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A community building endeavour (long)

Subject: A community building endeavour (long)
From: Michael Gallagher <>
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2005 22:42:44 +1100
Dear Naturerecordists,

I fully support Chuck Bragg's call for the group to set about=20
documenting the effects of playback in the wild. Thanks Scott Connop=20
for your considered discussion about playback ethics.

I enjoy this community. I like the mix of practical recording=20
techniques, alerts to new equipment, soundscapes, equipment reviews -=20
often with audio file evidence, environmental issue discussion,=20
requests for id of unknown sounds, calls for advice or assistance to=20
protect local environments and rhapsodic essays on how exhilarating=20
it is to be alive and alert to the world about us.

My own inclination is towards data gathering and analysis. I want to=20
go beyond how beautifully birds sing and elucidate why they sing. In=20
my four or five years of participating, mostly reading, and=20
occasionally contributing, I have learned much from this group that=20
assists me realize my quest.

I have not used playback in the wild, though I have read some=20
research where it appears to have enabled birds to be located and=20
territories to be mapped. I am sure there are many instances where=20
judicious use of playback is justified.

I occasionally play recordings in my study. The reactions of the=20
birds in my garden appears to indicate consternation and=20
bewilderment. Their calls remind me to turn the volume down. At the=20
same time, their reaction alerts me to to fact that, via playback, I=20
could test hypotheses about what birds do in response to certain=20
calls. I would have to consult seriously with my inner bioethics=20
department, before embarking upon such research.

The agitation birds apparently feel reminds me of my own. While=20
recording, I am often disturbed by sonic intrusions - dogs barking=20
next door, tyres screeching round the corner, light planes droning=20
overhead, vehicles, stereos thumping and engines revving, speeding=20
down the street. At the same time, it never ceases to amaze me that=20
twenty or more species of birds live out their lives in my "very=20
disturbed" environment.

I enjoy the mix of personalities that contribute to naturerecordists.=20
I enjoy the mix of motivations that keeps individuals contributing to=20
the site. My heart bleeds for those who call for assistance or=20
guidance to combat needless environmental destruction. My heart skips=20
when some respond with annoyance to environmental fervour, or respond=20
with righteousness towards methodologies they believe are=20
environmentally harmful.

I believe we must allow any naturerecordists recordist who intends no=20
harm to the environment to go about nature recording, researching,=20
documenting, surveying, educating, and so on, without rancour.=20
Perhaps we could consider casting any recordist who willfully harms=20
the environment from our ranks. Though, before, we enact such a=20
statute, give me time to divest my self of vehicle and electricity,=20
gas and water meters.

I tremble when Martyn's trigger finger grows itchy as discussion=20
strays towards the technical. Hold off Martyn - such discussion is=20
fundamental to our craft. I feel distress when an enthusiastic or=20
knowledgeable contributor elects to leave the group in response to a=20
torrid exhange. My sincere hope for this community is that its=20
members can respectfully challenge each others views in a search for=20
truth.

Regards
Michael Gallagher







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