Disturbing the Residents at Ding Darling NWR

I came across this story tonight and wanted to pass it along. It seems that some "photographers" are using GoPro cameras and bird call apps on the smart phone to try and get closer to the birds at Ding Darling NWR, Sanibel Island, Florida.

Probably 99.99% of us on this site know this stuff is illegal and causes the birds to alter their behavior (A NO-NO!). I do all of my bird photography from behind a 400mm lens. Sometimes even through the truck window to avoid disturbing the "residents".

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/28064808/shutter-bugs-may-be-getting-too-close-to-nature#.VNrMXt90zRZ

They're only noticing this now?  I would think the use of bird app calls would be so common these days.  Mind you, there are places where the use of electronic bird calls is not permitted.  I do not know if it is official or just a guideline but think Point Pelee is such a place.  A conservation area on Ile Perrot near Montreal is another.  I have heard stories of people using calls at such places and then getting admonished when caught. 

Photographers aren't the only ones using bird call apps to get a closer look.
I've noted several birder groups using such calls to bring a bird in closer. Occurs on and off refuges - and is NOT limited to photographers or wanna-be photographers.

Next thing that will be noticed is the use of drones to get close to birds. I've seen this already in Washington with someone using a drone to get closer to an eagle perched in a tall tree (not on any refuge).

OntPhoto wrote:  Mind you, there are places where the use of electronic bird calls is not permitted.   

I don't believe it is legal to use any animal or bird calls in any national park or national wildlife refuge in the U.S.

Here is a link to the American Birding Association's Code of Ethics. It addresses part of these concerns:


http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html

Joe Smith

Tom Reichner wrote:

OntPhoto wrote:  Mind you, there are places where the use of electronic bird calls is not permitted.   

I don't believe it is legal to use any animal or bird calls in any national park or national wildlife refuge in the U.S.

Here is a funny story from Point Pelee.  Apparently it is OK if you can vocalize a bird call.  Some birders will imitate the call of an eastern screech owl and what this does is make the birds pop up from the grass to have a look.  Is it permitted to imitate a bird call with your own vocal cord in these same parks?

OntPhoto wrote:

Tom Reichner wrote:

OntPhoto wrote:  Mind you, there are places where the use of electronic bird calls is not permitted.   

I don't believe it is legal to use any animal or bird calls in any national park or national wildlife refuge in the U.S.

Here is a funny story from Point Pelee.  Apparently it is OK if you can vocalize a bird call.  Some birders will imitate the call of an eastern screech owl and what this does is make the birds pop up from the grass to have a look.  Is it permitted to imitate a bird call with your own vocal cord in these same parks?

NWR Rules & Regulations: "... 50 CFR 27.51 prohibits disturbing and attempting to disturb wildlife on any national wildlife refuge..." In the broadest interpretation of the rule, imitating a bird call vocally could be disturbing wildlife. In all likelihood, it's subject to local intrepretation.

This clearly belongs in the ethics forum and has been moved...

Good point!

Gary Briney wrote:

OntPhoto wrote:

Tom Reichner wrote:

OntPhoto wrote:  Mind you, there are places where the use of electronic bird calls is not permitted.   

I don't believe it is legal to use any animal or bird calls in any national park or national wildlife refuge in the U.S.

Here is a funny story from Point Pelee.  Apparently it is OK if you can vocalize a bird call.  Some birders will imitate the call of an eastern screech owl and what this does is make the birds pop up from the grass to have a look.  Is it permitted to imitate a bird call with your own vocal cord in these same parks?

NWR Rules & Regulations: "... 50 CFR 27.51 prohibits disturbing and attempting to disturb wildlife on any national wildlife refuge..." In the broadest interpretation of the rule, imitating a bird call vocally could be disturbing wildlife. In all likelihood, it's subject to local intrepretation.

I suppose if you go by the letter of the law.  One person who used the vocal screech owl call got called out by another birder who threatened to report him to the park office.  Not sure whatever became of it.