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Worth distributing more widely, I think.
Eric
________________________________
From: NatureNB <NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA> on behalf of Todd Watts <buteobuz=
@GMAIL.COM>
Sent: March 7, 2018 9:03 AM
To: NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA
Subject: The Ethical Birder
In the twenty-first century, we are aware of the innumerable threat=
s to the planet. Climate change is beginning to reshape the world, pesticid=
es as well as other pollutants can be found in the most remote and seemingl=
y pristine areas, habitat loss threatens countless species of flora and fau=
na and human numbers continue to grow at alarming rates. Seabirds populatio=
ns have been reduced by approximately 70% since 1950, aerial insectivores l=
osses are around 10% per year, many once common species are becoming increa=
singly uncommon, if not rare. With all this news, which is based on very so=
lid peer reviewed science, one would think that people as a whole and certa=
inly naturalists, would change their ways.
The well educated naturalist/birder has many things to consider the=
se 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 deman=
d 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 mig=
ht ask ourselves or others.
Let=92s examine these issues one at a time.
Chasing birds - This activity has a very heavy carbon footprint. Some birde=
rs travel immense distances just to add a single species to a list.
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 miscal=
culation. However, sometimes it is not. Unethical behaviour is quite common=
with photographers getting too close to birds in an attempt to get a bette=
r shot. If a bird is flushed, it is likely time to back off and/or change o=
nes 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 N=
B. 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 breed=
ing 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 po=
tential 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 ga=
thered 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 co=
ncentration points, and of coarse numerous vagrants.
For me, I can=92t help but think about my footprint on the earth, w=
henever I plan a trip. That is why I am generally not seen at rare bird sta=
keouts or out chasing individual birds. I find these activities to be way t=
oo 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 t=
here, 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 miss=
ed out on seeing some rarities. However, I have found a fair number of my o=
wn and have made other discovers of importance (i.e. hawk migration concent=
ration points).
There are still many discoveries we can make. As the climate change=
s, unusual phenomenon could become more common. Sea-ice is being reduced al=
lowing sea- birds to cross from the Pacific to the Atlantic Basin. Storm st=
rengths are increasing which will leave more displaced birds far from their=
normal ranges. Breeding and wintering ranges are moving north. There are s=
o many things to discover and document.
It is my hope that all of us will be open to learning about the sta=
te of the world and how we contribute to it.
For the birds,
Todd Watts
Bocabec, NB
NatureNB guidelines http://users.xplornet.com/~maryspt/NNB/nnbe.html
NatureNB -- The Mailing List - Xplornet<http://users.xplornet.com/~maryspt/=
NNB/nnbe.html>
users.xplornet.com
NatureNB -- The Mailing List. fran=E7ais. The NatureNB list was created for=
people interested in the animal and plant life and natural features of New=
Brunswick.
Foire aux questions de NatureNB http://users.xplornet.com/~maryspt/NNB/nnb=
f.html
FAQ pour NatureNB - users.xplornet.com<http://users.xplornet.com/~maryspt/N=
NB/nnbf.html>
users.xplornet.com
Le groupe de discussion NatureNB. English. Ce groupe de discussion a =E9t=
=E9 cr=E9=E9 pour les personnes qui s'int=E9ressent =E0 la faune, =E0 la fl=
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<div id=3D"divtagdefaultwrapper" style=3D"font-size:12pt;color:#000000;font=
-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;" dir=3D"ltr">
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">Worth distributing more widely, I=
think.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"><br>
</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">Eric<br>
</p>
<br>
<br>
<div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font style=3D"font-size:11pt" face=
=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> NatureNB <NATURE=
NB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA> on behalf of Todd Watts <buteobuz@GMAIL.COM><b=
r>
<b>Sent:</b> March 7, 2018 9:03 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> NATURENB@LISTSERV.UNB.CA<br>
<b>Subject:</b> The Ethical Birder</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div class=3D"BodyFragment"><font size=3D"2"><span style=3D"font-size:11pt;=
">
<div class=3D"PlainText"> 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 o=
ther pollutants can be found in the most remote and seemingly pristine
areas, habitat loss threatens countless species of flora and fauna and hum=
an numbers continue to grow at alarming rates. Seabirds populations have be=
en 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 new=
s, which is based on very solid peer reviewed science, one would think that=
people as a whole and certainly naturalists, would change their ways.<br>
The well educated naturalist/bir=
der has many things to consider these days. Will our love for birds cause u=
s 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 d=
isruptive? There are many questions we might ask ourselves or others.<br>
<br>
Let=92s examine these issues one at a time.<br>
<br>
Chasing birds - This activity has a very heavy carbon footprint. Some birde=
rs travel immense distances just to add a single species to a list.
<br>
<br>
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 miscal=
culation. 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, i=
t is likely time to back off and/or change ones approach. This is true for =
those of us with a camera or without.<br>
<br>
Playbacks/mobbing calls - Use of mobbing calls has become quite common in N=
B. 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 o=
f any type can be disruptive during breeding season. Anyone using them arou=
nd breeding birds should have a very good reason for their use (like taking=
part in an official study).<br>
<br>
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 po=
tential to be harmful in some way.<br>
<br>
So, what is a birder to do? One =
suggestion is to think about all of these things every time we leave our ho=
mes, start up our cars or reach for our gadgets. We can enjoy nature withou=
t destroying it. The information gathered by amateur birders is extremely
valuable. Many of us have taken part in backyard bird counts, breeding bir=
d surveys, migration counts and more. Some of us have discovered unknown bi=
rd populations, previously unknown concentration points, and of coarse nume=
rous vagrants.
<br>
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 t=
ry 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 collec=
tive footprint. In doing this I
have missed out on seeing some rarities. However, I have found a fair numb=
er of my own and have made other discovers of importance (i.e. hawk migrati=
on concentration points).<br>
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 Paci=
fic to the Atlantic Basin. Storm strengths are increasing which will
leave more displaced birds far from their normal ranges. Breeding and wint=
ering ranges are moving north. There are so many things to discover and doc=
ument.
<br>
It is my hope that all of us wil=
l be open to learning about the state of the world and how we contribute to=
it.<br>
<br>
For the birds,<br>
<br>
Todd Watts<br>
Bocabec, NB<br>
<br>
<br>
NatureNB guidelines <a href=3D"http://users.xplornet.com/~maryspt/NNB=
/nnbe.html" id=3D"LPlnk628672" previewremoved=3D"true">
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