QUESTIONS:

-- Why have you ditched the frames?
-- Ooooh!   Those are nice pictures, can I use them in my project/on my website?
-- The page doesn’t display correctly – what’s going on?
-- There’s a lot of info on your pages making them daunting.   Could you split them into ‘bite-sized’ chunks?
-- I have some photos/drawings that I’d like to contribute, how do I go about it?
-- How do I cite information I’ve taken from this website?
-- When I click the thumbnails, the larger image gets re-sized automatically in my web browser.  What do I do?
-- I have some information I'd like to contribute to your website - where so I start?
-- I have spotted an error or disagree with something on your website. What should I do?
-- The photos on your site are low quality. Can you not include better quality ones?

Q: Why have you ditched the frames?  
A: This was quite a hard decision to make, but one I feel was for the best.   The initial reason for using frames on the site was because I considered it an aid to the reader to have the menu constantly accessible (especially given the length of some of the pages).   To a greater extent I still feel this way about frames, but at the same time I was unhappy with the cluttered feel that I believed the frames gave the site (doubtless a flaw in my own web design skill).   Given that I have now 'virtually' split each of the Natural History pages by using the "Back to the Menu" link at the end of each section and also that I have physically split up the Questions & Answers page (which was by far and above the longest page on the site) into more manageable sections, I think I can sacrifice the frames now.   By losing the frames I also have the advantage that other websites can link to specific pages that interest their readers and any search engine results will include the whole page, rather than a specific part of the frame set.   By far the greatest benefit for me is that I no longer need to maintain two sites (a framed and non-framed version).   This is not to say that I am particularly satisfied using tables for layout (a web layout technique often frowned upon by those 'in the know') and there are some inherent disadvantages to tables - although most of these relate to how easy it is for me to make updates to the content.   Overall, I am still experimenting with different layouts between making content updates (most notably with CSS), but tables serve the purpose for now.  (Back to Menu)

Q: Ooooh!   Those are nice pictures, can I use them in my project/on my website?
A: That largely depends to whom the picture belongs.   If I took the photo, or drew the picture you’re after, then yes, you can use it – with two small conditions.   The first is that you e-mail me to tell me where you wish to use this picture (which also enables me to send you higher quality versions of the image you require); the second is that you credit me as the author.   I would also appreciate a link to my website if the picture is to be used for Internet material.   However, the fact that a picture is on my site doesn’t mean that I own it.   As such, permission to use the picture(s) is not mine to give or deny.   If you’re after a photo that’s taken by anyone other than me, it is to that person you need to direct your request.   This can be done via one of two routes.   If the artist has a website, you can click their name on my Many Thanks page to be whisked to their site, where you will (quite probably) find an e-mail contact for them.   Alternatively, you can e-mail me, telling me which picture you’re after and I will forward your message to the respective person.   It will then be up to them to say “yay” or “nay”.  (Back to Menu)

Q: The page doesn’t display correctly – what’s going on?
A: Don’t you just love computers?!?   Unfortunately, each web browser interprets a given chunk of Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) code slightly differently!   Ergo, when viewing the homepage of Wildlife Online using Internet Explorer or Firefox, the page will look slightly different than it would were you to view it using Opera or another browser.   When it comes to creating the code for this site, it is written and tweaked so that the site looks best in Firefox and Internet Explorer.   Why?  The answer is simple: these are the two most popular web browsers currently in use.   According to the latest survey by the Web developer site W3Schools Online, as of April 2010 some 46% of people surfing the Web use Firefox, while about 35% use a version of Internet Explorer (i.e. 6, 7 or 8).   Some 14% used Google's Chrome browser, while only 4% used Apple's, presumably PC-based (?) version of Safari nearly and just over 2% (myself included) used Opera.   So, while the situation has improved significantly in terms of browser choice in recent years (back in 2004 80% of the Web-surfing public were using Internet Explorer), but IE still plays a large part in deciding how I code the site.   Having said that, I have tested the site with Opera and Chrome (and friend of mine has also tested it on his Mac under Safari) and certainly the latter two didn't have any problems.   The only browser that does seem to have 'issues' is Opera, and it seems worse with the newer versions!   As I write this, I am aware of at least two problems in Opera -- one involves failing to load the 'onmouseover' images so you see text rather than an image when you scroll over the menu bar, another involves loading the photos in the wrong place upon initial load, which is corrected upon refreshing -- I am looking into these problems, although it only seems to happen in Opera and I can't replicate it in any of the other browsers I have installed.   Given that Opera also has problems loading the dynamic content on other sites I use (which, probably partly explains why so few people use it), I'm thinking it's a lot to do with their software.

If you are experiencing major problems viewing this site, feel free to e-mail the Webmaster about it - please include details of your web browser, operating system and the date you experienced the problem.   It may be that your browser is picking up a glitch in the code, which I may be able to correct.  (Back to Menu)

Q: There’s a lot of info on each of your animal pages that makes them a little daunting.   Could you not split the pages into smaller ‘bite-sized’ chunks?
A: This was a question raised by several people who viewed the original site design.   As incomprehensible as it may seem, the information on each of the wildlife topics is only a summary of the multitudinous information that is available!   As such, I am reluctant to lose any of the content and feel that it would probably swamp the website were I to split the pages into smaller sections (say, one page per section).   However, I hope that this new site has arrived at a suitable compromise.   Each of the main content pages has been ‘virtually’ split with the aid of a menu at the top.   Thus, although all the information is still on a single -- in some instances, long -- page, the user can opt to jump to specific parts using the menu at the top of the page.   Each ‘section’ has the option to return to the top menu by clicking the hyperlink at the end of the final paragraph.   This format gives the user the option of reading the entire piece, or selecting specific categories that interest him or her.  In addition to this, I have refrained from covering many of the topics associated with the particular species on their profiles; instead, I have sectioned them off as questions under the Q/A section.   Finally, I have created a Speed Read page, which provides a basic overview of the species covered on the site.   Hopefully, the re-design and the Speed Read will be an acceptable compromise.   (Back to Menu)

Q: I have some photos/drawings that I’d like to contribute, how do I go about it?
A: Fantastic!   I’m always on the lookout for some decent photos and drawings to further enhance the site.   Check out my Photos Needed page, which sets out the terms for getting your images onto the site and -- if you agree to them -- e-mail me the pictures along with your full name (i.e. Christian and surnames) and the address of your website, or a website you’d like me to link your credit to.

With regard to the formats of your pictures, I leave this largely up to you.   Having said this, I could do without receiving huge TIFF or RAW images, or images saved in a photo editing propriety format (which I can’t open unless I happen to have that program).   The image formats I can accept are: GIF, JPEG, JPG, IMG, PCX, BMP, PIC, PCT, DRW, and PNG.   I can open TIF, TIFF and (some) RAW files if these are the only format options you have, although my e-mail provider will bounce images larger than 10mb.  (Back to Menu)

Q: How do I cite information I’ve taken from this website in my School/College/Uni project?
A: Taking information from websites is generally frowned upon by University lecturers, mainly owing to the amount of false material circulating on the Internet.   However, I can provide references for the majority of information used on this site (certain aspects represent personal observation by myself and collaborators) and I feel that the information presented herein is accurate to the best of my knowledge and understanding.   Thus, I’d suggest using the format that my tutors at Uni wanted me to use when citing Internet sources.   We were told to use the format of the following example:

In the main text:

“However, Golden eagles can only lift 4 or 5kgs (Internet Source 1).   This suggests that only small…”

In the Bibliography, under the heading “Internet Resources”

Internet Source 1: Name of Website: Name of Page
URL Address in Full
Accessed on: (date)

Therefore, for the above main text example, the bibliography would be:

Internet Source 1: Wildlife Online: Badgers
http://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/european_badger.html#predators
Accessed on: 10^th May 2003.

 
Different lecturers have different preferences when it comes to citing reference material and, if you’re going to use information from this site in a report, it is best to check with your tutor first and check the format that he/she wants you to use.  (Back to Menu)
 

Q: When I click the thumbnails, the larger image gets re-sized automatically in my web browser.   This compresses the text and I can’t read it properly – help!
A: Chances are you’re using Internet Explorer.   The feature of re-sizing images in the browser window is something of a mixed bag of fortune.   In some instances it is a great feature – it saves you scrolling halfway down a massive picture to find the bit you’re interested in.   At other times, it’s a pain in the proverbial backside!   There are two courses of action you can take (discounting the third, which is to merely live with it!): use the “Save As” option, or switch this feature off.   To accomplish the first of these suggestions, when the ‘larger’ image opens, right-click it and select “Save As” from the drop-down menu – this will allow you to save the picture to the hard disk of your computer so that you can view it, full size, in the photo editor of your choice.   With IE, you can also hover the mouse over the picture and then click the small floppy disk button from the three-buttoned toolbar that will most likely appear – this is effectively the same as the Save As option.   If you wish to disable the image auto-resize feature, navigate to Tools > Internet Options and select the Advanced tab.   Scroll down the list until you get to Multimedia and remove the tick from the box that says “Enable Automatic Image Resizing”.  (Back to Menu)

Q: I have some information I'd like to contribute to your website or I'd like to write a page on the natural history of my favourite animal for your site - where so I start?
A: I'm always open to new ideas for content and am grateful for the offer of assistance.   That said, I have worked hard to create the content on this site and am proud of the way it has turned out, even if it is still very much a work in progress.   Consequently, I am rather reluctant to 'throw the shutters open' and allow independent contributions unless I feel that they offer a unique insight that I would be unable to provide myself.   Nonetheless, if you have a subject that relates to British wildlife that you are passionate about and would fit the style and content of this site, I am happy to discuss it further with you.   Feel free to e-mail me an outline of what (and why) you want to contribute.   Please note that any accompanying photographs or illustrations must be cleared for use on this site (i.e. the photographer/artist must give their written permission).   (Back to Menu)

Q: I have spotted an error or disagree with something on your website. What should I do?
A: Please send me an e-mail stating the error or disagreement and I will endeavour to respond within 48 hours and update the site as necessarily.

Q: The photos on your site are low quality. Can you not include better quality ones?
A: You're right, they are fairly low res and in a number of cases, this doesn't do the image justice.   When the site was first built, broadband was still gaining popularity and there were many people who only had Internet access via dial-up.   As most who've used a dial-up connection can testify to, there's nothing worse than a site with loads of high quality images when you're only pulling them down at about 5 KBps.   However, broadband is now much more widespread and most people who have Internet access have at least 512k broadband (I believe 4 Mbps is the UK average at the moment) and can deal with better quality images.   Consequently, I am in the process of revising most of the main article on the site and as I go through updating the information on them I will begin replacing the images with higher resolution copies.   I am also toying with the idea of creating a page specifically for donated photos, where I can put high(er) resolution images.
 

TO RETURN TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE, CLICK HERE