birding-aus

Chatting while bird watching in a group

To: Tony Russell <>
Subject: Chatting while bird watching in a group
From: Carl Clifford <>
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 10:29:07 +1000
The seemingly endless chatter that goes on among birders in groups, is the main 
reason why I no longer go out birding with groups. I only go birding by myself 
or with one or two others that I know that can keep shtum.

Carl Clifford

On 12/07/2013, at 8:57, "Tony Russell" <> wrote:

> Whenever I go out birding with a talkative group I always find myself
> becoming impatient with their chatter and move out ahead of them.  Their
> chatting is often nothing to do with birds or birding, just social, family
> or kitchen table stuff. No amount of shushing seems to have any effect - I
> often wonder why they have bothered coming out because they tend to miss
> lots of birds anyway even if they do quiet down briefly, the birds having
> moved on.  Such chatting should be reserved for bird call time.
> 
> Grumpy old Tony.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
>  On Behalf Of Alan
> Gillanders
> Sent: Thursday, 11 July 2013 3:54 PM
> To: Allan Richardson; Philip Veerman
> Cc: 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Chatting while bird watching in a group
> 
> G'day Allan,
> I have a Golden Bowerbird which responds positively to my voice (sometimes).
> 
> I do not feed this bird or offer him any enticements. One time when I
> approached the bower there was a group already there who informed me that
> the bird was not around. I new better as I had heard him quietly doing his
> not very good Crimson Rosella imitations. I got everyone set up around the
> bower at a distance which would not upset the bird and spoke loudly, "Good
> morning handsome." He came down to a nearby sapling before heading over to
> his favourite perch from which to watch his bower. All had good looks.
> 
> On reflection it might have been, "G'day Stupid." It is not only this bird
> which is somewhat disturbed.
> 
> Regards,
> Alan
> 
> 
> Alan's Wildlife Tours
> 2 Mather Road
> Yungaburra 4884
> 
> Phone 07 4095 3784
> Mobile 0408 953 786
> http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au/
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Allan Richardson
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 4:02 PM
> To: Philip Veerman
> Cc: 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Chatting while bird watching in a group
> 
> Hi Phil,
> 
> I reckon the chatting would mean your list for the day would be lower, not
> because of flushing birds (unless someone is unduly loud), but because of
> missing birds while your mind isn't on the job at hand.
> 
> Nevertheless - birds do have a way of being obvious sometimes when folk are
> relaxed.
> 
> Allan Richardson
> Morisset NSW
> 
> On 11/07/2013, at 3:17 PM, Philip Veerman wrote:
> 
>> Peter wrote: "I'm also wondering if making voice notes ever spooks birds."
>> That struck me as amusing. Mainly because my formative birding years 
>> were as a young teenager with the BOCA in the early 1970s. I recall 
>> many loud chatterings among excited people looking at birds. Amusing 
>> chat of people talking not just amongst but to themselves. Social 
>> groups are still like that. Surely Peter has also been with a group of 
>> birders looking at birds and discussing what it is - or discussing the 
>> weather or football or anything else. And been able to see the 
>> reaction. Then again it is hard to know if people talking is what 
>> would make a bird move away. Yes of course for some birds quietness 
>> helps but I doubt that one person discretely talking into a machine 
>> held a few cm from their face is a problem.
>> 
>> But thanks to Peter for adding a subject line........
>> 
>> Philip
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----From: 
>> 
>>  On Behalf Of Peter 
>> Shute
>> Sent: Thursday, 11 July 2013 3:35 AM To: Carl Clifford Cc:
>> <> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Recorders for 
>> note taking - was (no subject)
>> 
>> 
>> Has anyone tried these small recorders in the wind? It would be 
>> disappointing if you couldn't hear your notes later because of wind 
>> rumble.
>> 
>> I'm also wondering if making voice notes ever spooks birds.
>> 
>> Peter Shute
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>> 
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