FW: [canberrabirds] A Bird Hide Review #2

["Geoffrey Dabb" <>]

Lia  -  First, it is to be assumed shutters or blinds will be opened silently and cautiously.  I would agree that if they are opened noisily the advantage is lost.  Apart from weather protection, the main advantage probably comes down to the backlighting issue, particularly where birds, aperture and entrance are all in line  -  as with some Kellys hides.  [The chief issue of contention, as I say]

 

From: Lia Battisson [
Sent: Wednesday, 30 October 2013 9:05 AM
To: Geoffrey Dabb;
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] A Bird Hide Review #2

 

What is the advantage of having apertures that can be closed?  Would it not be as disturbing to the local population to have the shutters constantly opened and closed, with the occasional bang, as to have them permanently open?

 

From:

Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 8:24 AM

To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" title="">

Subject: [canberrabirds] A Bird Hide Review #2

 

The Gulpa Creek hide is of spacious design, constructed of sawn timber.  The lower deck (shown upper left)  is 20m in length.  A Canberra equivalent could be perhaps half that size.  The back is open allowing close views of interesting swampy ground and the Red Gum saplings.  Because there is so much cover a glimpse of the shyer species might be possible if you stayed for a while, but the open outlook seems designed to present the habitat rather than cater to the serious birdwatcher.  On the main side, towards the open swamp, viewing is through gaps in the sawn planks.  Viewing gaps are of course the chief issue of contention in a hide. The problem with these ones is that they suit individuals of specific heights, particularly as the hide is designed for standing rather than seated viewing.  The advantage of seats is that viewers share a common eye level, more or less.  The set-up is a contrast to that at Werribee, for example, designed for seated viewing through apertures that are (in practice) always closed when not in use.  Those shown below are non-closable.  The problem with opening shutters at a public hide is that the default mode is OPEN, as we know from those at Kelly Swamp.

 

The walls bear a selection of witty compositions that would go well in Canberra.  I include a couple involving postings by a communicative Latham’s Snipe.  [Note Bento box with insects]