I take some exception to Julian's posting, and particularly to the
way the topic has since strayed into the Qld floods but the subject
has not been changed.
1. It is TWITCHING. Pure and simple. But there is nothing wrong with that.
2. There is no DIRECT connection between twitching and conservation.
I doubt think anybody has seriously said there was? But for me it
was my 6th trip to Christmas Island and 3rd to Cocos. Most of the
others have been there similarly or even more often. I have seen
changes. White-breasted Waterhen has exploded on Cocos. I know
people who have suggested that White-breasted Waterhens should be
culled as they may become a threat to the North Keeling race of
Buff-banded Rail. This is worthy of debate. I don't have a position
on this, and I am happy to listen to more discussion. The Christmas
Island (Variable) Goshawk seems to be becoming scarcer (on very
limited data). Certainly worthy of investigation. David James
worked on Christmas Island for 3+ years and wrote the biodiversity
report for the island (not just birds). Ian McAllan is publishing
the bird summaries for Christmas Island and for Cocos Islands which
would be an important source of knowledge for conservation. It may
be governments that actually determine whether conservation happens,
but they need to be pushed, and they need data before they
act. Analysis of the vagrants can determine where they come from,
and under what circumstances and may become evidence of climate
change or some other factor. The recent trip found a harrier and the
European Roller which have either come from India or possibly even
Africa. And birding tourism helps to add economic value to the
natural environment values, and may help to put more pressure on the
agencies to take more interest in conservation.
3. Noone has ever suggested that a government would drop everything
to protect a vagrant. That is pure fantasy, and was not worthy of
inclusion in Julian's post.
4. Again linking twitchers and people who visit Christmas / Cocos to
volunteer work is irrelevant to the topic, as the two activities are
not mutually exclusive, and again these comments are not worthy of
inclusion in Julian's post. Are you suggesting that twitchers don't
volunteer? I know Colin Shields and he certainly would object to his
name being used to support that argument.
5. And it wasn't part of Julian's post, but to link visiting Cocos /
Christmas and twitching to donating to the Qld flood appeal is very
offensive. They are not mutually exclusive, and the comments are
unworthy of the contributors who usually are very sensible in their
posts to birding-aus.
6. It has not been stated explicitly, but I get the impression from
the posts that some uninformed people seem to think that twitchers
are only interested in the rarities, and dismiss the other species.
Sure, we only report the rarities, but we observe and take interest
in all the birds. We tend not to report the expected species because
they are expected, although Mike Carter in particular always gives a
complete summary for his trips.
Finally, I (and everyone I hope) agree with Julian that our pastime
is each to his/her own. And therefore you should not pass judgement
on what others choose to do, unless they directly have a negative
impact on the birds.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
===============================
|
