On 4/10/2013 11:13 AM, Sandy Podulka wrote:
Here is a reply from Steve Kress, SFO course leader:
The SFO recommended practice on use of audio playbacks is for
instructors to use them minimally for educational purposes. We
recommend playbacks only when unassisted viewing has proven to be
unsatisfactory (e.g. owls and rails) or to demonstrate
territoriality. In any event, the audio playback should be turned off
once the bird is visible to the class, it should not be used for
attracting rare species, declining species and out of range species.
Likewise, we ask leaders not to use recordings in areas where birders
are abundant (so as not to confuse birds and birders). We discourage
birders from using audio playback for recreational or list building
purposes.
At 08:13 AM 4/10/2013, John and Sue Gregoire wrote:
Does SFO approve of/teach using playback calls for recreational
birding? Recent SFO
trip reports would indicate that this is a sanctioned procedure and
is also subject
to overuse by the guide. With so many groups and so many students as
well as the
proliferation of playback devices and call sources, this could easily
get out of
hand much to the detriment of bird populations. Even worse if it even
appears
Cornell sanctions this method of birding.
John
OK I'm going to jump in the fire here. I have been doing extensive
reading on this topic for the last year. Most sources agree that even
going into the woods to observe birds causes disruption in the bird's
routine and causes some amount of stress. Some studies cite that
thousands of birders cause major stress and disruption of the bird's
routine all over the world on a daily basis. Many studies say that
calling birds, through playback of bird songs or even phishing causes
additional stress. I have even read a study that proposes that using
playback may cause a female bird to not want to mate with a particular
male bird because the playback makes the female think there is a better
male out there somewhere.
However if you read enough of the many studies done on the playing of
bird sounds you will find that most conclude that the of birders
employing this method are so spread out and that any one birder doing
this even once a day in different locations is so minimal as to cause no
long term harm or distress to bird populations. You may impact one bird
for a few minutes, but most studies show that the long term impact on
that bird is very minimal. Birds adapt to sounds and the activity in
their environment. For example if loud noises drive birds from their
habitat, as some studies suggest, then Sapsucker Woods which lies very
near a large airport should have no birds. However we all know that
there are birds there and indeed they don't seem to be bothered at all.
Most of the studies that conclude that playback is bad for birds seem to
assume that all birders do this all of the time. In my opinion this is a
ridiculous conclusion and should be dismissed out of hand. My own
observations during SFO last year is that playback was used at most once
on each trip, some not at all and others two or three times. Having been
back to those birding spots since then the birds are still there doing
their bird things despite us having momentarily disrupting them.
Actually what most studies base their conclusion on is not whether
calling really impacts the birds, but whether it is ethical or not.
Ethics is a very cloudy issue. There are no clear guidelines where
ethics are concerned.
My bottom line is that unless a conclusive study shows me that I have
directly caused the decline in a bird species by my birding activity, I
will not modify my birding behavior. Summing up from what I have read,
there does not seem to be any conclusive information either way as far
as playback is concerned. In the mean time pay attention to the
important thing, enjoying the birds.
Carl Steckler
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