LBC Rare Bird Whatsapp Group 

LBC Members ONLY

Posted November 2025

Update: LBC WhatsApp System Transition to WhatsApp Communities

The LBC WhatsApp Admin Team has decided to update our current WhatsApp system to a WhatsApp Community. We want to explain what this means and why we believe it will benefit all members.

What is a WhatsApp Community?
WhatsApp Communities allow members to come together under a single “community” while still having topic-based groups within it. This structure makes it easier to organize discussions, share relevant information, and give members more choice in how they participate.

How this will work for LBC members:

• All members will have access to the Rare and Scarce WhatsApp Bird News group, which will continue to operate as before.
• Members will have the option to join additional chat groups or topic-based communities that match their interests.
• You will be able to select which groups to join and which to ignore, so you won’t be overwhelmed with messages.
• Notifications for each group can be turned on or off individually, giving you full control over your messaging experience.

Why we are making this change:
This update is intended to make the LBC WhatsApp system more flexible and user-friendly, allowing members to focus on the topics that matter most to them. It also provides the opportunity for experimentation with new groups and topics in a structured way.

When the system is changed, you will receive a message saying you have been "added to the community" – no further action is required from you!

Your feedback matters:
This is very much an experiment, and we welcome feedback from all members on how the new system is working, what’s useful, and any improvements you suggest.

We hope this update will make communication within LBC easier, more organized, and more relevant to each member’s interests.

Details on WhatsApp Communities can be found at https://faq.whatsapp.com/495856382464992

We expect the new WhatsApp Community to look a little like this;

Lincs Bird Club Rare and Scarce WhatsApp Bird News

The Rare and Scarce WhatsApp Bird News should remain unchanged.....

The main purpose of the Lincs Bird Club Rare and Scarce WhatsApp Bird News group is to alert people to rare and scarce birds as soon as possible. However, please remember that every post goes to everyone on the group and there’s a balance to be struck between disseminating useful information and minimising the number of alerts. Anyone who is on the group can post instant messages giving news of rare and scarce birds.

The group is administered by local birders of the Lincs Bird Club's  and is therefore not an official service.  It is open to all members who wish to join and have installed the WhatsApp app on their Smartphone.  The service is free and the WhatsApp application is a free download.

Guidelines for Using the Lincs Bird Rare and Scarce WhatsApp Group:

• Please post details of rare and scarce species seen in Lincolnshire ONLY.
• Please do post images of unidentified birds to request help as soon as possible.
• Provide updates on scarce birds (at a reasonable frequency related to the rarity of the species and how long it’s been present).
• Provide reports of the  first sightings of returning migrants. 
• Please restrict reports to birds within the Lincs Recording Area.
• Please do not use this service for chat, e.g. ‘well done’, ‘thumbs up’, etc. The  Lincs Birding Forum, or personal messages, are the appropriate means to conduct these exchanges. If you want to send a personal message to someone who is using the service, please use their individual mobile number and not the group WhatsApp service. 

How to join the LBC WhatsApp Group
Please email  chairman@lincsbirdclub.co.uk and provide your mobile number.

He will make some checks if needed, then add you. After you have been added you may get a text asking you to confirm your ID. We need to do that so we can be sure who is in the group. Anyone joining does so on the basis that they consent to their mobile phone number potentially being shared with anyone else in the group.

When you first join please click on the LBC header icon and read the rules. These begin "A group dedicated to informing LBC members of rare birds in the county. Clicking on "see more" in blue text will reveal the full rules. Please consider them when posting and be aware that  anyone violating the rules, particularly if abuse is involved, risks being permanently blocked, Don't be shy about putting suspected rarities on, giving others a chance to see the bird and voice an opinion is usually a good idea.  We hope this will be a helpful service to members and please join if you are interested.

At times, important announcements may be posted by the administrators.