In case you're wondering what has shown up in your email box this morning, this is the first edition of The Birding Wire, a new service from The Outdoor Wire Digital Network.

The Outdoor Wire has been around for more than a decade, delivering daily (M-F) news and information to more than 160,000 daily subscribers. We cover the general outdoors and offer a daily read-in for industry leaders, media members and general outdoor enthusiasts who want their information far faster than it can be delivered via magazines. Since we began in 1992, we've become recognized as the best source of timely, accurate information about the outdoors.

We've also expanded into specialized areas when our readers have indicated an interest in "more sport-specific information" than we can include in a general news service. Some of you may already receive one or more of those services. They include everything from fishing and boating to competition shooting. Today, The Outdoor Wire is part of The Outdoor Wire Digital Network-our group of outdoor activity services.

Late last year, birding enthusiasts approached us after one birding magazine announced they had published their final edition. Unhappy readers told us, "we need a service for timely information that still has the ability to share tips, sightings and photographs with other birders."

Since we aren't concerned with the costs of printing supplies, postage or the myriad of costs faced by traditional media services, we began investigating the possibility of adding a service - just for birders.

Late last year, we decided birding definitely was worth considering. In fact, it's one of the fastest-growing segments of the outdoors. But it lacks a reader-driven news service for timely news, helpful features and other information. Our format also allows us to provide that platform and allow birders to communicate through it.

So here we are.

Our editors are all professional journalists, but none of us are ornithologists. We specialize in collecting, writing and distributing timely and accurate news and information. We're enthusiastic amateur birders, and we're asking you to help us focus The Birding Wire to provide information you think is valuable. With that guidance, we'll use our abilities as reporters to find information you want.

We know optics, photography and all forms of image capture are important, so we've enlisted the services of some of the outdoor industry's best videographers and photographers. They'll be sharing their tips as will optics makers who have plenty of expertise. You'll be seeing advertising from many of the companies that supply the quality gear you need to go afield successfully and comfortably. In fact, we're honored to welcome Swarovski as our presenting sponsor. Their support is key to our decision to move ahead with this service.

We will accept other advertising because ad revenues make it possible to provide a news service at no cost to you. And that's a no-strings-attached promise. No cost really means "no cost". We're not in list building business and we won't sell, rent or otherwise share subscriber lists. Never have; never will.

Our job is to bring you information you can use. We've grown because we've always kept that promise.

This is likely one of few messages you'll ever see from me. As the founder and publisher of The Outdoor Wire Digital Network, I wanted to let you know who we are and solicit your input to help make The Birding Wire a service that's useful and relevant to you.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2083689.jpeg> Birding Wire editor J.R. Absher loves watching-and photographing- hummingbirds. His enthusiasm and photographic knowledge will provide readers with useful tips and entertaining reading. J.R. Absher photo.

Longtime journalist J.R. Absher will be providing the editorial guidance, and I you'll find him knowledgeable, approachable and helpful. Many of you will probably be familiar with his work in some of the country's most-respected outdoor magazines.

J.R.'s also a solid photographer and we share a special fondness for hummingbirds. Our entire staff's been in photography for decades. Some of that photography will be included from time-to-time, along with work from our pros. We've begun a friendly competition between editors to see who can come up with the most useful and instructive birding photos this spring.

We're looking forward to you sharing your photos and tips with us as well. Today's edition contains our very first Reader's Tip -sent by a longtime Outdoor Wire reader. Thanks to his tip, you can watch a pair of bald eagle chicks in Florida grow up in real-time.

As we evolve, we're counting on your help to keep the information we offer helpful and relevant. You can reach J.R. with your email suggestions at birdingwire@gmail.com. I'm equally ready to get your comments and suggestions at jim@theoutdoorwire.com.

We look forward to getting to know each of you- and, as always, keeping our promise:
we'll keep you posted.

--Jim Shepherd
Publisher, The Outdoor Wire Digital Network