birding-aus

Chatting while bird watching in a group

To: "Tony Russell" <>, "Carl Clifford" <>
Subject: Chatting while bird watching in a group
From: "" <>
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:08:36 +1000
Hi all,
I cannot see a problem with babbling while watching babblers, chatting while 
looking at chats, larking while spotting larks or even being a drongo while 
viewing drongos :-D

As long as you get out of it what you want, everybody wants something 
different....

Yours in all things "green"

John Harris
Croydon, Vic
Owner - Wildlife Experiences
Ecologist/Zoologist
Nature Photographer
Wildlife Guide

0409090955

President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
(www.fncv.org.au)

----- Reply message -----
From: "Tony Russell" <>
To: "'Carl Clifford'" <>
Cc: <>
Subject: Chatting while bird watching in a group
Date: Fri, Jul 12, 2013 10:56


Yep, me too Carl.  But this does often limit social interaction which at
other times may be desirable for some folk.  I prefer a clear distinction
between birding and socializing - for me, ne'er the twain should meet, not
on outings anyway.

-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Clifford  
Sent: Friday, 12 July 2013 9:59 AM
To: Tony Russell
Cc: Alan Gillanders; Allan Richardson; Philip Veerman;

Subject: Chatting while bird watching in a group

The seemingly endless chatter that goes on among birders in groups, is the
main reason why I no longer go out birding with groups. I only go birding by
myself or with one or two others that I know that can keep shtum.

Carl Clifford

On 12/07/2013, at 8:57, "Tony Russell" <> wrote:

> Whenever I go out birding with a talkative group I always find myself 
> becoming impatient with their chatter and move out ahead of them.  
> Their chatting is often nothing to do with birds or birding, just 
> social, family or kitchen table stuff. No amount of shushing seems to 
> have any effect - I often wonder why they have bothered coming out 
> because they tend to miss lots of birds anyway even if they do quiet 
> down briefly, the birds having moved on.  Such chatting should be reserved
for bird call time.
> 
> Grumpy old Tony.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: 
>  On Behalf Of Alan 
> Gillanders
> Sent: Thursday, 11 July 2013 3:54 PM
> To: Allan Richardson; Philip Veerman
> Cc: 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Chatting while bird watching in a group
> 
> G'day Allan,
> I have a Golden Bowerbird which responds positively to my voice
(sometimes).
> 
> I do not feed this bird or offer him any enticements. One time when I 
> approached the bower there was a group already there who informed me 
> that the bird was not around. I new better as I had heard him quietly 
> doing his not very good Crimson Rosella imitations. I got everyone set 
> up around the bower at a distance which would not upset the bird and 
> spoke loudly, "Good morning handsome." He came down to a nearby 
> sapling before heading over to his favourite perch from which to watch his
bower. All had good looks.
> 
> On reflection it might have been, "G'day Stupid." It is not only this 
> bird which is somewhat disturbed.
> 
> Regards,
> Alan
> 
> 
> Alan's Wildlife Tours
> 2 Mather Road
> Yungaburra 4884
> 
> Phone 07 4095 3784
> Mobile 0408 953 786
> http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au/
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Allan Richardson
> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2013 4:02 PM
> To: Philip Veerman
> Cc: 
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Chatting while bird watching in a group
> 
> Hi Phil,
> 
> I reckon the chatting would mean your list for the day would be lower, 
> not because of flushing birds (unless someone is unduly loud), but 
> because of missing birds while your mind isn't on the job at hand.
> 
> Nevertheless - birds do have a way of being obvious sometimes when 
> folk are relaxed.
> 
> Allan Richardson
> Morisset NSW
> 
> On 11/07/2013, at 3:17 PM, Philip Veerman wrote:
> 
>> Peter wrote: "I'm also wondering if making voice notes ever spooks
birds."
>> That struck me as amusing. Mainly because my formative birding years 
>> were as a young teenager with the BOCA in the early 1970s. I recall 
>> many loud chatterings among excited people looking at birds. Amusing 
>> chat of people talking not just amongst but to themselves. Social 
>> groups are still like that. Surely Peter has also been with a group 
>> of birders looking at birds and discussing what it is - or discussing 
>> the weather or football or anything else. And been able to see the 
>> reaction. Then again it is hard to know if people talking is what 
>> would make a bird move away. Yes of course for some birds quietness 
>> helps but I doubt that one person discretely talking into a machine 
>> held a few cm from their face is a problem.
>> 
>> But thanks to Peter for adding a subject line........
>> 
>> Philip
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----From: 
>> 
>>  On Behalf Of Peter 
>> Shute
>> Sent: Thursday, 11 July 2013 3:35 AM To: Carl Clifford Cc:
>> <> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Recorders for 
>> note taking - was (no subject)
>> 
>> 
>> Has anyone tried these small recorders in the wind? It would be 
>> disappointing if you couldn't hear your notes later because of wind 
>> rumble.
>> 
>> I'm also wondering if making voice notes ever spooks birds.
>> 
>> Peter Shute
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>> 
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