Birdwatching Ethics

Joe Meche is vice president of the North Cascades Audubon Society and is in his 10th year as editor of the chapter newsletter. Joe is also a member of the board of directors of the Washington Brant Foundation. He has been photographing birds and landscapes for more than 30 years and has been watching birds for more than 50 years.

From our lofty perspective at the top of the animal kingdom, humans have enjoyed a long-standing and strong inclination to watch other animals for a variety of reasons. Numerous members of the kingdom see other species as potential prey, while an equal number are careful not to become a meal themselves. Aside from those who hunt for sport or subsistence and scientists who study animals, millions of people watch wildlife for the sheer enjoyment they derive from the experience. According to author Joseph Kastner, we are “A World of Watchers.”

Of all the watchable wildlife on the planet, probably the most scrutinized are birds. Birds are easy to watch and they’re everywhere, so you don’t have to travel very far to enjoy their company. Nevertheless, we spend billions of dollars traveling the planet in pursuit of birds to add to our life lists. You might participate in one of the popular ecotourism expeditions to distant birding hotspots or prefer to stay closer to home. Regardless of where you go, the end result invariably involves a conflict of sorts with a basic ethos that pertains to the way we interact with other species. The concept is the same, whether you’re watching wood ducks or warblers, whales or wallabies.

While we pursue birds and other wildlife for our own enjoyment, we sometimes take for granted the needs of the animals themselves. Some of the pursuers actually feel that they are entitled to invade the space of others for their own benefit. All too often the desire to have a closer look or get a better photograph overrides the need to consider any adverse impact to the object of the quest. Keeping a respectful distance shouldn’t be a problem. After all, with today’s optics, we are able to walk softly and carry a long lens.

Recent postings on three bird-related list serves focused on a couple of associated threads that have prompted numerous discussions for a period of time. One debate in particular concentrated on photographers and their always ambitious desire to get the perfect shot, while another considered the responsibility of birdwatchers in reporting rarities. The dilemma in the latter comes down to whether or not to spread the word about the occasional rare bird that shows up in unexpected places. The link that connects these discussions is a frequent and often overlooked part of birdwatching — the ethics of the individual watchers.

The American Birding Association (ABA) is one of the preeminent organizations for birders and promotes a Code of Birding Ethics. The basic tenets are simple and common sense for the most part, and focus on the birds and the environment. The four primary points expressed are as follows:

•Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.

•Respect the law and the rights of others.

•Ensure that feeders, nest structures and other artificial bird environments are safe.

•Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.

For more in-depth information on each of these four points, go to http://www.americanbirding.org/abaethics.htm.

The ABA also understands the quandary of advertising the presence of a rare bird. Their basic admonition is to first “evaluate the potential for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings and other people in the area.” You should proceed when reporting the rare bird “only if access can be controlled, disturbance minimized and permission has been obtained from private land owners. The sites of rare nesting birds should be divulged only to the proper conservation authorities.”

In this complex technological age, we take so many gadgets into the field that one can only wonder how this affects the natural experience. Among the fairly recent innovations taken into the field are recordings of bird songs and calls. These recordings are designed to lure birds into view, much like the duck and goose calls were designed to lure birds into range. Regardless of the success rate, the use of recordings to attract birds — especially owls — has the potential to place excessive stress on the birds, especially during the nesting period.

Locally, we’ve experienced a few rara avis incidents where the excited response of some was so overwhelming that it gave the bird watching community a bad name. A dusky thrush spent the winter in a residential neighborhood just across the border a few years ago and birders reportedly came from as far away as Nova Scotia to add this Asian visitor to their life lists. Rumors persist that the homeowners weren’t very pleased with the behavior of some of the watchers who showed little or no respect for the private property they were allowed to enter in order to see the bird.

A similar scenario took place when a Xantus’s hummingbird — a common resident of Baja California — wintered at one location in Gibsons, B.C. In this case, the homeowners were excited to play host to the large number of birders who came to see this unusual bird and put that all-important check mark on their lists. From all accounts, this was a positive experience all around.

This winter, Whatcom County first hosted an emperor goose, which was followed by a king eider and a whooper swan. As the word spread, the birders began to arrive. The emperor goose didn’t stay long enough to produce much of a stir, but the eider stayed at Semiahmoo for most of the winter and was seen by quite a few folks. The location the eider chose was ideal for the bird to maintain some sense of separation from the crowds, since there was a natural buffer provided by the water.

The whooper swan was first observed in Skagit County and was the source of excitement for quite some time. And then one day it was gone, only to be rediscovered near Ferndale some time around mid-February. However, there was no report offered for almost two weeks, due to concerns about creating a rush which might have overwhelmed the bird and the private property it frequented.

While these incidents shared the experience of a rare bird, the behavior of some of the watchers was reportedly deplorable. The potential for the birds to suffer undue stress from the clamor and private property being trashed serves only to cause a birder to consider keeping these rare sightings to themselves. If you feel strongly against reporting your sightings online, the best thing to do is to document what you see with all the necessary details and, if possible, a photograph. The citizen scientist in you can then submit your documentation to the appropriate offices, such as the state birds records committee, etc.

Another thing to consider is the overwhelming need to become one with nature, without a natural idea of what that means. An example is the boater who intentionally yet slowly paddles or motors into a wintering flock of scoters or other water birds, just for the experience. While the concept is clear and possibly sound from the perspective of a low-impact approach, the boater is doing more harm than he realizes by causing the birds to take flight.

These birds are feeding and resting while they winter here. They are in the process of building and maintaining the fat reserves that sustain them through the cold, wet winters and on into migration to their breeding grounds.

We all have our own unique styles of watching and enjoying wildlife and, upon closer inspection, perhaps we could improve. Each of us must question our own motives and program ourselves to be as respectful as possible to the creatures we are privileged to watch. Recently, I had occasion to read a somewhat profound tidbit that clearly tells the story and gives one pause to look within: “The true meaning of ethics is in the behavior you practice when no one else is around. §