[mou] Birding Code of Ethics (or ethics any kind...)

[Holly Peirson]

Humans will do what humans will do? 

 

Surely humans, since their brains expanded and they gradually but inevitably
have become the dominant species on the planet, can and do (ultimately -
perhaps only with imposed restrictions) learn from their previous mistakes,
even if those particular humans didn't make the mistake. 

 

The Birding Code of Ethics is a good start.

 

Another good practice would be that of RBA's and local listserves not giving
out the exact location of the bird but only it's general vicinity - with a
number to call to check for the "local" needs in order for birders to see
and experience the bird when it's obviously stressed and out of its normal
environs. 

 

The interesting thing about the timing of this particular discussion is that
I am currently reading the last few pages of a small monograph I found in a
rare book store, called "Last of the Curlews," written by Fred Bosworth in
1955. The foreword by W. S. Merwin tells of how he found the first edition
on a friend's bookshelf while visiting their house and couldn't put it down.
He also couldn't find another copy of it to own for himself, so began to
work to get it reprinted. This edition was published in 1995, and contains a
short afterword by the original author, with an additional afterword by
Murray Gell-Mann. These essays are over 15 years old but truly
forward-looking. Many of the things written about in this little book are
STILL being worked out in today's human leadership. 

 

So, YES, the Birding Code of Ethics is necessary, and YES, we should treat
this listserve and the RBA's as directional tools. I believe strongly that
if a bird is so unusual as to be totally out of it's natural habitat when we
find it in our area, then exact directions to it should be held in reserve
the same way they are if the bird is found on personal property, and only
divulged to field trip leaders or those who state unequivocally that they
will not use tapes or stray from the driveway that has been allotted to
visitors to "see the bird..." 

 

Along that line. This summer we are being asked not to divulge the exact
location of "Wandering Whoopers", but to alert Necedah NWR to their
presence. This is in direct reaction to announcing their presence in RBA's
and listserves over the last couple of summers and then having the young
birds be mobbed by human visitors. But the Western Kingbirds who have been
nesting near Ramsey in Anoka County for a number of years now are not so
stressed that exact directions to them could not be given out, mainly
because they are not (usually) over-stressed in their usual habitat west of
the 100th meridian.

 

If those who play tapes, try to get close for a photograph, or drive or hike
onto private or state or federal property cannot stop themselves, then some
form of action (read that more restrictions) will inevitably result at some
point in our future. [At what point do we have to stop "pisshhing."]

 

So, to my mind, the best thing is to keep putting out the information
periodically, as is done on this listserve either by the moderators or by
the members, and hope that those of us who still find it necessary to
"chase" rarities for their state or county lists will do so in a fashion
that will preserve what they are going to see. I suggest that at the end of
each RBA there be a link to the Birding Code of Ethics. That's a simple way
to put the info out but not overwhelm us with discussion of whether we ought
to be paying attention to them or not.

 

Holly Peirson

Columbus, Anoka Co.

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