This was written in 1978 I believe, this was well before MP3 players and
convenient recorders etc.
Remember also that in 27 years from this publication, habitat has decreased
alarmingly and bird populations have been drastically reduced.
It would make this much more critical now!
How many bird watchers obey by these rules?
In the field I hear Cell phones ringing also, there were no portable cell
phones then.
It is a nuclear war to the birds and animals.
Imagine walking into a hospital with a new born baby screaming recording and
playing it back to all the kids in the ward?
I wonder if the hospital would allow such a thing or the parents don't knock
your block off!
Why do we treat wildlife this way?
The attitude is basically "I don't give a crap" that is why codes like this
are written, someone must have done something wrong many times for the ABA
to have written this birding code?
American Birding Association
Code of Birding Ethics
1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
1 (a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.
1 (b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise
restraint and caution during
observation, photography, sound recording, or filming.
Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never
use such methods in
heavily birded areas. or for attracting any species that is Threatened,
Endangered, or of Special
Concern, or is rare in your local area.
Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and
important feeding
sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is need for extended observation,
photography, filming, or
recording, try to use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for
close-ups.
1 (c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential
for disturbance of the
bird, its surroundings, and other people in the area, and proceed only if
access can be controlled,
disturbance minimized, and permission has been obtained from private
land-owners. The sites of
rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation
authorities.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, paths where they exist; otherwise keep the
habitat disturbance to a
minimum.
2. Respect the law and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads an
public areas, both at home
and abroad.
2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary
behavior will
generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird
environments are safe.
3(a) Keep dispensers, water, and food clean and free of decay or disease. It
is important to feed
birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c) If you rare attracting birds to an area, ensure that birds are not
exposed to predation from
cats and other domestic animals, or dangers posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in
Items #1 and #2,
has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a) Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as
people participating in
other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely share your knowledge and
experience, except where
code 1 (c) applies.
4(b) If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and
intervene if you think it is
prudent. When interceding, inform the person(s) of the inappropriate action,
and attempt, within
reason, to have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and
notify appropriate
individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word
and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment and does
not interfere with
others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f) Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to
the areas being visited
(e.g., no tape recorders allowed).
4(g) Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special
responsibility to place the
welfare of birds and the benefits of public knowledge ahead of the company's
commercial
interests. Ideally, leaders should keep track of tour sightings, document
unusual occurrences, and
submit records to appropriate organization.
Martyn
****************************************
Martyn Stewart
Bird and Animal Sounds Digitally Recorded at:
http://www.naturesound.org <http://www.naturesound.org/>
Redmond. Washington. USA
N47.65543 W121.98428
e-mail:
Tel: 425-898-0462
Make every Garden a wildlife Habitat!
*****************************************
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
|