Carl, probably worth pointing out the Bar-tailed Godwits that were flagged and
had transmitters a few years back made the migration from Alaska to New Zealand
in one hop. Doesn't sound like a bird struggling to migrate to me. The data was
available publicly online as it came in, so no chance of tampering. Godwit E7
was seen for several years in a row at many different sites in New Zealand
proving they do move round and are not necessarily site specific. A small
example but at least it is hard data.
Personally I will wait til I see solid evidence that flagging is detrimental to
birds before getting up in arms about it. I also am yet to see a flagged bird
struggling despite having seen many hundreds carrying leg flags.
Regards,
Chris
Sent from my iPhone
On 30/03/2011, at 10:00, Carl Clifford <> wrote:
> Ian,
>
> Should satellite tracking be banned as well?. Surely the capturing and
> application of a tracking device is equally traumatic to the birds, as is the
> capture and banding of them.
>
> Carl Clifford
>
> On 30/03/2011, at 10:33 AM, Ian May wrote:
>
> Hello again
>
> Adverse impacts on affected waders from the scourge of leg flagging should
> not be underestimated. Very few leg flagged birds ever make it past their
> next migration. The surviving re-trapped birds are few and usually referred
> to by banders as examples to demonstrate success, rarely questioning the
> disappearance of the vast majority that have probably perished as a direct
> impact of their leg flags.
>
> When Banders are asked why we rarely see flagged waders returning after
> migration, excuses such as “the birds are non site faithful” or, “the birds
> return to remote areas where monitoring is difficult” is a common but
> pathetic response. It needs to be recognised that wader leg flagging has
> been a major threatening process, contributing significantly to declines of
> Curlew Sandpiper, Red Knot and Sanderling populations in Australia. It is a
> devastating process to inflict on any small wader.
>
> The 2020 Wader Conservation Project
>
> Wader conservation projects based on field observation, counts, behaviour
> study, photography and habitat protection etc. should be strongly supported.
> These projects provide the information that is now required for effective
> wader and habitat conservation. But projects based on destructive processes
> such as leg flagging, canon netting etc should be scrapped; otherwise the
> 2020 shorebird program is just another public funded rort for banders and
> will do more harm than good for the conservation of these vulnerable birds.
>
> Notification of Banding Operations
>
> The benefits of announcing planned banding operations in a local region would
> alert other interested observers to consult and comment about projects, watch
> out for flagged birds and independently to assess impacts. The announcements
> could be via birding-aus or Eremea National
>
> Leg Flaggers are actively targeting rare and threatened species. However leg
> flagging waders is now little more than an intrinsic hobby beyond its “use
> by” date.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
> Ian May
> St Helens, Tasmania
>
>
> Ian May wrote:
>> g'Day all
>> An uncomfortable subject
>> It saddens me to report that in Tasmania this morning, I observed a number
>> of “small waders” recently leg flagged. The birds were struggling about in
>> moderate winds, hobbled by what appeared to be fresh looking manacles.
>> These birds were in areas where in previous years, apart from an occasional
>> flagged stint it has been unusual to see flagged waders. The birds seen
>> today appeared to be struggling in only moderate conditions and if this is an
>> example of 2020 Shorebird conservation, current programs needs to
>> questioned, reviewed and modified urgently.
>> Can anyone inform us of the details, if they know of any recent wader leg
>> flagging in Tasmania? Although I would like to see it banned, in the mean
>> time it should be a requirement of leg flaggers to notify the community in
>> advance of planned banding operations. Specifically the public should be
>> notified when and where, the targeted species and by whom a leg flagging
>> operation is planned. Something similar to the requirement to notify the
>> public when a forest burning operation is planned.
>> Also, can any one inform us how the decision is made by banders to apply
>> multiple flags on a particular bird.
>> Regards
>> Ian May
>> St Helens, Tasmania
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