Chris and John, I know I may be going out on a limb, but in light of the other comments I feel compelled to write.
Does COG support the 'refit' of the bird hides. Without exception, every birder I have spoken to at Kelly's has bemoaned the changes. I hope they too feel emboldened to write. Personally I think the utility as 'hides' has been deleteriously affected and the work should stop until some 'science' is applied to the project.
Why was this work done in the first place? The word on the street is that this was commenced solely based on feedback from the general public during a wetland open day - the general public did not like entering darkened spaces. Did any birders have an opportunity to provide feedback or, as the primary users of the hides, have these changes just been foisted upon us?
The baffles served an important function and I can not understand why they have been removed. The birds now appear more aware that people are in the hides and if there is any wind blowing, Cygnus hide becomes unusable as it appears to funnel the wind. There is now half as much seating in each hide.
As has previously been mentioned the brush screen outside bittern hide is unusable for a normal sized person. Even my 9 year old daughter was unable to find a slot at the right height to look through. Many people now sit in front of the screen or at its eastern extremity.
Kelly's has gone from having hides that were the envy of birders Australia-wide to something not quite second rate but certainly not as good as they were.
I suggest Parks either leaves the other two hides as they are or allow us an opportunity to input comments.
Alastair
Sent from my iPad
On 17/12/2012, at 7:47 AM, Robin Hide <> wrote:
Perhaps, ideally, something adjustable covering the range of
heights, rather than fixed height slots? Are there examples/models
from elsewhere?
Robin
On 17/12/2012 7:18 AM, Margaret Leggoe
wrote:
Or for people
less than 5’ high. Yes, such midgets do exist and go
watching/photographing birds.
ML
Chris,
may I suggest that, if any brushfencing is involved, some of
the viewing slots be positioned at appropriate heights for
different sized persons?
All three of the slots at Bittern Hide are just too low for
comfortable standing and viewing by a c.180 cm tall person
(stooping on bent and ageing knees does not encourage an
extended view!).
thanks
Robin Hide
On 16/12/2012 2:46 PM, Chris Davey wrote:
Hi,
For those who have visited the
Jerrabomberra Wetlands recently you would have noticed the
renovation work in and around the bird hides at Kelly’s
Swamp. Work will be starting on the Tadorna and Fulica bird
hides (the two on the Causeway side of Jerrabomberra Creek)
tomorrow and they expect to be completed over Xmas. The
work will be similar to that on the 3 hides around Kelly’s.
Chris
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