As it's now getting into peak warbler migration season here, I was out this weekend walking a trail in a nearby state park. Down the trail came an experienced local birder who I hadn't met, but whose name I recognized from the South Dakota bird listings.
We of course exchanged sightings, and I mentioned I'd seen a lot but hadn't gotten that many good photos. I heard Ovenbirds everywhere, for example, but only saw glimpses of them. He said "Want a good photo of one?"
He pulled out an IPod with some little attached speakers. He had the entire Stokes CD's on the IPod and started playing the Ovenbird song. In 10 seconds an Ovenbird was in clear sight, quite close.
I've never in my life "called in" birds like this, and frankly am a little uncomfortable even thinking about it. However, after seeing how effective it was, the little devil on one shoulder is trying to convince me to at least try it.
Does anybody here "call in" birds for photos like this? How do you feel about the ethics of it? I'd feel very uncomfortable disturbing their natural behavior by doing this.
I'm not an avian photographer so take whatever I say with a large grain of salt, but I see nothing unethical about calling birds at all. I don't see how this would disturb their natural behavior in any adverse way, certainly no more than the bird houses and feeders I have in my yard. There again, I seem to have several fat & happy cats in the neighborhood as well.
I call birds all the time in the fall. I'm pretty good with a duck call, fair with a goose call, and improving with a turkey call. I personally see nothing wrong with a call that is used just to bring a bird that's already calling nearby over to a closer branch, especially this time of year when it's warm and food is plentiful. To be candid, the biggest question for me would be if I wanted to spend the bucks for an iPod just for bird sounds. I have not personally used electronic calls, only traditional ones. You aren't talking about using the call in one specific spot for hours on end, day after day are you? The only thing I'd be worried about is, do you remember the guy out Westriver that was strumming away on his turkey call when he noticed the woods suddenly became silent? Turned around just in time to see a stalking mountain lion! All of those aren't Westriver either, as you are probably aware.
I'll add that today I saw some goldfinches for the first time this year, down at the public hunting area a couple miles south of Fairview, along the D&I railroad tracks. Also saw several redheaded woodpeckers and western flickers. The turkeys were prancing around. I was out there hunting--mushrooms. The gnats were horrible though! My hooded net bug jacket is now in my trunk.
LOL, Kent! A colleague where I work just had GFP come out to her neighborhood southwest of Sioux Falls (near Lake Alvin and that golf course), to verify a possible mountain lion sighting. GFP told them the tracks definitely were mountain lion tracks.
Maybe my plan will be to just call in the warblers and the like...don't think the mountain lions will have much interest in that.
In my humble opinion nearly all naturephotography is disturbing. How often does a bird fly away because of our presence? And how often do birds and mammels show their defense mechanisms to chase away the intruding naturephotographer? We (as photographers in general) constantly change their environments by being around we put perches out in the field, use artificial light sources, we provide food (with the risk of the animal getting fully dependend), some photographers play sounds, ect ect. But all we have to find a way to live our lives in a pleasant way, together with the animals among us...Some animals (especially in urban areas) don't care about our existance at all, they only benefit from it, as long as we respect their lives. It is all about ethics...we always have to search which individual is accepting you, and which is not....it's the same with people-people interactions. We just have to keep our eyes open continuously and ask ourselves the question if what we're doing is appropriate. So there isn't really an anser to the question....the only one who can answer it is you. I know that calling birds works quite well with some species...but be aware of the danger that due to your sound they might get to the edges of (or even outside) their terratory. So in that case they are extremely vulnerable for intruders.
The general feeling in the UK amongst birders & photographers seems to be that using "tape-lures" is ok outside the main breeding season, and in moderation.
To continually call in a male defending a breeding territory is not acceptable, but with passage birds, or males newly arrived and still establishing territories it should do no harm, if you call them in with a brief burst of recorded song and then leave them in peace. Just don't keep repeating the excercise with the same bird if you miss the shot the first time.
Subsequent attempts to attract the same male are likely to be less effective anyhow.
Pishing works great when it works, and I have no qualms. Tapes would only bother me if abused. What really bothers me about tapes would be packing yet another piece of gear. And another set of cords. And even more batteries to charge. Enough already! Pish, pish, pish, pish.
The problem with tapes is overuse. Although you might not overuse it how many other people will be using the tapes in the same area. Yes they do work great and best in the breeding season. But that is exactly when they should not be used. The qustion you should ask yourself is whether the photo is worth the disturbance especially when a tape is necessary.
I've been a birder and bird photographer for 30-35 years, and I've probably used a taped call of a specific bird less than five times in the field. The birding ethics that got instilled in me from the start in high density New Jersey was that it was a potential problem and not to be used.
There are many examples of where too many people playing too many taped calls too many times over too many years have caused problems: Swainson's Warbler in the Delamrva area; Black Rail; Black-capped Gnatcatcher in AZ; Five-striped Sparrow in AZ; Eared Trogon in Madera Canyon AZ come quickly to mind.
As Stephen says, the problem is overuse. So, I hope everyone here will avoid using taped calls in popular locations, avoid their use around nesting areas, and use them sparingly if at all for migrants. Pishing worked well for me in NJ, but not nearly as well here in AZ.
Jasper asks: How often does a bird fly away because of our presence? And how often do birds and mammels show their defense mechanisms to chase away the intruding naturephotographer? For me, almost never. I don't try to get frame-filling images of every bird, and am happy to have random encounters with wild birds as we both move through the habitat. I've never had a bird or mammal try to drive me away that I'm aware of.
OK - I just have to ask. What on earth is pishing?!!!
Ian
A well known birding technique that mimics the soft sounds of an inquisitive chickadee and that often attracts other curious birds to see what the fuss is all about. You can approximate the sound just by saying "pish" repeatedly and at low volume.
Discussion
11 repliesWe of course exchanged sightings, and I mentioned I'd seen a lot but hadn't gotten that many good photos. I heard Ovenbirds everywhere, for example, but only saw glimpses of them. He said "Want a good photo of one?"
He pulled out an IPod with some little attached speakers. He had the entire Stokes CD's on the IPod and started playing the Ovenbird song. In 10 seconds an Ovenbird was in clear sight, quite close.
I've never in my life "called in" birds like this, and frankly am a little uncomfortable even thinking about it. However, after seeing how effective it was, the little devil on one shoulder is trying to convince me to at least try it.
Does anybody here "call in" birds for photos like this? How do you feel about the ethics of it? I'd feel very uncomfortable disturbing their natural behavior by doing this.
I'll add that today I saw some goldfinches for the first time this year, down at the public hunting area a couple miles south of Fairview, along the D&I railroad tracks. Also saw several redheaded woodpeckers and western flickers. The turkeys were prancing around. I was out there hunting--mushrooms.
Kent in SD
Maybe my plan will be to just call in the warblers and the like...don't think the mountain lions will have much interest in that.
Is my pishing technique poor? What IS a good pishing technique?
More importantly, what would an outsider think of us sitting here and discussing "pishing"?
All the best,
To continually call in a male defending a breeding territory is not acceptable, but with passage birds, or males newly arrived and still establishing territories it should do no harm, if you call them in with a brief burst of recorded song and then leave them in peace. Just don't keep repeating the excercise with the same bird if you miss the shot the first time.
Subsequent attempts to attract the same male are likely to be less effective anyhow.
Colin
There are many examples of where too many people playing too many taped calls too many times over too many years have caused problems: Swainson's Warbler in the Delamrva area; Black Rail; Black-capped Gnatcatcher in AZ; Five-striped Sparrow in AZ; Eared Trogon in Madera Canyon AZ come quickly to mind.
As Stephen says, the problem is overuse. So, I hope everyone here will avoid using taped calls in popular locations, avoid their use around nesting areas, and use them sparingly if at all for migrants. Pishing worked well for me in NJ, but not nearly as well here in AZ.
Jasper asks: How often does a bird fly away because of our presence? And how often do birds and mammels show their defense mechanisms to chase away the intruding naturephotographer? For me, almost never. I don't try to get frame-filling images of every bird, and am happy to have random encounters with wild birds as we both move through the habitat. I've never had a bird or mammal try to drive me away that I'm aware of.
Ian
Ian
A well known birding technique that mimics the soft sounds of an inquisitive chickadee and that often attracts other curious birds to see what the fuss is all about. You can approximate the sound just by saying "pish" repeatedly and at low volume.