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[Fwd: Re: [Birding-Aus] can hardly believe it]

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Subject: [Fwd: Re: [Birding-Aus] can hardly believe it]
From: brian fleming <>
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:42:08 +1100
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To: david taylor <>
Subject: can hardly believe it
From: brian fleming <>
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:51:11 +1100
In the UK during World War II, birdwatchers were often considered very suspicious, particularly as the Norfolk coast was definitely a war zone. Camouflaged clothes, binoculars, out at ungodly hours of the morning on sea-walls and beaches!

My friend the late Ellen McCulloch told me that in her early birdwatching days a neighbour viewed her with great suspicion as a probable private detective (said neighbour was subsequently divorced.)

Seriously, if you need ID, what's wrong with putting a bird-club sticker on the rear window? - though some say this means your car will be broken into by thieves in hopes of scopes and cameras. Or you could carry a membership card from BOCA - don't know if Birds Australia issues them, but if not they should. My car stickers have led total strangers to approach me with queries and information, very kindly.

Mike Tyler told a story about being caught frog-hunting in a suburban garden by a suspicious house-holder and the police. He subsequently carried a paper signed by a senior policeman saying, "This is Mike Tyler, an expert on frogs. If he says he is frog-hunting on your property, he is." (quoted from memory).

Anthea Fleming


david taylor wrote:
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




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