Come now David - you must have seen that one coming. You should know by now
that when banding items come up the same old arguments get used (over and
over and over). The problem with using the work e-mail that doesn't seem to
have a filter mechanism on it.
A couple of things I would add to this never-ending loop. Any bird that is
currently alive may be dead by the time that you finish reading this
sentence. It may be hit by a car, killed by a predator (possibly after being
flushed by a bird watcher) or die of a heart attack. Banding may increase
mortality slightly, but I think there are probably far greater influences on
survival rate, such as habitat clearance. What the figures that David listed
showed, that at least some individuals can survive the stresses of capture.
If all birds died quickly, banding would not be permitted to happen (and the
banders wouldn't want to anyway).
The issue of bleeding is a separate issue. I certainly don't do it when I am
banding (yes I am part of the evil empire), and is usually the case when
genetic studies are being done (usually through Universities). This process
would require a separate Ethics Authority (at least in NSW) and would have
to be done under strict supervision. I guess the penguins case would be done
by vets to assess health effects (I am really guessing here).
I have seen the records of "animal carer" groups rehabilitating and
realeasing Foxes and Indian Mynas so I would want to carefully filter the
credentials of the arguer on a chat group (just as I do with Birding-Aus).
To say that we know everything already so we should stop banding is
ridiculous. We still know so little about so many things (not just birds)
that the more research of any kind has to be of some use. Otherwise we may
as well give up now, and just plod on with our ignorant, destructive lives.
I guess what I am trying to say here is that banders are also birders. They
care for there animals (I know I am distraught when birds die) but many
important things can be worked out from banding. I also know that there are
people are opposed to it, and that emotion can sometimes be a very strong
driver.
Enough waffle on this endless argument - I'll be back next week with some
twitching questions.
Cheers,
Peter
P.S. I am happy to waste my money in any way that I want to.
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