Perhaps the bird apps can take some responsibility here, and include better
notes on the conservation status of certain species,with explicit mention of
laws.
Nina Rach
Houston
Sent from my iPhone
On May 30, 2016, at 7:59 AM, Jim Sinclair <jim.sinclair@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I had made a private response to Nate, but a public response may be useful.Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at
Perhaps the the most important consideration is that it is a violation of
federal law to play the song of a federally listed species. Only permit
holders are allowed to do so, and even then, under tightly controlled
conditions.
Most, if not all, established sanctuaries, such as state and federal parks,
refuges, etc., have specific restrictions to playing songs. The problem is
the cumulative impact on a species at a particular location.
The guides on the spring King Ranch tours to Norias regularly play songs.
But the guides are the only ones doing it, it is a tightly controlled
activity, and they do not play songs/calls at a particular location more
than a few times per year. And, since there are 225,000 acres to play in,
it's pretty minimal impact;-)
Using ear buds is a great way to go, IMO.
On Sat, May 28, 2016 at 1:41 PM, Marianne Feeney <marianne.feeney@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Thank you for bringing this subject up. I am trying to learn bird calls
and find it helpful to listen to the app in the field when the bird cannot
be located. I do not play them loud, hold the phone to my ear, and have
never noticed that any birds were brought in by my actions. Should I use
ear buds? Thanks for any information.
Marianne
On May 28, 2016, at 1:32 PM, Nathaniel Nye <nathaniel.nye@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
actually
Fellow birders,
Emails and written words are funny things. Sometimes they just don't do
justice to the truth, sometimes they are used/chosen poorly, or sometimes
even interpreted wrong.
In response to my last report about a possible Black-capped Vireo at
Government Canyon, I have received some responses about the use of
recordings in the field. To set the record straight, here is what
took place. As I was moving down the trail I heard a bird calling thatand
sounded like a vireo. Something resembling aspects of both a White-eyed
a Solitary-type song but different, and I was thinking possibleidentify
Black-capped but unable to remember their exact song to be able to
it as such. After trying to spot it for several minutes in vain, I pulledI
out my cell phone and looked up Black-capped in my Sibley app and played
the Texas recording 1-2x (no more than 10 sec total), primarily trying to
identify what I was hearing from inside those trees. As I played it, I
compared it to the bird's song and also paid attention to the bird's
behavior...in all honesty hoping maybe he might get curious and come up.
didn't play it again after that.gear,
I guess the best case scenario is to have every bird song and call
memorized so as not to need the app in the field. Next best case in
retrospect would be to bring earphones (not part of my usual birding
but maybe it should be). In my case I played it over the phone'sspeaker.
As hard as I have tried in past instances, I find it very difficult toID.
remember exactly what a song sounded like and match it up later for an
bird
I often see posts where a birder describes using a recording to lure a
into view, so I didn't hesitate to describe my app use as such. I amaware
of trying not to disturb birds in their natural habitat, and this isnot
important to me, but perhaps I'm unclear on what is kosher and what is
with regard to using an app to identify a bird by song/call in the field.permission
What is the actual impact (large? Small?) of playing a 5-second bird
recording in the field?
I appreciate those who have been tactful, friendly, and non-judgmental in
their responses thus far. I do apologize for whatever impact my app may
have had on the bird in question, and hope this discussion may help
clarify the issues for me and perhaps others.
V/R,
Nate Nye
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Kingsville, TX
"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of
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