Roger C Boughton wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> The use of call-down for anything except strictly controlled scientific p=
urposes should be discouraged. It is intrusive and can be seriously distup=
tive to the species concerned.
>
> As for the recording one would obtain, well, the sounds recorded would be=
a response to a challenge within the subjects territory and would tend to =
be an alarm or anxiety calls. Even if the subject responds with a song the=
challenge would be there, and it could be argued that the sound recorded w=
ould not be the true song of the species.
>
> Certain species are very territorial and great distress will occur.
As I've noted, this is a human interpretation, it may not be the
interpretation of the bird. It's a error to ever apply human type
emotional descriptions to the actions of animals. It's the first thing
covered in Animal Ethology if I remember the course correctly. In other
words it's fundamental to studying animal behavior. We have to keep our
notions and emotions out of it.
As was noted in the discussion that Doug posted, it may actually help
for all we know. As long as it's used in moderation. It would seem
logical that very heavy use might have the effect of wasting too much of
a bird's time. On the scale of stress inducers, it's pretty minor.
The other thing out of that was that there are no formal studies that
might shed light on just how disruptive it might be. That a bird defends
it's territory is not enough to say it's a problem. Maybe that just
puffs him up, the extra confidence causes him to enlarge his territory,
which leads to his greater breeding success. It's just as likely.
Without study of each species we won't know.
My personal belief is it can be abused. Or substituted for good
fieldcraft by those unwilling to take the time. I don't like to see that
more because I think people should really make the effort to understand
their subjects than any other reason. It can become a crutch for the
lazy. And in tourist situations caters to the bambi syndrome. In
moderation, used carefully, it's probably neutral in it's effect and a
valuable tool. And certainly not something to be banned outright.
I do agree as far as recording, if you want natural sounds you have to
do it the hard way. Or at least you have to observe enough during
periods when you are not playing anything to be completely familiar with
normal calling patterns so you can judge if the calls are changed. And
if you have done that and not recorded, shame on you!
You should be aware that just the presence of the recordist and his gear
is often enough to change the calls. Again, you have to take the time if
you want good recording of natural calls.
Walt
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