IBET - Illinois Birders Exchanging Thoughts

Viewing IBET Posts

ILbirds - IBET - Official group page with an extensive archive going back as far as 2003.
Recent IBET Posts - The most recent 50 IBET posts on one page on Jack Siler's Birdingonthe.net.
IL IBET Messages - At least the past six months of IBET posts in a threaded format at Surfbirds.com.

IBET (IL-BIRDS) Information

LIST RULES: These rules need to be followed when posting.

• Keep the conversation on birding in ILLINOIS.
• Sign ALL posts with your name, town/city, and county.
• Please include the county in which your sighting occurred if it is not your home county.
• Do not send attachments; link members to a website to share photos.
• If the post does not include a sighting, please indicate NO SIGHTINGS (capitalized) in the subject.
• Please refrain from sarcasm, because it can't be distinguished from antagonism on a printed page.
• There is ZERO tolerance for flaming, posting messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting to others. This will get you barred from IBET on the first offense.
• If you find a rare bird, please put RBA in the subject.

ADDITIONAL TIPS: Additional suggestions to follow on IBET.

• Use a short but descriptive subject line.
• There should be no discussion about pet birds.
• Conservation issues are generally discussed on BCNnet or the Illinois Birders' Forum, not IBET.
• When mentioning locations that may not be well known among birders, please include directions.
• For the best results, configure your e-mail software to send e-mails in text format only (not HTML).
• Use sensible judgment before posting the exact location of birds.  The welfare of the birds should always come first.  Detailed directions to bird nests and owl roosts are usually NOT reported publicly on IBET.