Following on from David Geering and Vicki Powys comments, I'd like to
encourage some discussion on this topic.
It isn't something I know much about. I've got all the BOC tapes, and I find
them a useful aid for cross-checking calls I've heard, or for preparing for
a trip into unfamiliar territory. But I've got mixed feelings about the idea
of using tapes or mp3s in attempt to get a better view of a bird, or a call
in response.
I don't want to be critical of anyone who has done this, I'd just like to
learn a little more about what we think really happens when a bird hears a
taped call.
The following options occur to me - in no particular order:
Does a male bird think along the lines of "Here's a challenger, I'll go and
see him off"?
or "Damn, I thought there was a space here, now I'm being warned off"?
or does a female think "That sounds good, I'll check it out"?
or "Well, I was getting on all right with this local fellow, but I like the
sound of the new one"?
Could a taped call in the breeding season cause a male who has established a
territory and progressed a fair way down the courtship path to backtrack and
focus his attention on finding the newcomer?
In other words, is the taped call equally likely to cause mild interest, or
to create a hiccup in an on track courtship?
And if we're just talking about playing a call to get a distant Black-eared
Cuckoo to come closer, do we really know if the bird is more likely to come
in, or to go off somewhere else?
I'm sure there are many other interpretations than these few.
All of the above questions relate to the supposed occasional spontaneous use
of a tape. One hears of locations where tapes are often used to attract
forest species to show themselves. Is this a good or a bad thing?
It occurs to me that if we can't be definitive, it might be better not to do
it at all.
All opinions would be very welcome.
Bill Jolly
"Abberton",
Lockyer Valley, Queensland.
Visit our website at http://www.abberton.org
Email:
Ph: (+61) 7 4697 6111 Fax: (+61) 7 4697 6056
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
