I don't know enough about banding to say how right or wrong you are but I
have often wondered just how stressful it must be for a bird that normally
spends much of its time on the alert trying avoiding danger, to be trapped
and held in the hand. I also wonder if there are any scientific studies
that can tell us the effects of capture and release. I imagine it varies
from species to species. Jethro Runco who banded birds at CVWO remarked
once that Blue Jays are amazingly calm and quiet in the hand. I doubt very
much that people who love birds and are concerned about them would do
anything to harm them.
Nancy Young
Botetourt County
-----Original Message-----
From: Bret Goddard [mailto:bretann@xxxxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:09 PM
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Va-bird] Recent articles about banding of birds
Good afternoon all, First of all, to the site manager, if you do not wish
to post this, just let me know please.
To all the people who feel differently about his than me, I mean nothing
personal and believe that all you are doing as far as banding and all
activities that go along are doing what you do with a good heart and mean no
harm, only help. I would imagine that what I have to say may not come off as
nice, I just think this whole process of banding must is wrong and the
capture and handling process is cruel and must stop. I won't speak anymore
after this post about this subject and don't want to start a big whoopdedoo,
just tell you how I feel.
I imagine that some out there agree with me (I hope so) on banding. On a
post from 08/06, it was stated here that at South point marsh, there were
553 pelicans and 7 Crested Cormorant chick banded, 95% of the Pelican chicks
captured and banded, 95%! thats just a shame. I would imagine that there
were no nets, you just had a colony of chicks scared as one by one they get
picked up. In July some banders captured 1190 Royal Tern chicks. I am no
expert in birds but once again the Terns were probably sitting on their nest
(if we can call it a nest) for you guys to pick up one by one. 1,190! Did
you happen to notice their parents above not to happy with you guys handling
their chicks? My guess would be yes. Now today the Kiptopeke station has
opened. 49 years now! I ask everyone to go to this website for this
activity, http://www.cvwo.org/songbirdResearch.php lets just look at the
picture that this site put up, first picture is of a young lady holding an
innocent bird that has pr
obably been trapped in a net, being held in place so another person can
stick a camera, pretty doggone close if I may say so, in its face and take a
picture, this picture demonstrates to me where your priorities lie with
respect to the birds you capture . I would think this just scare the birds
even more. Scroll on down, there in a clear plastic box is some poor bird
stuffed head first in a tube, for weight? You guys and gals down there have
set up 25-30 mist nets, in your own words. How can you possibly check all
those nets every 30-45 minutes? You guys have it in your minds that this
whole activity has no ill effect on the birds that you capture, I disagree,
Just being caught in a net, struggling the whole time just to get free has
to be physically a drain on every bird you capture. This is something that
anyone of you would tolerate this, for even 5 minutes if it were you and had
any choice in the matter. Do any of you wonder why most birds fly away from
humans as they
do? Or if you point a camera in their direction, they are gone, why,
because people like you are scaring the crap out of the birds that you
capture. Birds are far smarter than given credit for, but the word gets
passed in their world, fear Humans. They get captured like this all over
this country, all the time, it is to me impossible for the birds you capture
to suffer no ill effect, then you stick a band, aluminum, nylon ties what
ever it is that you choose to every birds leg. Did you know that a nylon
wire tie that rubs back and forth on a piece of steel wears away the steel
not the nylon. I don't believe that this practice causes them no problems, a
nice shiny or brightly colored flash of light for old Mr. Hawk to spot. If
you think in your intelligent mind that this causes no harm to the birds you
capture, every time, you need to step back and take another look at what you
are doing. Almost every time I see any article or website about banding
there is also some sort of photo holding the prize catch. Banding must stop.
How much more infor
mation can you possibly get? Let's be honest here too, on this website, it
is stated that all captured birds are subjected to whatever it is you do and
release in "a minute or two" . You are kidding no one but your selves.
I would like to issue this challenge to all who think that banding does not
in any way cause harm to an innocent bird, ever. How about you getting a
band, (sized to scale) and wear on your ankle for the rest of your life, or
even 1 month, see how you feel about that. I would bet that none of you
would enjoy this, and if treated or handled the way you handle these poor
birds, just minding their own business, you would all cry foul, and not let
anyone treat you like you treat them.
For the good news, i had my first pileated visit the backyard this year,
quite a thrill. The Hummers finally have shown up and seem to enjoy chasing
each other!
With respect,
Bret Goddard
Manassas Park, Va.
_______________________________________________
va-bird mailing list
http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/va-bird
Thank you for subscribing to Va-bird, a service of the Virginia Society of
Ornithology. Please consider joining the VSO.
http://www.virginiabirds.net/
