Dear friends,
First of all, thank you. Thank you to the founders of the site, Askar Isabekov, Vladilen Karasev and Rauf Bayrashev, who created Birds.kz in 2005. And thank you to every one of you who has lived on this site over the years: who uploaded tens of thousands of photos, wrote hundreds of diaries, identified species, argued, helped beginners and shared the joy of meeting a bird. Everything on the site was made by your hands and your passion. This enthusiasm has not faded for years, and we sincerely hope that it never will.
It is understandable that changes on a site you love are not easy, and for the old-timers they can sometimes be painful. The new site does not cancel what you have built: it exists so that all of it can keep living. Time sets its own rules, and we probably all have to follow them for the site to carry on. Many people will agree, I think, that it would be wonderful to see more people who love birds and nature. And since this hobby is getting younger all over the world, it is natural to hope that Kazakhstan will see the same. The easier and nicer the site is to use, the faster the community will grow, and with it the number of people who know and protect the nature of Kazakhstan.
The new version is now in beta testing. It is open to everyone registered on the old site, kz.birding.day: sign in with your usual details and help launch the new platform sooner.
Important about uploads. Please do try uploading observations, but keep in mind: everything uploaded during beta testing is only for testing and will be deleted at the real switch to the new site. So there is no need to upload a lot or in earnest: a few photos are enough to see how it works, how photos look and how an observation appears in the feeds. Otherwise everything would have to be uploaded again later.
Why the site was rebuilt
The old site worked for many years and achieved a great deal. But technically it had become outdated: it was written in an old version of PHP that is no longer supported, the database was outdated too, and technical problems and security holes had piled up. Photo pages opened slowly, and under heavy traffic the site could stop responding. Patching it further had become risky for the data itself.
What has been done
The site has been rebuilt completely:
- New foundation. Instead of unsupported old PHP, the site is written on the modern Laravel framework, which is regularly updated.
- New database. A full refactoring: the data was moved from MySQL to PostgreSQL and the structure put in order. Your observations, photos, diaries and comments are all in place.
- Security. The vulnerabilities that were found were closed, passwords are stored in a modern way, and sign-in is by email.
- Speed. Pages and photos open faster, and the site is equally comfortable on a phone and on a computer.
- Reliable storage. Original photos are stored separately, with backups.
- New features. Easier uploading and diaries, a feed with sections, help with identifying species, the Big Year, maps, notifications, and Kazakh and English languages.
Continuity
It was important to keep the spirit of the site. Much comes from Askar's original idea: the sections, the familiar concepts, the approach to identifying species, the Big Year. We tried to treat this legacy with the greatest respect, and every detail was considered with it in mind. At the same time there was one goal: for the site to be fast, reliable and equipped with features that make it easier to use.
Why your help matters
The new site was built by one person in a short time, so mistakes and rough edges are unavoidable. This is exactly what beta testing is for: the more people try the site, the faster whatever does not work gets found. I am just as much a bird enthusiast as you are, and I will be very glad of any help.
How to take part
- Sign in with the same details you use on kz.birding.day.
- Use the site as usual: browse the feed, open your observations, upload a couple of photos (they will be deleted later), try identifying a species, leave a comment, start a diary.
- If something does not work, looks strange, or you spot a mistake in a text, press the "Feedback" button at the bottom right. You can point at the place on the page with your mouse and briefly write what is wrong.
How to leave feedback: three steps
Here is how it looks, with an example. If something goes wrong, take three simple steps.
Step 1. Press “Feedback”
The button is always at the bottom right, on any page.
Step 2. Point to the place on the page
In the window that opens, press “Point to a place on the page”, then click with your mouse on what you mean: a heading, a picture, a button. The place will be highlighted.
Step 3. Write what is wrong and send
Choose what it is: “Not working”, “Typo or wrong text”, “Idea” or “Other”. Briefly write what you did and what you saw, and press “Send”.
How best to report a problem
Describe what you did and what you saw. For example: "I pressed Upload, chose three photos, and after the third the page froze." This makes it much easier to find the cause and fix it quickly.
Not everything can be fixed at once, but every message is read. I would be grateful for your understanding: the site is still being finished, and with your help it will, I hope, become what it should be.
If you would like to write to me
Any feedback is very welcome: galym.baitimbetov@gmail.com. I hope we agree on many things, and for the rest we will figure it out together.
With respect and gratitude, Galym Baitimbet