ABZ-Text is designed to enhance everyone’s birding in a way that is easy to use.  However, we have to accept some responsibility for ensuring its success – for example, to keep costs down for users who have to pay to receive messages; to ensure that confidential information isn’t distributed by this network or it goes no further than this network in some cases.  People who occasionally make mistakes won’t be hassled, but I will take stronger action if someone is abusing the system.

1. Send a text alert for all species listed in Appendix A.  Do not send alerts for species not mentioned here – use alternative systems, such as The Wildlife Web or Birdline Scotland.
2. Your message must include clear, accurate information about the location of the bird – if possible include a grid reference.
3. If you are not sure about the identity of the bird, get hold of someone to help you identify it (there’s no shame in this), or if this isn’t possible, include “POSS” or “PROB” to show your uncertainty.
4. Do not send out messages about birds outside of Aberdeenshire or Aberdeen City, unless the record is of major significance.
5. Messages to ABZ-Text must be no longer than 160 characters (total length).
6. Include your initials at the end of the message, so we can determine the origins of the message.
7. If the message is restricted (i.e. not to be released outside the text alert or the phone grapevine) then it must include *R after the initials.
8. If a message contains the *R tag, then it may not be released outwith the text or phone grapevines for the region (e.g. not to Birdguides, ABZ-Rare-Birds, Wildlife Web, Rare Bird Alert etc.) without the express permission of the originator of the information.
9. ABZ-Text must not be used to give out information about rare breeding birds, under any circumstances.
10. Updates to rare bird news – post updated information about “megas” once each day or if the bird makes a substantial movement.  Megas are those species in bold text marked with a “*” in the species list.  For non-megas, please only alert when first discovered and use alternative methods for providing updated information (e.g. Birdline, The Wildlife Web). 
11. Before sending a text alert, ensure news hasn’t gone out already.
12. Mindful of the above guidelines, put out news as soon as you find or are alerted to a rare bird in the region.
13. You must observe the Birdwatchers Code of Conduct when out birding, and particularly when following up on information from ABZ-Text
14. Membership of ABZ-Text does not give you permission to trespass in order to see rare birds.  Local advice must be followed or information from the texts if access to see a bird is restricted.