https://support.birdlife.org.au/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=2407986&trid=43b5737e-fb8a-4471-b824-64047318c034 “With numbers down 84%… how long before the Lesser Sand Plover is extinct? “This Silent Shorebirds Crisis can’t continue.” Silent crisis? seriously, it’s been at the forefront of ornithology for 10 years hasn’t it… are BirdLife Australia just realizing this?.. and is this actually true? Given these people have recently said in similar marketing 90% of Australia’s woodlands have been cleared in the past few decades, we need to protect private land for Mallee- Emu-wrens (they never occured on private land as far as I know) and Magpies are going extinct, you have to wonder? I’ve supported this organization in the past to the tune of tens of thousands and all I get is constant negative doomsday marketing trying to guilt me into things. They must send me a dozen a year. Add to that a massive and insultingly invasive, “supporter survey” asking me everything from my income to where live! These people do wonderful actual conservation and research work – I know I help with much of it and they are great! but for god’s sake who is running this organization these days? Is anyone else totally sick of them or is it just me? Frank.
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Dear Birders It is really very easy to just junk the begging emails. Don’t be so easily aggravated. Somehow or other every NGO has to raise money to support its activities. Like others I don’t like receiving endless begging letters from BLA or any other group – about 8 NGOs (or more) regularly email me to write letters or donate. I write when I agree but always junk donations as I am a pensioner and money only goes so far. I support birding activities and conservation activities by physical means (time, vehicle use, etc) as well as petitions/letters. I would like BLA to have an opt-out for posted begging letters, just to save on costs. It’s an appalling waste of resources although I guess they balance that against what comes in. I can’t imagine any organisation spending more on begging appeals than they receive – would they be that crazy? So, yes, join BLA, join in the discussion with them, understand what they are doing and join in what they are doing. There are quite a few on-going conservation activities that they run, either through the local State branch or head office. Or set up your own local conservation activity – regeneration of habitat, a stall with information on birds at your local market, talking to school children, planting your garden with habitat for birds, talking to your local Council about bird related projects…..the list can be extended to meet all sorts of bird related needs. But please don’t just winge….. Penny in Gloucester
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Carl, as you might know (or at least suspect), the breaking of legs has been a viable option in the Top End, and worse. Last year friends and I formed a small committee to fight a proposed workers’ camp here in the rural area, one reason being that Partridge Pigeon habitat could be at risk. The fellow behind this proposal owned the hotel, not far from where we lived. One night a member went there for a quiet drink, or so he thought. Somehow the pub owner had found out that he was part of this committee, chased him to his car, and dragging him out of the driver’s seat, threatened to cut him up “for crab bait’. Dave went to the police who confiscated this fellow’s gun licence. However I know from experience, that means little up here. Few bodies in the Top End have shown particular interest in the biggest threats to our native birds – weeds – most of which were brought in as cattle pasture. In part this is because the cattle industry has a lot of clout, and opposed (and still opposes) the declaration of plants such as Gamba, Olive Hymenachne, Para and Buffel grasses, as weeds. Also grasses look fairly innocuous to a lot of people, compared with cane toads. When the NT Government finally decided to act against Gamba, it was too late. Where possible landowners tackle weeds, not just for the birds, but because Gamba Grass in particular fuels dangerous fires. I’ve found that one way of tackling threats to birds is through organisations with some parallel interests, such as the CWA and local volunteer fire services. Our deputy fire chief has been controlling the weeds on his property “because of the birds”. Taking me aside a couple of months ago, he told me with much delight, that Gouldian Finches had turned up on his land. 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 8 Dec 2015, at 1:47 pm, Carl Clifford < carlsclifford@gmail.com> wrote:
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I will keep it in mind, Maris, when I have some spare cash. I did a similar donation to a Gluepot building project. Carl
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You need to do a bit of research. I donate to the local primary school, because I know that the money will go to things that will help the students, likewise I donate to a privately run school in Cambodia, where I know the guy running the project. There, I know there will be no misuse of the funds, because he and I have an understanding. If he fiddles the money, I come over and hire someone to break his legs. It is an understanding that has worked well. Unfortunately it is not a viable option here. Carl Clifford
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My money now goes to the AWC. Amongst other reasons already mentioned I also became dissatisfied after I sent a couple of emails to BLA and never had a response. When I “joined” AWC I received a phone call thanking me (it was not required but was appreciated). I spend a lot more on monthly donations to the AWC than what annual membership costs were for BLA. AWC openly publish their spend split and by far the majority of dollars goes to conservation / land acquisition / management of their properties, etc.. Very little goes to administration costs for the AWC. It would be interesting to see the distribution of funds for BLA. In relation to marketing for fund raising sent my BLA. I agree with comments about simply unsubscribing. However in the past I have received several posted letters regarding donations which is a huge waste of money (designing, printing and postage costs). I sense that unless BLA gets a structural overhaul in the next 12-18 months they will struggle into the future (baring in mind they sold their major asset [a property] a couple of years ago which was in my view was a very silly thing to do). Cheers, Charles Hunter
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It looks like BLA has hired marketeers from the pester school of marketing, whose technique seems to be based on the tenet that if they keep on dunning you, you will donate, in the hope that they will go away. Unfortunately, they don’t, they just see a sucker and come in for more. I have just changed ISP’s and they are the same, ringing me 3-4 times a week, usually at meal times, trying to sell me their mobile phone packages. What worries me about this style of marketing by charities,such as BLA, is the percentage of donations that are absorbed by marketing, in the form of salaries, printing and postage etc. It has got to the point with mainstream charities such as the Salvos, St Vinnies, that I no longer donate, because I know that the majority of my donations will not go to whom I am hoping to help. I only now donate to causes where I know my mony is really going to make a difference. Cheers, Carl Clifford
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I wonder, is the perception of this group that they really are exceptionally good conservation practitioners? Sent from my iPhone
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Me too Fred. I now wish there was an alternative, just like the old BOCA to join. Somehow BOCA conservation drives seemed linked more to the genuine needs of birds compared to the current situation. I feel guilty about my negative thoughts on this subject but now, whenever I see a new request for conservation funding support, I cant help asking “who are the human beneficiaries”? before I ask the more important question, is this cause genuine? Ian May ———————————————————————— Fred Mack wrote:
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Sorry for the negative email I have provoked this has been eating away at me for ages and I do take peoples points in response especially those about Birdlife staff. I must apologize to one of them. I had a go at a staffer about this a few months ago at a workshop and I now realize they probably cannot say anything of course because they probably lose their job if they do. I apologize for that, you might know who you are? but I really hope you all keep your chins up anyway Birdlife staff. You guys are underpaid, underappreciated and probably embarrased through no fault of your own. No questions Birdlife staff are amazing. Every time I see them they are engaging, passionate, amazingly knowledgeable and skilled as others have said they work for nothing compared with their academic and corporate counterparts. BirdLife staff do things in the real world that actually matter which is why I have always loved them all. But nobody can say that there has not been a big change in marketing ever since birds australia and boca merged. I voted for the merger and support it fully, but I hate the new marketing approach and it is harmful to birds. I don’t see how it’s working either birdlife are loosing money according to their annual reports birds Australia never used to. I note people say pester marketing is the way of the world – everyone does it. What a weak argument! Birds Australia and BOCA were always better than this and why shouldn’t Birdlife Australia be better? You don’t need to follow the lowest common denominator especially when in involves… well lets generously call it stretching the truth. 90% of our countrys woodlands have been cleared in the last few of decades was one of the appeals in June this year. This is complete rubbish and they took money based on it. There is no need to make things up. There are plenty of real threats to birds to highlight. As soon as we let an organization that claims to speak for us get away with this we all lose credibility and birds suffer. Stuff like this is what makes me think this is marketing consultants – but totally agree with everyone it is not their staff. Not hard to fix just stick to the truth be a little more positive in your marketing so you empower people not depress them all to death and maybe spend more of peoples money helping birds not marketing. Ill throw my money at you if you do that. Fred PS I will keep doing your scientific monitoring programs and conservation actions on ground that have been one of the best experiences of my life Birdlife. Keep up the good work. CC: birding-aus@birding-aus.org If you don’t like marketing, hit the delete button. Or mark it as spam so it goes into your spam folder. Or complain directly to the people who are able to do something about it. these options have been available to us all since the dawn of email. They remain the most effective approach. Storm (who will now do as she suggests for this thread)
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If you don’t like marketing, hit the delete button. Or mark it as spam so it goes into your spam folder. Or complain directly to the people who are able to do something about it. these options have been available to us all since the dawn of email. They remain the most effective approach. Storm (who will now do as she suggests for this thread)
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Sent from my iPad
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What Birdlife Australia does is not abnormal in the Conservation / NGO World. But other groups are successful at retaining and growing their memberships. I think the main problem Birdlife has is perception. Most birders I know, who are conservation orientated, good people with money to spend and donate gave up their memberships. And there is a common theme. When you ask them why – it’s because the ‘take’ is there, but people don’t see the ‘give’. In any successful relationship there is give and take. But the views I have heard very strongly from a lot of birders is you get nothing back. I think Birdlife needs to rethink how it engages with most people many of whom could be lured back. Rob Morris Brisbane, Australia CC: birding-aus@birding-aus.org Hi all I know its annoying, but this is the sort of marketing that seems to work. They need to keep the issues in the face of their audience. I get similar stuff from WWF, GetUp, Environment Vic all the time. I don’t mind – they have to do whatever they can to get the message out. Of course, most of it doesn’t work for everyone – but they have to keep trying in the hope that some of it will work. Wildlife is hurting, and if a confronting email changes that even the tiniest bit, I’m willing to pay that price. What I really hate is the thought of the Lesser Sand Plover going extinct. Be gentle – these people work very hard, probably for lower pay than they could get in the corporate world. BA do a great job. Janine — JANINE DUFFY Director Marketing ECHIDNA WALKABOUT PO Box 370 Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207 AUSTRALIA President KOALA CLANCY FOUNDATION E: [1]janine@echidnawalkabout.com.au Web: [2]www.echidnawalkabout.com.au GOLD WINNER 2014 World Responsible Travel Awards “Best for Wildlife Conservation” Ph: +61 (0)3 9646 8249 Mob: +61 (0)427 808 747 Fax: +61 (0)3 9681 9177 OPERATIONS & GROUP enquiries contact: [3]Roger [4]Smith Director Operations A.B.N. 72 716 985 505 [5]Fred Mack Monday, 7 December 2015 10:09 PM [6]https://support.birdlife.org.au/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=2407986 &trid=43b5737e-fb8a-4471-b824-64047318c034 “With numbers down 84%… how long before the Lesser Sand Plover is extinct? “This Silent Shorebirds Crisis can’t continue.” Silent crisis? seriously, it’s been at the forefront of ornithology for 10 years hasn’t it… are BirdLife Australia just realizing this?.. and is this actually true? Given these people have recently said in similar marketing 90% of Australia’s woodlands have been cleared in the past few decades, we need to protect private land for Mallee- Emu-wrens (they never occured on private land as far as I know) and Magpies are going extinct, you have to wonder? I’ve supported this organization in the past to the tune of tens of thousands and all I get is constant negative doomsday marketing trying to guilt me into things. They must send me a dozen a year. Add to that a massive and insultingly invasive, “supporter survey” asking me everything from my income to where live! These people do wonderful actual conservation and research work – I know I help with much of it and they are great! but for god’s sake who is running this organization these days? Is anyone else totally sick of them or is it just me? Frank.
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[8]http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org References 1. mailto:janine@echidnawalkabout.com.au 2. http://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au/ 3. mailto:roger@echidnawalkabout.com.au 4. mailto:roger@echidnawalkabout.com.au 5. mailto:freddymack66@outlook.com 6. https://support.birdlife.org.au/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=2407986&trid=43b5737e-fb8a-4471-b824-64047318c034 7. mailto:Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org 8. http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org 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
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I think the reality is that all groups use the same strategy now because apparently it works. For all of us who are disgruntled, they get enough people donating to make it worthwhile. Chris
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Yes, their fundraising campaigns are over the top. I guess the marketing folk have to justify their existence but I would have thought one fundraising activity per year would be sufficient and more effective. Cheers David Sent from my iPhone
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I too have wondered about the recent spin and junk mail-based marketing efforts of BLA, but I guess there’s nothing quite like a values-based crisis to bring donations in? Tim Hosking, Dubbo —–Original Message—– Sent: Monday, 7 December 2015 10:10 PM https://support.birdlife.org.au/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=2407986&trid=43b5737e-fb8a-4471-b824-64047318c034 “With numbers down 84%… how long before the Lesser Sand Plover is extinct? “This Silent Shorebirds Crisis can’t continue.” Silent crisis? seriously, it’s been at the forefront of ornithology for 10 years hasn’t it… are BirdLife Australia just realizing this?.. and is this actually true? Given these people have recently said in similar marketing 90% of Australia’s woodlands have been cleared in the past few decades, we need to protect private land for Mallee- Emu-wrens (they never occured on private land as far as I know) and Magpies are going extinct, you have to wonder? I’ve supported this organization in the past to the tune of tens of thousands and all I get is constant negative doomsday marketing trying to guilt me into things. They must send me a dozen a year. Add to that a massive and insultingly invasive, “supporter survey” asking me everything from my income to where live! These people do wonderful actual conservation and research work – I know I help with much of it and they are great! but for god’s sake who is running this organization these days? Is anyone else totally sick of them or is it just me? Frank. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————- This email is intended for the addressee(s) named and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. Any views expressed in this email are those of the individual sender except where the sender expressly and with authority states them to be the views of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL
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Yep, I got fed up with them ten years ago and dropped out altogether. All they ever seemed to do ( in regard to member contact) was ask me for money, and they still do even though I’m unsubscribed. In the bin I’m afraid. TR —–Original Message—– Fred Mack Sent: Monday, December 7, 2015 9:40 PM https://support.birdlife.org.au/emailviewonwebpage.aspx?erid=2407986&trid=43 b5737e-fb8a-4471-b824-64047318c034 “With numbers down 84%… how long before the Lesser Sand Plover is extinct? “This Silent Shorebirds Crisis can’t continue.” Silent crisis? seriously, it’s been at the forefront of ornithology for 10 years hasn’t it. are BirdLife Australia just realizing this?.. and is this actually true? Given these people have recently said in similar marketing 90% of Australia’s woodlands have been cleared in the past few decades, we need to protect private land for Mallee- Emu-wrens (they never occured on private land as far as I know) and Magpies are going extinct, you have to wonder? I’ve supported this organization in the past to the tune of tens of thousands and all I get is constant negative doomsday marketing trying to guilt me into things. They must send me a dozen a year. Add to that a massive and insultingly invasive, “supporter survey” asking me everything from my income to where live! These people do wonderful actual conservation and research work – I know I help with much of it and they are great! but for god’s sake who is running this organization these days? Is anyone else totally sick of them or is it just me? Frank.
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12 a year? I get several a week, but none of them are the ones you’ve described, they’re mostly from my local Birdlife groups about activities. Peter Shute
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Very sick of them Frank. Don’t bother hitting the unsubscribe button or sending a request to their info line. it still keeps coming! Martin Martin Butterfield http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
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I suspect just you Frank. Having volunteered for the RSPB in the distant past BirdLife Aus are pretty tame on the marketing front. They could probably do more with the general public (rather than the captive audience of existing members!) but the would probably be a smaller return for a greater effort :-/ The campaigns continue because it really isnt getting any better out there
Regards Mike Sent from my Samsung GALAXY S5
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