As of Sept. 1, 2009 and until further notice, Silver Saddle/Galileo Hill is closed to the public (non-members), including birders** on weekends (Fridays at noon, Saturdays, Sundays, and long holiday weekends). Birders may continue to access the grounds on weekdays: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and before noon on Fridays. ALL facilities except the campground** are off limits every day of the week. The bungalows, hotel, restaurant, and RV park are no longer accessible to birders or any other non-member at any time. Birders can use the grounds, the outside restrooms and picnic areas, but are restricted from using any of the buildings.

**The campground is open all week for anyone, including non-member birders, who care to rent a space ($100/day on weekends, $45/day on weekdays). Weekend camping can be shared by up to 7 people, 2 cars, 2 large tents (or 4 small tents). This means that those who wish to bird at Silver Saddle on the weekend can only do so if you have registered and paid for a campsite at the campground! Birders who are registered campers can eat in the restaurant when open on weekends.

The staff at Silver Saddle continues to welcome birders within the guidelines of this new corporate directive.

Further note from Bob Barnes: to separate birders (who are welcome) from non-birder nonmembers (who will be asked to leave by Silver Saddle security any time found on site), please check in at the hotel office as close to 8:30am opening hours as possible to tell Silver Saddle staff you are a birder so they can tell security. If you start birding at dawn, please work your way over to the hotel office by 8:30am to check in. If you are approached by security before 8:30am, tell them you are a birder and that you have been asked to check in at the hotel office c. 8:30am and that you will do so.

Our thanks to Bob Barnes (Ridgecrest Audubon) and Kelli Levinson (Kern Audubon) for working with the staff of Silver Saddle on clarification of these new access rules. If you are planning to bird at Silver Saddle, you are asked to cooperate with the changes so that we might continue to have access to this very important bird area and birding spot in the Mojave Desert. If you have questions about these policies, feel free to contact Ted Murphy (325-
0307) or Madi Elsea (322-7470).

Over the past few years, the internet has been trending to design that allows user participation, including user-generated content. This results in a website with more useful information. But it relies on the visitors/members getting involved. Your input is requested adding to our Book Reviews and Birding Links.

Book Reviews
We currently have nearly 40 birding book and video reviews posted on our website. This section offers new participation features as well, allowing registered users to express their opinions through ratings and reviews. You simply log in, navigate to an item's description, scroll down to the end and enter your rating and type your personal review.

Don't see your favorite birding-related book, video or other product listed? You can add it. Log in, go to the Book Reviews section and click the New Entry link near the top. Fill in the form with your item's details. The most important detail is "ASIN", which is simply the 10-digit ISBN number. This tells Amazon which item you're referring to and allows the system to gather details from Amazon and display it on our site with a link to buy. You can find the ISBN-10 by searching Amazon.com for your item and viewing the Product Details section.

With your help, TMBC will continue to earn commissions from Amazon.com. When making your online purchases, first visit our website and use the prominent Amazon search box (top of left column on every page). This will pass our affiliate ID to Amazon and ANY purchase you make will be credited to TMBC. This commission can add up to a nice little monthly check, supplementing our budget for programs and club projects.

If you plan to make online purchases, why not help your club at the same time? You're not limited to the books and videos we have reviewed. ANY purchase made at Amazon results in a commission. But you must go through the TMBC website first.

Birding Links
No website is complete without a list of links to other useful websites. Our Birding Links section is a good start, but in no way thorough. You can help.

If you know of useful birding-related websites that aren't already listed, you can add them. Log in, point to the Birding Links menu and select Add A Birding Link from the bottom of the pop-up menu. Fill out the form, then click the Save button and you link is immediately added to the list.

In our continuing effort to create an interactive, community-driven club website, we now offer blog and comments capabilities! Now you can post your sightings, observations, comments and questions through your member profile. And you can post your comments on general articles and other members' blogs.

Blogging
So what's a blog? Basically, it's just a place where you can log in and write anything you want (hopefully it will be about birding!). Add a photo or a cool YouTube video. Tell us what bird species you're seeing - around Tehachapi or anywhere you bird. Ask questions. Whatever!

To view blog postings on the site, select the "Member" menu item, then the "Member Blogs" link when it drops down. Or just click here to view our Member Blogs page.

So how do you write your blog? First log in to your account. Then click the "My Blog Editor" in the User Menu located below the login form in the left column (it won't appear until you're logged in). From there it should be pretty clear how to proceed. Hint: click the "Write New Entry" button.

Comments
Comments is another new feature that allows you to respond to articles and blogs. Whether you agree and want to offer kudos, you think of some point that was omitted, or have a similar experience to relate. Now you can add your 2 cents!

At the end of most articles you see a row of links like this - "Hits: 24 - Add Comment (1)". Click on the Add Comment link and the page will reload. Any comments already posted will appear, and under the comments you'll see "Write Comment". Click "Show/hide comment form" and the form will appear for you to fill in. If you're logged in, your comment will appear on the website immediately. If you're not logged in (or not registered), your comment must be approved by the website administrator before it appears.

In the future, I plan to create a How To section on the website with step by step instructions on how to use the community features, such as upload a photo to the Photo Gallery (we have 94 photos posted so far), complete your member profile details, or add your avatar. I might even post demonstration videos if I find the time.

This has the potential to become a fun and useful online community where members share their love of birding and last-minute news of what birds are being seen where. You don't have to be an expert birder to participate. So sign up now and join the fun - And tell us what you're seeing.

If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, send me a message. Or better yet, post your comments here! Just click the Comments link below!