Sunday, 25th June, 2017 Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City A Kentucky Warbler which was present in the Ramble of Central Park, very possibly the same individual also found singing not far away earlier this month, was vocal from as early as 6:15 a.m. when I first arrived in the area today, & was also still vocalizing a bit not too long before actual sunset, this evening. - - - Over-playing of recordings or other noises meant specifically to “lure” (&/or harass) birds and in a place like Central Park in Manhattan, New York City is hugely unethical and completely irresponsible, and particularly so when a bird is being repeatedly taunted with such amplified electronics or other incessant noises is a species that is listed as either “endangered”, “threatened”, or “imperiled” in the state. Kentucky Warbler is such a species, and as such it is unconsionable that anyone would use such amplified devices aimed at such a species - & furthermore that such noise-making would be directed at, any bird which is & was ALREADY SINGING of its own. That such noise-making might be done for many minutes, in a heavily-birded location, is not normal.
If observed, behavior such as this, the offender[s] ought be told by those other birders / nature-walkers in the area, that such noise-making is unneccesary, very irresponsible, and unethical. In many places including in parts of Central Park, this type of noise-making would be illegal. There is a reason that in many federal, state, & some local lands, and on some privately owned or managed lands, use of recordings or other “lures” to bring birds in can be a punishable offense; in some cases, a violation of federal laws. This is not in reference to people who may take out a mobile phone & play a single song or call, perhaps to help themselves ID a bird they’ve just heard, or to try to confirm a suspected identification, & such activity is done without any intent to harass or to cause distress, either to the bird of note, or to birds in the area in general. While even those kinds of activities might be self-limited by conscientous birders, this is about repeated, undue, unnecessary, unethical & potentially harm-causing playing, to an extent that any intelligent adult ought recognize as such. It IS recognized by many responsible birders, bird-walk leaders, and others. It OUGHT to be understood in particular by anyone trying to earn a living showing birds to others. In MOST cases, it is. Guidance on the issue of ethical birding is noted here - http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html <http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html> Of particular note is that which is listed under 1.b in the above Code of Birding Ethics, below: “Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and NEVER USE SUCH METHODS IN HEAVILY BIRDED AREAS (*emphasis added*), or for attracting any species that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area;” Let’s give some respect to these birds, and to all of their observers, as well. Tom Fiore, Manhattan New York -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
