Trevor Quested & Annie Young
Sydney, Australia
Phone +61 2 9955 6266
Fax + 61 2 9959 4005
Tony,
It is funny how birdwatchers see things so differently from each other. I
recently saw Plains Wanderer
north of Deniliquin and I found it one of the best birding experiences
ever. How do you go finding Plains Wanderers yourself? How would you
propose I find one?
Trevor
> Now, spotlighting to my mind falls into an entirely different category. I
> believe that this is a practice which definitely should be exercised with
> great caution. Many Ecotour operators use this method of finding birds
for
> paying clients who expect a result for their money. Many of you will have
no
> doubt witnessed how spotlighted birds become temporarily blinded by the
> light such that if they attempt to fly they are in serious danger of
flying
> into unseen tree branches, buildings, etc. Ground birds are in even
greater
> danger from the vehicles used by the birders. I once witnessed several
> confused Plains Wanderers in Southern NSW ( so we all know who I'm
talking
> about)frozen to the spot in the blinding glare of light, while the
vehicle
> made tight turns around them, not giving them any opportunity to
escape.The
> birders then got out of the vehicle and stood in a 5ft diameter circle to
> prevent escape for about 5mins. Goodness knows how many other PW's might
> have been run over in the process, and maybe the spotlighted ones were
the
> lucky ones! Admittedly not many keen birders would ever see a PW without
> this practice, but maybe that's the price we should be prepared to pay,
and
> just believe that they are out there even though we don't get to see
them.
> I am interested to hear other people's views on this.
>
> Tony Russell.
> Tony Russell
> Ph: 08 82078470W
> 08 83375959H
> Fax:08 82078422
> e mail:
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