Ethical Birding

Ethical Birding

I haven't been to any birding locations of interest lately, though I do have a few good spots coming up in the next few weeks. Since I didn't have much to write, I have been thinking about ethical birding. After my first outing with Birdlife East Gippsland on Monday, I was impressed how everyone spoke and walked quietly. So, I have done a bit of research on "ethical birding".

Here are some points:

• When birding, be aware of your surroundings. Don't bump into other people, or cause an accident.
• Keep quiet, for both the birds and other birders sake.
• Be very careful if you are going to photograph nests. Ravens and other predators could notice your scent, or disturbance, and wreck havoc on the nest.
• Always seek permission before entering other peoples properties, even if its just a "back paddock" .
• Keep your vehicle on established roads and tracks.
• When walking, pay attention to the ground before you. Doing this will not only reduce the chance of getting bitten by a snake, but also avoid destroying ground and under-story bird's nests.  
• Always respect the privacy of others. People tend to think that you are spying on them if you have a spotting scope or a big prime lens. Be discreet.

East-Gippsland is an excellent place to go birding. We can make it even more enjoyable and safe by abiding by the code of ethics above.

Be aware of nesting Hooded Plovers and tern in this sort of environment

A Golden Headed Cisticola. Think twice before charging into its habitat.