Bird lure Tapes

[azurebt]

I have read with alarm that the information given by a reputable local birder to an enquiry about sites to see Garden Warblers locally was to go to Newton Woods with a tape lure!!!!!

Is it me? Is this the normal response to a beginner???

I cannot believe that anyone, let alone a supposedly responsible birder, would advocate the use of tapes unless it was for scientific use, ie, ringing.

There are many media usages that allow us to hear the differences between Garden Warbler and Blackcap. These can be used to check birds you have heard in the field to aid identification..............or even better listen to them before you go looking.

For me the reward was to know I had learned the call.

Maybe times have changed, but surely not the ethics!!!!!

Is the way that TBC feel the use of tape lures for "common birds" should be used?

Please let me know if my views are the norm or out-dated!!!

[ben338]

I would like to know what exactly is 'unethical' about using a tape ?.
Do they cause birds any harm or distress?.


                                                  Ben
                                           

[azurebt]

if you read the research then yes!!!!

[azurebt]

Dr. Miller states that ".... many bird species formerly common are no longer to be found in the same locations where some guides ...... play tapes for 15–20 min without stop". The birds, however, continue to be found in similar undisturbed habitats. His observations are based on records kept over a period of 14+ years.
This covers over use of tapes on same species in regular territories

[Jamie]

Hi,

I think the problem lies where an individual bird is continuously hassled by a tape been played by many people many times a day over a while ie if everyone who visited Lakenheath to see the Golden Orioles played a tape they would be going all day long and this would have a significant effect.

Playing a tape to a common bird that will only hear the tape once or twice in its life briefly i can only see making a very small difference and probably less than the disturbance caused by people walking round in the wood for ages looking for them.

Regards,
Jamie

[azurebt]

Thank you Jamie, I appreciate your feedback.

However the point was that this is advocated without monitoring and therefore there can be little knowledge of how many times a tape lure is used, to how many birds and how intensley.

The evidence supports the intense use of tapes - which is only 15mins and above - can be a factor in loss of breeding 

I dont believe there is any merit in using a tape to see a common bird just to get a "good" or "photographical" view.

I would hope genuine birdwatchers with the welfare of birds at heart would agree?

Here's hoping

[ben338]

If anyone wants to read the science follow these two links. Very interesting.



http://xenogere.com/2010/01/21/the-birding-community-hates-birds-pishing-and-tape-luring-part-1/

http://xenogere.com/2010/01/28/the-birding-community-hates-birds-pishing-and-tape-luring-part-2/


                                                     Cheers Ben.

[azurebt]

Judging by the number of views this topic has created some interest but little in the way of feedback. In other words the silence is deafening!

I have forwarded my views onto the BTO and they have looked at the posts and responded with this reply.

This is the view of the collective within BTO around this matter and makes interesting reading.......

Attracting birds by playing recordings in the field

Playing recordings of bird songs or calls in the field has been used widely as a means of encouraging birds to reveal themselves (either by coming into view, or by responding vocally to the recording). The practice can be controversial, and although it appears it is not used as widely within the UK as elsewhere in the world, the increasing proportion of birders carrying a wide range of bird vocalisations in their pockets, on mobile phones or other convenient devices, means that it is likely to increase.

The BTO was part of a partnership of organisations that drew up "The Birdwatchers' Code", which can be viewed at

http://www.bto.org/notices/birdwatchers_code/bwc.pdf

Within this, the key points relating to tape-luring are:

•   "Repeatedly playing a recording of bird song or calls to encourage a bird to respond can divert a territorial bird from other important duties, such as feeding its young. Never use playback to attract a species during its breeding season."

•   "In England, Scotland and Wales, it is a criminal offence to disturb, intentionally or recklessly, at or near the nest, a species listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (see www.rspb.org.uk/policy/wildbirdslaw for a full list). Disturbance could include playback of songs and calls. The courts can impose fines of up to £5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months for each offence."

Although it would appear that attracting non Schedule 1 birds with recordings is not illegal, the code we've helped create strongly suggests that birders should not use playback in the breeding season. There are exceptions, however. There are some species which are essentially impossible to monitor without the use of play-back (Water Rail and Storm Petrel are examples). Use of playback for such surveys should only be under carefully controlled conditions, both for the sake of minimising disturbance and also in ensuring that the results of the survey are scientifically valid. Some ringing studies in the breeding season also make use of playback, but any ringers wishing to do so have to get special permission which is linked to a particular project.

Clearly, it can be argued that in many cases, the occasional use of a recording would have a fairly negligible effect on a bird's well-being or reproductive success. However, the UK has a much higher density of birdwatchers than elsewhere. Especially where particular rare breeding birds are concerned (Golden Orioles, Savi's Warblers, etc), this could lead to very high levels of disturbance directed at a small number of individual birds.

In the specific example of a beginner birdwatcher trying to develop a greater understanding of Blackcap and Garden Warbler song, patience should afford just as much (or more) training experience. It can take time, and can be frustrating, but it is usually possible to see a bird with a little bit of effort, and this also helps improve the observer's field skills. This would probably help the person become a better observer in the long run than in resorting to attracting the bird with a recording.

[azurebt]

The response email -

Thanks for your email, which has been passed on to me for a response. I've discussed with colleagues and have put together the attached short document which sets out our thinking. I hope this helps, and feel free to pass this on.

Best wishes

Andy Musgrove
Head of Monitoring, BTO
andy.musgrove@bto.org

Tel 01842 750050
British Trust for Ornithology
The Nunnery
Thetford
Norfolk IP24 2PU