Nightjar Lamping (1 Viewer)

Johann Sebastian Bach · Aug 19, 2012

GraemeS said:
I'm very much a beginner in all this and I'm learning what is and isn't reasonable as I go along. I have on one occasion used a torch to illuminate an owl, but not chased it.

A lot of this thread has been condemning lamping breeding birds, with some focus on Schedule 1. The original post talked about people chasing the birds around the clearing.
So, my questions (relating to bird watching, not scientific study etc):

1) are there occasions when using a lamp to observe birds is acceptable?
2) What are these occasions?
3) Would a low power lamp be acceptable?

My personal opinion, Graeme, is:

1. None
2. n/a
3. No

However, I'm an ex-twitcher and confess to a variety of examples of "over-eager" behaviour in the past, where seeing a bird became more important than its welfare. So I've trespassed, got too close, trampled crops and stood in front of other birders' 'scopes.

Good luck in the moral maze!

Peter

DMW · Aug 21, 2012

Johann Sebastian Bach said:
Unacceptable behaviour anywhere, including Africa. I agree that a very bad example was set and that you might consider Jos's suggestion of contacting the group concerned.
I've tried the other trick from yesteryear, doffing a hat at intervals to reveal a shock of white hair. I've never had any success with this - but I'm now lucky enough to live within a few hundred yards of a regular nest-site.
(No smiley for smug grin, unfortunately.)

Peter

Could you explain why you consider it to be acceptable to use a technique (i.e. flashing a white object) which mimics characteristics of an intruding competitor in a breeding birds territory, in order to elicit a response? How is this any different to, say, using a recording of a bird's song to lure it into view?

lewis20126 · Aug 21, 2012

When a scientific expedition wishes to collect a specimen of a new species of owl, is it acceptable to spotlight the owl, to enable it to be shot. Or should they shoot "in the general direction" of the call?

cheers, a

McMadd · Aug 21, 2012

lewis20126 said:
When a scientific expedition wishes to collect a specimen of a new species of owl, is it acceptable to spotlight the owl, to enable it to be shot. Or should they shoot "in the general direction" of the call?

cheers, a

Maybe they could use a red filter like they do with the Kiwi's in NZ? That way the bird wouldn't get stressed as they took their shot...

Also...anyone criticising should probably ask themselves if they visited Thrupp in the last few years...

McM

Jos Stratford · Aug 21, 2012

lewis20126 said:
When a scientific expedition wishes to collect a specimen of a new species of owl, is it acceptable to spotlight the owl, to enable it to be shot. Or should they shoot "in the general direction" of the call?

Maybe the honourable members of the expedition could stand in a tight circle around the said bird and then all shoot inwards at once, they would surely hit something.

Mike Montier · Aug 21, 2012

Nice one Jos. Just re-read the thread and all the way through I was thinking about the Scop's at Thrupp, not sure where it got to but it must have been blind by then. I got there at 10am, saw the bird twice in the daylight, had a picnic, enjoyed the day but left as soon as I saw the behaviour of the hundreds of people who came that night. That was the last twitch I ever went on.

Johann Sebastian Bach · Aug 21, 2012

DMW said:
Could you explain why you consider it to be acceptable to use a technique (i.e. flashing a white object) which mimics characteristics of an intruding competitor in a breeding birds territory, in order to elicit a response? How is this any different to, say, using a recording of a bird's song to lure it into view?

Aaaach - I hate it when this happens.
Of course, you're absolutely correct to make this point. There exists a rather homely distinction in my mind between the old ways (white 'kerchiefs; crawling on all fours; and pishing) and the newer ones (tapes, lights, etc.).
I acknowledge that the old ways also include shotguns and that my argument has no logical validity whatsoever.

Peter:-C

lewis20126 · Aug 21, 2012

Mike Montier said:
Nice one Jos. Just re-read the thread and all the way through I was thinking about the Scop's at Thrupp, not sure where it got to but it must have been blind by then. I got there at 10am, saw the bird twice in the daylight, had a picnic, enjoyed the day but left as soon as I saw the behaviour of the hundreds of people who came that night. That was the last twitch I ever went on.

Mike,

I can't recall the bird ever being seen in daylight - when was this? And I assume it wasn't at its roost? If so, do I assume it was flushed out of its roost?

The bird can't have been that blind. It managed to fly to Africa and back again to Thrupp the next year! It must surely have enjoyed hunting by artificial light, as they so often do in the Med. B

cheers, alan

Mike Montier · Aug 21, 2012

There was an abandoned car and the Scop's could be seen nearby. It was not flushed at any time during my visit, I went back to see it again later in the day. It was seen in daylight by several people who turned up during the day. Sorry, the bit about being blind was tounge-in-cheek, I see them most nights here hunting for moths around the street lights, I just did not like the behaviour that night, pushing, shoving and ignoring "keep out" signs, not my scene at all.

birdboybowley · Aug 21, 2012

Jos Stratford said:
Maybe the honourable members of the expedition could stand in a tight circle around the said bird and then all shoot inwards at once, they would surely hit something.

:clap: :t: B

northernloon · Aug 22, 2012

Whether Schedule 1 or not I understood that it is an offence to wilfully disturb ANY nesting bird

Nightjar Lamping (1 Viewer)

More options

Johann Sebastian Bach

Well-known member

DMW

Well-known member

lewis20126

Well-known member

McMadd

You should see the other bloke...

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Mike Montier

Well-known member

Johann Sebastian Bach

Well-known member

lewis20126

Well-known member

Mike Montier

Well-known member

birdboybowley

Well-known member.....apparently so ;)

northernloon

swimming in a virtual sea

Similar threads

Users who are viewing this thread