While the Night Parrot is undoubtedly, the Holy Grail of Australian (and probably international) birders, we should do the right thing and not attempt either find it, or if a population is found to be on an accessible site, not attempt to “tick” it. Birders have been a significant factor in the decline of a number of bird species world wide , e.g. Gurneys Pitta and Bornean Ground Cuckoo, in what had previously been significant locations for these species. So, for the Ground Parrot’s sake leave it alone. One less tick won’t kill you. Carl Clifford
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Oh yes, and to our exclusion from Price Saltfield and the difficulty of accessing Alice Springs, Mt Isa, Broome and most other sewage ponds Not to mention the access restrictions placed on other Evaporation areas around the country. It’s always the few who mess things up for the many. Tony. —–Original Message—– Denise Goodfellow Sent: Tuesday, 11 August 2015 11:33 AM Cc: birding-aus Add to that the contribution of bad birder (and photographer) behaviour at the Red Goshawk site at Mataranka. Such behaviour also led to the exclusion of birders from Leanyer Sewage Ponds. Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71 Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841 043 8650 835 PhD candidate, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia Nominated by Earthfoot for Condé Nasts International Ecotourism Award, 2004. With every introduction of a plant or animal that goes feral this continent becomes a little less unique, a little less Australian.
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Further to what Carl has written here, I feel it is crucial to point out that there are, in my humble opinion, two different types of people looking for and watching birds – both unfortunately collectively known as BIRDERS. Firstly, we have birders who watch birds responsibly and treat them with the respect that they should be afforded. These birders I call birdwatchers. I place myself firmly in this category. Secondly, we have birders who watch birds irresponsibly and show much disrespect towards the very creatures that they purport to care about. They harass the birds with irresponsible use of bird voice; they creep in way too close for that perfect image; they show disrespect towards other observers more patient themselves; they show disrespect towards the land on which they are birding, whether it be private property or publicly accessible or a sensitive reserve; they exaggerate on or lie about their observations; they jump straight back into their cars heading for their next target as soon as they’ve, or even one of their mates, got a positive ID… etc…etc!! This second group I just call SELFISH, LAZY, and SHAMEFUL – full stop!! I find it very hard to call them birders, if I am to be honest. Please let’s all be patient – one day we can all go and have a look for Night Parrots on this very piece of land under study at the moment, wherever it is. But until then, there is nothing stopping anyone from going and finding their own Night Parrots elsewhere – just like John Young did !! There are plenty of other spots that would be worth searching for them – Pilbara, Gibson Desert, Canning Stock Route, Mt Isa-Bedourie, Tanami Desert, etc etc… The result of finding other populations in other parts of the country would be far more beneficial for the species, than selfish observers just lazily looking for easier targets where they have been found to be recently and currently, putting undue stress on the very same individual birds repeatedly, which cannot be good for them however you look at it. Let’s just go and find some more somewhere else – that would so much more rewarding than an easier or quicker tick, wouldn’t it??!! Enough from me on this… martin cachard,trinity beach,cairns.
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Add to that the contribution of bad birder (and photographer) behaviour at the Red Goshawk site at Mararanka. Such behaviour also led to the exclusion of birders from Leanyer Sewage Ponds. Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71 Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841 043 8650 835 PhD candidate, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW. Founding Member: Ecotourism Australia Nominated by Earthfoot for Condé Nast’s International Ecotourism Award, 2004. With every introduction of a plant or animal that goes feral this continent becomes a little less unique, a little less Australian. On 11 Aug 2015, at 10:25 am, Carl Clifford < carlsclifford@gmail.com> wrote:
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