Hi all, The American Bird Association has an ethics document that addresses the issue (see below).
While it’s not as specific as I’d like, it clearly mentions heavily birded areas among a number of other caveats. Given the fact that our region has lots of birders, many of whom have smart phones or iPods etc, I would assume that recordings are probably being played for recreational purposes with some regularity. I’m assuming that each time a recording is played, it’s a disturbance event for the bird(s) among many other events including: predators, "real” rivals of the same species, invasive species (plant and animal), West Nile Virus, human development (here and abroad), weather events, dogs, cats, all the crazy things they encounter in their winter habitats and during migrations, bad science, and truly unethical birders/wildlife watchers. Given all this, playing recordings for kicks doesn’t sound like a good thing to me. Issue is probably not so simple as that, it’s just my two cents. Hope I didn’t sound like some holy birder. I’ve played recordings before and this discussion is causing me to rethink. David Diaz Trumansburg, NY 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. Keep well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and 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. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
