Hi Steve
I agree with your comments and if I had the time would have jumped at the idea.
I guess it gets down to if you want to see the bird pay the money and if you
dont be prepared to wait a long time until you do see them (If your lucky).
Regarding the $450 price there would be a lot of hidden cost im sure apart from
the ones mentioned such as permit fees, petrol, guides daily rate. This money
hopefully is then spread amongst the others in the community so all can benefit.
Insurance to take people to this area and tourist class licence may be some
things people are forgetting.
I guess the other way of looking at it is that $450 dollars is a lot cheaper
than getting caught trespassing and having to pay a fine after legal action.
From earlier postings clearly some people have unfortunately done this and have
given birders a very bad name publicly.
Cheers Adrian Boyle
On 30/11/2010, at 1:48 PM, Steve wrote:
> Hello all. I know people are probably getting tired of this topic but some
> things have been said that are at best ill considered, and at worst, just
> plain rude. If you think $450.00 for a days guiding to see one of
> Australia's most difficult birds, then that's fine. But don't go making
> accusations about "Rip offs" and "profiteering" without knowing anything
> about how the fees have been constructed. First of all, the permit is not
> just "a piece of paper" allowing you to enter someone's land. It covers the
> costs involved in escorting you through that land. The indigenous owners
> have decreed that they don't want people wandering willy nilly through their
> property (gee I wonder why not?) The logistics of making this happen are
> not even remotely comparable with what happens in Thailand, so why even
> bring it up? Just remember there are huge distances involved here. People
> came from Alice Springs to co-ordinate this which is a four and half hour
> drive away, and petrol is expensive out there. Our indigenous guides camped
> out in the middle of nowhere to meet us on the morning of the viewing. Come
> on guys, there is more involved here than people realise. I don't know how
> the figure is arrived at myself, and yes, it was expensive for me too. But I
> wouldn't dream of calling it a rip off without knowing all the facts. And to
> criticise those that are prepared to pay the amount on the grounds that it
> encourages gouging.well, that's just beyond the pale.
>
> Steve Murray
>
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