Everyone
who enjoys birds and birding must always respect wildlife, its
environment, and the rights of others. In any conflict of interest
between birds and birders, the welfare of the birds and their
environment comes first.
CODE OF BIRDING ETHICS
1. Promote the welfare of birds and their environment.
1(a) Support the protection of important bird habitat.
1(b)
To avoid stressing birds or exposing them to danger, exercise restraint
and caution during observation, photography, sound recording, or
filming.
Limit
the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never
use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species
that is Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in
your local area;
Keep
well back from nests and nesting colonies, roosts, display areas, and
important feeding sites. In such sensitive areas, if there is a need
for extended observation, photography, filming, or recording, try to
use a blind or hide, and take advantage of natural cover.
Use artificial light sparingly for filming or photography, especially for close-ups.
1(c)
Before advertising the presence of a rare bird, evaluate the potential
for disturbance to the bird, its surroundings, and other people in the
area, and proceed 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.
1(d) Stay on roads, trails, and paths where they exist; otherwise keep habitat disturbance to a minimum.
2. Respect the law, and the rights of others.
2(a) Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit permission.
2(b) Follow all laws, rules, and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and abroad.
2(c)
Practice common courtesy in contacts with other people. Your exemplary
behavior will generate goodwill with birders and non-birders alike.
3. Ensure that feeders, nest structures, and other artificial bird environments are safe.
3(a)
Keep dispensers, water, and food clean, and free of decay or disease.
It is important to feed birds continually during harsh weather.
3(b) Maintain and clean nest structures regularly.
3(c)
If you are attracting birds to an area, ensure the birds are not
exposed to predation from cats and other domestic animals, or dangers
posed by artificial hazards.
4. Group birding, whether organized or impromptu, requires special care.
Each
individual in the group, in addition to the obligations spelled out in
Items #1 and #2, has responsibilities as a Group Member.
4(a)
Respect the interests, rights, and skills of fellow birders, as well as
people participating in other legitimate outdoor activities. Freely
share your knowledge and experience, except where code 1(c) applies. Be
especially helpful to beginning birders.
4(b)
If you witness unethical birding behavior, assess the situation, and
intervene if you think it prudent. When interceding, inform the
person(s) of the inappropriate action, and attempt, within reason, to
have it stopped. If the behavior continues, document it, and notify
appropriate individuals or organizations.
Group Leader Responsibilities [amateur and professional trips and tours].
4(c) Be an exemplary ethical role model for the group. Teach through word and example.
4(d) Keep groups to a size that limits impact on the environment, and does not interfere with others using the same area.
4(e) Ensure everyone in the group knows of and practices this code.
4(f)
Learn and inform the group of any special circumstances applicable to
the areas being visited (e.g. no tape recorders allowed).
4(g)
Acknowledge that professional tour companies bear a special
responsibility to place the welfare of birds and the benefits of public
knowledge ahead of the company's commercial interests. Ideally, leaders
should keep track of tour sightings, document unusual occurrences, and
submit records to appropriate organizations.
PLEASE FOLLOW THIS CODE AND DISTRIBUTE AND TEACH IT TO OTHERS The
American Birding Association's Code of Birding Ethics may be freely
reproduced for distribution/dissemination. Please acknowledge the role
of ABA in developing and promoting this code with a link to the ABA website using the url <http://americanbirding.org>. Thank you.
|
