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intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, infor --bcaec51ddc6990e62a04d276db4e Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable It may be as simple as asking the property owner for permission to go birding, if the owner of the property can be readily identified. Helene On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 9:47 AM, John Kearney <john.kearney@ns.sympatico.ca>wrote: > Hi All,**** > > Dave=92s posting motivated me to check something I=92ve been meaning to d= o. > Having recently moved to northern Colchester County, I=92ve been dismayed= by > the great number of no trespassing signs in potential birding areas. I wa= s > hoping that Dave was correct in his assessment of No Trespassing signs. > However, having now checked Nova Scotia=92s Act to Protect Property, I fo= und > in Section 3(1) that it an offense subject to a fine of not more than $50= 0 > dollars to enter premises where entry is prohibited by notice. The violat= or > can also held in custody in order to establish identity or to prevent > repetition of the offense. Perhaps we have a lawyer in our group to confi= rm > or clarify my interpretation of the law.**** > > John**** > > Waughs River, Colchester County**** > > ** ** > > *From:* naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto: > naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] *On Behalf Of *David & Alison Webster > *Sent:* January 3, 2013 21:31 > *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca > *Subject:* Re: [NatureNS] Principles of Birding Ethics**** > > ** ** > > Hi All, Jan 3, 2013**** > > This is now ancient history but I did not have time earlier to > comment. One can not quibble with the spirit of these guidelines but two > passages (1(d) and 2(a), copied below) caught my eye because the wording > is vague and there is one omission, perhaps because it was considered > obviously wrong; littering.**** > > **** > > Roads, trails and paths do not exist in the negative space between > roads, trails or paths, so 1(d) seems to say 'go anywhere but avoid habit= at > disturbance'. This seems reasonable because much interesting habitat does > not lend itself to travel ways but I am left wondering what the true inte= nt > of passage 1(d) is. **** > > **** > > Passage 2(a) seems reasonable if private property means residential > yards and farmland during the growing or harvest season. But there is no > reason to ask for permission to enter woodland even if it is posted with = No > Trespassing signs. They are usually there to protect the owner from being > sued, if someone trips on a rock or to keep out known vandals. Hikers > (including birders) will eventually learn who owns the land and tend to > report property destruction to the owner.**** > > **** > > Farmers and woodland owners may experience problems that approach 10, > on a scale of 0 to 10, where birdwatchers would nearly always rate > somewhere between -1 and 0; e.g. dumping, theft, damage to crops or > equipment and, in general, the landowner just has to eat this; the police > and courts usually being utterly useless. **** > > **** > > **** > > *1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep > habitat disturbance to a minimum.** > 2. Respect the law, and the rights of others. > 2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permissio= n. > ***** > > Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville**** > > ----- Original Message ----- **** > > *From:* Hans Toom <htoom@hfx.eastlink.ca> **** > > *To:* naturens@chebucto.ns.ca **** > > *Sent:* Tuesday, December 04, 2012 6:53 PM**** > > *Subject:* [NatureNS] Principles of Birding Ethics**** > > ** ** > > Hi all,**** > > **** > > I hope this is not offensive to anyone but from time to time I think we > all need to be reminded of the Principles of Birding Ethics. The followin= g > set of principles is from the American Birding Association but most birdi= ng > groups have similar guidelines.**** > > **** > > I have witnessed entire colonies of nesting birds put to wing and young > and flightless birds photographed in hand. I have also experienced > binoculars staring about in my back yard as I rise from my bed on a Sunda= y > morning, without notice or warning. On some of our lists I've even been > given lessons on how to trespass and bypass security.**** > > **** > > This is unacceptable in my opinion and clearly a violation of the > following Principles of Birding Ethics.**** > > **** > > Hans > > *PRINCIPLES OF BIRDING ETHICS** > Everyone who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its > environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest betwee= n > birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their environment comes > first. > Code of Birding Ethics > 1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment. > 1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat. > 1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise > restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, o= r > filming. > Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and > never use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any > species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare > in your local area; > Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, an= d > important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need for > extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to use a > blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover. > Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for > close-ups. > 1(c) Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the > potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people > in the area, and proceed only if access can be controlled, disturbance > minimized, and permission has been obtained from private land-owners. The > sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper > conservation authorities. > 1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep > habitat disturbance to a minimum. > 2. Respect the law, and the rights of others. > 2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permissio= n. > 2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and > public areas, both at home and abroad. > 2(c) Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your > exemplary behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders > alike. > 3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other arti