birding-aus

Tampling birdos and villains

To: <>
Subject: Tampling birdos and villains
From: "alan morris" <>
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 12:43:12 +1000
Hi Birders,

I for one, found Michael Norris's comments about keeping info about threatened birds to one's self, patronising. The inference that birdos will be trampling vegetation near nests or will steal their eggs, is an exaggeration and I object to the inference that contributors to birding-aus cannot be trusted.

It is far better to let it be widey known as possible that rare birds are nesting in order to hightlight their plight; to organise the protection of the next site (ie with a temporary fence for Hooded Plovers, Little Terns etc) and to actively manage the visitors (if any) by using volunteer wardens etc.

Keeping information to one self about nesting threatened birds is power! Too often today, developers and private landowners, not to mention some of the contracted environmental consultants refrain from letting authorities and others know about nesting threatened species in order that their develppment will have an easy passage through the assessment process. Some landowners/developers have cut down the nest site trees so that environmentalist and others could not oppose the development on the grounds that the birds "don't breed here!". Believe me, rare nesting birds have more to lose from such situations than the disturbance if any of an occasional birdo checking out the nest!

Obviously there are certain circumstances where you could be justified in saying nothing but that is the exception rather than the rule.

Alan Morris
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