(snip)
> I can state with great certainty that the Jocotoco Antpitta we
discovered in
> Ecuador would never have been discovered if we had not recorded its
voice
> and played it back. Even today, after much study and research, this
bird is
> still very hard to see. Bob Ridgely, Lelis Navarrette and I heard a
voice none
> of us had ever heard and recorded it. Upon playback this large, unique
> Antpitta showed itself. This was in an area that had been studied
before. This is a
> very rare bird and we still have not figured out its geographical
patterns.
Thanks John,
I believe you when you say "would never have been discovered if we had
not recorded its voice and played it back." You are the expert here.
I'm just trying to understand what steps people using playback are
taking to make sure it is done "responsibly."
I googled the Jocotoco Antpitta and found lots of information: You are
lucky to have taken part in such an important discovery. I read
Roberts Rigely's account of this event in an interview with birding.com.
http://www.birding.com/ridgely.htm
Apparently the bird was first heard from a distance, then Robert
Rigely walked further down the trail and heard it call much closer at
which time he recorded its voice and then played it back.
Now my question is this: Why go straight from record to playback
without taking time to try and observe it other ways first?
-John Hartog, Portland Oregon
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