Hi Jenny and others. I seem to have generated the thought that I am somehow
jealous or angry about people spending money to twitch a bird. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Being a twitcher I too have spent thousands of
dollars avidly traipsing round the country chasing new birds, and I wish
those who still do it the best of luck. However, I seem to have lost some of
my own twitching zeal and the rewards of getting a tick are definitely
fading for me, unless of course the bird is closer to home, then I'll go for
it. Oh, and BTW, I don't suffer from the domestic financial constraints
that Philip mentioned so I could still go but choose not to. This,
fortunately, does not preclude me from passing comment on these compulsive
expeditions.
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of jenny spry
Sent: Tuesday, 12 February 2013 1:20 PM
To: birding aus
Subject: Lesser Black-backed Gull at Broome
Hi all,
I am again wondering why the expenditure of money on our chosen
hobby/pastime/obsession is such a contentious issue. Using Tony's
calculation the cost of a trip to Broome comes to about $1,000 - $1,200 and
having costed it myself I agree (I am not including food and fuel because I
feel one usually uses that whether or not they are on a twitch). Some people
can afford to spend, and what's more want to spend, that amount to see a
vagrant bird. So what?
There are people who collect old vinyl or wax records who will pay $1,200
for one record. There are people who will pay many times that amount for a
used postage stamp. Other people pay for a ticket to an interstate concert
or, unbelievably, to attend a cricket match (smile). So what? It's their
hobby/pastime/obsession.
The expenditure of money, in general, also provides employment for a large
range of people from the person who cuts the sandwich in Broome to the
person who flies the plane to get you there. And those who went for the LBBG
undoubtably saw other birds and spent an enjoyable social time with friends.
Philip mentions the Secretarybird on the plains of Africa. Like Philip, I
chose not to spend my finite money reserves on a ticket to Africa, but if
one turned up on the plains of Western Australia I would do my best to go
and see it. Just as some people who can't afford to go to Europe to see a
famous painting will fly to Canberra to see it.
Personally, I feel happy for those who have seen the LBBG and I gain
pleasure from reading about their trips. To me the joy of birding is good
friends, beautiful places and birds. Let's just enjoy our
hobby/pastime/obsession and stop begrudging a person's discretionary
expenditure in that pursuit.
cheers and long live all birders
Jenny
http://jenniferspryausbirding.blogspot.com.au/
On 12 February 2013 13:04, Tony Russel <> wrote:
> Richard, I'm with Philip on this. You skipped very quickly over the
> expensive bits !! For a start you used frequent flyer points !! The
> air fare from Adelaide (compulsorily via Melb) is around $400-800, and
> that's in
> the cheap seats. Going on one's own the minimum accommodation cost
would
> be ca $120 per night. Then I'd have to hire a car for a couple of days
> - allow $120 for that, plus fuel. Oh, and I guess one would need to
> eat , other than taking sandwiches. Allow another $50 for that even
eating fast
> food ( which I don't). OK for some, but not for most of us. And all for
> one skungey bird which I've seen a hundred times in the UK. I don't
> think so.
>
> Tony
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of Richard
> Baxter
> Sent: Tuesday, 12 February 2013 11:48 AM
> To: Philip Veerman; birding-aus
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Lesser Black-backed Gull at Broome
>
> Philip,
> It doesn't always cost a fortune. I twitched the LBBG in
> Broome a few weeks ago with Mike and Rohan. The entire trip cost me
> $75. I used frequent flyer points, we shared a room and George Swan
> very kindly drive us to the rubbish tip.
>
> Breakfast at Maccas and flew home.
>
> Cheers
> Richard
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On 12/02/2013, at 12:02 PM, "Philip Veerman" <> wrote:
>
> > That sounds very sensible. This is not an attempt to be rude towards
> > Mike or anyone. However it also strikes me as amusing. Please take
> > this message as being towards the amusing and not get hung up on
> > arguing it. Sure, promoting tourism to Broome is great (I wish I
> > could afford to go, just maybe one day I might but it would be to
> > see the regular birds such as the massed wader migration). Then
> > again for those who think a Lesser Black-backed Gull is such a
> > wonderful bird (very exciting compared to other gulls), I wonder
> > would it not be easier (possibly even cheaper?) and more likely by
> > going to Europe. I have always thought I would rather see a
> > Secretarybird on the plains of Africa, where it is supposed to be, than
on the streets of Canberra.
> >
> > More to the point, I just wonder how many readers of this line, if
> > they told their husband, wife, son, daughter, whoever, that they are
> > going to spend a huge amount to look for a Lesser Black-backed Gull
> > at the Broome tip and shown a picture of this fabulous beast, would
> > respond with a "no way, you must be loopy (or similar)". And that is
> > in the context that I'm 56 years old I have loved bird watching
> > since I was a young child and find myself recently married to
> > someone who has no idea and this week asked me if a penguin is a bird.
> >
> > Philip
> >
> > -----Original Message-----From:
> >
> > On Behalf Of Mike
> Carter
> > Sent: Tuesday, 12 February 2013 10:50 AM To:
> > Cc: George Swann of Kimberley Birdwatching
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Lesser Black-backed Gull at Broome
> >
> >
> > The bird continues to be seen intermittently at the Broome tip.
> > Anyone wishing to see it should allow at least a couple of days to
> > ensure they coincide with its irregular visits.
> >
> > Mike Carter
> > 30 Canadian Bay Road
> > Mount Eliza VIC 3930
> > Tel (03) 9787 7136
> > ===============================
> >
> > ===============================
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> >
> > http://birding-aus.org
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