My 2 cents worth, And using playbacks is now used by bird photographers everywhere to entice in birds, especially the small hard-to-see ones such as warblers. I am somewhat hypocritical here, because I do use this technique myself on occasion, but what has happened in bird photography is that EVERYONE can now do it, and EVERYONE does in fact do it. It's raised the bar all over, but this means that more and more birds are being harassed because everyone wants those pretty, close-up warbler images. One appalling example is the several well-known Barred Owl spots in Florida where the owls get bugged over and over again by photographers to get flight shots. One might argue (not my argument) that a few well-known owls being the subject of annoyance is better that a lot of owls being bugged everywhere. One could debate this whole issue at length and never get consensus....same with the owl-baiting discussions. It's out there...it will not go away.
Anyway, in the long term while using playbacks as a matter of course is unfortunate, in my opinion, it will not go away at this point in time. Marie Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail m...@cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com Now on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727 ________________________________________ From: bounce-46014034-5851...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-46014034-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John and Sue Gregoire [k...@empacc.net] Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2012 9:36 AM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Cc: KHAMOLISTSERV Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed? Perhaps I misunderstand the CayugaBirds posts of late but in the last couple of years I have seen many references to birders using electronic calls to enhance their personal or group birding experience. It used to be a condemned practice and very strictly limited to research, and then light usage only, as well as a part of the ABA Birding Code of Ethics. I thought that perhaps these posts were new birders who hadn't been taught the ethical code but now I see the use of calls somewhat codified by its use in SFO trips. While the proliferation of electronic devices may make this easier, I don't see the need or the justification. Comments appreciated. John -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ "Conserve and Create Habitat" -- 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/ -- -- 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/ --
