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Thank you, Eric for distributing this in Nova Scotia and to you, Todd for
writing up these important concerns.
John
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From: NS-RBA@yahoogroups.com <NS-RBA@yahoogroups.com> On Behalf Of Eric
Mills E.Mills@Dal.Ca [NS-RBA]
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2018 10:01
To: NSRBA <ns-rba@yahoogroups.com>; Nature NS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Subject: [NS-RBA] Fw: The Ethical Birder
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Worth distributing more widely, I think.
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Eric
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From: NatureNB <NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA <mailto:NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA> >
on behalf of Todd Watts <buteobuz@GMAIL.COM <mailto:buteobuz@GMAIL.COM> >
Sent: March 7, 2018 9:03 AM
To: NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA <mailto:NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA>=20
Subject: The Ethical Birder=20
=20
In the twenty-first century, we are aware of the innumerable threats
to the planet.. Climate change is beginning to reshape the world, pesticides
as well as other pollutants can be found in the most remote and seemingly
pristine areas, habitat loss threatens countless species of flora and fauna
and human numbers continue to grow at alarming rates. Seabirds populations
have been reduced by approximately 70% since 1950, aerial insectivores
losses are around 10% per year, many once common species are becoming
increasingly uncommon, if not rare. With all this news, which is based on
very solid peer reviewed science, one would think that people as a whole and
certainly naturalists, would change their ways.
The well educated naturalist/birder has many things to consider
these days. Will our love for birds cause us to do more harm than good? If
we drive countless miles in search of list birds, are we hypocritical to
demand something be done about climate change? How far is too far to drive
in a day? How close is too close when photographing birds? Is feeding birds
ok? Will my use of playbacks be too disruptive? There are many questions we
might ask ourselves or others.
Let=92s examine these issues one at a time.
Chasing birds - This activity has a very heavy carbon footprint. Some
birders travel immense distances just to add a single species to a list.=20
Photographing birds - Nearly all of us have seen birders and photographers
get too close to birds. Sometimes flushing a bird is due to a simple
miscalculation. However, sometimes it is not. Unethical behaviour is quite
common with photographers getting too close to birds in an attempt to get a
better shot. If a bird is flushed, it is likely time to back off and/or
change ones approach. This is true for those of us with a camera or without.
Playbacks/mobbing calls - Use of mobbing calls has become quite common in
NB. Opinions on their use vary. Some claim they should never be used. Others
feel that their use is generally OK outside of breeding season or outside of
popular birding areas. For most of us, it is a judgement call. However,
there is no doubt that playbacks of any type can be disruptive during
breeding season. Anyone using them around breeding birds should have a very
good reason for their use (like taking part in an official study).
Feeding birds - This activity is likely pretty benign in general. However,
disease can be spread at feeders and the production of bird food does have a
footprint of its own. On an overpopulated planet, everything we do has
potential to be harmful in some way.
So, what is a birder to do? One suggestion is to think about all of
these things every time we leave our homes, start up our cars or reach for
our gadgets. We can enjoy nature without destroying it. The information
gathered by amateur birders is extremely valuable. Many of us have taken
part in backyard bird counts, breeding bird surveys, migration counts and
more. Some of us have discovered unknown bird populations, previously
unknown concentration points, and of coarse numerous vagrants.=20
For me, I can=92t help but think about my footprint on the earth,
whenever I plan a trip. That is why I am generally not seen at rare bird
stakeouts or out chasing individual birds. I find these activities to be way
too consumptive. Instead, I tend to search for the interesting birds near my
home. Or if I do venture far, I try to spend significant periods of time
there, pick up goods along the way and/or fill my vehicle with other birders
in an attempt to lower our collective footprint. In doing this I have missed
out on seeing some rarities. However, I have found a fair number of my own
and have made other discovers of importance (i.e. hawk migration
concentration points).
There are still many discoveries we can make. As the climate
changes, unusual phenomenon could become more common. Sea-ice is being
reduced allowing sea- birds to cross from the Pacific to the Atlantic Basin.
Storm strengths are increasing which will leave more displaced birds far
from their normal ranges. Breeding and wintering ranges are moving north.
There are so many things to discover and document.=20
It is my hope that all of us will be open to learning about the
state of the world and how we contribute to it.
For the birds,
Todd Watts
Bocabec, NB
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Posted by: Eric Mills <E.Mills@Dal.Ca <mailto:E.Mills@Dal.Ca> >=20
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