I’m an American birder who is planning an Aussie birding trip later this year. I plan to drive from Sydney to Cairns over a six week period, mostly in October, mostly along the coast, with a detour inland to take in Bowra Station. I’d like to know what Aussie birders think about the use of recorded bird songs and calls to elicit a response from birds – either a vocal response or by the bird flying in to check out the call. Here in the US, it is rather controversial, with some birders approving of it and some not. Many birders use recorded songs and calls to locate birds, but it isn’t talked about much, because of the disapproval of some people. I’m not trying to start a discussion of the pros and cons of the practice – I’m very familiar with the arguments on both sides of the question – I would just like to know what Aussie birders think of it. Here at home, I use recordings sparingly, never for endangered species, and not when there are other birders around who might get confused into thinking they heard the actual bird. I am considering doing the same thing on my Aussie trip, but I would like to know the local feeling about the practice. I would be glad to get responses by email, since the subject might not be appropriate for an extended discussion on the forum. I certainly don’t want to start up one of those discussions that generate a lot of heat and not much light. I hope that doesn’t happen. Having disclosed that I am considering using recorded calls in Australia, I would like to know which species might be likely to respond. If it is like the US, the answer to that would vary with season and location, as well as with the individual birds, but some species are more responsive than others, generally. I suspect it is the same in Australia. Thanks for any info anyone can give me. Barry BrugmanUSA =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au http://birding-aus.org ===============================
G’day Barry, On the whole, most Australian birders wouldn’t support the prolonged use of call back. Generally most would frown on the use of call back that might have adverse impacts on sensitive species. I don’t know if there is any consensus on how many times it is OK to play a call in any particular period at a location (e.g., once in a 10 minute period). Personally, I don’t use call back. Regards, Laurie. On 08/07/2013, at 9:31 AM, martin cachard wrote: =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================
Hi Barry, I think my opinions on this practise are well known but, I for one, don’t like it… I feel it is unsporting, to say the very least. The only times I ever have used playback are at night time when the odds even out a little given the lack of visual cues available. BUT I never use playback at night between May-November when most of our owl species are breeding… Now I think it’s time I ducked for cover on here!!! Cheers, Martin Cachard Cairns =============================== To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) http://birding-aus.org ===============================