HI ALL:
William Beebe was an ornithologist who studied in jungles around the
world and is most famous for his "Monograph of Pheasants (1918-20)".
sincerely

Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Is., WA, USA
ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
A.K.A.: "Birdbooker"
"Rallidae all the way"

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2001 10:38:56 -0400
From: Franz Hespenheide <hespen at EROLS.COM>
To: BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Birder/Bird Distance

Found this on the Internet at:

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=884886&lastnode_id=1066375


William Beebe's 12 Rules for Observing Wild Birds and Animals in the Forest


"An explorer in the deep sea must provide himself with breathable air
and a metal shell to withstand the terrific pressure. For a successful study
of forest wildlife the human intruder must be cloaked in silence, be as
motionless as possible as well as mute. "With eyes, ears, and nostrils he
must be ready to register and record everything that can be detected by
his imperfect senses. Two items of equipment are a pair of binoculars
(my choice is 7 X 50) and a good squeaker, or bird call, judiciously
used. Here are a dozen rules for jungle watching:

1. Move only when the wind blows and moves the leaves.

2. When a wild creature is near, keep eyes partly closed. Animals do
not like to be stared at.

3. Hold hands high so that any movement is down, as leaves fall.

4. When listening to faint sounds, keep mouth slightly open (as lovers of
music do in the top gallery of the opera).

5. Drab clothes are the best, but a scarlet or blue shirt will do no harm if
one keeps still. It is movement, not color, which frightens wildlife.

6. If sand flies or mosquitoes are bad, do not be ashamed to use a
repellent. A dozen mosquitoes biting at once may disturb the toughest
observer.

7. When approaching a singing bird, take a step during each song; many
birds will not notice.

8. Learn to squat East Indian fashion. It allows two slight shifts which
alternately ease all muscles, and keeps your clear of wet surfaces and
bete rouge (red bug).

9. When squatting, hold glasses close to nose, so they can be shifted to
eyes with a minimum of motion.

10. Don't trust your eyes or memory when you can check and recheck.

11. A sudden yell or gunshot frightens wild birds for a few seconds, but
the effect of a cough or a sneeze will last much longer.

12. A low monotone in speaking is less disturbing than a hissing whisper.

"In jungle work one person is a necessity, two are a crowd. The only use
for three or four persons is to have them walk ahead in single file, and for
you yourself suddenly to stop and squat motionless, and have the others
go on. Animals cannot count, and you may escape notice by some of the
hundreds of watching eyes."



Franz Hespenheide
Gaithersburg, MD
hespen at erols.com

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