Thanks Tom and Tyler,
A couple more thoughts on the topic.
Many of the birds that we most long to see -- Bicknell's, Bobolinks, etc. -- are: A. hard to find because they have suffered such steep declines in recent decades, and B. being surveyed / studied by VCE, Audubon VT, UVM and others. Both are good reasons not to disturb birds -- and these in particular -- especially when they are on territory and breeding / parenting.
The great value of -- for example -- the VCE Bicknell's study on Mt. Mansfield is that it has gone on for many years; and during that time, surveying conditions have been reasonably controlled. I know that they do not use, and do not allow their guests to use, playback in their study area to ensure that the birds are not disturbed and that they are getting a consistent observation base from year to year.
My own position and behavior on this issue has been evolutionary. I started out using an ipod like kid with a new toy. That was when no one was thinking about / saying much about the potential negative impacts of playing to the birds. Guides were doing it everywhere, and touting it as their way of delivering every bird people wanted to see. I remember outings with very responsible Vermont birders where they had with them an amplified speaker that could boom songs across the area we were surveying. No one thought a hoot about it.
Today, people seem to be moderating their use of playback significantly. Some of the birders I respect most, now use an earphone connected to their ipods or iphones, and listen to the recordings of birds they are looking for or think they are hearing, but do not broadcast the recordings. I find that more and more, I am emulating that example by only playing songs for review purposes -- at very low volume with my ear to the device.
We learn, and we validate or change our perspective and behavior based on our learning. Tyler sent us David Sibley's point of view from 2011 (I wonder what he thought 5 years earlier, and if he's shifted his position since then?) Tom reminded us of the policy of many public wildlife agencies against any use of playback.
I would add to those that the American Birding Association says in its Code of Ethics:
" Section 1(b) To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or 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;"
Being neither ornithologist nor birding / wildlife authority, I have no justification in telling any other birder how to behave vis a vis playback. But I am happy to share the opinions that are guiding my own behavior; and the requests of scientists who are doing the heavy lifting in protecting the birds we all wish to see thrive. Both of which are saying, "Stand down" in most circumstances.
Looking forward to seeing many of you at The Big Morning on Sunday. Let's go birding!
Scott Sainsbury
Moretown
On May 30, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Thomas Berriman wrote:
> Thanks Tyler for the link...as usual David Sibley presents difficult issues about birding with a concise and articulate insight that everyone can appreciate.
>
> Tom
>
Scott Sainsbury
Beacon Associates
P.O. 1660
Waitsfield, Vt. 05673
802-496-9393 ext 13
802-249-0525 (mobile)
www.beaconassociates.com
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