Keeping up-to-date on Connecticut sightings
The best place to report bird sightings in Connecticut is on the CTBirds free, public, moderated email list server. CTBirds is generally the fastest way to find out about bird sightings in Connecticut (though the list provides a wealth of information, not just sighting reports!). While anyone can read CTBirds posts on the web, you must subscribe to CTBirds to be able to post messages to the list (instructions below).
Join the CTBirds Discussion List!
We created CTBirds, an open discussion email list, for the Connecticut birding community to discuss birds and birding in the state. Tell everyone about what you are seeing, ask questions about birds or places to bird, discuss bird conservation or details of bird identification, it is up to you. Anything about Connecticut birds or of interest to Connecticut birders is appropriate.
We hope it will be used in the following ways :
- Timely information on bird sightings.
- A beginner-friendly place for new birders in the CT birding community to expand their knowledge.
- A forum for the advanced birders to discuss the details of rare and difficult bird identification, particularly when something provocative has been seen in the state.
The actual value of the list will be determined by those who choose to participate, and we hope that will include you!
Please take some time to read this page as it will help you understand important features and options of CTBirds. Many common questions are answered on this page. You may save yourself and CTBirds list administrators a lot of time if you spend a few minutes reading here.
Subscribe to CTBirds with an email message
To subscribe from CTBirds send an email message to ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org from the email address you wish to be subscribed with just the word join or subscribe in the subject or body of the message (nothing else should be in the body of the message – including signature). A subscription confirmation email will be sent after your request is approved by the list moderator.
Unsubscribe from CTBirds with an email message
To unsubscribe from CTBirds send an email message to ctbirds-request@lists.ctbirding.org from your subscribed email address with just the word leave or unsubscribe in the subject or body of the message (nothing else should be in the body of the message – including signature). An unsubscribe confirmation email with be sent in return, which you must reply to to be unsubscribed.
Subscription requests and changes may also be managed at: https://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
Posting to and Receiving CTBirds
Via email: Posts to CTBirds must come from an email address that is subscribed to the list. To post a message to all the list members, send email to: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Subscribers may choose to have the list come to them via email. Email subscribers may choose between receiving each email as they are submitted, receiving a digest combining several messages up to a few times a day, or not receiving any messages (which will allow you to post from that subscribed email address). You may choose to subscribe more than one email address to the list for posting purposes, but choose to receive email at only one address.
Via web browser: You may also read the list via a web browser at lists.ctbirding.org with no subscription using the Empathy web interface. If you wish to post to CTBirds from the Empathy interface, you must first register your email address with the Affinity web interface.
Other (unsupported) ways to view CTBirds
CTBirds may also be available at several other websites. These resources are managed by other entities and if they aren’t working we can’t fix them.
- ABA Birding News – Connecticut. If the ABA resource is working correctly, CTBirds email is propagated to their lists … you may find that sometimes messages are delayed.
- Visit the Sialia website.
Reports sent to CTBirds are sent immediately to everyone subscribed to the list, appear on Empathy immediately, and may appear on reflector websites too.
Posting rules
When you sign up for this list you will begin receiving new messages immediately. There may be a short wait before you can post while a moderator tries to be sure you are a person and not a spambot. You can choose between receiving each message, or a digest of messages, and can even suspend receiving messages entirely. After signing up you will receive an email with instructions on completing the process.
FAQ
Missing messages? Check your Junk/Spam folder and train your mail app by marking misclassified messages as “Not Spam” or “Not Junk”. New subscribers will often need to train their mail app not to treat CTBirds email as Spam. Keep doing it and it should eventually learn not to classify it that way (look around, you might be surprised at what is not classified correctly in your Spam folder).
Most mail providers also offer a way to add a mail source to a safe senders list. You would want to add: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org to your list. The following site may provide instructions regarding how to do that with your mail provider: https://www.whitelist.guide/
If you suspect that you’re having email problems, consider accessing CTBirds using the Empathy app via a web browser (mentioned above) until your email problems can be resolved. As noted, you can do everything (and more) including posting, using your web browser.
Can I include photos or add attachments to my posts? No, CTBirds is a text-only list. However, you may include links to places where you have uploaded a photo (Google Photos, Dropbox, Flickr, and many, many other places – do a search). Please DON’T add photos or attachments as your message will be held automatically, creating more work for the list administrators. Use links to your photo sites instead.
Why is my message being held for moderation? Common reasons for messages being held include:
* You’ve exceeded the 12K size limit for messages. Sometimes long messages are justified but they will require intervention by a list moderator if they exceed this limit. If you’re in a hurry for a message to be seen, be sure to limit the size of your post.
* You’ve replied to a digest of posts that you received without trimming the text to only the relevant parts of the digest. This happens more often than your friendly list administrators would like so please be careful not to post an entire digest.
* Posts by subscribers with excessively long signatures seem to reach the 12K size limit more often than others. Trim your signatures, please.
How can I get a graphic or a photo associated with my posting profile instead of those boring initials? First, you’ll need to register with the Affinity app and then you can update your profile. When you reach that page you can Edit on gravatar.com where you can upload a personalized graphic or photo.