Megan,

I'm glad you brought this subject up.
Years ago, I was on an Audubon field trip. The well-known and respected leader phished to bring out a rare-to-this-area bird. I was glad to see the bird, and was glad for his talent in finding rare birds. But watching the bird nervously wing-flicking (not one of its normal characteristics), reacting to the over and over repeated phishing started making me feel uncomfortable. I was afraid that it was going to have a little birdy heart attack.

I still feel badly for that bird, and what I thought was an effective technique, over-used. So what if not everyone saw that bird? That happens.

Being that he was a well-respected leader, known for finding rare birds; and I was a lowly intermediate, I didn't say anything. I probably still wouldn't say anything (although I haven't been on any trips for which he is the leader). But, now, when I phish, I only do it for a short while--and always think of that poor stressed-out bird.


Christine Southwick
N Seattle/Shoreline
clsouthwick at q.com

On Mon, 2 Nov 2009, Megan Lyden wrote:

> Hi Tweets,
>
> I'm sometimes feeling uncomfortable about the use of tapes when a rarity
> shows up. I'm not a purist; I have been on a lot of field trips where
> leaders have used tapes to call in a bird and I've been very happy to see
> the bird. I guess my question is do we, as a birding community, have any
> agreement on when using tapes becomes excessive? I was recently out to see
> a fairly rare bird, and wasn't surprised to see people use a tape, but
> became uncomfortable when it seemed that although people had already seen
> the bird, a tape was still being used to pull the bird out for better looks
> and more photos. I realize that what seems excessive differs widely between
> people. I also don't want to put myself in the role of a self-righteous
> policeman. Do I even have a right to let someone know that I'm uncomfortable
> when I feel they are playing tapes over and over? Am I interfering with
> right to see a bird? Perhaps I'm anthropromorphizing, but sometimes I wonder
> how I'd feel if different people kept showing up and ringing my doorbell
> over and over again, all day long.
>
>
>
> Megan Lyden
>
> Bellevue, Washington
>
>
>
>

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