Dear all,
The effect is not always limited to birders, as someone who routinely catches
birds in relatively public places I've often been 'bailed up' by over
enthusiastic authorities. You have to commend them for having the right
intentions, however I do wonder if much is achieved.
For example, at the Western Treatment Plant, Werribee I was banding a brown
falcon on the road that leads to the naval depot. With bird in one hand I was
expected to produce all of my permits 'immediately!' Needless to say I waited
until the bird was sorted and released before digging out all of the paperwork.
After a quick look he nodded and was on his way, but I had to I wonder if he
really did know what permits I actually needed to do what I was doing. Still,
good that someone checks I suppose.
As part of OHS here at Macquarie I am required to put signs near nets etc
'warning' the public. Whilst sorely tempted to use the phrase 'Warning -
Ornithologist at large', I had to settle for 'Fieldwork in action' or something
equally benign.
Cheers,
Paul
On 29/03/2010, at 2:22 PM, Bill Stent wrote:
> Yes, although I suspect that asking the cop to explain which particular law
> you're in breach of may not have the calming effect you're after...
>
> Bill
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "david taylor" <>
> Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 2:18 PM
> To: "Birding Aus" <>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] can hardly believe it
>
>> I always have wondered when the day will come when I am questioned by police
>> as a binocular/camera toting male. I am always very cautious about birding
>> near homes, schools etc and will generally avoid them. I always try to look
>> like a birder! This incident with the policeman does sound absurd though -
>> show me in the Queensland law code where a bird watcher has to identify him
>> or herself on the car!! I can see the bumper sticker now - CAUTION -
>> BIRDWATCHER ONBOARD! APPROACH WITH CARE! regards David Taylor
>>
>>
>> On 29/03/2010, at 1:04 PM, bob gosford wrote:
>>
>>> I feel a theme coming on - Birding as a dangerous occupation"
>>>
>>> thoughts, experiences etc - if we get enough I'll do a blog post on it over
>>> at The Northern Myth: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/
>>>
>>> On 29 March 2010 12:32, Stephen Ambrose <> wrote:
>>>
>>>> It's not just restricted to lone female birdwatchers. As an ecological
>>>> consultant, usually carrying binoculars, digital camera & notebook, and
>>>> wearing dark sunglasses, I'm often stopped and quizzed about what I'm doing
>>>> (sometimes by the police, often by other members of the public). The
>>>> frequency of these inquiries seems to have increased considerably since
>>>> 9/11
>>>> and the introduction of the "Be Alert But Not Alarmed" campaign.
>>>>
>>>> However, before you think it is a recent phenomenon, I remember when I was
>>>> a
>>>> student at uni (late 1970s/early '80s), a fellow zoology student arrived
>>>> back on campus after being physically attacked the night before. He had
>>>> been
>>>> out spotlighting for crickets and while crouched down among some bushes
>>>> with
>>>> his head torch on was whacked across the back with either a bar or plank of
>>>> wood (can't remember which one). Apparently, some farmer thought the guy
>>>> was
>>>> spying on the family farm from the roadside reserve. A case of "whack
>>>> first,
>>>> ask questions later"!
>>>>
>>>> Stephen Ambrose
>>>> Ambrose Ecological Services Pty Ltd
>>>> Ryde NSW
>>>>
>>>> ===============================
>>>> www.birding-aus.org
>>>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Robert Gosford
>>> Crikey.com
>>> The Northern Myth blog
>>> http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/
>>> Alice Springs, NT
>>> Australia
>>> Ph: (+61) 0447024968
>>> ===============================
>>> www.birding-aus.org
>>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>>>
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>>> send the message:
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>>> to:
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>>
>> David Taylor
>> Brisbane
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ==========www.birding-aus.org
>> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>>
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>
> ===============================
> www.birding-aus.org
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Paul G. McDonald
Department of Brain, Behaviour and Evolution
Macquarie University
Sydney, NSW 2109
Australia
Ph: +612 9850 1303 Fax: +612 9850 4299
http://sites.google.com/site/pgmcdonaldhome/
Publication list: http://publicationslist.org/paul.mcdonald
Thompson ISI Researcher ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/A-5928-2010
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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