Quite a bit, actually, and possibly over a fairly long period of time. My activity in Wikipedia will be sporadic as I find time.
Background: I edited random pages for years if I saw a problem in a page I found from a Google search. Got an account last year but then got caught with lots of mandatory overtime on graveyard shifts. Now back on days and active here. Due to my RL work, interested in Shooting of Trayvon Martin. I did the copyright/PD work on the police dispatch recordings (producing similar is part of my RL job), downloaded them, converted to .ogg, uploaded the .ogg audio files to Commons and linked them into that article. I stepped back from battles in that article's talk page for now. I will contribute more as the article becomes historical.
My userpage lists my interests: Birds and Citizen science related to them. Right now, Wikipedia covers few well. Although I don't have a degree, I consider myself an expert on swallows and swifts of the Americas and very knowledgeable on Eastern Bluebirds, my wife's favorite bird. I host a large Purple Martin colony and maintain a small Bluebird trail occupied more by Tree Swallows and other cavity-nesting birds than by bluebirds. I participate in several bird-related citizen science projects, have a small library of bird books and subscribe to several magazines and newsletters.
My problem: There's so much to do, where do I start? I chose to learn Wikipedia first, contributing bits here and there, then doing some significant work on Shooting of Trayvon Martin before the wars in talk got heated.
My goal is major re-writes of many articles. I don't want to pick at problems and correct them a few words and sentences plus a source document at a time. For example, the Purple Martin article is incomplete, outdated and in some cases, just wrong. For example, the statement that Barn Swallows are attracted to Purple Martin houses is totally false; just look at the nest each builds. Bluebirds and Great Crested Flycatchers, among others, are attracted by and can usurp houses intended for Purple Martins. The Bird Conservation article skips from threats to birds to captive breeding, reintroduction, translocation and habitat protection without a mention of monitoring bird populations, most of which is done by trained amateur volunteers, i.e., citizen scientists, The Breeding Bird Survey article is horrid. Here's a short sample:
... activity of BBS kept on increasing. In the 1980s, Breeding Bird Survey included areas such as Yukon, Northwest Territories of Canada and Alaska. Moreover, the number of routes placed in a number of states has had increased. Nowadays, BBS counts approximately 3700 active routes in the United States and Canada. From all the BBS routes, approximately 2900 are surveyed on a regular basis, each year.
The article tries to be international but it is confusing. It's written about the North American Breeding Bird Survey with a comment inserted here and there about surveys in other countries. The only section is 'History' without a mention that it's the basis for the summer/breeding range in all current bird range maps included in bird books, research and Wikipedia.
The journal of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Living Bird was red-lined in other Wikipedia articles and missing from the List of ornithology journals so I chose it as my first article. Finding sources was a challenge; Living Bird is oft quoted but seldom written about. I think my first creation is on par with other short articles about ornithology journals and magazines. If Birds & Blooms merits an article in Wikipedia, Living Bird certainly does.
Questions and Requests
I'm certain to have many more questions. Thanks for any help and suggestions. DocTree (talk) 21:05, 2 April 2012 (UTC)
Thanks! Gaijin42 (talk) 02:32, 4 April 2012 (UTC)
I took out the plot summary as copyvio. What remains is not blatantly promotional - there is certainly promotional intent in posting an article about so newly-published a book, but WP:CSD#G11 is for "Pages that are exclusively promotional, and would need to be fundamentally rewritten to become encyclopedic." I have PRODded it, citing WP:BK. Regards, JohnCD (talk) 11:41, 4 April 2012 (UTC)
Hello Doctree. I am just letting you know that I declined the speedy deletion of Jonathan Capehart, a page you tagged for speedy deletion, because of the following concern: Article content has been added since it was tagged. Thank you. — Malik Shabazz Talk/Stalk 16:45, 4 April 2012 (UTC)
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Hi. You tagged it A7 band, but your edit summary suggested you were concerned about promotion. As it's not overtly promotional (I can't comment about intents...), I'd suggest prod, then AfD - or straight to AfD. Can't use the speedy for records, as both of them have articles. Peridon (talk) 09:08, 7 April 2012 (UTC)
See suggestions here ~Eric F 184.76.225.106 (talk) 22:39, 13 April 2012 (UTC)
Hi Doctree. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. I am a long time user and supporter of Wikipedia and am astounded at how much it has developed. This stuff is way over my head...It feels like the first time I looked at html or a dos prompt or that I went down the rabbit hole.
I have decided that this project is way above my head and time availability. And it is still thrilling to know how professional it has become.
Thanks again for your help.
Smiles,
--Brooklyntracker (talk) 18:06, 16 April 2012 (UTC)
I really appreciate your adding the photo to the Aileen Fisher site. I assume you took care of the copywrite stuff. I had seen it a few places, but I'm still trying to find my way around, and I have a couple of other authors I'm working on, too, and trying to get some photos for them. Among everything else. So I'm happy you took it upon yourself to do that.
I notice you're retired military. My DH was Navy -- we enjoyed living a lot of great places. He's gone now, and I'm filling in some of my spare time with Wikipedia, mostly children's book and authors.
Well, thanks again. I will look at your bird article in the nest few days. I'm not much of a birder any more, but growing up in the farm in CO we studied all the birds and my Mom and Grandma had life lists. So I'll enjoy reading it. Tlqk56 (talk) 18:05, 20 April 2012 (UTC)
Tlqk56 (talk) 21:31, 21 April 2012 (UTC)
[1]
What do you think, a small version of it near the Personal section? Or would it look too crowded and should I just save it? If you like the idea and want to, please feel free to add it. If you think otherwise, I'll wait. I'm getting ready to walk away from the computer for a while, my head is starting to spin. I had no idea there was so much info on her life, I'm having a blast, and trying to just take it a bit at a time. I grew up in CO and went to CU in Boulder. My DH and I drove up the canyon where she lived frequently and I never knew she was there. Small world and all that!
Please feel free to make suggestions, etc. Am I footnoting too much, so you think? I'm still not sure about it, it seems easier to put it in and remove it later than go back and hunt it up again, but I may be overdoing it.
Anyway, thanks for your help, it is so appreciated. Since my computer expert passed, I've felt pretty frustrated sometimes. I couldn't do this without the help from Teahouse and folks like you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tlqk56 (talk • contribs) 22:32, 22 April 2012 (UTC)
Thanks for the help anyway. I'll look the criteria over and learn something new. :) I've wondered how people justify posting images of book covers; now that I know where to look I'll see what they say. Thanks again, and good luck with your birds. Tlqk56 (talk) 20:23, 23 April 2012 (UTC)
Doc Tree, I read your question about awards in the Teahouse, and thought I'd take a minute to give you my ideas. As you know I'm no expert, and I'll be interested to see the answers you get, as I run into this in my area of children's books, too. But here's what I've seen so far. The main awards already have pages so I Wikilink to them, of course. Some others are mentioned in articles about the awarding group, so I do a hidden Wikilink that takes people to the article in question. Horn Book Magazine Best Books of 1951 Once I just put a longer explanation of the award in the footnote, because there wasn't an already existing article to link to. I always make sure to include a footnote that links to the official award site if there is one, so folks can go there, too, and verify or read more.
Personally I like the article I'm reading to give me some idea what a smaller award is for and then let me choose to go somewhere else to read about it if I want more info. I don't like getting bogged down in too-long descriptions, though. I moved this one out of a lead paragraph, for instance: "the 1981 National Book Award in category Children's Fiction (paperback)" and shortened it to "the 1981 National Book Award". I copied the longer title into the section on awards.
BTW I've used your instructions to add images to a couple of my pages, and shared them with others. Thanks again! Tlqk56 (talk) 15:48, 27 April 2012 (UTC)
I've been working on a better redirect target at User:MichaelQSchmidt/Aaron Schoenke... where you can see we have more than just a "trilogy" of Batman films. I'd greatly appreciate any assistance. Schmidt, MICHAEL Q. 22:52, 29 April 2012 (UTC)
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Thanks for uploading File:Cover of the Winter 1999 issue of Living Bird magazine.jpg. The image description page currently specifies that the image is non-free and may only be used on Wikipedia under a claim of fair use. However, the image is currently not used in any articles on Wikipedia. If the image was previously in an article, please go to the article and see why it was removed. You may add it back if you think that that will be useful. However, please note that images for which a replacement could be created are not acceptable for use on Wikipedia (see our policy for non-free media).
Note that any non-free images not used in any articles will be deleted after seven days, as described in the criteria for speedy deletion. Thank you. Sfan00 IMG (talk) 10:07, 10 May 2012 (UTC)
Could please explain your reluctance? Just curious. MrBlondNYC (talk) 20:54, 10 May 2012 (UTC)
Thank you, retired MSG! Great advice (and easy to understand) about soliciting review of my proposed change. I will reflect on your suggestions, re-group and research sources before I proceed. I've used WP for years now but this is my first foray into helping improve it. I understand the need for such complexity (templates, conventions, rules, sources, redirects, etc.) but it is a bit overwhelming at first. And the M109 was a great system, and is still in use in its latest configuration known as the M109A6 Paladin. (Did I do this feedback to you correctly? Is this the WP equivalent of sending you a msg?) Atticusfinch80 (talk) 04:44, 21 July 2012 (UTC)
I appreciate the courtesy shown by your withdrawal at Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/When the Night. Schmidt, MICHAEL Q. 22:49, 13 May 2012 (UTC)
Thanks for uploading File:Judy A Smith.jpg. The image description page currently specifies that the image is non-free and may only be used on Wikipedia under a claim of fair use. However, the image is currently not used in any articles on Wikipedia. If the image was previously in an article, please go to the article and see why it was removed. You may add it back if you think that that will be useful. However, please note that images for which a replacement could be created are not acceptable for use on Wikipedia (see our policy for non-free media).
Note that any non-free images not used in any articles will be deleted after seven days, as described in the criteria for speedy deletion. Thank you. Sfan00 IMG (talk) 09:47, 14 May 2012 (UTC)
Thanks for uploading File:Judy A Smith.jpg. I noticed the description page specifies that the media is being used under a claim of fair use, but its use in Wikipedia articles fails our first non-free content criterion in that it illustrates a subject for which a freely licensed media could reasonably be found or created that provides substantially the same information or which could be adequately covered with text alone. If you believe this media is not replaceable, please:
{{di-replaceable fair use disputed}}
Alternatively, you can also choose to replace this non-free media by finding freely licensed media of the same subject, requesting that the copyright holder release this (or similar) media under a free license, or by taking a picture of it yourself.
If you have uploaded other non-free media, consider checking that you have specified how these images fully satisfy our non-free content criteria. You can find a list of description pages you have edited by clicking on this link. Note that even if you follow steps 1 and 2 above, non-free media which could be replaced by freely licensed alternatives will be deleted 2 days after this notification (7 days if uploaded before 13 July 2006), per our non-free content policy. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you. Mosmof (talk) 03:45, 16 May 2012 (UTC)
Hello fellow Wikipedian, the hardworking hosts and staff at WP:Teahouse would like your feedback!
We have created a brief survey intended to help us understand the experiences and impressions of veteran editors who have participated on the Teahouse. You are being selected to participate in our survey because you edited the Teahouse Questions or Guests pages some time during the last few months.
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Mail call! Scartol • Tok 02:12, 30 May 2012 (UTC)
Hi Doctree. Have you thought about signing up as a Teahouse Host? See WP:Teahouse/Your hosts for more information! Sarah (talk) 01:07, 1 June 2012 (UTC)
Hey there, I responded to your peer review request on my talk page and did a review of the article. I made some suggestions there for pursuing help with content. I'm not in a place where I can help with content expansion but I put in some wikiprojects on the article's talk page where you may find some help. Best of luck to you, thanks for working and expanding the project and congratulations on your impending retirement! H1nkles (talk) citius altius fortius 21:34, 1 June 2012 (UTC)
Rosiestep (talk) 23:57, 10 June 2012 (UTC)
Thank you for a great addition to Wikipedia. I found your list informative and complete, well sourced and encyclopedic. A few editors already took care of minor disambigulation problems. I and others will look for pictures of South American falcons to complete the list. Thanks again, DocTree (talk) 23:58, 10 June 2012 (UTC)
Hi DocTree. How's it going? I saw, and commented on, your reply to TattooedWaitress at the Teahouse. I'm not familiar with the template you mentioned, so I went to it's page, but got lost when it talked about what to do it you have multiple sandboxes. I have ten right now, so I think maybe I should figure this out.LOL Could you explain to me what it means and how to use it in your clear, simple style, please? No rush, of course. Thanks! Tlqk56 (talk) 17:54, 12 June 2012 (UTC)
Hi! Welcome to the fourth issue of The Tea Leaf, the official newsletter for the Teahouse!
Thank you and congratulations to all of the community members who participated - and continue to participate!
You are receiving The Tea Leaf after expressing interest or participating in the Teahouse! To remove yourself from receiving future newsletters, please remove your username here. Sarah (talk) 16:40, 13 June 2012 (UTC)
Hi Doctree! Just wanted to let you know we didn't revert your edit. There are two versions of the report. The original on Meta and the more public one on Wikipedia. Cheers! heather walls (talk) 23:16, 14 June 2012 (UTC)
Hey Doc, I appreciated your resolution of that dustup over my identity, so maybe you can help out here. I made what I thought was an uncontroversial edit to the Polka article, providing an updated etymology from the OED, but it was very quickly reverted by "Staszek Lem" with a ridiculous note to the effect that the OED etymology was "probably false"! I reverted his reversion with a note telling him not to revert it again and left a note on his userpage explaining somewhat testily that the OED is the prime source for English etymology. But I suspect from his username that he's some sort of Polish patriot who doesn't want to admit that the word has a Czech etymology, and I further suspect he's going to change it back on some pretext. What can be done about this? I love editing articles but hate edit wars and all the rank-pulling Wikipedian nonsense, so I'm a babe in the woods when it comes to dealing with this stuff. Any suggestions/assistance greatly appreciated. --Steve Languagehat (talk) 23:38, 11 July 2012 (UTC)
Thanks for pointing out a new WP editor who shares my interest in kids' books. I've been off line a while, but I wrote her today. I appreciate your thinking about me! Tlqk56 (talk) 23:49, 16 July 2012 (UTC)
Sarah (talk) 17:51, 18 July 2012 (UTC)
Hey Doctree! I know you signed up to lend a hand with the phase two invitation aspects. It'd be great to have your input as we begin to move onto that aspect - please stop by this page on meta. After you check out that page, we have some questions on meta! Thanks =) Sarah (talk) 23:02, 18 July 2012 (UTC)
Hi, DocTree. If you have time I could use a bit of help. I know I've had this run by me before, but I find myself unsure again. If a book containing a professional-looking portrait is published in 1909, can one assume the photo is copyright free? (I'm looking at William Bowen here. [[2]]) Thanks in advance. I hope you're keeping cool this summer. I am -- by staying home and writing. Tlqk56 (talk) 21:53, 21 July 2012 (UTC)
Hello! (target user name), you're invited to join other new editors and the friendly hosts in the Teahouse – an great place to meet people, ask questions, and learn more about Wikipedia. Please join us! (sign)
This is the format. Sorry if I am wrong, shouldn't we change "an" to "a" in "Teahouse – an great place to meet people,". Thank you. VanischenumTalk 01:37, 28 July 2012 (UTC)
an
a
Teahouse – an great place to meet people,
Hey Doctree :D You probably should add yourself to the WP:Teahouse/Hosts page, darnit ;) SarahStierch (talk) 17:21, 30 July 2012 (UTC)
Doctree! i think you can skip the line and just add yourself here: WP:Teahouse/Hosts :) SarahStierch (talk) 19:49, 30 July 2012 (UTC)
SarahStierch (talk) 17:00, 31 July 2012 (UTC)
Hi Doctree! At Wikimania I think we talked briefly about badges and other kinds of rewards systems, related to the Teahouse. Well, we've got a fellowship idea proposing to experiment with badges in the Teahouse, which obviously has potential to tie into the Teahouse work being planned now. I wondered if you might have a look and share your thoughts (feedback, concerns, endorsement, suggestions, whatever), to help us evaluate the idea. Thanks! Siko (talk) 01:12, 3 August 2012 (UTC)
Hi! Welcome to the fifth edition of The Tea Leaf, the official newsletter of the Teahouse!
As always, thanks for supporting the Teahouse project! Stop by and visit us today!
You are receiving The Tea Leaf after expressing interest or participating in the Teahouse! To remove yourself from receiving future newsletters, please remove your username here. SarahStierch (talk) 08:25, 4 August 2012 (UTC)
Thank you for the Barnstar![3] I appreciate your kind words and am happy to have helped out. -- Uzma Gamal (talk) 11:21, 5 August 2012 (UTC)
Hey, I noticed something about the links you gave at the Teahouse—you capitalized them all, hehe. Internally, all page names start with a capital letter, so you can write using the natural case (e.g. disambiguation pages in the middle of a sentence) rather than capitalizing them all. Oh, and be careful not to overlink; there are three links to each of "hatnote" and "disambiguation page" in that paragraph.
Also, why the hell are there so many people named Alex Wong? If there are four on Wikipedia, there are probably tons more, given how common those names are individually. dalahäst (let's talk!) 03:43, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
SarahStierch (talk) 23:36, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
Thank you for the encouragement and offer to review the article I will write. Thinking my tiny contributions were deleted against the policy, without a chance for me to explain beforehand, I lost some confidence in contributing to Wikipedia. The advice and support from you and some of the wikipedians nevertheless helped restore some confidence in Wikipedia. I may contribute to other articles first but I definitely will return to the article on education controversy, perhaps before Hong Kong schools go strike again after protesting against the Tiananmen Square Massacre 23 years ago. Please add that page to your watch list and stay tuned. :)--Jabo-er (talk) 16:06, 10 August 2012 (UTC)
Thank you for your helpful tip. I really appreciated it. CRIPTICFAN (talk) 01:44, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
Thought you might be interested in weighing in on the invites v. welcomes thread?
- J-Mo Talk to Me Email Me 21:36, 13 August 2012 (UTC)
regarding your edit [4].
When I clicked the link, it went to a live EB radio page, but just the general home landing page, not a transcript of the program or media file of the recording. Were you able to verify the article content the source is supposed to support? -- The Red Pen of Doom 17:16, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
you accidentally recreated Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SimonKnowsAll, which was moved to Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Morning277. I've copied your comment over and deleted the old case. Dennis Brown - 2¢ © Join WER 15:34, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
SarahStierch (talk) 06:21, 24 August 2012 (UTC)
Are you sure about that? No mention of it at Help:Interlanguage links which even goes as far as putting the pipe trick in to hide the interwiki bit. NtheP (talk) 18:49, 31 August 2012 (UTC)
