FAQ
What are the minimum system requirements to run CONE Welder?
CONE Welder requires Flash 9 and a minimum screen resolution of 1024x768. Most computers from the last 5 years running Windows XP, Mac OS X, or later should work. If your Flash player is out of date, CONE Welder will prompt you with an update.
What version of Flash 9 player do you require?
We have tested CONE Welder with various versions of Flash 9. While we highly recommend you use the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, versions 9.0.47.0 or later should be compatible.
I registered, but I get a message saying “user not found” when I try to login. How do I fix this?
We require that you activate your account before logging in. Please check your mailbox (and spam folders) for your activation email and click on the enclosed link before logging in.
Also, make sure that you enter your full email address (not user name) into the first field.
Why do I get an error message about port 4040 or 1337 when loading CONE Welder or turning on the camera?
CONE Welder requires outgoing ports 4040 and 1337 be open to communicate with our servers. If you are behind a corporate firewall, it is possible that these ports have been blocked. Please talk to your network administrator to resolve this issue.
Why do I get a message saying my session has timed out?
You most likely left CONE Welder running for a long time without any activity. Simply relogin in and your session will be restored
Why am I not on the front scoreboard, even though I was on there yesterday?
We reset the scoreboard every day to keep the game competitive. However, you can still view the all-time scoreboard under the score section.
I typed the name of an animal into the classification box, but an image with a question mark appears to the right and I can't press select. What's wrong?
We require you select an animal from our list before classifying. Simply start typing the species name and then click on it (or use the up/down arrow keys to navigate to it and press enter). The animal picture should load to the right and you will now be able to classify the zone.
What are the different award types?
All awards are listed below
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Cumulative Primary Classification Award | Be the first person to classify a zone correctly |
| Cumulative Supporting Classification Award | Provide one of the first supporting votes towards the consensus classification |
| Daily Night Owl Award | Take the latest picture before 7PM CST |
| Daily Early Bird Award | Take the first picture after 7AM CST |
| Cumulative Photographer Award | Gained when someone has generated interest in your photo |
| Daily Eagle Eye Award | Take the best rated photo of the day |
| Daily Parrot Award | Provide the most useful commentary of the day |
Where is the camera located?
The camera is located at the Welder Wildlife Refuge in Sinton, Texas. You can find more information here
What technology does CONE Welder use?
CONE Welder is composed of three software layers written in Java, PHP, and Flex. We use a Panasonic networked camera (model: KX-HCM280) for our video feed
Where can I find more information about the project and on going research?
The following resources may be helpful:
- John Callender's Daily Blog about CONE Welder
- Rappole, J.H., G.W. Blacklock, and J. Norwine. 2007. Apparent rapid range change in South Texas birds: Response to climate change? Pp. 133-145 In The changing climate of South Texas 1900-2100: Problems and prospects; impacts and implications (J. Norwine, and K. John, eds.), CREST-RESSACA, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, Texas.
- Birding in Texas
- Welder Wildlife Refuge Bird List