How to Be an Ethical Birder
The popularity of birding has seen incredible growth in recent years. According to the National Audubon Society, an estimated 96 million adults in the U.S. (that’s more than a third of the entire U.S. adult population) are now enjoying the hobby. That’s no surprise to those of us who have been birdwatchers for years; we well know the benefits of spending time in nature and observing the beauty of birds and their fascinating behaviors. Recent research has shown that watching birds can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and increase feelings of happiness and well-being.
With so many people now experiencing the joys of birding, it’s more important than ever to make sure that we are not causing any disturbance or harm to the birds in the process. Many bird species are threatened or at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, predation by non-native animals like domestic cats, extreme weather and food availability disruptions due to climate change, collisions with reflective windows, and light pollution. With all these threats that birds must already deal with, disturbance from birders and bird photographers is the last thing they need. Here are some tips to make sure you aren’t causing any harm when you are enjoying the birds we all love:
Keep your distance. No matter what a bird is doing, it’s likely to be something it needs to do to stay alive or bring up healthy chicks. This is true especially for migrating birds, who are literally living on the edge during their entire migration journey. Birds need to be able to rest, forage for food, keep their plumage clean, and stay hydrated in order to survive. If a bird changes its behavior because you are trying to see it or photograph it, you are TOO CLOSE. That bird just expended unnecessary energy reacting to you. Use binoculars, a scope, or a telephoto camera lens to get a good look at it instead of trying to get up close and personal.
Avoid or eliminate the use of recorded calls or pishing. A longstanding practice of birders has been to play a recorded call or “pish” (making sounds similar to avian alarm calls) to get a bird to come closer to investigate the sound. However, research suggests that the use of playback may be detrimental to birds, especially during migration or breeding season. Just like getting so close to a bird that it interrupts whatever they’re doing, using playback and pishing can cause them to use up unnecessary energy. If you feel it’s absolutely necessary to use playback or pishing to be able to “get” a bird, please make sure not to do that in any of the above circumstances and use it extremely sparingly. Remember, others may be using playback or pishing in the same spot during the same day; think of the energy the poor bird could be wasting on fake competitors or predators, energy they may need just to survive. Also keep in mind: the use of playback is strictly prohibited in national parks and national wildlife refuges.
Practice respect. Respect property rights and don’t enter private property without permission from the owner. Respect others by treating anyone you encounter with kindness and courtesy. Respect birds and other wildlife by leaving dogs at home when you’re out birding (and keeping cats indoors, always).
Keep feeders and birdbaths clean. If you provide food and water for birds, make sure to clean feeders and birdbaths regularly to prevent the transmission of disease. (Click here for some helpful tips on how, and how often, to clean your feeders.)
Support conservation efforts. Organizations like Audubon, the American Bird Conservancy, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and many others are doing important work researching threats to birds and changes in bird populations worldwide, and making public policy recommendations to make sure birds continue to have the protections and habitat they need to survive and thrive. Closer to home, Audubon Florida and your local Audubon chapters are educating the community about birds and the threats they face, planting native plants to support birds, and working to conserve natural areas. Supporting these and other conservation groups will help ensure that the birds we all love so much will be around for future generations to cherish.
These guidelines are based on the American Birding Association’s Code of Birding Ethics.