How would US$150 compare to the average wage in Thailand?
Peter Shute
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> On Behalf Of Colin R
> Sent: Tuesday, 30 November 2010 8:47 AM
> To: 'Birds'
> Subject: RE: RE: [Birding-Aus] Princess Parrots
>
> Hi
>
> I'm with Tony and Chris on this one. I DO agree that the
> local indigenous population showing some interest as bird
> guides is a great step forward - who better to offer this
> service? But $450? Get real!
> That's sheer profiteering and won't win any long term support
> from the birding community - I hope. In fact its a real pity
> that some people are actually willing to pay that kind of
> money - it simply encourages this sort of behaviour and there
> will be no turning back. Lets put it into some sort of
> reality - to see Gurney's Pitta in Thailand one pays approx
> $150US - for a bird that is down to less than 30 pairs in
> that country (I may have the numbers wrong, but it is
> certainly much 'rarer' than a
> PP) and is notoriously hard to see anyway. There is no
> comparison. It is shameful that anyone, foreign visitor or
> 'local' is being ripped off at this price for the pleasure of birding.
>
> I would ask all of you considering going, to re-consider and
> reflect on the impact this may possibly have on any guiding
> or birding anywhere in Australia in the future - especially
> by the indigenous population. By all means encourage their
> involvement, but at a realistic price.
>
> Colin
>
> Brisbane.
>
>
>
> On Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:04 +1030, "Tony Russel" <>
> wrote:
> > I can't agree Tim. It's costly enough to even get there and back
> > without being slugged for entry once you get there - and
> who needs a
> > guide anyway ?
> > Far better to find them for yourself.
> >
> > Tony.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tim Dolby
> > Sent: Monday, 29 November 2010 4:48 PM
> > To: Tony Russell; Birds
> > Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] RE: [Birding-Aus] Princess Parrots
> >
> > I think you're being a little harsh Tony.
> >
> > I think the cost is reasonable for a chance to see such an
> iconic and
> > hard to find species. It was not that long ago that Mike Carter
> > resorted to drinking radiator water when his vehicle expired on the
> > Canning Stock Route as he went in search of Princess
> Parrot. There are
> > many species of birds that are best seen with the local
> assistance of
> > a guide / bird guide, with this cost not dissimilar from the costs
> > charged by birding tours.
> >
> > The money also provides valuable financial assistance to the
> > traditional land owners. Many conservation / birding organisations
> > recognize the importance of establishing positive
> relationships with
> > local and indigenous people. Creating sustainable
> livelihoods through
> > birdwatching tourism for indigenous people can have a real
> impact both
> > on the lives of the traditional land owners but also bird
> > conservation. A recent example of this is the Kakadu
> Birding Project
> > (see
> >
> http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/birds/kakadu-birding-project.html).
> > The development of Import Bird Area (IBA) works along similar
> > principles; recognizing that working with local people and
> traditional
> > land owners has a positive impact of local conservation.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Tim Dolby
> >
> > ________________________________________
> > From:
> >
> > on behalf of Tony Russell
> > Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 12:18 PM
> > To: Birds
> > Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Princess Parrots
> >
> > Thank you John for this report and congrats on finding the
> PPs. However:
> > I too thought about going but baulked at the excessive cost of a
> > permit required to enter the restricted areas. $450 for a piece of
> > paper which probably took a clerk about two minutes to make
> out is not
> > my idea of good value, no matter what tick is at stake. Someone is
> > ripping us off guys.
> >
> > I'll wait til the PPs appear on non restricted land - and if they
> > don't, well so be it, I'll go without.
> >
> > Tony
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> > On Behalf Of John Reidy
> > Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2010 10:00 AM
> > To: Birding-Aus
> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Princess Parrots
> >
> >
> > Hi all.
> >
> > Have just returned from a successful trip to see Princess
> Parrots near
> > King's Canyon NT. 5 of us (Allan Benson, Rob Benson, Alan Morris,
> > Margaret Reidy) booked through the Central Land Council. We met our
> > host
> >
> > from the CLC and three aborigines representing the
> traditional owner
> > and
> >
> > were led to a location off the Mereenie Loop road where the
> birds are
> > breeding. Initially it didn't look good as we were driving directly
> > into
> >
> > a very sinister looking storm front. It had started to rain solidly
> > before we arrived at the site and we had no choice but to
> get out and
> > search for the parrots. We were soaked to the skin, cold and a bit
> > despondent before our aboriginal representatives gave a yell and we
> > saw two birds in flight. These were rather poor views and
> we thought
> > that that might be it as the birds disappeared and there
> was no other
> > activity. But eventually we saw some more and after an hour
> or so the
> > weather eased up and we were eventually able to see the
> birds sitting
> > in
> >
> > full sunshine sitting on dead branches, giving some good
> photographic
> > opportunities.
> >
> > At this stage we were all ecstatic with the views we were
> getting. We
> > saw all up about 20 birds.
> >
> > We had travelled via Alice Springs where we hired a Nissan
> Patrol and
> > travelled south down the Stuart Highway and took the Ernest
> Giles dirt
> > road as a shortcut. We paid for this with a blow out. As it
> rained on
> > Thursday and Friday nights at Kings Canyon, we elected to return to
> > Alice via the bitumen which was a longer way around, but we
> did see a
> > pair of Bustards on the way.
> >
> > A word of warning, the Central Land Council is taking legal action
> > against some people that have trespassed on their land.
> >
> > Happy birding!
> >
> > --
> > John Reidy
> > Sydney
> > Phone 02 9871 4836
> > Fax 02 9871 2616
> >
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> --
> Colin Reid
>
> So many birds, so little time......
>
>
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