hey there,
nice to see your still around nova! I can understand your frustration with your phone. Sometimes they can get so confusing that you end up emailing your dishwasher with a mp3... you only wanted to phone someone.
I think 'birding' has changed a lot - mostly helped by camera's. I think in the past it was seen as strange but nowadays more and more people watch/take pictures of birds. I think its great to see people take more interest in their local wildlife. I used to think the only way to see critters (apart from the small kind: ants etc.) was in a Zoo. I know Zoo educate a lot of people, but it does make things easy: here's a elephants, here's a tiger etc. Its not the same seeing a wild bird.
Ill be very interested in any pictures you do get.
ps. I removed the link to your house, so 'bad' people dont get your address details. I wouldnt want to encourage junk - already get a tree a day worth myself.
btw, nice house - reminds me of something from neighbours,