Fair point Peter,
And I am only reacting to the advice of others.
However if the incident gives us all pause to consider appropriate birding
ethics then I'll "maintain the rage". Some thoughs without wishing to prolong
the agony:
In my youth it was disgust at top photographers clearing around nests to get a
good shot and being surprised when the Butcherbird came over their shoulder and
snatched the nestlings out of the nest without a pause. Birding NSW eventually
disallowed "bird at nest" from photographic competitions in recognition of the
danger.
"Examination of contents" was common as opportunities for photography were best
at a nest with fresh young. The rate of nest desertion in small passerines was
alarming after this procedure, convincing me that our smell can easily linger
and alarm birds, It probably also attracts predators that are also able to
observe human activity carefully.
If this site was near a rest area you could almost guarantee the presence of
Bitcherbird, Raven or Kookaburra thoroughly relaxed about humans, monitoring
their activity and waituing for a morsel to appear. You'd have to be pretty raw
not to expect someone to be watching the birders watching! As a colleague on
this post said, that's what bins are for.
Recently I came across a "name birder" and guide driving a Noisy Pitta into an
absolute frenzy with high volume playback to get a sighting for clients. The
poor bird was zooming around in the treetops much to my astonishment - very
typical behaviour for a Pitta (not). Still I suppose it created a tick and
justified the fee. Did I object on the day as I passed? No and I feel a bit
guilty about that.
The success of our hobby/passion/occupation. the speed of communication and the
increasing professional involvement from guides etc (which I applaud)
necessarily requires us all to expect, nay demand appropriate behaviour.
If Keith's suggestion needs to be invoked then so be it.
Graeme Stevens
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Painted Finch> Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:20:20
> +1000> From: > To: ;
> > CC: > > Do we know that
> these people "examined the contents" in an invasive way?> It appears they
> knew there were chicks, but perhaps they could see their> heads, or only
> heard them, or just saw the parents bringing food. And> once the chicks start
> making a bit of noise, isn't that the most likely> time for a predator to
> find them? It could easily be just a coincidence> that they were there when
> it happened.> > And 40m sounds close, but it isn't exactly on top of them.> >
> I'm not saying these people did or didn't cause the problem, only that> it
> isn't a certainty.> > Peter Shute > > >
> wrote on Friday, 19 September 2008> 1:42 PM:> > > I absolutely agree Keith -
> naming and shaming is important> > particularly if it was an organised tour
> group. People need> > to know who NOT to patronise in future.> > Very sad
> incident overall and I thought we were past that> > type of behaviour given
> the ethics work through the Bird> > Clubs and general enlightenment!> >
> Examing contents! --- yee gods -- dont people understand the> > increased
> risk of desertion and predation!> > Just appalling> > Graeme Stevens> From:
> > To:> > > Date: Thu, 18 Sep
> 2008 20:09:11> > +1000> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Painted Finch> > Hello> >
> everyone, I don't think anyone should be reporting where any> > bird is
> nesting on this forum. Not only does it go against> > the ethics of most bird
> clubs I would think it also allows> > the sort of behaviour we have
> wittinesses at this site. If> > you are going to report a nest site you
> should not give out> > the exact details on this forum full stop. The birders
> who> > were camped close to the nest site as reported should be> > named and
> shamed in my opinion.> > > keith b the beautiful> > Hawkesbury 60km N/W of
> Sydney> ==========www.birding-aus.org>> > birding-aus.blogspot.com> > To
> unsubscribe from this mailing> > list, > send the message:> unsubscribe > (in
> the body of the> > message, with no Subject line)> to:> >
> >> >
> ====================www.birding-aus.org> > birding-aus.blogspot.com> > > > To
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