[obol] Whatbird

[pamela johnston]

I tried out whatbird.com. I didn't care for the busy, cluttered home page, 
full of distracting details and the promise of information. The bird 
illustrations were good.

I looked at the bird search, and randomly compared Rustic Bunting and 
Red-breasted Nuthatch. There tiny ilustrations and a chart using silhouettes 
of other species to compare how these two species perch and their relative 
size, wing shape, family, and other points. There were inaccurate 'paint 
chips' to show the main colors.

I tried the SIZE search and chose 'medium,' which has a range in inches. Up 
came a list, and with each name a little image of a bird in a habitat. Good 
idea. But how were they sorted? Beats me. Why group Great Kiskadee and Manx 
Shearwater in one view? This seems like the road to frustration.

At no time did I see any range information.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I think there's a Groove-billed Ani in the front 
yard, and I've got to get a better look before the Broad-winged Hawk pounces 
on it.

Pamela Johnston
outside McMinnville