Tony -
At 08:31 PM 23/09/00 +0930, you wrote:
>What we need here is a practical mechanism for use with these
>property managers, ie an accredited application procedure which presents us
>in a favourable light. I believe BA to be in the best position nationally
>to do this, better anyway than lots of individuals making ad hoc approaches
>to individual property managers.
This is already being done, to some extent, through the Atlas project. If
any atlasser wants to get access to a private property for atlassing
purposes (talking large outback grazing leases rather than suburban blocks)
and has been refused access by the management, they can call the Atlas
project here to try and facilitate it. Atlassers can show their Atlas ID
cards so that property managers can note the numbers and call BA for
confirmation or more information about the project. If all such people are
meticulous about asking permission and adhering to all condirtions they
will make it easier for those who follow them. I also think that it is
worthwhile trying to get the landowners interested in the project and the
birds on their land - it is a good idea to send a thankyou letter later,
with a list of birds seen and comments on anything of interest.
However, although BA can try to help with access for people involved in the
Atlas and other projects, I do not believe that we can take responsibility
for anyone who may claim to be a birdwatcher. There will probably always
be some landowners who do not want anyone on their land (for whatever
reason - appropriate, prejudiced or paranoid). There is also at least the
occasional birder (or someone the landowner mistakenly sees as a typical
birder) who behaves badly and stuffs it up for everyone else. It is not
much use calling upon the traditional land access rights of medieval Europe
to justify behaving in a way inappropriate to the political and cultural
realities of Australia today. Change these through education and the
ballot-box if you like, but this won't happen overnight.
Cheers,
Hugo
Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
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Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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