Hi birders, Ruth and I went to Point Cook today to have another look for the (probable) American Golden Plover. We had previously tried in December with no luck. In December, however, we caught up with Bernie, one of the rangers, and he allowed us to drive into the restricted area to look for the bird. I note that access has been provided in recent times and that Bernie has even driven people around the site to find both the AGP and the Oriental Plover that is present. Anyway, today we called Bernie to see if we could get access and he told us that Parks Victoria would no longer be providing access to the restricted part of Cheetham wetlands because birders have apparently caused damage to gates and fences and have been caught walking over sensitive habitat (he said “nesting sites”). This means that the site that the Oriental Plover has been seen is off-limits, as is the high-tide roost for the Golden Plovers). The good news, though, is that it is still possible to see the American Golden Plover. Ruth and I found a group of at least 17 Golden Plovers on the westernmost rocky point near the homestead about four hours after high tide. When we were there in December we also found a group of six Golden Plovers at the same spot – unfortunately something spooked them before we could get close. Of the 17 Golden Plovers, one immediately stood out as being different (a paler bird with a much broader supercilium). I will post some pictures in a day or two, but I have been having Internet speed problems and need to get that resolved first. In the meantime I posted a small image to Birdline. Paul Dodd Docklands, Victoria _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Dave and others I don’t know this particular place, but some may remember my posts years ago on birders entering the Leanyer Sewage Ponds without a permit, and harassing the Red Goshawk at Mataranka. I And no, Martin, it isn’t always birders who do the harassing. Those implicated at Mataranka, according to locals, included photographers. My PhD study of US birders included a question on behaviour not approved of. Most complaints were about birders who disturbed birds, but there were also many about photographers. The study includes some with lists well in excess of 5000. Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow PO Box 71, Darwin River, NT 0841 043 8650 835 On 24/2/14 5:20 AM, “Dave Torr” < davidtorr@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
What is worse is that those who do the right thing by asking permission (as I did a week or so back) will now be penalised (the rangers were already very unhappy) whereas those who jump fences will presumably not be affected and will continue to spoil it for others. On 23 Feb 2014 19:47, “Jenny Spry” < malurus.jenny@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Jenny Not being a Facebook user I was unaware of the background. Thanks for straightening the situation, and me, out. Martin Martin Butterfield http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/ On 23 February 2014 19:46, Jenny Spry < malurus.jenny@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
But in this case Martin, mail was sent to B – A via some list members advising “birders” that the rangers wanted people to contact them to arrange entry and also how to contact the rangers, either at their office at Point Cook Road, about 5 km from the restricted area and the birds, or by phone. Also in this case some of the “birders” who entered the area without permission were totally open about it and posted comments on Facebook saying when they entered the area and giving directions to other birders as to the best way and places to “jump the fence”. In this case the ‘rangers’ did use mechanisms such as birding-aus, via the Melbourne birding community. And in this case some of the specific offenders were quite happy to comment on Facebook. This situation need not have arisen because, as can be seen on Birdline Vic for Saturday 22/2, the birds can be seen and photographed on the totally open to the public rocks along the beach. “jumping the fence” as promoted by some on Facebook is not needed if for some reason the rangers had refused entry at the time the “birder” want to see the birds. cheers Jenny http://jenniferspryausbirding.blogspot.com.au/ On 23 February 2014 18:20, Martin Butterfield < martinflab@gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
It is a pity that ‘birders’ seem to be offenders of choice by rangers whenever malfeasance has occurred in the vicinity of birding sites. There rarely seems to be any specifics attached to such statements and ‘rangers’ rarely seem to use mechanisms such as birding-aus to seek support for their activities or to draw folks attention to bad behaviour. Martin Martin Butterfield http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/ On 23 February 2014 17:26, Paul Dodd < paul@angrybluecat.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org