As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Monday, 9 June 2014

Birdcall playback on phones prompts ethics debate

By Dean Fosdick

Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, June 4 2014 9:36 a.m. MDT
Updated: Wednesday, June 4 2014 9:36 a.m. MDT

Wildlife watchers can now wield unnatural powers, playing actual birdcalls on smart phones and other mobile devices. The practice, called playback, is effective for attracting elusive species but also can harm nesting birds if overused.

"It's kind of a balancing act," said Jeffrey Gordon, president of the American Birding Association in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"If you're bringing a common bird into view for a group of kids or showing people how habitat is really good for birds, then a case can be made that it's a good tool for making birds visible. Caution is most warranted when you have a rare species or a species when a lot of people want to see it at the same location."


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