I think this is a growing problem, and that there's no simple answer to it.=
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In the last few years, more and more people I know have demonstrated their =
ability to have a species call playing in seconds, usually to listen to, bu=
t occasionally to call in birds. Prior to that, I only met the occasional p=
erson prepared to lug around a set of tapes or CDs, and they had such diffi=
culty locating the right track that they usually didn't bother. Now, not on=
ly are tracks quick to find on the phone that so many people carry, they're=
a fraction of the price of the old CDs sets.=0D
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I suspect that while it's likely that overuse can cause problems, it's ok i=
n moderation, and that this is obvious enough to users of it that the sugge=
stions of bans will be met with derision.=0D
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The problem as I see it is that no single person can determine what exposur=
e a bird has had to playback. It's not enough for me to know that I only vi=
sit a site once a year and only ever use playback for one minute. I need to=
know how many others are doing it, and I can't know that, I can only guess=
. I fear that some people will interpret the fact that they have never seen=
anyone else at a particular site as an indication that it's rarely visited=
.=0D
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If we accept that complete bans will be ignored and unenforceable, is the o=
nly option to teach people how to use it intelligently and responsibly, and=
perhaps have local bans in some places? But will teaching people how to do=
it encourage so many more people to do it that it just makes the problem w=
orse? And if usage is spreading from birders to hunters, is the concept of =
responsible use valid any more?=0D
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Peter Shute=0D
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Sent from my iPad=0D
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On 4 Jan 2014, at 3:04 am, "<>" <ory=
<>> wrote:=0D
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The Wall St Journal has an article describing the increasing use of birdson=
g playback to lure birds into view.=0D
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http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230424490457927655135066=
7062=0D
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Smartphone apps that include recordings of birdsong are common and inexpens=
ive. Guides to birdsong used to be expensive, and published in CD format. =
Few birders went to the effort to copy the recorded material to a more por=
table form. Today, birding field guides are offered for smartphones and ta=
blets. This makes birdsong playback in the field a simple matter.=0D
=0D
Some authorities say frequent playback of birdsong can be detrimental to th=
e targeted bird species, particularly to rare species that occur in a limit=
ed area. Others say it's no problem. One professional birding guide I kno=
w says it's actually beneficial, since the male bird appears to vanquish th=
e mechanical intruder. But he works in remote areas in South America, wher=
e birds are rarely exposed to playback.=0D
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Your thoughts?=0D
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