Dennis wrote:

> It would be sad indeed, if one of the consequences of birding
would be to
> put more and more restrictions on ornithology, the science that
makes it
> possible.

Take a look at what is happening in the UK. Banding is frequently
attacked in the birding media. So much so that the British Trust for
Ornithology is currently mounting and education and advocacy
campaign to try and head off a situation which could lead to the
banning of banding.

There is a growing community of birders (in the UK) who have a
total "hands off" attitude towards the objects of their desires !!!!
Some cristicism is always justifiable - higher training standards
(it took 5 years to get my licence - it will take longer in future)
and improved ethics ensure that the cristicism is responded to. I
should add that there is nothing controversial to my knowledge about
banding in the UK - live lures are banned, picric acid for
color-marking birds is in major decline, professionalism and
competence is on the increase and the work carried out is driven by
scienctific goals rather than recreational banding - there is little
hunting allowed in the UK so trapping birds is a "useful"
alternative for some.

In my experience the US is about 15-20 years behind the UK in terms
of what is acceptable ethics in banding - defined purely in terms
of UK culture, so strictly speaking this comparison cannot be made.
But it is useful to see the direction in which the advocates of
animal rights are heading. This comparison is not judgemental so
don't bother hauling me over hot coals for this ;-).

Stuart
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