-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Russell
Sent: Friday, 20 February 2015 4:18 PM
To: 'brian fleming'
Subject: Night Parrot - tickers and listers
Yes, ticking is a strange occupation, a bit like collecting train or bus
numbers ( which I used to do when I was a kid). Of course it does very
little towards conservation, and in fact there have been many comments from
"real" conservationists ( however defined) regarding the contempt in which
they hold twitchers. The twitching compulsion is however very powerful,
similar to heroin or crystal meth. or even pot I guess, not that I have ever
been foolish enough to try any of these.
I've been twitching now since 1991 and have experienced the excitement and
satisfaction of getting new birds over and over again, the feeling never
diminishes. The anticipation has made me travel all over this great southern
land, covering many thousands of kilometres and costing sometimes inordinate
amounts of money, and, incidentally, helping the tourism industry along the
way. I've nevr ever thought of lighting fires though.
On reflection, it's hard to explain. But it's been thoroughly enjoyable and
I've made lots of friends. Tony.
-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus On Behalf Of
brian fleming
Sent: Friday, 20 February 2015 3:24 PM
To:
Subject: Night Parrot - tickers and listers
I am personally always delighted to see a new bird.
I am prepared to get in the car and drive a moderate distance to go and see
one. I have been known to pay money for people to show me birds in Cape
York and the Kimberley.
But I am extremely concerned - no, appalled, to hear of some person
seriously suggesting that spinifex should be fired in order to give him a
chance of "ticking" a Night Parrot, or anything else. Or trespassing on
indigenous people's land to see a Princess Parrot, as happened a few years
ago.
My personal opinion is that far too much effort is spent on ticking species
and building life-lists. If the same effort was put into studying the
life-histories of even common birds, we would know very much more than we
do.
Certainly atlassing has greatly built up our knowledge of bird distribution
and migration, and Twitchathons etc. have provided a great deal of fun for
those energetic enough to do it - so has digital photography. But first and
foremost, please let us consider the birds.
Anthea Fleming
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