by 'phone on 01942 701758 or 07958 687481.

ARTICLES AND IDENTIFICATION ISSUES:

Items for submission for the Articles and Identification Issues sections should be typed into a Word document which can then be emailed to me. Photos can be included within the text already or emailed separately (but remembering to place a note of where it is to be included within the text) and should be reduced in size (see under photo gallery below) although this can be carried out up my receipt of them. Photos within the text of a document should ideally be restricted to no more than 20 to allow speedier downloading. If you are in any doubt as to whether the article would be of interest to the site please do not hesitate to contact me and for those interested in  layout and content they should check those already on this site and follow suit, although I may edit them up on their receipt after informing you first, of course.

PHOTO GALLERY:

I am looking for any photos of birds taken in the county of Greater Manchester, particularly those rare or scarce and any rarity shots of years gone by. If you have what you consider to be a record shot of a past rare/scarce where no other photo exists, then by definition it's the best shot and I'd love to see it (if they are 'old style' prints please contact me as these are of just as much interest)! Also please submit your images if they show a particular feature which aids in then identification process, shows the bird in an interesting pose or is simply such a stunning shot it deserves publication.

Photos should ideally be reduced in size before emailing them to me (the maximum pixel count for images in any of the galleries on this website is 640 x (whatever it works out at!)), although I can easily carry this out on receipt of photos and please don't forget to include the species, location and date (preferably as the name of the photo, i.e. spoonbillpennington230506). Any short comments for the image(s) should be included in the body of the email.

Generally I will not use photos of birds on the nest, their eggs or nestlings. Nor will I publish photos of scarce breeding birds in suitable habitat where it is deemed publication could jeopardise their success. All pictures will be fully credited and usual copyright laws apply. If you have your own website and would like me to add it to the links page then please let me know.

Obviously, publication of photographs on this website does not constitute acceptance by the committees deemed appropriate.

COUNTY BIRDING SITES:

I would welcome any site guides for birding sites in the county that have not already been covered and would also welcome any improvements or amendments to those already featured. Those wishing to 'write' a site guide should contact me first, just to check one has not already been started, and should follow the instructions for Articles and Identification Issues above, site photos are welcomed following the latter instructions too.

MANCHESTER BIRDERS ABROAD TRIP REPORTS:

Articles on foreign birding trips can be sent in 2 formats, either as a trip report (with a 'warts and all' written, photos not necessary account but limited to 20 images if they are included) which will follow the instructions for Articles and Identification Issues or as a Photo Gallery (where there is no limit on number of photos but a restriction on what can be written for each image) which will follow the instructions for Photo Gallery. It is quite acceptable and in some cases essential that both may be necessary for the same trip report if, for example, you would like to include full trip  logistics and day to day sightings list but have a large number of images you also wish to display, you can send both to me and I can link the two pages together on the site.

MANCHESTER BIRDERS HOME TRIP REPORTS:

Articles on trip reports from the UK should closely follow the guidelines for the 'Abroad' trip reports above, however, UK trip reports should be more than just a list of species and should include information and details that may assist or be of interest or use to other birders visiting the same areas. Any location from within the UK (and Southern Ireland) are welcome but should not include day trips only and photographs are of course always encouraged as welcome relief to a loads of old words! If you are in doubt or would like to discuss the issue with me first then please feel free to contact me on the details at the top of the page.

COUNTY LISTERS AND LISTING:

I would urge all county birders to send their personal list details for ANY lists within the county to me by email, including any details you feel relevant, this section is not intended to be definitive nor to be taken too seriously! I will up date all lists immediately and no justification or providence of lists is necessary, all will be taken at face value and honesty trusted although county year lists should be submitted to the County Bird Recorder upon completion for possible inclusion in the annual report.