Beautifully put Chris,
And thank you Alice Springs birders for all putting your names up to help us
coastal folk.
I look forward to making good use of this email in the future :)
All the best,
Ed
Ed Williams
Kingsville, VIC
On 18/06/2013, at 6:39 PM, "Christopher Watson" <> wrote:
> G'day birders,
>
> [Before I get into the rest of this post, for those keeping track, the
> Forest Wagtail is still being seen although slightly less frequently.]
>
> In the spirit of give and take, I'd like to offer you something at the same
> time as making two small requests.
>
> Firstly, with Adelaide birders recently losing access to some of their
> premier shorebird sites (the salt works), it seems like a good time to ask
> anyone visiting commercial or industrial sites such as salt works or sewage
> treatment plants, to consider the local birding community that your
> behaviour might impact upon.
>
> A few recent events in Alice Springs, none involving local birders, have
> strained the relationship between the local water authority and the birding
> community. There seem to be some birders who possess an irrational sense of
> entitlement to access at these sites.
>
> Recently, one visiting birder took the incomprehensible step of approaching
> the media and, in their own words, kicking up a fuss until access could be
> arranged - http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/05/30/3771198.htm. The
> most likely outcome of this approach is that management at the water
> authority will decide that providing birding access is an unjustifiable
> drain on resources, generates nothing but bad publicity and will lock
> birders out for good. This would be a tragedy for local birders, future
> visitors, and the regular shorebird monitoring that is conducted at the
> ponds. You may not intend to visit Alice Springs again, but the bridges you
> are burning here are other peoples', not your own.
>
> Ideally, it'd be better to build the relationship with sewage facility
> operators to the point that there is good publicity or recognition for
> them, rather than having them see birders as only a source of difficulties
> and negativity; this is how it stands now. These organisations are under no
> obligation to permit birdwatching access, we're a drain on their resources,
> we're a source of negative interactions with their staff, we're a potential
> liability to their operations, and in many cases we provide nothing in
> return. Birders are a burden and a liability for what is otherwise a fairly
> straightforward industrial business - why would they persevere with this
> relationship if all we do is make it harder for them?
>
> It falls to us to show them appreciation rather than aggravation, and make
> sure that they see maintaining a relationship with the birding community as
> a worthwhile effort to commit resources to.
>
> So my second request is this; when you visit a sewage treatment plant,
> private wetland, salt works, mine-site or any other such spot for birding,
> find out the manager(s) of the organisation responsible for its running,
> and write them a letter of thanks. Write a letter, write an email, put a
> nice message or photo on their Twitter feed or their Facebook page - if
> possible do all of these things. Let them know how much you enjoyed your
> visit, tell them about rare or interesting birds you saw, even if you think
> they couldn't care less. Let their managers read* fan mail* instead of *hate
> mail*. Tell them how much you value being able to visit such sites, and how
> much potential their site has to contribute to science through shorebird
> surveys and water bird monitoring. Make sure you acknowledge them in any
> publications or newsletters you put together resulting from observations at
> their facility. Whether it's your local patch, or whether you're visiting a
> facility interstate, just take two minutes to thank the group that
> maintains the birding access. If you're a traveler, you could have a
> "thank-you" email template saved on your laptop ready to go whenever you
> visit a new spot. It doesn't take much, but it makes a world of difference
> to the people who run these places to have incoming kudos rather than a
> daily barrage of disparaging quibbles about inductions, keys, vehicle
> access restrictions, and safety requirements.
>
> ...and here's what I offer in return. Many members of the Alice Springs
> birding community have kindly put their hands up to have their contact
> details listed, should you ever visit Alice Springs and be interested in
> accessing the ponds. The list that follows is not a list of guides, and
> neither is it a list of people who can provide you with a key or access to
> the ponds, but they can assist you in your dealings with Power and Water
> Corporation, and may be able to provide a very simple answer to a question
> that might take some time to find on the PWC website. You still need to
> organise your induction *well in advance* of your visit, and you still need
> to lodge your indemnity form before getting a key - but if you have any
> difficulties or questions, if there are any hitches or delays, don't get
> angry, keep your hair on, and ring or email one of us!
>
> Print this out, stick it in your field guide or binocular case, bung it in
> your glove box or tape it to your thermos. Email it to your mates, print it
> in your newsletter, and spread it as far as you can. The Alice Springs
> birding mob are a pretty friendly lot, and we're always happy to be
> contacted by visitors who need advice on sewage ponds access especially if
> it avoids any potential angst with Power & Water. We're just trying to hang
> on to the access privileges as they stand.
>
> Also, between us all, we know a thing or two about the local birds. So here
> it is;
>
> Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club - website
> http://www.alicefieldnaturalists.org.au/
> It's a good idea to check this site BEFORE you head up to Alice. A bunch of
> active birders are members, and the website is being rebuilt to include
> some up to date bird info. The club meets on the second Wednesday of each
> month at 7pm on the campus of Charles Darwin University and visitors are
> encouraged to come along.
>
> Birds Central - website
> http://comebirdwatching.blogspot.com.au/p/poo-ponds-page.html
> This is my website and I have linked here to the page that deals
> specifically with the sewage ponds. It took me a lot of time - please read
> it... before you come. Don't discover that it exists after you arrive.
>
> Desertlife - website
> http://desertlife.com.au/
> Mark Carter's website containing his contact details as well as bird and
> other wildlife news.
>
> Richard Waring's Birds of Australia - website
> http://rwsboa2011.blogspot.com.au/
> Despite the title, Richard is a local resident so much of his birding is
> done around Central Australia. Richard updates his blog quite regularly and
> he travels widely, so checking his site will give you a good idea of what's
> about.
>
> Barb Gilfedder - Seasoned local birder and president of the Alice Springs
> Field Naturalists Club
> Email -
>
> Pete Nunn - brilliant photographer and a keen bird observer and researcher.
> Email -
>
> Anthony Molyneux - Expert arid zone zoologist and desert expeditioner.
> Email -
>
> Mark Carter - Doyen of desert birders and professional zoologist resident
> (mostly) in Alice Springs.
> Email -
>
> Chris Pavey - Senior scientist and walking Centralian birdpedia.
> Mobile - 0435 878 320
> Email -
>
> Richard Waring - Local bird photographer extraordinaire, and constantly
> traveling wilbury.
> Mobile - 0457 057 869
> Email -
>
> Andrew Crouch - Local birder and active field nats member, Andrew is only
> contactable on weekends.
> Email -
>
> Will Cormack - Elder statesman of Alice Springs birding, keeper of the
> longest running record of observations at the Alice Springs ponds, and
> venerated custodian of "The" Forest Wagtail.
> Email -
> Website - http://www.nthabacottage.com.au/
>
> Chris Watson - Ratbag, pompous git, can't tell a thornbill from a
> fairy-wren.
> Mobile - 0419 358 942
> Email -
>
> So there you go, if you're having trouble working out how to plan your
> birding at the Alice ponds and one of the above people or sites can't help
> out, I'll eat my hat. If you're headed up our way, organise your induction
> well in advance, and get in touch if you hit any snags.
>
> Thanks and happy birding,
>
> Chris Watson (in consultation with the above-named.)
> --
> *BIRDS CENTRAL AUSTRALIA*
> *Central Australian birding resource*
> *Guiding, tips, and site information **from Alice Springs*
> www.comebirdwatching.blogspot.com
> *Mob - 0419 358 942*
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