Rare Bird Ethics
Sunday January 11, 2009
The Associated Press has reported that a new bird species has visited the United States for the first time: the pine flycatcher has been seen in Choke Canyon State Park in Texas in the past few weeks. Native to Central America, these tiny birds normally spend the winter months in higher elevations to the south, the northernmost extent of their regular range.
Many birders have been flocking to see this rare bird, which is yet unconfirmed by the Texas Bird Records Committee and the American Birding Association. This brings to mind an ethical quandary for many eco-sensitive birders, however. By gathering large crowds to see an unprecedented species, birders can actually disturb and distress the bird, possibly causing health and habitat problems and violating other sound birding ethics.
Do you think it is right for birders to disrupt possibly distressed birds just to add a rare bird sighting to their life list? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Many birders have been flocking to see this rare bird, which is yet unconfirmed by the Texas Bird Records Committee and the American Birding Association. This brings to mind an ethical quandary for many eco-sensitive birders, however. By gathering large crowds to see an unprecedented species, birders can actually disturb and distress the bird, possibly causing health and habitat problems and violating other sound birding ethics.
Do you think it is right for birders to disrupt possibly distressed birds just to add a rare bird sighting to their life list? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Comments
Another good article, Melissa and good timing. I’ve seen a few posts on my PABirdList (Audubon) about photographers more than birders who swarm when a new and unusual bird appears and are more interested in getting a good photo of it than just admiring it and enjoying its surroundings and perhaps getting an “ok” picture which doesn’t entail damaging property/parks and disturbing a bird or a nest. I think that Ontario is having a problem or had one re: Amherst Island and he owls there. Most birders I believe don’t do this but there are those who are more interested in a good picture than the bird itself.
Marge