Alice Springs birding contacts and sewage ponds access

G’day birders,

[Before I get into the rest of this post, for those keeping track, the Forest Wagtail is still being seen although slightly less frequently.]

In the spirit of give and take, I’d like to offer you something at the same time as making two small requests.

Firstly, with Adelaide birders recently losing access to some of their premier shorebird sites (the salt works), it seems like a good time to ask anyone visiting commercial or industrial sites such as salt works or sewage treatment plants, to consider the local birding community that your behaviour might impact upon.

A few recent events in Alice Springs, none involving local birders, have strained the relationship between the local water authority and the birding community. There seem to be some birders who possess an irrational sense of entitlement to access at these sites.

Recently, one visiting birder took the incomprehensible step of approaching the media and, in their own words, kicking up a fuss until access could be arranged – http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/05/30/3771198.htm. The most likely outcome of this approach is that management at the water authority will decide that providing birding access is an unjustifiable drain on resources, generates nothing but bad publicity and will lock birders out for good. This would be a tragedy for local birders, future visitors, and the regular shorebird monitoring that is conducted at the ponds. You may not intend to visit Alice Springs again, but the bridges you are burning here are other peoples’, not your own.

Ideally, it’d be better to build the relationship with sewage facility operators to the point that there is good publicity or recognition for them, rather than having them see birders as only a source of difficulties and negativity; this is how it stands now. These organisations are under no obligation to permit birdwatching access, we’re a drain on their resources, we’re a source of negative interactions with their staff, we’re a potential liability to their operations, and in many cases we provide nothing in return. Birders are a burden and a liability for what is otherwise a fairly straightforward industrial business – why would they persevere with this relationship if all we do is make it harder for them?

It falls to us to show them appreciation rather than aggravation, and make sure that they see maintaining a relationship with the birding community as a worthwhile effort to commit resources to.

So my second request is this; when you visit a sewage treatment plant, private wetland, salt works, mine-site or any other such spot for birding, find out the manager(s) of the organisation responsible for its running, and write them a letter of thanks. Write a letter, write an email, put a nice message or photo on their Twitter feed or their Facebook page – if possible do all of these things. Let them know how much you enjoyed your visit, tell them about rare or interesting birds you saw, even if you think they couldn’t care less. Let their managers read* fan mail* instead of *hate mail*. Tell them how much you value being able to visit such sites, and how much potential their site has to contribute to science through shorebird surveys and water bird monitoring. Make sure you acknowledge them in any publications or newsletters you put together resulting from observations at their facility. Whether it’s your local patch, or whether you’re visiting a facility interstate, just take two minutes to thank the group that maintains the birding access. If you’re a traveler, you could have a “thank-you” email template saved on your laptop ready to go whenever you visit a new spot. It doesn’t take much, but it makes a world of difference to the people who run these places to have incoming kudos rather than a daily barrage of disparaging quibbles about inductions, keys, vehicle access restrictions, and safety requirements.

…and here’s what I offer in return. Many members of the Alice Springs birding community have kindly put their hands up to have their contact details listed, should you ever visit Alice Springs and be interested in accessing the ponds. The list that follows is not a list of guides, and neither is it a list of people who can provide you with a key or access to the ponds, but they can assist you in your dealings with Power and Water Corporation, and may be able to provide a very simple answer to a question that might take some time to find on the PWC website. You still need to organise your induction *well in advance* of your visit, and you still need to lodge your indemnity form before getting a key – but if you have any difficulties or questions, if there are any hitches or delays, don’t get angry, keep your hair on, and ring or email one of us!

Print this out, stick it in your field guide or binocular case, bung it in your glove box or tape it to your thermos. Email it to your mates, print it in your newsletter, and spread it as far as you can. The Alice Springs birding mob are a pretty friendly lot, and we’re always happy to be contacted by visitors who need advice on sewage ponds access especially if it avoids any potential angst with Power & Water. We’re just trying to hang on to the access privileges as they stand.

Also, between us all, we know a thing or two about the local birds. So here it is;

Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club – website http://www.alicefieldnaturalists.org.au/ It’s a good idea to check this site BEFORE you head up to Alice. A bunch of active birders are members, and the website is being rebuilt to include some up to date bird info. The club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm on the campus of Charles Darwin University and visitors are encouraged to come along.

Birds Central – website http://comebirdwatching.blogspot.com.au/p/poo-ponds-page.html This is my website and I have linked here to the page that deals specifically with the sewage ponds. It took me a lot of time – please read it… before you come. Don’t discover that it exists after you arrive.

Desertlife – website http://desertlife.com.au/ Mark Carter’s website containing his contact details as well as bird and other wildlife news.

Richard Waring’s Birds of Australia – website http://rwsboa2011.blogspot.com.au/ Despite the title, Richard is a local resident so much of his birding is done around Central Australia. Richard updates his blog quite regularly and he travels widely, so checking his site will give you a good idea of what’s about.

Barb Gilfedder – Seasoned local birder and president of the Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club Email – fedders@octa4.net.au

Pete Nunn – brilliant photographer and a keen bird observer and researcher. Email – nunn_pete@hotmail.com

Anthony Molyneux – Expert arid zone zoologist and desert expeditioner. Email – desertantman@bigpond.com

Mark Carter – Doyen of desert birders and professional zoologist resident (mostly) in Alice Springs. Email – mark@desertlife.com.au

Chris Pavey – Senior scientist and walking Centralian birdpedia. Mobile – 0435 878 320 Email – crpavey@hotmail.com

Richard Waring – Local bird photographer extraordinaire, and constantly traveling wilbury. Mobile – 0457 057 869 Email – rjwaring@richardwaring.com.au

Andrew Crouch – Local birder and active field nats member, Andrew is only contactable on weekends. Email – crouch2@internode.on.net

Will Cormack – Elder statesman of Alice Springs birding, keeper of the longest running record of observations at the Alice Springs ponds, and venerated custodian of “The” Forest Wagtail. Email – nthaba@nthabacottage.com.au Website – http://www.nthabacottage.com.au/

Chris Watson – Ratbag, pompous git, can’t tell a thornbill from a fairy-wren. Mobile – 0419 358 942 Email – birdscentral@gmail.com

So there you go, if you’re having trouble working out how to plan your birding at the Alice ponds and one of the above people or sites can’t help out, I’ll eat my hat. If you’re headed up our way, organise your induction well in advance, and get in touch if you hit any snags.

Thanks and happy birding,

Chris Watson (in consultation with the above-named.)